MOBILE INFORMATION PROCESSING

Abstract: A method of managing a collection of objects including identifying descriptions of objects in media, resolving a description of an object to a unique object, generating a resolved object from resolving the description, rendering the resolved object on an interactive device and allowing a user of the interactive device to take actions on the resolved object. Identifying descriptions of objects includes grouping the objects into a domain, providing a dictionary of descriptions of the objects in the domain, identifying descriptions in structured or unstructured data, and extracting identified descriptions from the structured or unstructured data. The interactive devices may include, for example, web browsers, computer screens, a television screen, an electronic billboard, wireless cell phone screens, interactive voice services, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and handheld computers.

Description: MOBILE INFORMATION PROCESSING TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to a mobile information processing system. BACKGROUND Information is advertised everywhere on all types of media. Consumers encounter product and service advertisements in every facet of life. In a busy, distracting world, consumer attention is a precious resource not to be squandered by either consumers or businesses. Each consumer encounter with these advertisements can generate a spark of interest in the product or service. A challenge is to preserve and nurture that spark from point of inspiration to point of purchase. SUMMARY In an aspect, the invention features a method of managing a collection of objects including identifying descriptions of objects in media, resolving a description of an object to a unique object, generating a resolved object from resolving the description, rendering the resolved object on an interactive device and allowing a user of the interactive device to take actions on the resolved object. Identifying descriptions of objects includes grouping the objects into a domain, providing a dictionary of descriptions of the objects in the domain, identifying descriptions in structured or unstructured data, and extracting identified descriptions from the structured or unstructured data. The interactive devices may include, for example, web browsers, computer screens, a television screen, an electronic billboard, wireless cell phone screens, interactive voice services, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and handheld computers . In another aspect, the invention features method of resolving a description of an a object to a unique object including grouping objects into a domain, grouping descriptions into a set and a mapping of each description in the set to a unique object in the domain. Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. The system provides a way of augmenting representations of real world objects, e.g., restaurants, products, coupons, and embedding the representations in media such as web pages and print ads such that users can easily retrieve information about the real world object from myriad sources, e.g., yellow pages, driving directions, product reviews, and where the object may be purchased. A representation of a real world object is a collection of attributes that uniquely identify the object. For example, an 800 number uniquely identifies the company that owns that object. Once a user has stored a reference, the process makes interest in the reference actionable. For example, during the retrieval of the reference, the user can review offers and incentives from retailers competing for their business or the retailer associated with the reference. Users can find the nearest point of purchase for a reference or point of redemption for an offer or incentive and get door-to-door turn-by-turn driving directions to that point. Users can read product reviews and ratings for stored references anytime and anywhere. Users can also purchase products through a phone from mobile commerce (m-commerce) . Users may also send stored references and associated offers to other users who may be interested in taking advantage of the offers themselves. An advertiser of the reference knows exactly which reference (e.g., advertisement) and which placement generated the lead and hence the specific product or products involved. Businesses can bundle offers and incentives in response to the user action to store or retrieve the reference. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The foregoing features and other aspects of the invention will be described further in detail by the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile information-processing network . FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the mobile information system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a mobile information process residing in the mobile information-processing engine of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an information process residing in the mobile information-processing engine of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a mobile information augmentation process residing in the mobile information- processing engine of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary web page. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a process for managing a collection of objects residing in the mobile information- processing engine of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a process of managing a collection of unique objects residing in the mobile information- processing engine of FIG. 2. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements . DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile information-processing network 10 includes an input/output device 12 connected to the Internet 14. The network 10 includes a number of client systems labeled 16, 18 and 20. Each of the client systems 16-20 is linked to the Internet 14. The network 10 also includes a mobile information processing system 22 linked to the Internet 14. The input/output device 12 may be a computer system or a wireless device, such as a cellular phone, personal data assistant (PDA), and so forth. In a preferred embodiment, the input/output device 12 includes browser software to provide web- browsing capabilities to a user of the input/output device 12. Although the input/output device 12 includes a direct link 24 to the Internet 14, other embodiments may include wireless connections to the Internet 14. In addition, the input/output device 12, as well as any one of the client systems 16-20, may have a direct link to the mobile information processing system 22, either through a physical link or a wireless link. Numerous objects reside on web pages resident in the client systems 16-20. These objects, generated by companies in control of the client systems 16-20, may represent product names, product information, service names, service information, addresses, phone numbers, and so forth. A user may locate and/or view these objects using numerous search engine platforms that execute in the browser software residing in the input/output device 12. Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile information processing system 22 (of FIG. 1) includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) 30, a memory 32, and a storage device 34 containing a database 36. The memory 32 includes a mobile information- processing engine 38. The mobile information processing engine 38 processes objects received from diverse sources, e.g., client systems 16-20, and stores the objects in the database 36. In a preferred embodiment, a database management system residing in the memory 32 manages the database 36. Referring to FIG. 3, a mobile information process 50 residing in the mobile information-processing engine 38 (of FIG. 2) includes receiving 52 an object. The object is parsed 54 and the parsed object characterized 56 with an object type. The parsed object and object type are associated 58 with object information. The parsed object and associated object information are stored 60 in the database 36 of the storage device 34. In an embodiment, the object is contained on a web page residing on a client system, such as client system 16 of FIG. 1. The mobile information processing system 22 searches for objects contained on web pages residing on the client system 16 and processes the objects using the mobile information process 50. In another embodiment, a client system, client system 18 for example, subscribes to the mobile information processing system 22. A subscription allows the client system 18 to send objects residing in the client system 18 to the mobile information processing system 22 for processing using the mobile information process 50. In still another embodiment, a hyperlink is placed on a web page being displayed to a user through a web browser on the input/output device 12. The hyperlink is a universal resource locator (URL) link to the mobile information processing system 22 and triggers the mobile information process 50 on behalf of the user. Clicking on the hyperlink initiates the mobile information process 50. In this embodiment, a user identification is stored in the database 36 and linked to the parsed object and associated object information generated by the mobile information process 50 for future retrieval by the user. Parsing 54 the object isolates the object from nonessential information contained on a web page. For example, a product name along with display characteristics of a web page are contained in a web page template. Parsing removes the product name from the web page template. In an embodiment, a standard LR parser is utilized. Once the object is parsed, it is characterized 56 with an object type. In an embodiment, object types include product name, service name, business name, address, telephone number, and type of product, e.g., shoes, computer, automobile, and so forth. Associated object information is obtained from searching systems (not shown) on the Internet 14. For example, if the object is a telephone number, searching the Internet 14 provides a business name, address, product information, and possible location information for the business. The database 36 is utilized for a combination of purposes. In an embodiment, objects and associated information are stored for use m processing user requests specifying the objects. In other embodiments, user requested objects are stored in a user database record for future retrieval of the objects by the user. When the user requests retrieval of objects stored in the database 36, the database management system m the mobile information processing system 22 loads records containing the objects and displays both the objects and their associated information to the requesting user. In an embodiment, the user may send the retrieved objects and associated object information to another user, for example, through electronic mail (E-mail) . In another embodiment, the object is tagged after the process 50 is completed. For example, a hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of the object can be modified such that it is recognized by the mobile information processing system 22 as having been processed. In another example, the HTML representation of the object can be modified to include pointers to its associated object information within the database 36. The tagged object is embedded m the medium m which it originated. For example, the tagged object is displayed on a web page. In still another embodiment, markup language representing the object is tagged. Referring to FIG. 4, an information process 80 residing n the mobile information-processing engine 38 (of FIG. 2) includes receiving 82 a user action. A determination 84 is made whether the action is a i save object' 1 action. If the action is a save object, the object is associated 86 with object information. The process 80 stores 88 the object and associated object information in a user database record. A determination 90 is made whether the action is a "retrieve object (s) "' action. If the action is retrieve objects, a user record m a database is loaded 92. Objects and associated object information are displayed 94 to the user. In an embodiment, storing the object and associated object information triggers a notification to the object owner. For example, if the object is a business telephone number the business is notified of the user action. In response to the notification, the business has an opportunity to provide additional information to the mobile information processing system 22 that will be stored as additional object information for the object in the user record. Referring to FIG. 5, a mobile information augmentation process 100 includes a user saving 102 a block of text. The text serves as a reference for additional actions. The text is parsed 10 . The parsed text is used as a reference to search 106 for related information. The parsed text and related information are stored 108 in a database. The stored text and related information are displayed 110 to the user upon the receipt of a user request . Referring to FIG. 6, an exemplary web page 120 includes a web page template 122. The web page template includes template regions 124, 126, 128, and 130. Template region 126 includes an advertisement for running shoes 132. Template region 130 includes a hyperlink 134 represented as the text "PocketThis . ' ' Clicking on the hyperlink 134 causes the running shoe advertisement 132 to be processed by the mobile information process 50 (of FIG. 3) residing in the mobile information- processing engine 38 (of FIG. 2) . Referring to FIG. 7, in an embodiment, a process 150 of managing a collection of objects residing in the mobile information processing engine 38 includes identifying 152 descriptions of objects in media. The process 150 resolves 154 a description of an object to a unique object and generates 156 a resolved object from resolving the description. The resolved object is rendered 158 on an interactive device, allowing 160 a user of the interactive device to take actions on the resolved object . Referring to FIG. 8, in another embodiment, a process 180 of managing a collection of unique objects residing in the mobile information processing engine 38 includes grouping 182 the objects into a domain and providing 184 a dictionary of descriptions of the objects in the domain. The process 180 identifies 186 descriptions in structured or unstructured data and extracts 188 identified descriptions from the structured or unstructured data. A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A computer-implemented method of managing a collection of objects comprising: identifying descriptions of objects in media; resolving a description of an object to a unique object; generating a resolved object from resolving the description; rendering the resolved object on an interactive device; and allowing a user of the interactive device to take actions on the resolved object. 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein identifying descriptions of objects comprises: grouping the objects into a domain; providing a dictionary of descriptions of the objects in the domain; identifying descriptions in structured or unstructured data; and extracting identified descriptions from the structured or unstructured data. 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the interactive device comprises a plurality of devices including but not limited to web browsers, computer screens, a television screen, an electronic billboard, wireless cell phone screens, interactive voice services, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and handheld computers . 4. A computer-implemented method of managing a collection of unique objects comprising: grouping the objects into a domain; providing a dictionary of descriptions of the objects in the domain; identifying descriptions in structured or unstructured data; and extracting identified descriptions from the structured or unstructured data. 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of strings. 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is the set of street addresses. 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is the set of street addresses in a single country. 8. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of businesses. 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the set of businesses is defined by a published directory of businesses. 10. The computer- implemented method of claim 9 wherein the published directory of businesses is an electronic directory. 11. The computer- implemented method of claim 9 wherein the published directory of businesses is an online directory. 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of products. 13. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of products in a particular product category. 14. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of residences. 15. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of individuals. 16. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is a set of user identities in a computer system. 17. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the domain is representative of one or more distinct characteristics. 18. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the dictionary is a list of strings. 19. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the dictionary is a list of string patterns. 20. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the dictionary is defined by a list of unordered sets of attributes characterizing objects in the domain. 21. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the dictionary is defined by a list of ordered sets of attributes of characterizing objects in the domain. 22. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the dictionary is defined a set of unordered attributes characterizing a business including a name, a service name, a street address, a telephone number, a toll-free telephone number, a product, a trademarked phrase or symbol, a copyrighted phrase or symbol . 23. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the structured or unstructured data is structured or unstructured text . 24. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the structured or unstructured data is a digitized image. 25. The computer- implemented method of claim 4 wherein the structured or unstructured data is binary data. 26. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the structured or unstructured data is digitized audio. 27. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the structured or unstructured data is digitized speech. 28. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 wherein the text is structured using a markup language. 29. The computer- implemented method of claim 28 wherein the text is structured using extensible markup language (XML) . 30. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 wherein the unstructured text is a component of a web page. 31. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 wherein the unstructured text is a document. 32. The computer- implemented method of claim 23 wherein a user of a computer system selects the unstructured text. 33. The computer- implemented method of claim 23 wherein the unstructured text is the result of an optical character resolution (OCR) process. 34. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 wherein the unstructured text is the result of translating voice to text . 35. A computer- implemented method of resolving a description of an object to a unique object comprising: grouping objects into a domain; grouping descriptions into a set; and a mapping of each description in the set to a unique object in the domain. 36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35 wherein a key is derived from a description. 37. The computer- implemented method of claim 36 wherein the key is the description. 38. The computer- implemented method of claim 36 wherein the key is an unordered set of features of the description. 39. The computer-implemented method of claim 36 wherein the key is an ordered set of features of the description. 40. The computer- implemented method of claim 35 wherein a lookup table is used to map the key to a unique object in the domain. 41. The computer- implemented method of claim 36 wherein the key is a unique object in the domain. 42. The computer-implemented method of claim 35 wherein the description is augmented by additional information beyond the description. 43. The computer- implemented method of claim 42 wherein the additional information includes a date and time. 44. The computer-implemented method of claim 43 wherein the date and/or time is the current date and time. 45. The computer-implemented method of claim 42 wherein the additional information includes a geographic location. 46. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is an area code. 47. The computer- implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is a postal code. 48. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is a city name. 49. The computer- implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is a country name. 50. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is wireless network cell identifier. 51. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 wherein the geographic location is a longitude and latitude. 52. The computer-implemented method of claim 45 wherein the additional information is acquired by interrogation of an external source of information. 53. The computer- implemented method of claim 52 wherein the external source is another computer system. 54. The computer- implemented method of claim 52 wherein the external source is a user. 55. A computer-implemented method of managing a collection of objects comprising: grouping objects into a domain; collecting a subset of unique objects in the domain into a collection; rendering the collection on an interactive device; providing the means to designate an object in the collection; and providing a set of actions that may be performed on the designated object. 56. The computer-implemented method of claim 55 wherein the interactive device comprises one of the following: a web browser, a computer screen, a television screen, an electronic billboard, a wireless telephone screen, a wireless device, an interactive voice service, a personal digital assistants (PDA's), a handheld computer, and a combination of the above used alone and in concert . 57. The computer-implemented method of claim 40 wherein the rendering of objects is influenced by the identity of the user of the device. 58. The computer- implemented method of claim 43 wherein the set of actions includes soliciting additional information related to the object. 59. The computer- implemented method of claim 58 wherein the additional information resides in a single computer system. 60. The computer-implemented method of claim 58 wherein the additional information resides in additional computer systems. 61. The computer-implemented method of claim 55 wherein the set of actions includes sending the object to another user. 62. The computer-implemented method of claim 55 wherein the set of actions includes establishing a communications link with user associated with the object. 63. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising persistently storing resolved objects. 64. The computer- implemented method of claim 1 further comprising persistently storing the resolved objects. 65. The computer-implemented method of claim 64 further comprising: providing a collection of user identities; and associating a user identity with a collection of stored objects in a domain.

Inventors: MCNULTY JOHN E, SHEENA JONATHAN A, SULLIVAN JAMES J, MCNULTY, JOHN, E., SHEENA, JONATHAN, A., SULLIVAN, JAMES, J.
Applicants: MCNULTY JOHN E, POCKETTHIS INC, SHEENA JONATHAN A, SULLIVAN JAMES J, MCNULTY, JOHN, E., POCKETTHIS, INC., SHEENA, JONATHAN, A., SULLIVAN, JAMES, J.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F17, G06Q30