Patent Publication Number: US-8983458-B2

Title: Methods and apparatus for producing and submitting an HTTP request with a selected country code parameter from a mobile device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and is a non-provisional patent application of U.S. provisional patent application having application No. 61/127,837 and filing date of 14 May 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Technology 
     The present disclosure relates generally to mobile communication devices operative in wireless communication networks, and more particularly to a mobile communication device which operates with use of a data application such as a Web browser or Internet search application. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A mobile communication device may operate in a wireless communication network which provides for high-speed packet data communications. The mobile device may offer a number of different capabilities or features for a user. Many of these capabilities are defined by the different applications which are installed in the mobile device. The mobile device may have a voice telephony application, a data or message synchronization application (e.g. for e-mail messages or calendar items), a Web browser or Internet search application, as examples, or combinations thereof. 
     With use of the Web browser or search application, the mobile device operating in the wireless network may interface with a server of another communication network (e.g. the Internet) to access information. A user of the mobile device may enter in a domain name of a URL in the Web browser application in a request to access a web page of the server. If the server is or has a search engine, the user may also submit search (e.g. text) parameters via a Web page in a request to initiate a search for information via the search engine based on the search parameters. Depending on the (world-wide) location of the mobile device, however, an unexpected web site, search results, and/or information may be received in response to such request. 
     What are needed are methods and apparatus to overcome these and related deficiencies of the prior art. The same or similar problems may exist in other networks and devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of present disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to attached figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram which illustrates pertinent components of a mobile communication device and a wireless communication network within which the mobile communication device may operate; 
         FIG. 2  is a more detailed diagram of a preferred mobile communication device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a particular system architecture for the mobile communication device and wireless network of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative example of an exemplary user interface of the mobile communication device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which is shown as a handheld mobile telephony and/or messaging device; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative representation of memory of the mobile communication device which has a plurality of applications stored therein, including a Web browser or search application; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a web page of a network search engine which is displayed via the Web browser or search application; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a web page of the network search engine which shows search results in response to a search query; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method for use in producing and submitting a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request from the mobile device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to the techniques described herein, a mobile communication device maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes. The mobile device is also associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of country codes that is stored in association with the home carrier identification. During operation, the mobile device reads a specified domain name in response to a user-initiated request made via a Web browser or search application. Then, the mobile device produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code. A language code may be selected based on local mobile device settings and included as an additional parameter as well. The HTTP request with the URL is submitted via the wireless communication network. Advantageously, consistency in accessing web sites, information, and/or search results may be achieved regardless of location of the mobile station. 
     To illustrate exemplary system architecture,  FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a communication system  100  which includes a mobile station  102  (one example of a wireless or mobile communication device) which communicates through a wireless communication network  104 . Mobile station  102  preferably includes a visual display  112 , a keyboard  114 , and perhaps one or more auxiliary user interfaces (UI)  116 , each of which are coupled to a controller  106 . Controller  106  is also coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  108  and an antenna  110 . Typically, controller  106  is embodied as a central processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system software in a memory component (not shown). Controller  106  will normally control overall operation of mobile station  102 , whereas signal processing operations associated with communication functions are typically performed in RF transceiver circuitry  108 . Controller  106  interfaces with device display  112  to display received information, stored information, user inputs, and the like. Keyboard  114 , which may be a telephone type keypad or full alphanumeric keyboard, is normally provided for entering data for storage in mobile station  102 , information for transmission to network  104 , a telephone number to place a telephone call, commands to be executed on mobile station  102 , and possibly other or different user inputs. 
     Mobile station  102  sends communication signals to and receives communication signals from network  104  over a wireless link via antenna  110 . RF transceiver circuitry  108  performs functions similar to those of a tower station  118  and a base station controller (BSC)  120  (described later below), including for example modulation/demodulation and possibly encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption. It is also contemplated that RF transceiver circuitry  108  may perform certain functions in addition to those performed by BSC  120 . It will be apparent to those skilled in art that RF transceiver circuitry  108  will be adapted to particular wireless network or networks in which mobile station  102  is intended to operate. When mobile station  102  is fully operational, an RF transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry  108  is typically keyed or turned on only when it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned off to conserve resources. Similarly, an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry  108  is typically periodically turned off to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals or information (if at all) during designated time periods. 
     Mobile station  102  includes a battery interface  134  for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries  138 . Battery  138  electrical power to electrical circuitry in mobile station  102 , and battery interface  134  provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for battery  132 . Battery interface  134  is coupled to a regulator  136  which regulates power to the device. Mobile station  102  may be a handheld portable communication device, which includes a housing (e.g. a plastic housing) which carries and contains the electrical components of mobile station  102  including battery  138 . Mobile station  102  operates using a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)  140  which is connected to or inserted in mobile station  102  at a SIM interface  142 . SIM  140  is one type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify an end user (or subscriber) of mobile station  102  and to personalize the device, among other things. Without SIM  140 , the mobile station terminal is not fully operational for communication through wireless network  104 . By inserting SIM  140  into mobile station  102 , an end user can have access to any and all of his/her subscribed services. SIM  140  generally includes a processor and memory for storing information. Since SIM  140  is coupled to SIM interface  142 , it is coupled to controller  106  through communication lines  144 . In order to identify the subscriber, SIM  140  contains some user parameters such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using SIM  140  is that end users are not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile station. SIM  140  may store additional user information for the mobile station as well, including datebook (or calendar) information and recent call information. 
     Mobile station  102  may consist of a single unit, such as a data communication device, a cellular telephone, a multiple-function communication device with data and voice communication capabilities, a personal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for wireless communication, or a computer incorporating an internal modem. Preferably, as mentioned earlier, mobile station  102  is a handheld portable communication device which includes a housing (e.g. a plastic housing) which carries and contains the electrical components of mobile station  102 . Alternatively, mobile station  102  may be a multiple-module unit comprising a plurality of separate components, including but in no way limited to a computer or other device connected to a wireless modem. In particular, for example, in the mobile station block diagram of  FIG. 1 , RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  may be implemented as a radio modem unit that may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer. In this case, the laptop computer would include display  112 , keyboard  114 , one or more auxiliary UIs  116 , and controller  106  embodied as the computer&#39;s CPU. It is also contemplated that a computer or other equipment not normally capable of wireless communication may be adapted to connect to and effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  of a single-unit device such as one of those described above. Such a mobile station  102  may have a more particular implementation as described later in relation to mobile station  202  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Mobile station  102  communicates in and through wireless communication network  104 . Wireless communication network  104  may be a cellular telecommunications network. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wireless network  104  is configured in accordance with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and a Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) technologies. Today, such a mobile station may further operate in accordance with Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), as described in the Background section. In such environment, wireless network  104  includes a base station controller (BSC)  120  with an associated tower station  118 , a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  122 , a Home Location Register (HLR)  132 , a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN)  126 , and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)  128 . MSC  122  is coupled to BSC  120  and to a landline network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  124 . SGSN  126  is coupled to BSC  120  and to GGSN  128 , which is in turn coupled to a public or private data network  130  (such as the Internet). HLR  132  is coupled to MSC  122 , SGSN  126 , and GGSN  128 . 
     Station  118  is a fixed transceiver station, and station  118  and BSC  120  may be referred to as transceiver equipment. The transceiver equipment provides wireless network coverage for a particular coverage area commonly referred to as a “cell”. The transceiver equipment transmits communication signals to and receives communication signals from mobile stations within its cell via station  118 . The transceiver equipment normally performs such functions as modulation and possibly encoding and/or encryption of signals to be transmitted to the mobile station in accordance with particular, usually predetermined, communication protocols and parameters, under control of its controller. The transceiver equipment similarly demodulates and possibly decodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals received from mobile station  102  within its cell. Communication protocols and parameters may vary between different networks. For example, one network may employ a different modulation scheme and operate at different frequencies than other networks. 
     The wireless link shown in communication system  100  of  FIG. 1  represents one or more different channels, typically different radio frequency (RF) channels, and associated protocols used between wireless network  104  and mobile station  102 . An RF channel is a limited resource that must be conserved, typically due to limits in overall bandwidth and a limited battery power of mobile station  102 . Those skilled in art will appreciate that a wireless network in actual practice may include hundreds of cells, each served by a station  118  (i.e. or station sector), depending upon desired overall expanse of network coverage. All pertinent components may be connected by multiple switches and routers (not shown), controlled by multiple network controllers. 
     For all mobile station&#39;s  102  registered with a network operator, permanent data (such as mobile station  102  user&#39;s profile) as well as temporary data (such as mobile station&#39;s  102  current location) are stored in HLR  132 . In case of a voice call to mobile station  102 , HLR  132  is queried to determine the current location of mobile station  102 . A Visitor Location Register (VLR) of MSC  122  is responsible for a group of location areas and stores the data of those mobile stations that are currently in its area of responsibility. This includes parts of the permanent mobile station data that have been transmitted from HLR  132  to the VLR for faster access. However, the VLR of MSC  122  may also assign and store local data, such as temporary identifications. Optionally, the VLR of MSC  122  can be enhanced for more efficient co-ordination of GPRS and non-GPRS services and functionality (e.g. paging for circuit-switched calls which can be performed more efficiently via SGSN  126 , and combined GPRS and non-GPRS location updates). 
     Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)  126  is at the same hierarchical level as MSC  122  and keeps track of the individual locations of mobile stations. SGSN  126  also performs security functions and access control. Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)  128  provides interworking with external packet-switched networks and is connected with SGSNs (such as SGSN  126 ) via an IP-based GPRS backbone network. SGSN  126  performs authentication and cipher setting procedures based on algorithms, keys, and criteria (e.g. as in existing GSM). In conventional operation, cell selection may be performed autonomously by mobile station  102  or by the transceiver equipment instructing mobile station  102  to select a particular cell. Mobile station  102  informs wireless network  104  when it reselects another cell or group of cells, known as a routing area. 
     In order to access GPRS services, mobile station  102  first makes its presence known to wireless network  104  by performing what is known as a GPRS “attach”. This operation establishes a logical link between mobile station  102  and SGSN  126  and makes mobile station  102  available to receive, for example, pages via SGSN, notifications of incoming GPRS data, or SMS messages over GPRS. In order to send and receive GPRS data, mobile station  102  assists in activating the packet data address that it wants to use. This operation makes mobile station  102  known to GGSN  128 ; interworking with external data networks can thereafter commence. User data may be transferred transparently between mobile station  102  and the external data networks using, for example, encapsulation and tunneling. Data packets are equipped with GPRS-specific protocol information and transferred between mobile station  102  and GGSN  128 . 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed block diagram of a preferred mobile station  202  of the present disclosure. Mobile station  202  is preferably a two-way communication device having at least voice and advanced data communication capabilities, including the capability to communicate with other computer systems. Depending on the functionality provided by mobile station  202 , it may be referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data communication device (with or without telephony capabilities). Mobile station  202  may communicate with any one of a plurality of fixed transceiver stations  200  within its geographic coverage area. 
     Mobile station  202  will normally incorporate a communication subsystem  211 , which includes a receiver  212 , a transmitter  214 , and associated components, such as one or more (preferably embedded or internal) antenna elements  216  and  218 , local oscillators (LOs)  213 , and a processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP)  220 . Communication subsystem  211  is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . As will be apparent to those skilled in field of communications, particular design of communication subsystem  211  depends on the communication network in which mobile station  202  is intended to operate. 
     Mobile station  202  may send and receive communication signals over the network after required network registration or activation procedures have been completed. Signals received by antenna  216  through the network are input to receiver  212 , which may perform such common receiver functions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, and like, and in example shown in  FIG. 2 , analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received signal allows more complex communication functions such as demodulation and decoding to be performed in DSP  220 . In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding, for example, by DSP  220 . These DSP-processed signals are input to transmitter  214  for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over communication network via antenna  218 . DSP  220  not only processes communication signals, but also provides for receiver and transmitter control. For example, the gains applied to communication signals in receiver  212  and transmitter  214  may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in DSP  220 . 
     Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of mobile station  202 , and therefore mobile station  202  requires a Subscriber Identity Module or “SIM” card  262  (denoted more generally as “mem” in  FIG. 2 ) to be inserted in a SIM interface  264  in order to operate in the network. SIM  262  includes those features described in relation to  FIG. 1 . Mobile station  202  is a battery-powered device so it also includes a battery interface  254  for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries  256 . Such a battery  256  provides electrical power to most if not all electrical circuitry in mobile station  202 , and battery interface  254  provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for it. The battery interface  254  is coupled to a regulator (not shown) which provides a regulated voltage V to all of the circuitry. 
     Mobile station  202  includes a microprocessor  238  (which is one implementation of controller  106  of  FIG. 1 ) which controls overall operation of mobile station  202 . Communication functions, including at least data and voice communications, are performed through communication subsystem  211 . The communication techniques of the present disclosure may generally be controlled by microprocessor  238  in connection with DSP  220 . Microprocessor  238  also interacts with additional device subsystems such as a display  222 , a flash memory  224 , a random access memory (RAM)  226 , auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems  228 , a serial port  230 , a keyboard  232 , a speaker  234 , a microphone  236 , a short-range communications subsystem  240 , and any other device subsystems generally designated at  242 . Some of the subsystems shown in  FIG. 2  perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard  232  and display  222 , for example, may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list. Operating system software used by microprocessor  238  is preferably stored in a persistent store such as flash memory  224 , which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM  226 . 
     Microprocessor  238 , in addition to its operating system functions, preferably enables execution of software applications on mobile station  202 . A predetermined set of applications which control basic device operations, including at least data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on mobile station  202  during its manufacture. A preferred application that may be loaded onto mobile station  202  may be a personal information manager (PIM) application having the ability to organize and manage data items relating to user such as, but not limited to, e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory stores are available on mobile station  202  and SIM  256  to facilitate storage of PIM data items and other information. The PIM application preferably has the ability to send and receive data items via the wireless network. In the present disclosure, PIM data items are seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless network, with the mobile station user&#39;s corresponding data items stored and/or associated with a host computer system thereby creating a mirrored host computer on mobile station  202  with respect to such items. This is especially advantageous where the host computer system is the mobile station user&#39;s office computer system. Additional applications may also be loaded onto mobile station  202  through network, an auxiliary I/O subsystem  228 , serial port  230 , short-range communications subsystem  240 , or any other suitable subsystem  242 , and installed by a user in RAM  226  or preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution by microprocessor  238 . Such flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of mobile station  202  and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using mobile station  202 . 
     In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download will be processed by communication subsystem  211  and input to microprocessor  238 . Microprocessor  238  will preferably further process the signal for output to display  222  or alternatively to auxiliary I/O device  228 . A user of mobile station  202  may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, using-keyboard  232  in conjunction with display  222  and possibly auxiliary I/O device  228 . Keyboard  232  is preferably a complete alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad. These composed items may be transmitted over a communication network through communication subsystem  211 . For voice communications, the overall operation of mobile station  202  is substantially similar, except that the received signals would be output to speaker  234  and signals for transmission would be generated by microphone  236 . Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on mobile station  202 . Although voice or audio signal output is preferably accomplished primarily through speaker  234 , display  222  may also be used to provide an indication of the identity of a calling party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information, as some examples. 
     Serial port  230  in  FIG. 2  is normally implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device for which synchronization with a user&#39;s desktop computer is a desirable, albeit optional, component. Serial port  230  enables a user to set preferences through an external device or software application and extends the capabilities of mobile station  202  by providing for information or software downloads to mobile station  202  other than through a wireless communication network. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryption key onto mobile station  202  through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to thereby provide secure device communication. Short-range communications subsystem  240  of  FIG. 2  is an additional optional component which provides for communication between mobile station  202  and different systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. 
       FIG. 3  shows a particular system structure for packet data communications with mobile station  202 . In particular,  FIG. 3  shows basic components of an IP-based wireless data network which may be utilized for high-speed and “pushed” data communications. Mobile station  202  communicates with a wireless packet data network  345 , and may also be capable of communicating with a wireless voice network (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 3 , a gateway  340  may be coupled to an internal or external address resolution component  335  and one or more network entry points  305 . Data packets are transmitted from gateway  340 , which is source of information to be transmitted to mobile station  202 , through network  345  by setting up a wireless network tunnel  325  from gateway  340  to mobile station  202 . In order to create this wireless tunnel  325 , a unique network address is associated with mobile station  202 . In an IP-based wireless network, however, network addresses are typically not permanently assigned to a particular mobile station  202  but instead are dynamically allocated on an as-needed basis. It is thus preferable for mobile station  202  to acquire a network address and for gateway  340  to determine this address so as to establish wireless tunnel  325 . 
     Network entry point  305  is generally used to multiplex and demultiplex amongst many gateways, corporate servers, and bulk connections such as the Internet, for example. There are normally very few of these network entry points  305 , since they are also intended to centralize externally available wireless network services. Network entry points  305  often use some form of an address resolution component  335  that assists in address assignment and lookup between gateways and mobile stations. In this example, address resolution component  335  is shown as a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) as one method for providing an address resolution mechanism. 
     A central internal component of wireless data network  345  is a network router  315 . Normally, network routers  315  are proprietary to the particular network, but they could alternatively be constructed from standard commercially available hardware. The purpose of network routers  315  is to centralize thousands of fixed transceiver stations  320  normally implemented in a relatively large network into a central location for a long-haul connection back to network entry point  305 . In some networks there may be multiple tiers of network routers  315  and cases where there are master and slave network routers  315 , but in all such cases the functions are similar. Often network router  315  will access a name server  307 , in this case shown as a dynamic name server (DNS)  307  as used in the Internet, to look up destinations for routing data messages. Fixed transceiver stations  320 , as described above, provide wireless links to mobile station  202 . 
     Wireless network tunnels such as a wireless tunnel  325  are opened across wireless network  345  in order to allocate necessary memory, routing, and address resources to deliver IP packets. Such tunnels  325  are activated as part of what are referred to as Packet Data Protocol or “PDP contexts” (i.e. packet data sessions). To open wireless tunnel  325 , mobile station  100  must use a specific technique associated with wireless network  345 . The step of opening such a wireless tunnel  325  may require mobile station  202  to indicate the domain, or network entry point  305  with which it wishes to open wireless tunnel  325 . In this example, the tunnel first reaches network router  315  which uses name server  307  to determine which network entry point  305  matches the domain provided. Multiple wireless tunnels can be opened from one mobile station  100  for redundancy, or to access different gateways and services on the network. Once the domain name is found, the tunnel is then extended to network entry point  305  and necessary resources are allocated at each of the nodes along the way. Network entry point  305  then uses the address resolution (or DHCP  335 ) component to allocate an IP address for mobile station  100 . When an IP address has been allocated to mobile station  202  and communicated to gateway  340 , information can then be forwarded from gateway  340  to mobile station  202 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , what is shown is an illustrative representation of an exemplary user interface  402  of mobile station  202  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  which includes at least display  222 , keyboard  232 , speaker  234 , microphone  236 , and a cursor or view positioning mechanism such as a positioning wheel  410  (e.g. a scrollwheel) or a trackball  433 . Although shown enlarged in  FIG. 4  for clarity, this mobile station  202  is sized to be a handheld portable device. As an alternative to or in addition to positioning wheel  410  and/or trackball  433 , a wide range of one or more pointing or cursor/view positioning mechanisms such as a touch pad a joystick button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a tablet, or other whether presently known or unknown, may be employed. The cursor may be or include a pointer, a movable item or other visual cue used to mark a position or point to another item on a display, in order to, for example, indicate position for data entry or for selection of the other item. 
     Keys  428  of keyboard  232  are disposed on a front face of a housing  406  and positioning wheel  410  is disposed at a side of housing  406 . Keyboard  232  is in the example form of a reduced QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of keys  428  that serve as input members. It can be seen that the arrangement of the characters  448  on keys  428  of keyboard  424  is generally of the QWERTY arrangement, albeit with many of keys  428  including two of characters  448 . In the example depiction of keyboard  424 , many of keys  428  include two characters, such as including a first character  452  and a second character  456  assigned thereto. Characters may include letters, digits, symbols and the like and can additionally include ideographic characters, components thereof, and the like. One of keys  428  of keyboard  424  includes as the characters  448  thereof the letters “Q” and “W”, and an adjacent key  428  includes as the characters  448  thereof the letters “E” and “R”. Keyboard  424  may be of other configurations, such as an AZERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard, a Dvorak keyboard, or other keyboard or keypad arrangement, and either reduced or not reduced (i.e. full). In a “full” or non-reduced keyboard or keypad arrangement, each key has a single letter (not multiple letters) of the alphabet assigned to it. 
     Among keys  428  of keyboard  232  are a &lt;NEXT&gt; key  440  and an &lt;ENTER&gt; key  444 . The &lt;NEXT&gt; key  440 , wherein, for example, “&lt;NEXT&gt;” may be a symbol or may be the word “next” provided (e.g. printed) on the key, may be pressed to provide a selection input to the processor and provides substantially the same selection input as is provided by a rotational input of positioning wheel  410 . Since &lt;NEXT&gt; key  440  is provided adjacent a number of other keys  428  of keyboard  232 , the user can provide a selection input to the processor substantially without moving the user&#39;s hands away from the keyboard  232  during a text entry operation. Another key, the &lt;ESC&gt; key  445  is disposed on the side of housing  406  adjacent positioning wheel  438 , although the same or similar key may be disposed as part of keyboard  232 . Among keys  428  of the keyboard  424  additionally is a &lt;DEL&gt; key  486  that can be provided to delete a text entry. 
     Positioning wheel  410  may serve as another input member and is both rotatable, as is indicated by an arrow  412 , to provide selection inputs to the processor, and also can be pressed in a direction generally toward housing  406 , as is indicated by an arrow  414  to provide another selection input to the processor. 
     Display  222  may include a cursor  484  that depicts generally where the next input or selection from user interface  402  will be received. Display  222  is shown in  FIG. 4  as displaying a home screen that represents a number of applications  586  ( FIG. 3  shows some of the example possible applications  86 ) depicted as corresponding discrete icons  488 . Icons  488  include, for example, an Electronic Mail (E-Mail) icon  490 , a Calendar icon  492 , an Address Book icon  494 , a Tasks icon  496 , a Web browser/search icon  497 , a MemoPad icon  498 , and a Local Device Search icon  499 , respectively. 
     As shown further in  FIG. 5 , memory  224  of mobile station  202  includes a plurality of applications or routines  586  associated with the visually displayed icons  488  of  FIG. 4  for the processing of data. Applications  586  may be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like. Applications  586  include, for example, an Electronic Mail (E-Mail) application  588  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with E-mail icon  490  ( FIG. 4 ), a Calendar application  590  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Calendar icon  492  ( FIG. 4 ), an Address Book application  592  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Address Book icon  494  ( FIG. 4 ), a Tasks application  594  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Tasks icon  496  ( FIG. 4 ), a MemoPad (Memos) application  596  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with MemoPad icon  498 , a Web Browser or search application  598  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Web Browser/Search icon  497  ( FIG. 4 ), a Voice/Telephone application  599  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Voice/Telephone icon  484 , and a Local Device Search application  500  ( FIG. 5 ) associated with Local Device Search icon  499  ( FIG. 4 ). An operating system (OS) program  516  also resides in memory  224 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the “home” screen output is shown as currently active and constitutes the main “ribbon” application for displaying the icons  488  shown. An application, such as E-mail application  588  of  FIG. 5 , may then be initiated (opened or viewed) from user interface  402  by providing a suitable user input to it. For example, E-mail application  588  may be initiated (opened or viewed) by rotating positioning wheel  410  to highlight E-mail icon  490  and providing a selection input by translating positioning wheel  410  in the direction indicated by arrow  438 . As another example, display  222  displays icon  499  associated with Search application  500  and accepts input from positioning wheel  410  to initiate a search from that icon  499 . Applications  586  may be additionally or alternatively initiated (opened or viewed) from user interface  402  by providing another suitable input to it, such as by suitably rotating or “rolling” trackball  433  and providing a selection input by, for example, pushing the trackball  433  (e.g. somewhat similar to positioning wheel  410  except into the plane of  FIG. 4 ). 
     Movement, navigation, and/or scrolling with use of a cursor/view positioning mechanism is beneficial given the relatively large size of visually displayed information and the compact size of display  222  of  FIG. 4 , and since information and messages are typically only partially presented in the limited view of display  222  at any given moment. As previously described, positioning wheel  410  is one helpful cursor/view positioning mechanism to achieve such movement. Positioning wheel  410 , which may be referred to as a scrollwheel, specifically includes a circular disc which is rotatable about a fixed axis of housing  302  and may be rotated by the end user&#39;s index finger or thumb. When the information or message is being partially displayed, an upwards rotation of positioning wheel  410  causes an upwards scrolling such that display  222  presents viewing of an upper portion of the information or message. Similarly, a downwards rotation of positioning wheel  410  causes a downwards scrolling such that display  222  presents viewing of a lower portion of the information or message. Positioning wheel  410  is mounted along a fixed linear axis such that the end user can depress positioning wheel  410  inwards toward housing  406  (e.g. with the end user&#39;s index finger or thumb) for selection of information. Again, see the direction indicated by an arrow  414  of positioning wheel  410  shown. 
     Although a specific mobile station  202  has just been described, any suitable mobile communication device or terminal may be part of the inventive methods and apparatus which will be described in fuller detail below. Note that many components of mobile device  202  shown and described may not be included (e.g. a full QWERTY keypad may be optional). 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of a web page  600  of a network search engine which is displayed via the Web browser or search application in the display of the mobile station when it operates in the wireless network. The search engine is provided at one or more servers which are accessible via another communication network (e.g. the Internet). In this example, the search engine is called “Quick Searcher” which generally may be accessed at a domain name of www.quicksearcher.com. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the domain name is http://www.quicksearcher.com, which may be submitted as part of a request by the user in a URL field of the Web browser or search application or, alternatively, automatically submitted by the application when the user initiates the application (e.g. in a predefined destination field). 
     In  FIG. 6 , a search query is shown in a search query field of web page  600 . In this example, the search query is shown in the search query field as “what is brusque definition,” where the user of the mobile station desires to obtain the definition of the word “brusque.” Note that operators such as Boolean operators (e.g. AND, OR) may be implicitly present in this search query; in the present example, the implicit Boolean operator may include an “AND” operator between words. The Boolean operators may alternatively be explicitly present in the search query. In  FIG. 7 , an illustration of a web page  700  of the network search engine with search results provided in response to the search query of  FIG. 6  is shown. Preferably, the search engine utilized is a GOOGLE™ search engine where the search queries are formatted in accordance with GOOGLE™ search queries. GOOGLE™ is a trademark of Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., U.S.A. 
     As described, with use of the Web browser or search application, the user of the mobile station may enter in the domain name of the URL in a request to access a web page of the server. If the server is or has a search engine, the user may also submit search (e.g. text) parameters in a request to initiate a search for information via the search engine based on the search parameters. Depending on the (world-wide) location of the mobile station, however, an unexpected web site, search results, and/or information may be received in response to such request. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method for use in producing and submitting a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request from the mobile device. Such technique may overcome prior art deficiencies and other related deficiencies in these and other environments. This method is especially useful when the mobile station operates in different wireless networks (e.g. “visited networks” when roaming) provided in different countries (e.g. “visited countries”). The method of  FIG. 8  may be performed by mobile station  102 / 202  described in relation to  FIGS. 1-4 . In particular, the techniques described in relation to the flowchart may be performed by one or more processors of mobile station  202  along with its wireless transceiver. A computer program product which may embody the technique may include a computer readable medium having computer instructions stored therein which are executable by the one or more processors of the mobile station  202  for performing the technique. 
     Before discussion of the steps in the flowchart of  FIG. 8 , note that the mobile station is associated with a home wireless carrier which is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The home carrier identification uniquely identifies the home wireless carrier which provides primary service for the mobile station. The home carrier identification is associated with a home country within which the primary service is based and/or provided for the mobile station. Some examples of names of wireless carriers are Rogers Wireless, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Orange, Telecom Italia, Virgin Mobile UK, Swisscom, etc. The home carrier identification remains fixed and unchanged during operation of the mobile station, regardless of the network or country in which the mobile station is operating. The home carrier identification may be a specific stored designation which indicates the wireless carrier by name or by code. For example, the home carrier identification may be a numeric code, which may be and/or be referred to as a vendor identification. As another example, the home carrier identification may be the actual name of the carrier. As yet another example, in the case where the network is a public land mobile network (PLMN) (i.e. the home PLMN or “HPLMN”), the home carrier identification may be and/or correspond to a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and a Mobile Country Code (MCC) pairing. Alternatively, the home carrier identification may be a system identification (SID). Finally, only a portion of the home carrier identification (such as the country code or MCC) may be of relevance in the present techniques. The home carrier identification may be stored in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of the mobile station, or other suitable removable memory module thereof. In an alternate embodiment, the identification may be programmed in internal memory (e.g. Flash memory or otherwise) of the mobile station, e.g. during manufacture of the mobile station. In any event, the memory in which the home carrier identification is stored may be referred to as a first memory portion of the mobile station. 
     Note also that the mobile station maintains a list of a plurality of carrier identifications in its memory, where each carrier identification is stored in association with a different one of a plurality of country codes. The list of carrier identifications having the associated country codes is programmed or maintained to be the same in all mobile stations (i.e. in a plurality of mobile station) distributed for use world-wide (i.e. in a plurality of different countries), at least those mobile stations of the same model and/or version. in contrast, the home carrier identifications for these mobile stations are programmed or maintained to be different across different wireless carriers and/or different countries. The list of carrier identifications having the associated country codes may be programmed in internal memory (e.g. Flash memory or otherwise) of the mobile station, in a hardcoded-type fashion. In one embodiment, the stored association is programmed and maintained in the mobile station as part of the executable computer instructions. In any event, the memory in which the stored association is stored may be referred to as a second memory portion of the mobile station. 
     Beginning at a start block  802  of  FIG. 8 , the mobile station is operated for communications in a wireless communication network (step  804  of  FIG. 8 ). The wireless network may be any one of various wireless networks available in different countries, as the mobility of mobile station may allow it to be used in more than one country. In the present scenario of step  804 , the wireless communication network is a visited network of a visiting country that is different from the home country of the home wireless carrier. The wireless network operations may be the same as or similar to those operations described in relation to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     At some point in time, the user invokes the Web browser or search application of the mobile station (step  806  of  FIG. 8 ). A domain name of the desired Web site or application server is then read (step  808  of  FIG. 8 ). The domain name may be provided in an initial request via the application or otherwise. In one example, the user may provide a URL in a URL field of the Web browser or search application. In another example, a predefined destination field associated with a stored predetermined URL or domain name may be provided for use upon invocation. 
     Next, using the stored list in its memory, the mobile station selects one of a plurality of stored country codes that is stored in associated with the home carrier identification (step  810  of  FIG. 8 ). Note that this step of selecting the country code in step  810  may alternatively be performed prior to the invocation or request in steps  806  and  808 , only a single time, where the resulting selected country code is stored in memory for use in all subsequent steps. Note that, if no suitable country code match is found in relation to the carrier identification, a default country code may be selected (e.g. the default country code may be “US”). Note also that a default country code (e.g. “US”) may be associated with and selected for carriers that are known to be associated with two or more different countries. 
     Next, the mobile station selects one of a plurality of stored language codes based on a local mobile device setting (step  812  of  FIG. 8 ). Since the mobile station has a plurality of applications as well as an OS, it includes a local mobile device setting for the user&#39;s preferred language. This local language setting, for example, sets the language of the applications so that text is displayed in the display in that language. 
     Next, the mobile station produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) having the specified domain name of the request (or at least a second-level domain of the specified domain name) from step  808 , as well as the country code and language code parameters selected from steps  810  and  812  (step  814  of  FIG. 8 ). The second-level domain of the URL may be, for example, “quicksearcher” if the specified domain name from step  808  is www.quicksearcher.com), which results in the production of the URL. The mobile station causes the HTTP request with the URL and these parameters to be transmitted via the wireless network (step  814  of  FIG. 8 ). In response, the mobile station receives an HTTP response from the application server. If the search application is being utilized, the HTTP request may include a search query, where the HTTP response includes search results that are relevant to the home country instead of the visiting country. The flowchart of  FIG. 8  is shown to end with this step, but is actually repeated for each invocation (step  806 ) or request (step  808 ). Thus, consistency of retrieved information or search results may be achieved regardless of which country the mobile station is operating. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the mobile station (or its Web browser or search application) has a first setting for a first mode of operation and a second setting for a second mode of operation. The first and the second settings may be user-selectable settings which may be set by the end user via the user interface of the mobile station. The first setting invokes the first mode of operation, which was described earlier above in relation to  FIG. 8 . With the second setting which invokes the second mode of operation, the mobile station does not utilize a single country code associated with a single home wireless carrier of the mobile station. Instead, the mobile station selects one of the plurality of stored country codes that is stored in association with the received carrier identification of its currently serving network (e.g. even if it is a visited network in a visited country). When operating outside of its home network in the visited network, the mobile station roams and scans to identify the different wireless networks available in its coverage area, receives carrier identifications (e.g. MNC/MCC pairs) of these wireless networks, and selects and registers with one of the networks for communications. The received carrier identification of this currently serving roaming network may be utilized to select the appropriate country code. 
     As described herein, a mobile communication device maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes. The mobile device is also associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of country codes that is stored in association with the home carrier identification. During operation, the mobile device reads a specified domain name in response to a user-initiated request made via a Web browser or search application. Then, the mobile device produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code. A language code may be selected based on local mobile device settings and included as an additional parameter as well. The HTTP request with the URL is submitted via the wireless communication network. Advantageously, consistency in accessing web sites, information, and/or search results may be achieved regardless of location of the mobile station. 
     The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations, modifications and variations to the particular embodiments without departing from the scope of the application. The invention described herein in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.