Abstract:
A method for displaying location-dependent bookmarks ascertains a location for the computer. For this location, corresponding bookmarks are determined and displayed on the computer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and hereby claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/DE00/03007 filed on Sep. 1, 2000 and German Application No. 19942173.0 filed on Sep. 3, 1999, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method and to a system for displaying location-dependent bookmarks on a computer. 
     When operating a computer, for example a personal computer, in a network group, for example the Internet, there are a multiplicity of addresses which can be accessed by the computer in the network group. In this context, a user uses these addresses purposefully, in order to satisfy particular information requirements. For better clarity, the addresses are stored as bookmarks in lists, with the lists preferably being able to be sorted according to subject in line with the user&#39;s preferences. When “browsers” are used, there are directories of bookmarks which can be grouped and sorted by the user on a suitable basis. In addition, there are also programs which merely provide support for managing the multiplicity of bookmarks. If the user has access to a fully functional computer, e.g. a personal computer, then it is a simple matter for him to find the bookmarks which he needs quickly on a commercially available screen. He can normally use the large screen and the many advance sorting options to obtain a good overview of the bookmarks, and can therefore quickly find the bookmark which he needs in a particular situation. 
     The situation is fundamentally different with a portable computer (e.g. with a Personal Digital Assistant=PDA): such an appliance normally has just a small display unit (display) which cannot show the same quantity of information as a conventional screen. In particular, the portable computer are usually used on a mobile basis, in which case, in particular, there is little time available for bookmarks. 
     International patent application WO 97/07467 discloses a computer system for identifying local resources in which a client computer sends location information to servers, and this server then zoom or move map information on the basis of the location information, and associated information relating to particular points on the map, for example in the form of hypertext, is adjusted as appropriate in the position shown. 
     International patent application WO 98/59506 discloses improvements in or relating to the distribution of information which involve establishing a current position for an enquirer via the telephone system, for example using the cell association with a mobile radio cell, and ascertaining from a database an http address for a local information server which then provides the enquirer with local information. 
     One object of the invention is to display bookmarks on a computer, with this display being geared, in particular, to the location of the computer. 
     The object may be achieved by specifying a method for displaying location-dependent bookmarks on a computer, in which a location is ascertained for the computer. For this location, corresponding bookmarks are ascertained and are displayed on the computer. 
     In one development, the bookmarks are used to access data in a network, in particular the Internet. In another development, the computer is a mobile computer. 
     One refinement relates to the location of the computer being ascertained using a global positioning system (GPS). Alternatively, the location can be determined over a mobile radio network, e.g. GSM, or over a wave LAN. 
     One particular refinement is that a bookmark corresponding to the location of the computer is determined as a result of the information linked to the bookmark being at a prescribed maximum distance from the location of the computer. 
     Another refinement is that resources of the computer are removed to a static system. This is suitable as a preference for small mobile appliances whose computation power and computation capacity are greatly restricted. For complex data access operations and search queries, it is possible to use the static system, which transmits the results of the storage or search query to the mobile system, in particular via a radio interface. 
     In this context, it should be noted that the (mobile) computer can communicate with the network using, in particular, a radio interface e.g. via DECT or GSM. 
     Another refinement is that bookmarks are stored with location information. This storage can be effected both in the (mobile) computer itself or in the network system. In the case of storage in the network group, the (mobile) computer uses a memory location which it interrogates preferably via the air interface, or triggers filter functions via the air interface and displays the result, which is in turn transmitted from the network to the computer. 
     In this context, it should be pointed out that the network preferably comprises a group of computers in which the plurality of computers interchange data with one another. In particular, in the case of storage and access to data in the network group, reference can be made to a (network) computer, by way of representation. An example of a large network group (network) is the Internet. 
     In one development, time information is additionally provided which is used to filter the bookmarks. This time information may, in particular, be suitable for automatically storing the last addresses visited and for offering them to the user when required. Using the combination of time information and location information, the user can be offered the last addresses visited, on the basis of the respective location. This allows fast and very efficient access to bookmarks which, on the basis of the repsective location, provide the user with information which is significant to him. 
     In general, an advantage of the location-related bookmarks is that the user does not need to search for the appropriate addresses on the (mobile) computer, but rather is offered the correct ones quickly. The related access to the data associated with the bookmarks increases the acceptance when handling the computer to the same extent as the efficiency is increased. 
     One example is a travel timetable query, which is very highly dependent on the location of the user. A travel timetable query can thus be made quickly and efficiently from a bus stop, for example. For this bus stop, the departure times and routes can be displayed and hence can inform the user quickly and easily about the time of arrival of the next bus and the rest of the route. 
     It should also be noted that the location information can be subdivided into cells of greater or lesser size. Thus, in a GSM radio network, for example, it is possible to obtain and provide location information accurate to the kilometer. A global positioning system can be used to request and provide location information accurate to several 10 m. The accuracy depends on the respective field of application and on the radio network used. 
     The bookmarks provided with the time information can be stored automatically or manually. Automatic storage works upon selection of the address concerned, i.e. the address visited is stored and provided with a time stamp and a location stamp. Accordingly, an address can also be stored explicitly. 
     One refinement is that a bookmark is linked to a functionality, e.g. “bus timetable”. A content associated with this bookmark is determined dynamically, on the basis of the location and possibly the current time. One option in the “bus timetable” example would be the nearest stop&#39;s timetable with the next departure times and arrival times. 
     The object may be also achieved by specifying a system for displaying location-dependent bookmarks, in which a processor unit is provided which is set up such that a location can be ascertained for the computer. For the location, corresponding bookmarks can be ascertained and displayed. 
     This system is particularly suitable for carrying out the method or one of its developments explained above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the mobile use of location-dependent services; 
         FIG. 2  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the display of location-dependent bookmarks on a computer, where the location information is ascertained by the computer; 
         FIG. 3  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the display of location-dependent bookmarks on a computer, where the location information is ascertained by the network; 
         FIG. 4  shows a sketch illustrating a way of extending the above scenarios by time information; 
         FIG. 5  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario in which fundamental functions of the computer are removed to the network; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sketch illustrating two different methods for creating bookmarks; 
         FIG. 7  shows a processor unit (computer). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the mobile use of location-dependent services. A mobile computer  101 , e.g. a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), is operated by a user  109  in a mobile radio network, indicated by the radio interfaces  104  and  108 . In this case, the mobile computer  101  accesses a network, in particular a network group  110 , for example the Internet. In the “Internet as network group” scenario, it is customary for a subscriber, in this case the mobile computer  101 , to access a service provider (Provider) on behalf of the network group  110 . In this case, the service provider  110  responds, in particular, to the query  104  from the mobile computer  101  and transmits an appropriate response  108  back to the mobile computer  101 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the location of the computer  101  is ascertained (in block  105 ,  106 ) and, on the basis of this location, particular services  107  are offered. 
     Data  103  which is particularly dependent on the location of the computer  101  may be: travel information, emergency services (pharmacies, doctors), tourist attractions, hire cars, entertainment (cinema, theatre), consumer goods (department stores, shopping facilities). 
       FIG. 2  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the display of location-dependent bookmarks on a computer, where the location information is ascertained by the computer. The computer  201 , in particular in the form of a mobile computer, ascertains its location  202  (location information) on the basis of data from a global positioning system (GPS). On the basis of its location  202 , a selection  204  is made from the multiplicity of bookmarks  203  stored on a local basis, and hence the bookmarks  205  relevant to the location of the mobile computer  201  are displayed. Preferably, the bookmarks offered are those whose distance from the location  202  is below a prescribed threshold value. In addition, bookmarks which are independent of the location can be offered (e.g. bookmarks relating to world news). 
     The user  209  can select one of these relevant bookmarks  205 . A communications interface, in this case a GSM channel  206 , is used to transmit the address to a service provider  210 , where a query  207  is started. This query  207  produces a result which is again transmitted via the GSM channel  208  to the user  209 , in particular to the mobile computer  201 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario for the display of location-dependent bookmarks on a computer, where the location information is ascertained by the network. Again, a mobile computer  301  is provided which identifies itself to a service provider  315  using an identifier  302  (identification data  102 —see  FIG. 1 ) which is unique to it. The service provider  315  issues a query and ascertains the position of the mobile computer  301  (see blocks  304  and  305 ). The GSM network, in which it is possible to ascertain the position of a subscriber, is suitable for this purpose. The full duplex radio interface is identified in  FIG. 3  by the communication arrows  303 ,  308  and  311 . The position data  305  ascertained by the service provider  315  is transmitted to the mobile computer  301 . There, on the basis of the location information  305 , a selection  307  is made from a multiplicity of bookmarks  306  stored on a local basis on the mobile computer  301 . This results in a selection of bookmarks  309  which are relevant to the location and which the user  310  can use to retrieve particular information (indicated by the arrow  314 ). This query  314  is transmitted to the service provider  315  (transmission arrow  311 ) and is processed there (see block  312 ). The result  313  of the query  314  or  311  is transmitted back to the mobile computer  301  and is displayed to the user  310 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a sketch illustrating an extension of the above scenarios by time information. On the basis of  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3 , a selection  402  from a multiplicity of bookmarks  401  is made on the basis of the location information  403 , of time information  404  and/or of a timetable  405 . The result of the selection is bookmarks  406  matching the selection filter. The selection on the basis of the location information  403  delivers bookmarks matching the location of the mobile computer. In addition, these bookmarks are filtered with regard to their time stamp. By way of example, this may be a filter function of the following type: “The same bookmarks at the same location at the same time”. 
     In addition, time planning can be effected in connection with the location, so that an appointment reminder  405  is issued automatically when paying a visit to the noted place. This appointment reminder  405  relates, in particular, to the query for a particular address in the network group. By way of example: “Every Monday, when visiting the XY area, start query with regional press service.” 
     The filters  403  to  405  can be combined in any combination (and/or) with one another. 
       FIG. 5  shows a sketch illustrating a scenario in which fundamental functions of the computer  501  are removed to the network  502 . With a very low power mobile computer  501 , it is advantageous to remove the computation- and memory-intensive operations to the network  502 , which has plenty of resources. 
     The mobile computer  501  transmits its identifier  503  to the network  502 . There, the position of the mobile computer  501  is firstly ascertained (see block  504 ), and secondly the bookmarks  505  stored by the network  502  are filtered in the manner described above (filter according to timetable  506 , time  507  and position  508 ). The selection  509  delivers some of the bookmarks  505  back to the mobile computer  501 . The user  512  selects a bookmark  511 , and a query in the network  502  is started (block  510 ). The result is transmitted to the mobile computer  501  and hence to the user  512 . 
     In this scenario, it is particularly advantageous for the mobile computer  501 , optimized in terms of weight and user friendliness, to remove functions to the network  502 . In the network  502 , the mobile computer  501  is given an area  513  (domain) created for it which comprises all its bookmarks  505  and the timetable  506  which is characteristic of it. Preferably, other basic functionalities relating to additional storage of other bookmarks in the network  502  and to editing of these bookmarks are provided in the mobile computer  501 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a sketch illustrating two different methods for creating bookmarks. 
     If the user is able to select information  601 , that is to say is able to visit its associated address, this is done by explicit selection, in conventional network browsers by clicking on a highlighted destination address. This specific selection  602  causes, in particular, the time  604  at which the information was requested and the location  603 , that is to say from where the information was requested, also to be logged. These two items of information—location  603  and time of the query  604 —are stored together  605  with the destination address of the information  601 . This is equivalent to automatic storage of bookmarks. 
     One alternative is explicit storage of bookmarks  607 . In this case, for the bookmark which is to be stored, the location information  608 , that is to say the location of the mobile computer, is requested and both the address and the location address are stored together  609  in the bookmarks  610 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a processor unit PRZE. The processor unit PRZE comprises a processor CPU, a memory MEM and an input/output interface IOS which is used in various ways via an interface IFC: a graphics interface is used to visualize an output on a monitor MON and/or to output it on a printer PRT. Input is effected using a mouse MAS or a keyboard TAST. The processor unit PRZE also has a data bus BUS ensuring connection of a memory MEM, the processor CPU and the input/output interface IOS. Additional components can also be connected to the data bus BUS, e.g. an additional memory, data store (hard disk) or scanner. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.