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Systems and methods for automatically accessing Internet information and local applications from another local application on a handheld Internet appliance is provided. The systems and methods of the present invention consist of a software solution that enables users of handheld Internet appliances to interact with the Internet and other local applications from any local application in the handheld Internet appliance. Each local application is equipped with a user interface to enable users quick and easy access to Internet information and other local applications.

Inventors: David K. Rensin, John Miniati, George Williams, Joshua Flank
Original Assignee: Earthlink, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Moustafa M. Meky
Attorneys: Smith Frohwein Tempel Greenlee Blaha, LLC, Gregory Scott Smith
Current U.S. Classification: 709/217; 707/E17.119; 709/203

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Citations

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Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US7693956Mar 25, 2003Apr 6, 2010Michael Z. MoriczAccessing deep web information using a search engine
US7716303Nov 8, 2006May 11, 2010Accessing deep web information associated with transportation services using a search engine
US7730160Feb 27, 2007Jun 1, 2010Accessing deep web information associated with hospitality services using a search engine
US8117073Sep 17, 2004Feb 14, 2012Rearden Commerce, Inc.Method and system for delegation of travel arrangements by a temporary agent

Claims

1. A system for automatically accessing Internet information from a first local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising:

a software plug-in to automatically launch a second local application from the first local application and to automatically transfer information obtained from a web site and stored in a local database in the handheld Internet appliance to the second local application;

a user interface in the first local application to enable a user to launch the second local application from the first local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to the second local application; and

the local database programmed to store the information obtained from the web site; wherein the user interface in an address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient; extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein mapping an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped; launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and automatically filling the web site's URL with the address to be mapped.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address from which driving directions are requested; launching a web site providing driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the starting address with the data record.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a destination address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location is desired; launching a web site providing addresses of commercial locations in a given neighborhood; automatically filling the web site's URL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data record selected from the address book application.

7. A system for automatically accessing Internet information from a first local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising:

a software plug-in to automatically launch a second local application and a web site from the first local application;

a user interface in the first local application to enable a user to launch the second local application and the web site from the first local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to the second local application and the web site, wherein the user interface in an address book application comprises links to enable the user to perfonn a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and finding a commercial location newest to an address stored in the address book application;

wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested; launching a web site providing driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record and

a database programmed to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

8. A system for automatically accessing Internet information from a first local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising:

a software plug-in to automatically launch a second local application and a web site from the first local application;

a user interface in the first local application to enable a user to launch the second local application and the web site from the first local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to the second local application and the web site, wherein the user interface in an address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application; and

wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient; extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record; and further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a starting address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application; and

a database progranmied to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

9. A method for automatically launching a plurality of local applications and a plurality of web sites from an already open local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the method comprising:

providing a software plug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already open local application and to obtain information required by the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from another web site;

providing a user interface in the already open local application to enable a user to launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already open local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications and each of the web sites from the plurality of web sites; and

providing a database programmed to store the information required to create the links in the user interface; and wherein the user interface in an address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient; extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; and automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein mapping an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped; launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and automatically filling the web site's URL with the address to be mapped.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested; launching a web site providing driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a starting address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address from which driving directions are requested; launching a web site providing driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the starting address with the data record.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a destination address with an address selected by the user and stored in the address book application.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location is desired; launching a web site providing addresses of commercial locations in a given neighborhood; automatically filling the web site's URL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data record selected from the address book application.

17. A handheld Internet appliance for accessing a plurality of local applications and a plurality of web sites, the handheld Internet appliance comprising:

a main menu with buttons for accessing the plurality of local applications;

a wireless modem for connecting to the Internet;

a plurality of software routines for accessing the Internet;

a software plug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from an already launched local application;
a user interface to enable a user to launch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of web sites from the already launched local application, the user interface comprising a button to display a menu with links to each of the local applications from the plurality of local applications and each of the web sites from the plurality of web sites, wherein the user interface in an address book application comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application; getting driving directions from an address stored in the address book application; and finding a commercial location nearest to an address stored in the address book application, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the address book application comprises: selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the data record comprising the address to which driving directions are requested; launching a web site providing driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to the destination address with the data record; and
a database prograninied to store the information required to create the links in the user interface.

Drawings