System and method for alerting a first mobile data processing system nearby a second mobile data processing system

[0001] This application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/207,080, filed Aug. 18, 2005, entitled “System and Method for Anonymous Location Based Services”, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/823,386, filed Apr. 12, 2004, and entitled “System and Method for Proactive Content Delivery By Situational Location”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,187,997, issued Mar. 6, 2007, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/167,532, filed Jun. 11, 2002, and entitled “System and Method for Proactive Content Delivery By Situational Location”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,731,238, issued May 4, 2004, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/589,328 filed Jun. 7, 2000, and entitled “System and Method for Proactive Content Delivery By Situational Location”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,234, issued Sep. 24, 2002.

[0002] Included in filing this application are two (2) CD-ROMs which are identical copies. The CD-ROMs were each created on Jul. 3, 2007. The files were originated and maintained on a Microsoft Windows operating system and are compatible with Windows operating systems or any other operating system that can handle the file types described below. The files represent a small selection of source file examples of implemented parts of the present application. Files were each created at various dates and may have been edited thereafter at various dates. “Created” dates are derived from the source code headers assuming the file creator ensured an accurate date, however there may be earlier versions of different named files which evolved into the resulting files below. The “Modified” dates are last modified dates automatically maintained by a Windows operating system at Central Standard Time. Contents of each CD-ROM are the following:

[0003]

			Created;
File name	Size	Format	Modified	Description
convdegs.asp	5	KB	ASCII text	Dec. 3, 2004;	Javascript include file example for
				May 1, 2005	converting decimal degrees to
					D, M, S, P/H
Default.asp	10	KB	ASCII text	Sep. 12, 2004;	GPSPing.com home page example
				Dec. 18, 2004
gpstools.asp	8	KB	ASCII text	Dec. 3, 2004;	Javascript include file example for
				May 1, 2005	Active-X device GPS interface
gsec.asp	35	KB	ASCII text	Sep. 25, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous heartbeat
				Dec. 18, 2004	processing example (e.g. for cell
					phone)
gseclog.asp	8	KB	ASCII text	Oct. 4, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous device
				Dec. 17, 2004	logon example to retrieve Registry
					Table fields for heartbeats
mcdcchdr.asp	39	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous Delivery
				Dec. 17, 2004	Manager control header processing
					example
Mcdg.asp	28	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous heartbeat
				Dec. 18, 2004	processing example driven from
					Delivery Manager GUI
svcautom.asp	10	KB	ASCII text	Dec. 6, 2004;	VBScript GPSPing.com Service
				Dec. 24, 2004	page example
tigermap.pdf	9,076	KB	Adobe PDF	Hard copy	Scanned printout of
				Apr. 2, 2005;	http://tiger.census.gov/instruct.html
				Aug. 16, 2005	free map service manual
woptions.asp	2	KB	ASCII text	Feb. 11, 2005;	VBScript WAP WML options
				Mar. 20, 2005	example (e.g. for minimal
					capability cell phone)
Xmcd.asp	12	KB	ASCII text	Sep. 12, 2004;	VBScript heterogenous logon page
				Mar. 18, 2005	example
xmcdlout.asp	4	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 4, 2004;	VBScript heterogenous logout page
				Mar. 17, 2005	example
xoptions.asp	11	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous members
				Mar. 29, 2005	area options example
Zdeliv.asp	10	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous Delivery
				Dec. 16, 2004	Manager frames setup page
					example
Zdinit.asp	3	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous
				Dec. 15, 2004	initialization page example
zgpsdash.asp	10	KB	ASCII text	Jun. 26, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous GPS real-
				Dec. 15, 2004	time collection dashboard example
Zmast.asp	17	KB	ASCII text	Apr. 14, 2004;	VBScript heterogeneous device
				Dec. 17, 2004	Master processing example

[0004] The present invention relates generally to location dependent delivery of information to mobile data processing systems, and more particularly to a system for delivering situational location dependent content to data processing system devices traveling to locations for, or in directions of, that place which delivery content is designated as deliverable. Further generally related is location based services and internet accessed automated web services.

[0005] The boom of the internet has greatly provided information to mobile users through wireless web server connected devices such as laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and telephones. People with an internet enabled device can access yahoo.com (yahoo is a trademark of Yahoo corporation) and other internet connected resources. There are also Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that enable mobile users to know exactly where they are on a particular map. Users with GPS device functionality can further manually enter their known location into an internet MAP directory service (e.g. yahoo.com Maps) and then provide a target address they want to go to. Step by step instructions are then provided to the user for how to get to the destination from the current location. Some GPS devices provide local processing for directing, and narrating to, a driver. Mating automated location finding systems with internet travel direction services is an attractive blend.

[0006] Cadillac recently announced the OnStar program with sales of Cadillac automobiles (Cadillac and OnStar are trademarks of General Motors corporation). A person is enabled with calling upon an “OnStar Advisor” 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with the press of a button. An emergency call, for example 911, or for a disabled Cadillac vehicle, allows a driver to instantly call upon wireless connected assistance. The driver may also call upon the OnStar Advisor for directions to a destination. The Advisor has access to automatic processing for determination of the vehicle's current location in case of auto theft, a disabled vehicle, or assisting with directions. The Advisor can also remotely unlock the vehicle should the driver lock the keys in the car. In effect, Cadillac drivers have full time wireless connected assistance around the clock for many reasons. While the location determination of the vehicle is automatic, there remain manual processes performed by the Advisor. Automation of some of these processes is desirable.

[0007] Many internet services derive their revenue stream from advertising. Advertisers pay to have their content delivered to users who access website and web server interfaces. Advertisers desire to target their audience at the most appropriate time. Knowing the location of a user as being relevant to a particular advertisement is desirable. Automating the delivery of the content is desirable.

[0008] A method is needed for a low cost business model that enables the efficient configuration of deliverable content for automatic delivery to mobile users based on their situational location that is relevant to receive such content.

[0009] To make such services attractive to consumers, quality deliverable content is needed, an environment promoting anonymous use is desirable, and additional complementary location based services will enhance the experience and entice consumers to use services. Consumers are concerned with privacy so location based services should be sensitive to privacy concerns. A model providing private and anonymous location based services without limitation of functionality is desirable.

[0010] Two companies, uLocate.com and dodgeball.com, have developed internet accessed websites for making use of user location information (uLocate.com and dodgeball.com are respective trademarks of the website companies). The uLocate.com website lacks full automation, automated registration, privilege assignments, different user types, and does not contain the many other features disclosed below in this application. The dodgeball.com website does not leverage automatic location capability using GPS or triangulation. Text messages have to be manually entered for features and functionality of the website. A globally accessed website is needed that integrates a better mode of such classes of websites using automated features, along with many new features not offered by the websites to provide an enhanced set of location based services.

[0011] Different users use different types of devices: laptops, tablet PCs, PDAs, cell phones, etc. An automated website that supports location enhanced services for heterogeneous devices is needed. This should include any mobile device capable of communicating with a web service. Automated account registration, automated billing, and high performance support for mass numbers of users is desirable. Automated deletion of obsolete accounts and data is also desirable. Eliminating the use of (or at least minimizing) human resource operations is reasonable. The websites yahoo.com, google.com, and ebay.com have demonstrated well the ability to provide valuable services to a large dispersed geographic audience through the internet without many human resources to keep the basic operations an on-going business concern (ebay, yahoo, and google are trademarks of the respective website companies). Location enhanced services can be developed to provide a similar model.

[0012] Users should have the ability to customize their experience with a website not only in how they interact with the service user interface, but how the service functionality behaves in accordance to user preferences. Users should have complete control over their devices and how they interact with a service through conveniently maintained configurations. All functionality should be provided so users are anonymous and can help themselves to the service.

[0013] Not only should deliverable content be configured for targeting mobile users, but the mobile users should also be able to configure deliverable content for other mobile users with novel functionality of interaction and interoperability. Novel methods are further desirable for convenient configuration of the content as well as the convenient configuration of applicable situational locations used to deem delivery of the content. In cases where an indicator is more desirable in place of associated content, users should have the ability to customize delivery indicators. Delivery indicators provide a high performance method for delivery and perhaps provide an element of privacy in cases where content is delivered over an unencrypted communications link. There should be the utmost respect for privacy. Encrypted communications sessions are desirable regardless of the content delivered. People do not want third parties knowing their situational locations, or the content that is delivered based on their situational locations.

[0014] The present invention provides transmission of situational location dependent information from a server data processing system (SDPS) to a receiving data processing system (RDPS). The server data processing system (SDPS) communicates with the receiving data processing system (RDPS) by pushing content (i.e. proactive content delivery) when appropriate, rather than in response to a user query. A candidate delivery event associated with a current positional attribute of the receiving data processing system is recognized and a situational location of the remote data processing system is determined. The candidate delivery event may be a location and/or direction change, device state change, or movement exceeding a movement tolerance. The situational location of the remote data processing system may be its location, direction, location and direction, proximity to a location, state change, or location and/or direction relative to a previous location and/or direction, or combinations thereof. At the SDPS, a set of delivery content from a deliverable content database is retrieved according to the situational location of the RDPS, and according to system delivery constraints and/or configured user delivery constraints. The SDPS transmits any applicable content found to the RDPS. The delivery content is configurable by authorized administrators in a manner that enables the configured content for immediate delivery should a RDPS meet the criteria of the associated situational location and delivery constraints.

[0015] Various embodiments with respect to recognizing a candidate delivery event and determining a situational location include:

• • [0016] the SDPS recognizes the candidate delivery event (e.g. various wireless embodiments and physical connection embodiments)
  • [0017] the RDPS recognizes the candidate delivery event (e.g. GPS and some wireless)
  • [0018] the SDPS determines the situational location associated with the candidate delivery event which may have been determined by the RDPS and communicated to the SDPS, or determined by the SDPS
  • [0019] the RDPS determines the situational location associated with the candidate delivery event and communicates the information to the SDPS for further processing

[0020] A situational location is completely determined for the RDPS upon the candidate delivery event. Content that can be delivered is fully configurable, of any type, and can be instantly activated for candidate delivery upon convenient administration. As well known in the art of software installation, the present invention may be installed to a variety of network embodiments and underlying operating systems through installation parameters, or as distinct installations for the particular platform. Preferably, an internet connection is used for configuring deliverable content, and for the interoperation of communications between the RDPS and SDPS.

[0021] The present invention enables a user of a RDPS to be made aware of content that is applicable for the current situational location of the user. Depending on the application of the present invention, the content and configurations will take on a variety of themes.

[0022] For example, in an outdoor wireless embodiment of the present invention, advertisement content can be configured by paying customer advertisers through an internet web interface, and then automatically delivered to people when the people are in a location, or heading path to a location, for reasonable delivery of the content to their automobile installed, or handheld, RDPS. For example, as a driver or pedestrian (i.e. user) approaches a retail store with a mobile RDPS, a configured advertisement of a special deal at the retail store can be proactively delivered (i.e. pushed) to the user automatically on behalf of the store. Likewise, an indoor wireless embodiment of the present invention enables the driver or pedestrian, now a shopper inside the store, to receive configured content to a shopping cart mounted, or handheld, RDPS directing the shopper to specific sales items as the shopper moves about the inside of the store.

[0023] In another application, a policeman may activate a mobile police automobile device (i.e. RDPS) in a police car for automatic delivery of a person's criminal record as the policeman drives by the location of a person's house. The police establishment configures criminal record content, or pointers thereto, along with the location of the residence that is believed to harbor the person with a record. As the policeman drives by locations with addresses of known offenders, the RDPS displays applicable criminal data. Of course, the policeman can enable or disable the functionality as needed.

[0024] In another application, a traveling vehicle, for example a touring bus, carries tourists for a narrated drive through a geographic area. Currently, there are human narrators for providing narration of sites and landmarks to people of the narrated drive. The present invention allows configuring deliverable content for locations on the touring bus path so that an automated narrator RDPS installed in the bus can be provided to people on the bus. For example, an RDPS providing audio, video, multimedia, or combination thereof, communicates narration content to people on the touring bus automatically as locations are encountered, or driven by.

[0025] In another application, a person attending a large park (e.g. Disney World (Disney World is a trademark of Walt Disney corporation)) could simply carry a RDPS, and receive content to a handheld device for what attraction lies ahead based on the current location and direction of the person. The person would not have to consult a directory or ask where to find something. Informative content would be proactively delivered, rather than reactively in response to a person's manual query to a service, or question to a human being.

[0026] In yet a further example, a valuable use would be for emergencies such as when a child is kidnapped. Currently, there is an Amber-Alert mechanism in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tex. where radio stations broadcast an emergency message along with a distinguishable series of tones. This enables any pertinent information known about the kidnapper and child to be broadcast immediately to everyone with the radio on. The present invention enables the emergency broadcast to be immediately configured and then communicated to everyone with a RDPS, for example with a wireless internet connection. A picture of the victim and other multimedia information could be delivered along with audio immediately.

[0027] In still a further use of the present invention, garage sale and estate sale advertisements could be configured on behalf of paying customers that would otherwise use a newspaper classified section. As drivers become in reasonably close proximity to the sale, in the desired time window, advertisement content would be proactively delivered to a wireless RDPS installed, or handheld, in the automobile.

[0028] Thus, there are many applications for the present invention, all accomplished through simply changing the way the present invention is used. Content is pushed out to receiving devices at the most appropriate times. Users do not pull the content with a query.

[0029] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention in supporting a variety of applications and uses. The way the invention is used makes it applicable to a wide range of applications. For example, a deliverable content database can be configured with content that is appropriate for the particular application. Situational location parameters associated with the particular application are also variable, provided the installed methodology is utilized consistently. For example, world coordinates, GPS coordinates, regional coordinates, MAPSCO references, Application Address Book locations and directions, a user's caller id, a cell number in a cellular network, and like means used to describe a location can be used. Directional information of North, South, East, West, Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, Up, Down, Left, Right, Straight, Back, and like methods used to describe a direction can be used. Further still, there are delivery constraints that can be set up for a system, or configured by a user, which provides flexibility in adapting to a variety of applications.

[0030] It is another advantage of the present invention in providing deliverable content to a person, based on the situational location of the person. Content is pushed to a user's RDPS when it is most appropriate for the user to see the content.

[0031] It is another advantage of the present invention in automatically recognizing a candidate delivery event of a RDPS and automatically determining a situational location of the RDPS. A user is not burdened with providing information on a query. The present invention automatically determines when content should be delivered and then automatically and proactively delivers it. Content is pushed to the user (of the RDPS). The user is not burdened with pulling content via a query.

[0032] It is a further advantage of the present invention to deliver any type, variety, or combination of content. The content is fully configurable by an authorized administrator who may be a paying customer for the privilege of performing configurations. Upon configuration, the content is immediately and instantly activated for proactive delivery to any RDPS meeting the configured criteria. Content may be audio, video, graphical, textual, multimedia, intranet/internet web address(es) activated for transposable selection, image, or any combination thereof.

[0033] It is another advantage in maintaining a history of delivered content at the RDPS with information that is useful for later browsing. Contained therein is information relevant to the delivered content. Additionally, provided is an invocable speed address enabling the user to transpose to a web address, or perform a speed dial phone call, that is associated with the delivered content.

[0034] Yet another advantage of the present invention is providing new and useful query functionality for querying the total number of known receiving data processing systems for a particular situational location, querying any content configured for delivery to a particular situational location with a comprehensive variety of query parameters, and querying up to a maximum threshold number of deliverable content instances for a particular location in a manner which automatically determines containing (ascending) locations, if necessary, until the specified number is met.

[0035] A further advantage is to provide a web service in the context of successful website (web service) offerings such as yahoo.com, google.com, and ebay.com. A web service is a service that is accessed via the public internet. These websites permit users from all over the globe to participate in website functionality. The anonymity, flexibility, functionality, and availability of a web service disclosed herein falls into a similar category for offering consumers enticing services and making them easy to use, while eliminating human resources required for operating the service. The web service disclosed herein is completely automated and does not require a single human being to operate it. Users of the site interoperate and use the web service functionality through completely automated services. The web service maintains itself and its data in response to how the users use the service. Users can remain anonymous while taking advantage of exciting location based services, and the users have full control over how they interact with other users through the service.

[0036] Two other websites (web services), uLocate.com and dodgeball.com are missing a multitude of features in fully automating their features and functionality. The web service embodiment discussed herein provides a superior fully automated experience for users seeking location based services in richness of features and functionality not found elsewhere.

[0037] A further advantage includes implementing a web service as a hub between different user types for configuring deliverable content and for receiving deliverable content during mobile activity with heterogeneous communications devices. Another advantage is making the web service reasonably anonymous for protecting the privacy of users, but at the same time providing enough information to support statistical inferences and reports. Regardless of the anonymity, granular privacy configurations are provided for full user control over what other users can and cannot do in interoperating with each other through the web services.

[0038] A further advantage includes supporting a plurality of different user types with different incentives to use the web service. For example, content providers are incented to provide quality content for reaching mobile users, and for receiving statistics about market conditions based on targeted content deliveries that are actually delivered. Mobile users are incented to use the service because of richness of location based service features not found anywhere else in the world. A Site Owner is incented to deploy the service for providing a value add to mobile users in return for business provided by paying user types, understanding market conditions, controlling the quality of information communicated in a particular application, or simply having the many features available for a specific application. Quality deliverable content is scoped by the group of associated users.

[0039] Yet another advantage herein is for promoting anonymous use and the utmost privacy. Consumer privacy is respected through granular privacy configuration as well as a reasonably anonymous specification of information for creating an account to the service. Encrypted communications sessions are used wherever possible regardless of the content delivered.

[0040] Yet another advantage is providing map based solutions, user defined deliverable content through a variety of convenient specification methods, a user defined mobile interest radius for targeting which mobile point on earth to deliver content, a user defined hit radius for targeting which area on earth to target content deliveries to mobile users who travel there, and full user customization for how content deliveries are to be made. A mobile interest radius and/or hit radius can be defaulted so a user does not have to configure it.

[0041] A further advantage is in providing a global, fully scalable, high performance web service that automates many of the manual value add features of websites such as yahoo.com, google.com, ebay.com, uLocate.com and dodgeball.com. Automation provided herein:

• • [0042] Enables users to completely customize their experience with the web service through user preferences, profiles, privileges, and account related configurations;
  • [0043] Enables users to set up proactive search capability so users are not required to spend time waiting, or looking, for search results;
  • [0044] Brings buyers and sellers together through automatically determining relative situational locations, or mobile user proximity to situational locations of the good being sold, or the mobile locations of purchasers seeking goods at desirable locations;
  • [0045] Provides superior map solutions in the context of interoperability between mobile users; and
  • [0046] Improves the communications experience between business associates, family, friends, or any other group of people where an enhanced location based communications will enhance the lives of the people involved.

[0047] Still another advantage herein is for support of heterogeneous locatable devices. Different people like different types of devices. Laptops, Tablet PCs, PDAs, cell phones, and any other communications device is supported. Complete automation of account registration, account management, automated billing, and web service interoperability is provided for eliminating human resource operations to operate the services. Locating functionality can be provided to a device through local automatic location detection means or by automatic location detection means remote to the device. Automatic location detection means determines the whereabouts of a device, and examples include GPS (Global Positioning System) chips, GPS accessories, blue-tooth connected GPS, triangulated location determination, cell-tower triangulated location, antenna triangulated location, in-range proximity based location detection, combinations thereof, or by any other automatic location detection means. The NexTel GPS enabled iSeries cell phones provide excellent examples for use as mobile devices 2540. This includes Nextel phones i325, i58sr, i710, i733, i736, i830, i860, and i88S (Nextel is a trademark of Nextel corporation). Blue-tooth enabled cell phones, PDAs, and other devices also provide excellent examples for use as mobile devices 2540. In one embodiment, the GPS functionality is adapted with a blue-tooth wireless connection between the device(s) and the GPS receiver, often up to as much as 30 feet apart with distances increasing. This disclosure supports any device with GPS functionality regardless of how the GPS functionality is provided to, or for, the device. Many PDAs and cell phones may be blue-tooth enabled which provides the ability to adapt GPS locating means to the device. This disclosure also supports proximity location means which involves a device coming within range of a detecting means for determining a known location. Being within range of the detecting means implies locating the device by associating it to the location of the detecting means. There are various wireless detection methods and implementations well know in the art for knowing when a device comes into range of communications.

[0048] Another advantage is in providing a deep integrated set of mapping solutions, convenient situational location specification interfaces, and complete user control for how information is delivered, whether it be by email, SMS messages, cell phone voice connectivity, internet/intranet browser contexts, or any other communications method.

[0049] An advantage as disclosed herein is in providing a fully automated web service for a variety of applications. One embodiment is to provide a completely free service to consumers with only the content providers being the paying customers. Consumers are enticed to use the web service by its unprecedented quality of free features offered while the content providers are enticed to use the service because of the large base of consumers attracted in using the free services. Consumers and content providers can conveniently join the service through any web browser. Nothing prevents a person from opening, managing, and closing their own accounts. Further provided is automated billing and account maintenance. Internet connectivity into the web service is all that is required. A reasonable account validation is incorporated to determine that a person opening an account is indeed who he claims to be without asking for personal information perceived to be too personal.

[0050] A further feature and advantage is to incorporate an SQL (Standard Query Language) data model for users accounts, device management, content management, user interface management, and in every reasonable aspect of the web service. This model allows leveraging useful features such as backup/restore, high performance I/O (input/output) transactions, heterogeneously developed source code, platform and operating system independence of the implementation, and a proven scalable foundation upon which to build services.

[0051] Yet a further advantage herein is security. Each user interface contains access control for enforcing who gets access to which interfaces. Further provided are encrypted communications sessions in appropriate contexts to the web services. An authenticated logon is provided, and automatic transposition to web service options is performed if it is determined that a successful logon had taken place before within a reasonable timeframe from the same device, thereby to prevent burdening the user with repetitively logging on with credentials. User types into the web service have different privileges.

[0052] Another advantage is full user customization wherever possible in web service interfaces, delivery processing, custom reports, device profiles, delivery indicators, deliverable content, and wherever it makes sense to have flexibility without adding too much complexity.

[0053] It is yet another advantage in having tremendous flexibility and automation in specifying deliverable content as well as for specifying the criteria for when and how to deliver the content. Content can be resident in a DCDB (Deliverable Content Database), or provided dynamically on the fly from remote sources as defined by the DCDB schema and configurations therein.

[0054] It is yet another advantage to facilitate managing a particular user's data in the web service through convenient record adds, record searches, record list processing, record modification, plural record modification, record deletion, plural record deletion, record examination, and plural record examination.

[0055] It is a further advantage in automating the user specification of DCDB situational locations for configured deliverable content with GPS coordinate retrieval, map selections, circular area selections, rectangular area selections, polygon area selections, address specifications, locations by subscriber identifier, and any other means for identifying a physical location and/or location area or location space. A situational location may include an area on earth, a point on earth, or a three dimensional bounds in space. A mobile user target may include an area on earth, a point on earth, or a three dimensional bounds in space. Content targeted for delivery may result in it being delivered to mobile devices encountering a situational location or may result in delivery of an indicator for the content. Indicators are user configurable by the receiving device for how to receive content, by the Content Provider for how to send content, and/or by system default behavior. Indicators may also be delivered dynamically based on content size, target device types, target device situational location, target device state, criteria contained in the deliverable content, of any other condition associated with the target mobile device, the circumstances of the deliverable content, and/or the deliverable content itself.

[0056] It is a further advantage in providing automation for transforming external application data sources into the deliverable content database, and subsequently maintaining the data. External application data sources are existing application data sources used by otherwise unrelated applications that can provide a convenient database of delivery information, depending on the application. External application data sources provide the data for existing applications that normally may not have a relationship otherwise. External application data source examples include automatically processable data formats such as electronically represented Almanac database(s), Guinness Book of World Records database(s), Multiple Listing Service (MLS) real estate database(s), Fishing Area Knowledge Base database(s), Product Advertisement Shopping database(s), Asset Inventory database(s), newspaper classified ad data, address to coordinate mapping data, postal address to latitude and longitude mapping data, or any other database, data format, or combinations thereof, containing useful information for automatic population of the deliverable content database.

[0057] Multiple databases and information can also be merged and/or processed for automatic population of the deliverable content database. For example, a large eBay database of advertised goods content (eBay is a trademark of eBay corporation) may contain the seller's location (or location of merchandise) information along with the advertisement in the form of postal address information. Another vendor database may provide latitude and longitude information for known postal addresses. In one example, eBay database location address information is replaced with the corresponding latitude and longitude information from the address mapping database when transforming the eBay data into the deliverable content database. This allows transforming data into the deliverable content database for appropriate situational location matching to situational locations of participating devices. In other embodiments, location information associated with deliverable content (e.g. addresses, zip codes, MAPSCO, etc) is replaced with an appropriate location description from another database (e.g. latitude and longitude, earth mapping grid reference, etc) during automatic population of the deliverable content database. In fact, this disclosure allows transforming any data for any reason from a plurality of data sources in order to achieve an appropriately populated deliverable content database. Data can also be accessed when needed so it need not be stored local to web service 2102.

[0058] Existing useful data sources are leveraged for automatic population of the deliverable content database in order to minimize, or eliminate, timely creation and maintaining of data in the deliverable content database.

[0059] Yet another advantage is to provide an automated generic transform and maintenance environment for the deliverable content database. This includes automatic transform functionality to transform a variety of data source formats into the deliverable content database using run-time configurable pre-transform rules for affecting transform methodologies. Further provided is an automated post-transform data manipulator for automatically transforming the data once it is contained in the deliverable content database.

[0060] Data may also be transformed at delivery time (on the fly) from remote sources so content need not be contained in the DCDB. Pointers and information enabling the instant delivery of remotely accessed content may instead be contained within the DCDB.

[0061] It is another advantage to provide functionality for assigning granulated privileges from any particular user to any other particular user, or group of users. A further feature provides an affinity relationship allowing one user to act on behalf of another user, or on behalf of a groups of other users. The web service functionality “out of the box” guarantees full privacy and no users are aware of other users. The privileges provide means for full user control to open up additional services for collaboration, interoperability of novel location based services, sharing user information, viewing user information, and many other features discussed in detail below for users interacting with other users.

[0062] Another advantage is providing a comprehensive set of find services, statistics, historical routes, and reports to users in accordance with privacy privileges easily configured any time through a web service interface. As soon as a convenient configuration is made, the privileges and corresponding functionality instantly take affect. There is no delay, or waiting period, for any configuration change. Map preferences are also user configurable so each user gets the map interface to behave exactly as they want it.

[0063] Another advantage includes maintaining user configured evidence as a web service cookie, frame variable, system variable, or data file variable with a long term expiration. Subsequent navigations to an interface using such evidence causes automatic population of the evidence into fields or other real-estate of the user interface. That way the user sets preferences one time which becomes in effect for all subsequent applicable service interfaces. In general, all interfaces of the web service 2102 can default user interface fields using the evidence from previous user configurations.

[0064] Another advantage is providing a user interface filtering methodology for automatically filtering out undesirable data in every web service interface without requiring the user to filter out the same data in each individual interface. A user sets filter criteria one time, and all web service interfaces reflect the filters that were configured by the user. Filtering criteria is conveniently set by map selections, or manually entered data.

[0065] Yet a further advantage is a fully configurable delivery manager conveniently invoked from a command line or from a user interface form. The preferred embodiment of every web service page interface herein supports either a command line invocation (e.g. with URL (Uniform Resource Locator) arguments) or form fields submittal. The delivery manager is for delivering content in response to automatic determination for a device situational location. Disclosed is a Master and Archive for facilitating the content delivery experience. Web service participating devices have a Master and an Archive. A Master contains all content deliveries to a device that have been made. Only a single copy of the content is maintained in the Master, but a date/time stamp is updated if content is delivered redundantly (to indicate the last time the content was pushed). A user can move content items from the Master to an Archive when content items are desired to be saved for the long term. The Archive will contain any number of content items that a user has selected to save from the Master to the Archive. The Archive also does not contain duplicates. The date/time stamp reflects the last time a content item was delivered, or alternatively can reflect when it is last moved to the Archive. As long as a content item remains in the Master, it will not alert the user of a new delivery no matter how many times that item is redundantly delivered. When it is moved to the Archive, then it is eligible again to notify the user of being a new delivery should it be delivered again. The Master and Archive for each device facilitates control over alerting a user of deliveries based on historical deliveries already made. The Master provides the user with control over ensuring redundant deliveries do not produce redundant alerts (only the timestamp is updated to reflect the most recent delivery of the same delivery item). The user can remove an entry from the Master for being re-alerted to another delivery of the same item at a different situational location. The Archive provides the user with control over saving deliveries of interest while ensuring no duplicates are in the Archive. The user can also save deliveries off-line to a file for other applications. The Delivery Manager preferably enforces an authentication of every device that uses it. Preferably the authentication is not the same as a user account authentication, although they could be one in the same in an embodiment. A single user account may manage a plurality of devices, so it is desirable that each device have its own authentication. The delivery manager provides a thorough set of controls for each user to the web service for managing what content gets delivered, how often content is proactively searched, and any preferences and/or configurations of the receiving device for desired web service behavior.

[0066] Yet a further advantage is for complete management of a device cache for proactive content delivery by situational location. Options are provided to users for improving the web service performance and experience through having a plurality of DCDB items delivered to the device in advance of traveling to applicable situational locations. The device cache is optimized for local delivery while still providing the experience for frequently changing dynamic data to be delivered to applicable mobile devices as soon as it is configured, modified, or added.

[0067] Another advantage is to share experiences (e.g. content deliveries) of one user with other user(s). Content deliveries and/or configurations can be shared between users' data processing systems, and in accordance with privileges granted to various users or systems. The disclosed web service enables users to automatically register membership accounts and provides location based services thereafter. An enhanced location based services experience is provided for users wanting to interact with other users through the web service. Users can grant location based services privileges to other users through the web service user interfaces. Users can perform location based service actions on other users in accordance with location based services privileges that have been granted. For example, a first user grants a set of location based services privileges to a second user. The second user can then use location based services provided in the web service on the first user in accordance with the privileges granted. Privileges assure privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity. Detailed descriptions are presented below in how this works.

[0068] Users, or a group of user(s), can provide privileges to other user(s), group(s) of users, device(s), or group(s) of device(s). Users, group of user(s), device(s), or group(s) of device(s) can be provided with privileges from other user(s), or group(s) of user(s), device(s), or group(s) of device(s). In one embodiment, privileges are assigned to participating devices (i.e. data processing systems). In another embodiment, privileges are assigned to users independent of the device a user happens to be using at the time. Specific privileges can be assigned in the following manner:

1. From any receiving device to any other receiving device

2. From any user to any receiving device

3. From any user to any other user

4. From any receiving device to any user

5. Any combinations of 1 through 4

Specific preferences of how to process privileges can also be assigned in the following manner:

6. From any receiving device to any other device

7. From any user to any receiving device

8. From any user to any other user

9. From any receiving device to any user

10. From any group (users or receiving devices) to any user

11. From any user to any group (users or receiving devices)

12. From any group (users or receiving devices) to any device

13. From any device to any group (users or receiving devices)

14. Any combinations of 6 through 14

Preferences govern the ability for users (or devices) to make use of each other's configurations in order to manage content delivery and/or alert delivery in accordance with user actions.

[0069] A further advantage herein enables a user (or device) to intercept or duplicate another user's (or device's) content delivery, specified by either the originally intended recipient of the content delivery, a new recipient of the content delivery, or any other user with the appropriate privilege to configure interception or duplication. It is an advantage to deliver content, or deliver content by situational location:

15. To me (or us) using my configurations and/or situational location

16. To me (or us) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

17. To other(s) using my (“me”) configurations and/or situational location

18. To other(s) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

19. Any combination of 15 through 19

[0070] It is an advantage to deliver alerts in desired form(s), or deliver alerts in desired form(s) by situational location:

20. To me (or us) using my configurations and/or situational location

21. To me (or us) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

22. To other(s) using my (“me”) configurations and/or situational location

23. To other(s) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

24. Any combination of 20 though 24

[0071] It is an advantage herein to deliver alerts and/or content in desired form(s) in accordance with user actions, or deliver alerts and/or content in desired form(s) in accordance with user actions at a situational location:

25. To me (or us) using my configurations and/or situational location

26. To me (or us) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

27. To other(s) using my (“me”) configurations and/or situational location

28. To other(s) using other(s) configurations and/or situational location(s)

29. Any combination of 25 through 29

[0072] Whether delivery is an alert, content, or action associated alert or content, data processing systems receiving the alert or content may be an RDPS or any other data processing system. Users can assign privileges to other users, users can assign privileges to devices, devices can assign privileges to users, devices can assign privileges to devices, users can assign preferences for interacting with other users, users can assign preferences for interacting with devices, devices can assign privileges for interacting with users, and devices can assign preferences for interacting with other devices.

[0073] Another advantage is to share the locally cached deliverable content database between users, directly between the user's data processing systems, or between the user's data processing systems via a server data processing system. A user's local cache (or the local cache of a particular data processing system) may be unique in deliverable content configured for proactive delivery based on certain configurations, and may also be the result of a situational location yielding deliverable content for proactive delivery, in which case sharing makes sense between users (or systems).

[0074] Further advantages include user or system configurations for maintaining a local cache of deliverable content, specifying to trickle updates to a local deliverable content database as deliverable content changes or becomes available, and user specification of sharing, and sharing of, a local cache of deliverable content with other users.

[0075] Another advantage is to enable a user to specify a target delivery mobile interest radius for receiving content. Disclosed is the ability for a user to configure his RDPS, or receiving system with a target mobile interest radius. For example, a user would like to know what deliverable content would be delivered to his device if the content was set up for delivery to a location within 3 miles of the user's current location at all times. So, as the user travels, any content deemed for delivery within 3 miles of the user (i.e. within 3 miles of the device) is delivered. The mobile interest radius is always relative to the current location of the receiving device, no matter where it is located. The terminology “interest radius”, “device interest radius”, “mobile interest radius”, “moving interest radius”, and “traveling interest radius” are all one in the same, and are used interchangeably. Also, the user can specify his mobile interest radius in measurement terms most convenient, for example, feet, yards, miles, meters, kilometers, etc. The mobile interest radius specification enables a user to be made aware of deliverable content that is within a reasonable distance of the user, no matter where the user subsequently is at the time. The user decides what determines a reasonable distance.

[0076] Continuing with the eBay example above, a user would like to be made aware of a rare antique table as soon as it becomes available in the eBay database. This disclosure, and the parent applications this is a continuation in part for, provide real time activation of data as soon as is entered into the deliverable content database, and real time delivery of the data to eligible receiving devices with the applicable configured situational location(s). The user travels frequently and has learned through experience it is important to examine merchandise offered by eBay before purchasing it. So, the user decides he is willing to travel 50 miles to examine the merchandise, and he configures a mobile interest radius of 50 miles along with the appropriate interest and/or filter criteria. Therefore, no matter where the user is located at the time, delivery information for a sought antique advertisement (if it exists, or becomes existent in the future to the eBay deliverable content database) will be delivered to his device if the associated antique location is within 50 miles of the user at any time during the user's traveling. Thus, not only is the user alerted as soon as the sought item becomes available, but he is alerted according to a distance relative to his current location. The user was able to set up criteria one time, and all future traveling becomes candidate for content delivery of existing content items or future added items in the deliverable content database.

[0077] Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. While those skilled in the art can assert an embodiment implementation just from examining screenshots (in Drawings) from the web service, flowcharts and architecture drawings are also provided to facilitate a timely understanding. None of the drawings, discussions, or materials herein is to be interpreted as limiting to a particular embodiment. The broadest interpretation is intended. Other embodiments accomplishing same functionality are within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that information is presented by example and many embodiments exist without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0358] With reference now to detail of the drawings, the present invention is described. Obvious error handling is omitted from the flowcharts in order to focus on the key aspects of the present invention. Obvious error handling includes database I/O errors, field validation errors, errors as the result of database table/data constraints or unique keys, and any other error handling as known to those skilled in the art of software programming in context of this disclosure. A semicolon is used in flowchart blocks to represent, and separate, multiple blocks of processing within a single physical block. This allows simpler flowcharts with less blocks in the drawings by placing multiple blocks of processing description in a single physical block of the flowchart. Flowchart processing is intended to be interpreted in the broadest sense by example, and not for limiting methods of accomplishing the same functionality. Preferably, field validation in the flowcharts checks for SQL injection attacks, syntactical appropriateness, and semantics errors where appropriate. Associated user interface screenshots are also preferred embodiment examples that can be implemented in many other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0359] Flowcharts are described in a manner to enable the reader to identify where the detailed descriptions of record formats and fields are to be accessed, managed, and used for applicable processing. While many fields are referenced by name in processing, others are intuitively mapped to the described places of processing.

[0360] The terminology “data evidence” is used throughout this disclosure as meaning some data which is stored and made accessible between different processing. Those skilled in the art recognize that web services are stateless implementations and require data (i.e. evidence) to remain between different pages (user interfaces) in order to communicate data from one page to another. Data evidence may be embodied as data passed through form processing from one page to another (e.g. Request.Form(“fieldname”)), passed as URL variables from one page to another (e.g. Request.QueryString(“paramname”)), stored in a cookie to the browser device in one page and then accessed by another page (e.g. Request.Cookies(“vamame”)), stored in a frame variable and made accessible to another frame in the frame hierarchy (e.g. Javascript variable set and passed in a frames implementation), stored in an SQL database in one page and then accessed from the database in another page (e.g. ADODB object), stored in a file system object in one page and then accessed by another page (e.g. FILESYSTEM object), or any other means for storing data by one process or thread of execution and then accessing it by another process or thread of execution. The term “data evidence” can use any one of these methods in one disclosed explanation and any other method in another disclosed explanation. Alternative user interfaces (since this disclosure is not to be limiting to a web service) will use similar mechanisms, but may use different mechanisms without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0361] FIG. 1 depicts a network illustration for discussing the various outdoor embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a cellular network cluster 102 and cellular network cluster 104 are parts of a larger cellular network. Cellular network cluster 102 contains a controller 106 and a plurality of base stations, shown generally as base stations 108. Each base station covers a single cell of the cellular network cluster, and each base station 108 communicates through a wireless connection with the controller 106 for call processing, as is well known in the art. Wireless devices communicate via the nearest base station (i.e. the cell the device currently resides in), for example base station 108b. Roaming functionality is provided when a wireless device roams from one cell to another so that a session is properly maintained with proper signal strength. Controller 106 acts like a telephony switch when a wireless device roams across cells, and it communicates with controller 110 via a wireless connection so that a wireless device can also roam to other clusters over a larger geographical area. Controller 110 may be connected to a controller 112 in a cellular cluster through a physical connection, for example, copper wire, optical fiber, or the like. This enables cellular clusters to be great distances from each other. Controller 112 may in fact be connected with a physical connection to its base stations, shown generally as base stations 114. Base stations may communicate directly with the controller 112, for example, base station 114e. Base stations may communicate indirectly to the controller 112, for example base station 114a by way of base station 114d. It is well known in the art that many options exist for enabling interoperating communications between controllers and base stations for the purpose of managing a cellular network. A cellular network cluster 116 may be located in a different country. Base controller 118 may communicate with controller 110 through a Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN) by way of a telephony switch 120, PSTN 122, and telephony switch 124, respectively. Telephony switch 120 and telephony switch 124 may be private or public. In one cellular network embodiment of the present invention, the SDPS executes at controllers, for example controller 110. The RDPS executes at a wireless device, for example mobile laptop computer 126, wireless telephone 128, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 130, or the like. As the RDPS moves about, positional attributes are monitored for determining a situational location. The RDPS may be handheld, or installed in a moving vehicle. Locating a wireless device using wireless techniques such as Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and Angle Of Arrival (AOA) are well known in the art. The SDPS may also execute on a server computer accessible to controllers, for example server computer 132, provided an appropriate timely connection exists between cellular network controller(s) and the server computer 132. Wireless devices (i.e. RDPS) are known by a unique identifier, for example a caller id, device identifier, or like appropriate unique handle.

[0362] In another embodiment of the present invention, GPS satellites such as satellite 134, satellite 136, and satellite 138 provide information, as is well known in the art, to GPS devices on earth for triangulation locating of the GPS device. In this embodiment, a RDPS has integrated GPS functionality so that the RDPS monitors its positional attribute(s). When the RDPS determines a candidate delivery event, it communicates parameters to the controller by way of the nearest base station. Thus, positional attribute information is provided by the RDPS to the SDPS. The RDPS is again known by a unique identifier, for example a caller id, device identifier, or like appropriate unique handle.

[0363] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a physically connected device, for example, telephone 140, computer 142, PDA 144, telephone 146, and fax machine 148, may be newly connected to a network. Each is a RDPS. Physical connections include copper wire, optical fiber, or the like. Devices are known by a unique identifier, for example a caller id, device identifier, physical or logical network address, or like appropriate unique handle. When the RDPS is detected for being newly located, the SDPS determines the candidate delivery event. The SDPS may execute at an Automatic Response Unit (ARU) 150, a telephony switch, for example telephony switch 120, a web server 152 (for example, connected through a gateway 154), or a like data processing system that communicates with the RDPS. RDPS detection may be a result of the RDPS initiating a communication with the SDPS directly or indirectly. Thus, a user may connect his laptop to a hotel network, initiate a communication with the SDPS, and the SDPS determines that the user is in a different location than the previous communication. A local area network (LAN) 156 may contain a variety of connected devices, each an RDPS that later becomes connected to a local area network 158 at a different location, such as a PDA 160, a server computer 162, a printer 164, an internet protocol telephone 166, a computer 168, or the like. Hard copy presentation could be made to printer 164 and fax 148. Electronic content could be delivered to any RDPS.

[0364] Current technology enables devices to communicate with each other, and other systems, through a variety of heterogeneous system and communication methods. Current technology allows executable processing to run on diverse devices and systems. Current technology allows communications between the devices and/or systems over a plethora of methodologies at close or long distance. Many technologies also exist for automatic locating of devices. It is well known how to have an interoperating communications system that comprises a plurality of individual systems communicating with each other with one or more protocols. As is further known in the art of developing software, executable processing of the present invention may be developed to run on a particular target data processing system in a particular manner, or customized at install time to execute on a particular data processing system in a particular manner.

[0365] FIG. 2 depicts an aerial view of a city region useful for discussing aspects of, and helps explain one application of, the present invention. A Starbucks coffee shop 202 (Starbucks is a trademark of Starbucks corporation) is located in an area frequented by handheld wireless device (i.e. RDPS) user pedestrians, for example pedestrian 204, and wireless device (i.e. RDPS) equipped vehicles, for example automobile 206 and automobile 208. Starbucks is a paying customer to the owner of the present invention wherein content can be configured for advertising to potential customers of Starbucks. An authorized and authenticated Starbucks representative uses the present invention, for example by way of an internet connected web browser, to configure the deliverable content. The representative also configures situational location information that is to be matched to situational locations of a RDPS of mobile customers. Upon configuration completion, the content is immediately activated for proactive delivery. The present invention will automatically deliver the Starbucks configured content to any RDPS according to the representative's configurations, for example, when pedestrian 204 becomes in a specified proximity to the Starbucks location, encounters a specific location, travels in a manner which provides predictive information, heads in a specified direction at, to, or from a location, or the like, using positional attribute(s). Likewise, automobile 206 will receive the content according to configurations, for example, when making a left hand turn (i.e. changing direction at a location area) onto the street bearing Starbucks' address. Likewise, automobile 208 will receive the content according to configurations, for example, when encountering a location in proximity to the Starbucks location while heading North. One example of the content may be a textual message such as “Starbucks has a 60% off sale just ahead at 314 Main Street with free no-spill coffee mugs!!!”. Other examples may include a graphical map showing where the Starbucks establishment is in relation to showing where the RDPS is currently located and headed.

[0366] FIG. 3A depicts a locating by triangulation illustration for discussing a wireless, or cellular, embodiment of the present invention. A RDPS 302 is located through triangulation, as is well known in the art. At least three base towers, for example, base tower 108b, base tower 108d, and base tower 108f, are necessary for locating the RDPS. A fourth base tower would be used if altitude was configured for use by the present invention. There are cases where only two base towers are necessary given routes of travel are limited and known, for example, in spread out roadways or limited configured locations.

[0367] FIG. 3B depicts a flowchart for describing a preferred embodiment of the candidate delivery event generation aspect relevant to a wireless, or cellular, embodiment of the present invention, in the context of positional attribute(s) being monitored by a SDPS. Processing begins at block 310 and continues to block 312 where base stations able to communicate to any degree with a RDPS continue reporting to their controller the RDPS signal strength with an RDPS identifier (i.e. a unique handle) and Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) information, or alternatively, Angle of Arrival (AOA) information, depending on the embodiment. When the RDPS turns on, it registers itself. The RDPS can pick signals from base stations. In one embodiment, the RDPS monitors a paging channel, called a forward channel. There can be multiple forward channels. A forward channel is the transmission frequency from the base tower to the RDPS. Either the RDPS provides heartbeats for base stations, or the base stations provide heartbeats for a response from the RDPS. Communication from the RDPS to the base tower is on what is called the reverse channel. Forward channels and reverse channel are used to perform call setup for a created session channel.

[0368] TDOA is conventionally calculated from the time it takes for a communication to occur from the RDPS back to the RDPS via the base tower, or alternatively, from a base tower back to that base tower via the RDPS. AOA is conventionally performed through calculations of the angle by which a signal from the RDPS encounters the base tower antenna. Simple triangle geometry is then used to calculate a location. The AOA antenna is typically of a phased array type.

[0369] The controller at block 314 may communicate with other controllers when base stations in other cellular clusters are picking up a signal, for example, when the RDPS roams. In any case, at block 314, the controller(s) determines the strongest signal base stations needed for locating the RDPS, at block 314. The strongest 3 (or 2 or 4 as discussed above) are used. Thereafter, block 316 accesses base station location information for base stations determined at block 314. The base station provides location anchors used to (relatively) determine the location of the RDPS. Then, block 318 uses the TDOA, or AOA, information together with known base station locations to calculate the RDPS location. Blocks 310 through 318 are well known to those skilled in art. Thereafter, block 320 accesses historical RDPS location information, and block 322 performs housekeeping by pruning location history data for the RDPS by time, number of entries, or other criteria. Block 324 then determines a direction of the RDPS based on previous location information. Block 324 may perform Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine where the traveler may be going by consulting many or all of the location history data. Block 324 may also consider when and/or where a candidate delivery event (CADE) was generated for a direction change in order to cause certain flow from block 330. Block 326 calculates how much (e.g. distance) the RDPS has moved since the previous location that caused a candidate delivery event (CADE) generation for the RDPS (event generated Y/N field in location history data). Thereafter, block 328 compares the movement since the last CADE generation, and if the distance exceeds a movement tolerance, then block 332 posts (generates) a CADE to a present invention service handling RDPS situational location changes. The movement tolerance may be a system wide setting for all RDPS devices, particular to a type of RDPS, or specific for an RDPS.

[0370] If, at block 328, movement did not exceed the tolerance, then block 330 checks for a direction change as determined at block 324. If, at block 330, the direction did change, then a CADE is generated at block 332. If, at block 330, the direction of the RDPS did not change, then block 334 appends an appropriate entry to the location history data (see FIG. 9B). Block 332 also flows to block 334. Blocks 324 through 330 determine if a CADE is to be generated, and if so, a CADE is generated at block 332. Blocks 324 through 330 determine part, or all, (i.e. a subset) of the situational location, depending on the installation. FIG. 3B processing is continuous for every RDPS in the wireless network 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

[0371] FIG. 3C depicts a flowchart for describing a preferred embodiment of the candidate delivery event generation aspect relevant to a wireless, or cellular, embodiment, of the present invention, in the context of positional attribute(s) being monitored by a RDPS. FIG. 3B demonstrated the CADE and part, or all, of the situational location being determined by a SDPS service. FIG. 3C demonstrates the CADE, and part, or all, of the situational location being determined by the RDPS itself, and then communicated to the SDPS for any further situational location determination and applicable content delivery. Communications between the base stations and RDPS is similar to above except the RDPS receives information for performing calculations and related processing. Processing begins at block 350 and continues to block 352 where the RDPS continues receiving pulse reporting from base stations. Block 354 determines the strongest 3 signals (or 2 or 4). Thereafter, block 356 parses base station location information from the pulse messages that are received by the RDPS. Block 358 communicates with base stations to perform TDOA calculations. The time it takes for a communication to occur from the RDPS back to the RDPS, or alternatively, from a base tower back to that base tower is used. Block 358 uses the TDOA information with the known base station information to determine the RDPS location. Blocks 350 through 358 are well known to those skilled in art.

[0372] Thereafter, block 360 accesses historical RDPS location information, and block 362 performs housekeeping by pruning the location history data for the RDPS by time, number of entries, or other criteria. Block 364 then determines a direction of the RDPS based on previous location information. Block 364 may perform Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine where the traveler may be going by consulting much or all of the location history data. Block 364 may also consider when and/or where a candidate delivery event (CADE) was generated for a direction change in order to cause certain flow from block 370. Block 366 calculates how much (e.g. distance) the RDPS has moved since the previous location that caused a candidate delivery event (CADE) generation for the RDPS (event generated Y/N field in location history data). Thereafter, block 368 compares the movement since the last CADE generation and if the distance exceeds a movement tolerance, then block 372 posts (generates) a CADE to the present invention system event manager of the RDPS. The movement tolerance may be a system or user configured setting.

[0373] If, at block 368, movement did not exceed the tolerance, then block 370 checks for a direction change as determined at block 364. If, at block 370, the direction did change, then a CADE is generated to the system event manager at block 372. If, at block 370, the direction of the RDPS did not change, then block 374 appends an appropriate entry to the location history data (see FIG. 9B). Block 372 also flows to block 374. Blocks 364 through 370 determine if a CADE is to generated, and if so, a CADE is generated at block 332. Blocks 364 through 370 determine part, or all, (i.e. a subset) of the situational location, depending on the installation. FIG. 3C processing is continuous for the RDPS as long as the RDPS is enabled.

[0374] FIG. 4A depicts a locating by triangulation illustration for discussing a GPS, or satellite, embodiment of the present invention. A RDPS 402 is located through GPS triangulation as is well known in the art. At least three satellites, for example, satellite 134, satellite 136, and satellite 138, are necessary for locating the RDPS. A fourth satellite would be used if altitude was configured for use by the present invention.

[0375] FIG. 4B depicts a flowchart for describing a preferred embodiment of the candidate delivery event generation aspect relevant to a GPS, or satellite, embodiment of the present invention. GPS location processing begins at block 410 and continues to block 412 where the RDPS initializes for using a system management interface. The system event manager may be a software interrupt, hardware interrupt, queue, or other event handling entity. Block 414 performs the conventional locating of the GPS enabled RDPS, and block 416 posts (generates) a CADE to the RDPS system event manager. Block 414 may be an implicit wait for pulses from satellites, or an event driven mechanism when GPS satellite pulses are received for synchronized collection. Block 414 processing is well known in the art. Block 416 may post the event information to other processes depending on the RDPS features using such information. Thereafter, the GPS location information is used at block 418 as applicable to the particular RDPS embodiment, for example showing the RDPS location on a graphical map. GPS location processing is continuous for the RDPS as long as the RDPS is enabled.

[0376] The CADE in this example is a result of a simple location change. Any further situational location determination task remains for the system event manager. An alternative embodiment to block 414 would further include processing of FIG. 3C blocks 360 through 370 to determine part, or all, (i.e. a subset) of the situational location so that a CADE is generated at block 416 only if the situation warrants it.

[0377] FIG. 5A depicts a locating by triangulation illustration for discussing an indoor wireless embodiment of the present invention. There may be communication/transmission issues when an RDPS is taken indoors. There are also unique applications of the present invention for indoor use. Shown is a top view of an indoor floor plan 502. Antenna stations 504 (shown generally as 504) are strategically placed over the area so that an RDPS, for example, an RDPS equipped shopping cart 506, can be located. The conventional triangulation techniques again apply. At least three antenna stations, for example, station 504f, station 504h, and station 504i are used to locate the RDPS equipped shopping cart 506. In floor plan embodiments where aisles delimit travel, only two antenna stations may be necessary, for example at either end of the particular aisle. While most stations 504 may receive signals from the RDPS, only the strongest stations are used.

[0378] In this example embodiment of using the present invention, a shopper with a grocery cart receives content at the RDPS as the shopping cart is navigated throughout the store. Special deal, sales, or other promotional content is pushed automatically by the present invention to the RDPS of the shopping cart, at appropriate situational locations of the shopping cart. A store representative will manage what content to deliver through convenient configuration of the present invention. The store will provide RDPS equipped shopping carts, or may provide handheld RDPS devices, so that shoppers will get the most of their experience by automatically receiving content that is appropriate to the shopper's situational location in the store.

[0379] FIG. 5B depicts a flowchart for describing a preferred embodiment of the candidate delivery event generation aspect relevant to an indoor wireless embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, indoor location technology of Pinpoint corporation (Pinpoint is a trademark of Pinpoint Corporation) is utilized to locate any RDPS that moves about the indoor location. The Pinpoint corporation methodology begins at block 510 and continues to block 512. A cell controller drives antenna stations to emit a broadcast signal from every station. Any RDPS within range (i.e. indoors), will phase modulate its unique identifier onto a return signal it transmits, at block 514. Stations at block 516 receive the transmission and strength of signal. The cell controller that drives stations sorts out and selects the strongest 3 signals. The cell controller, at block 518, also extracts the RDPS unique identifier from the return signal, and TDOA (or AOA if phase array antennas are used) is used to calculate distances from the stations receiving the strongest signals from the RDPS at block 520. The locations of the controller selected stations are registered in an overlay map in an appropriate coordinate system, landmark system, or grid of cells. Block 522 locates the RDPS using the overlay map, locations of the 3 selected stations, and the calculated distances triangulated from the selected stations. Processing through block 522 has located the RDPS with known Pinpoint corporation technology. Thereafter, a block 524 can perform a CADE generation to a SDPS service of the present invention. Processing continues with repeated broadcast at block 512 and subsequent processing for every RDPS.

[0380] The CADE in this example is a result of a simple location change. Any further situational location determination task remains for the SDPS event handler. An alternative embodiment to block 524 would further include processing of FIG. 3B blocks 320 through 330 to determine part, or all, (i.e. a subset) of the situational location so that a CADE is generated at block 524 only if the situation warrants it.

[0381] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart for describing a preferred embodiment of the candidate delivery event generation aspect relevant to a physically connected embodiment of the present invention. A RDPS may be newly located and physically connected, whereby communications between the RDPS and SDPS is over a physical connection. With reference now to FIG. 1, when a RDPS, for example internet protocol telephone 166, is moved from LAN 156 to a LAN 158 in a different location, the present invention detects the location change when the RDPS initiates a communication to the SDPS. With reference back to FIG. 6, relevant processing according to the present invention begins at block 602 and continues to block 604 where an RDPS device is physically connected to a network. Thereafter, the RDPS accesses a SDPS incorporating the present invention, at block 606. Then, at block 608, the SDPS accesses historical RDPS location information (i.e. the previous location history data record 900—see FIG. 9B location history data discussion below), and block 610 performs housekeeping by pruning the location history data maintained for the RDPS by time, number of entries, or other criteria. Block 608 may perform Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine where the traveler may be going (e.g. using direction based on previous locations) by consulting much or all of the location history data. Thereafter, SDPS processing, at block 612, compares the current network address with the previous network address. If they are identical, then SDPS processing continues to block 616. If they are different, then the SDPS generates a CADE to the event handling service of the SDPS at block 614. Thereafter, SDPS processing continues to block 616. Block 616 appends an entry to the location history data for the RDPS, and SDPS processing ends at block 618. Block 612 may compare to other location history data information, depending on any AI of block 608.

[0382] FIG. 7A depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the deliverable content database of the present invention. A deliverable content database record 700 includes fields 702 through 724 as shown. Rec id field 702 is a unique identifier to the record in the database. Rec id field 702 is system generated, for example, using an Oracle unique sequence number function (Oracle is a trademark of Oracle corporation) upon inserting the record (i.e. database row) into the deliverable content database (i.e. database table). The rec id field 702 is used in the transmission history data to correlate transmitted content, enables detection of redundant delivery, and enables later RDPS retrieval of content when only a content delivery indicator is transmitted to an RDPS. Location field 704 contains a positional attribute of location information for which the associated content will be delivered. Depending on the installation, the location field contains a cellular network cell identifier, truncated precision geocentric coordinates, truncated precision geodetic coordinates, truncated three dimensional space coordinates, area described by GPS coordinates (e.g. four corners of a grid rectangle), overlay grid region identifier or coordinates, GPS coordinates with truncated precision, altitude, MAPSCO reference, telephone number (e.g. caller id), physical or logical network address (including a wildcard (e.g. ip addresses 145.32.*.*)), particular application address, or a like location. Truncated precision allows specifying a broader scope, for example, latitude/longitude in degrees, minutes, seconds, etc., depends on how the number is truncated. Zooming in implies more precision. Zooming out implies less precision. Combinations of these positional attributes may also designate a location. Depending on the installation, the positional attribute direction field 706 contains a direction such as North, South, East, West, or Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, or Left, Right, Straight, Back, or Up, Down, or the like. A value of null may also be present when a direction is inappropriate, for example in one embodiment of FIG. 6. Time criteria field 708 contains a time window(s), or time interval(s), for which the associated deliverable content is valid for delivery. Preferably, time points of time criteria are entered in “YYYYMMDDHHMMSS” format. Content type field 710 describes the type of content field 712. Content types include, and are not limited to, web address, audio, image, multimedia, text, and video. The content field 712 contains the deliverable content, or a reference such as a file name, pointer, or the like, to the content. Short Text info field 714 allows configuration of a short textual message to be delivered to the RDPS and maintained in the RDPS transmission history data, for example, a business address. Speed reference info 716 is a web address or phone number that is delivered to the RDPS with the content, and is also maintained in the RDPS transmission history for convenient invocation. Thus, the user may browse the history, and invoke the speed reference for automatic telephone call dialing from the RDPS, or for automatic web address transposition in a launched web browser, upon a simple user selection of the speed reference from the history. Depending on the installation, delivery activation setting(s) field 718 will contain a bit mask, or the like, for the RDPS state which establishes delivery. For example, the bit mask will contain a settable bit for:

• • [0383] Deliver on RDPS registration
  • [0384] Deliver on RDPS termination
  • [0385] Deliver only when RDPS requests
  • [0386] Deliver always (used for emergency use—see Amber-Alert discussion above)
  • [0387] Deliver for situational location change
  • [0388] 3 or more bits reserved for future use

[0389] Authorization id field 720 contains a handle to the user who configured the database record 700, for example, a password, user identifier, or the like (may be encrypted). Content links field 722 contains a YES/NO flag for whether there are multiple content fields associated with the database record 700. A separate database entity (not shown), for example a database table, can be maintained with 3 fields: one containing a matching rec id field 702 to associate the content to the deliverable content database record 700, one for the content type (like content type field 710), and one for the content (like content field 712). There may be a plurality of database records in the separate database entity that are associated with the deliverable content database record 700. The value in the rec id field 702 will be used to join all content items.

[0390] Applications specific data fields 724 are available for the SDPS being an integrated solution with some other service. Location field 704, direction field 706, time criteria field 708, and delivery activation setting(s) field 718 together with application specific fields 724 form the situational location information associated with the content which establishes a delivery.

[0391] FIG. 7B depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the keyword data of the present invention. A keyword data record 750 is joined to a deliverable content database record 700 through a matching rec id field 752. Keywords field 754 contains one or more comma separated text strings used to associate criteria to the deliverable content database record 700. Phrases containing blank separated words are enclosed in quote marks. In one embodiment of the present invention, a RDPS user specifies interests that are matched to the keywords field 754. Only the user's interests, along with the RDPS situational location, will cause delivery of associated content. An alternative embodiment for maintaining keyword data will associate a plurality of keyword data records 750 to a deliverable content database record 700, each containing a singular keyword, or phrase, in keywords field 754. Fields 704, 706, 708, 718, and 754 are system delivery constraints of the present invention.

[0392] FIG. 8 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the location hierarchy data of the present invention. A location hierarchy data record 800 has fields as shown. Rec id field 802 is a unique identifier to the record. Rec id field 802 is system generated, for example, using an Oracle unique sequence number function upon inserting the record (i.e. database row). Location field 804 is a location of the nature as described for location field 704. Ascending location field 706 is a value found in rec id field 802 of another location hierarchy data record 800. If used, the configuration of this table must be performed carefully so as to affect its use appropriately. Semantically, field 806 must be an ascending location to field 804. For example, Texas is ascending to Denton County, and Denton County is ascending to Flower Mound. Similarly, a set of MAPSCO grid numbers, that surround a MAPSCO reference grid D of map 691, are ascending to MAPSCO reference grid D of map 691. Ascending implies zooming out to cover more surrounding area. Location hierarchy data is searched in the following manner:

• • [0393] For content by candidate delivery events, content is retrieved by the location, and any locations descending to that location (i.e. zoom in)
  • [0394] For situational location queries, content is optionally retrieved by the location and descending locations, and optionally, ascending locations as necessary (i.e. zoom out) according to parameters (discussed below)

[0395] FIG. 9A depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the registration data of the present invention. A registration data record 900 is maintained by the SDPS and includes fields as shown. Device id field 902 is a unique handle to an RDPS. Depending on the installation, device id field 902 may be a telephone #, physical or logical address, or some other unique handle to the RDPS. Communications bind information field 904 is a record describing the communications session between the RDPS and SDPS, as is well known in the art. In some embodiments, field 904 contains capability information sent from the RDPS so that only the appropriate content is delivered, for example acceptable types of, or acceptable amounts (size) of, content. Interests field 906 contains one or more comma separated user configured text strings used to match to the keywords field 754. If used, only the user's interests, along with the RDPS situational location, will cause proactive delivery of associated content. Filter criteria field 908 is identical in nature to interests field 906 and keywords field 754 except the criteria is for exclusion. If used, filter criteria field 908 is also compared with keywords field 754. Thus, the RDPS user can configure interests for inclusion through field 906, or criteria for exclusion through field 908. Movement tolerance field 910 defines the minimal amount of movement since the last delivery content retrieval attempt that determines to perform another retrieval. Movement tolerance field 910 is optional depending on the installation. The movement tolerance may be a system wide setting enforced by the SDPS, associated to a class of RDPS devices, or individualized by the user or system. Field 910 may not be present because the movement tolerance is maintained by the RDPS, or is not applicable to the installation (e.g. RDPS physically connected, or located by caller id). The movement tolerance depends on the installed use of location field 704. For example, in a coordinate system, a distance may be configured. In an overlay map, region, or cell change, a number of regions or cells from a previous location may be configured. Fields 906 and 908 are user configured delivery constraints of the present invention. Registration data record 900 presence enables delivery to the associated RDPS, otherwise the RDPS is not an eligible receiver. Obvious error handling at the SDPS ignores all requests that are not from a RDPS with a device id in the registration data (except for registration types of requests (i.e. events)).

[0396] FIG. 9B depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the location history data of the present invention. A location history data record 920 is maintained for the travels of a RDPS, and includes fields as shown. Device id field 922 is identical in nature to device id field 902. Location field 924 is identical in nature to location field 704. Direction field 926 is identical in nature to direction field 706. Event posted field 928 is a YES/NO flag for whether or not this location history data record 920 is associated with generating a CADE. Date/time stamp field 930 is the time that the RDPS was detected at the associated location and specified direction of fields 924 and 926. Direction field 926 is optional depending on the installation, as discussed above.

[0397] FIG. 9C depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the SDPS transmission history data of the present invention. A transmission history data record 940 is maintained at the SDPS for all content that is transmitted to the RDPS, and includes fields as shown. Device id field 942 is identical in nature to device id field 902. Location field 944 is identical in nature to location field 704. Direction field 946 is identical in nature to direction field 706. Rec id field 948 contains a copy of rec id field 702 for content that was transmitted to the RDPS of field 942. Indicator sent field 950 is a YES/NO flag for whether or not the content was actually transmitted, or a content delivery indicator for the content was transmitted. Date/time stamp field 952 is the time that content described by field 948 was transmitted to the RDPS. Direction field 946 is optional depending on the installation, as discussed above.

[0398] FIG. 9D depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the RDPS transmission history data of the present invention. A transmission history data record 970 is maintained at the RDPS for all content that is received by the RDPS, and includes fields as shown. Date/time stamp field 972 is the time that content described by rec id field 976 was received by the RDPS. Indicator sent field 974 is a YES/NO flag for whether or not the content was actually received, or an indicator for the content was received. Rec id field 976 contains a copy of rec id field 702 for content that was received by the RDPS. Speed reference information field 978 contains a phone number for automatic dialing, a web page reference for automatic transposition, or both. Speed reference information field 978 is obtained by the RDPS from field 716. Short text field 980 is obtained by the RDPS from 714. Location field 982 is identical in nature to field 704. Direction field 984 is identical in nature to field 706. Field 982 and 984 may not be used if this information is maintained at the SDPS. Fields 982 and 984 are preferably used when the RDPS handles CADE generation, or if the SDPS additionally transmits the information with the content. Direction field 984 is optional depending on the installation, as discussed above.

[0399] FIG. 10A depicts a preferred embodiment high level example componentization of a RDPS of the present invention when the RDPS generates the candidate delivery event. An RDPS 1000 includes system manager 1002, location management system 1004, system event management 1006, user event management 1008, user interface management 1010, and communications interface 1012. System manager 1002 is the operating system environment of the RDPS 1000. Location management system 1004 provides means for locating the RDPS 1000, for example GPS functionality. System event management 1006 provides an interface to system event processing relevant to the present invention that is not directly caused by a user. User event management 1008 provides an interface to event processing relevant to the present invention that is directly caused by a user, for example when the user uses the RDPS user interface. User interface management 1010 is the user interface system environment of the RDPS 1000, for example, a variety of Microsoft Windows (Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft corporation), a wireless phone interface, or some other user interface system. Communications interface 1012 provides the interface between the RDPS 1000 and the SDPS.

[0400] FIG. 10B depicts a preferred embodiment high level example componentization of a RDPS of the present invention when the SDPS generates the candidate delivery event. An RDPS 1020 includes a system manager 1022, system event management 1026, user event management 1028, user interface management 1030, and communications interface 1032. System manager 1022 is the operating system environment of the RDPS 1020. System event management 1026 provides an interface to system event processing relevant to the present invention that is not directly caused by a user. User event management 1028 provides an interface to event processing relevant to the present invention that is directly caused by a user, for example when the user uses the RDPS user interface. User interface management 1030 is the user interface system environment of the RDPS 1020, for example, a variety of Microsoft Windows (Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft corporation), a wireless phone interface, or some other user interface system. Communications interface 1032 provides the interface between the RDPS 1020 and the SDPS. RDPS 1000 and RDPS 1020 may further include a local cache with a cache management component that facilitates cacheing the deliverable content database and associated data at the RDPS for efficient access.

[0401] FIG. 10C depicts a block diagram of a data processing system useful for implementing RDPS aspects of the present invention, and SDPS aspects of the present invention. A data processing system 1050 according to the present invention includes at least one processor 1052 coupled to a bus 1054. The data processing system 1050 also includes main memory 1056, for example, random access memory (RAM). Optionally, the data processing system 1050 may include secondary storage devices 1058 such as a hard disk drive 1060, and/or removable storage device 1062 such as a compact disk, floppy diskette, or the like, also connected to bus 1054. In one embodiment, secondary storage devices could be remote to the data processing system 1050 and coupled through an appropriate communications interface.

[0402] The data processing system 1050 may also include a display device interface 1064 for driving a connected display device (not shown). The data processing system 1050 may further include one or more input peripheral interface(s) 1066 to input devices such as a keyboard, telephone keypad, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) writing implements, mouse, voice interface, or the like. User input (“user input”, “user events” and “user actions” used interchangeably) to the data processing system are inputs accepted by the input peripheral interface(s) 1066. The data processing system 1050 may still further include one or more output peripheral interface(s) 1068 to output devices such as a printer, facsimile device, or the like.

[0403] Data processing system 1050 will include a communications interface 1070 for communicating to an other data processing system 1072 via analog signal waves, digital signal waves, infrared proximity, copper wire, optical fiber, or the like. Other data processing system 1072 is an RDPS when data processing system 1050 is an SDPS. Other processing system 1072 is an SDPS when data processing system 1050 is an RDPS. In any case, the RDPS and SDPS are said to be interoperating when communicating. Thus, the RDPS and SDPS form an interoperating communications system between which data may be communicated.

[0404] Data processing system programs (also called control logic) may be completely inherent in the processor 1052 being a customized semiconductor, or may be stored in main memory 1056 for execution by processor 1052 as the result of a read-only memory (ROM) load (not shown), or may be loaded from a secondary storage device into main memory 1056 for execution by processor 1052. Such programs, when executed, enable the data processing system 1050 to perform features of the present invention as discussed herein. Accordingly, such data processing system programs represent controllers of the data processing system.

[0405] In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a control logic program product comprising a processor 1052 readable medium having control logic (software) stored therein. The control logic, when executed by processor 1052, causes the processor 1052 to perform functions of the invention as described herein.

[0406] In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware, for example, using a prefabricated component state machine (or multiple state machines) in a semiconductor element such as processor 1052.

[0407] Those skilled in the art will appreciate various modifications to the data processing system 1050 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Data processing system 1050, as discussed, is representative of a RDPS of the present invention. Data processing system 1050, as discussed, is representative of a SDPS of the present invention.

[0408] FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart for describing data processing system aspects relevant to a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the RDPS. When the RDPS is enabled, for example, by a power switch, system manager processing begins at block 1102 and continues to block 1104 where the system appropriately initializes, for example to default interfaces. Processing continues to block 1106 where the location management system is initialized as is appropriate for the particular RDPS, and then on to block 1108 where a movement tolerance is defaulted, depending on the RDPS installation, and depending on what it was during the last power-on. The movement tolerance may be user configurable or system set, and is therefore either a system delivery constraint, or user configured delivery constraint. Thereafter, block 1110 defaults situational location information to the most recent setting for a CADE from last power-on, or system just started if this is the first power-on, and block 1112 waits for a user event or system event. User interface management is coupled with the system manager to enable a user to the RDPS. Upon detection of an event, block 1112 flows to block 1114 for any user event management processing. Should block 1114 processing return, block 1116 performs any system event management processing. Should processing of block 1116 return, block 1118 handles the event appropriately as is relevant for other events of the RDPS, for example, user interface control of little interest to discussion of the present invention. Thereafter, block 1118 flows to block 1112 for processing as described. Another embodiment of FIG. 11 will implement a multithreaded system wherein events are handled asynchronously as they occur.

[0409] FIGS. 12A and 12B depict flowcharts for describing user event management processing aspects of a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the RDPS. User event management begins at block 1202 and continues to block 1204. If block 1204 determines that the user event is powering the RDPS off, then block 1206 communicates with the SDPS to remove (if any) its RDPS data record 900 from the registration data, block 1208 terminates any communication session gracefully (if required) depending on the RDPS, block 1210 saves settings, for example, the movement tolerance and delivery setting for the next power on, and RDPS processing stops at block 1211.

[0410] If block 1204 determines the RDPS was not turned off, then processing continues to block 1212. If block 1212 determines that the user selected to enable communications with the SDPS, then block 1214 establishes communications with the SDPS (if not already established), and block 1216 consults the current delivery setting. In one embodiment, block 1214 through 1220 may be processed just as the result of a wireless device being powered on. If block 1216 determines that the content delivery setting for receiving situational location dependent content is enabled, then block 1218 communicates with the SDPS for inserting a registry data record 900 into the registry data. Thereafter, block 1220 sets a RDPS user interface indicator showing that communications to the SDPS is enabled, and processing returns to block 1112 of FIG. 11 by way of off page connector 11000. If block 1216 determines the delivery setting is not enabled, then processing continues to block 1220.

[0411] If block 1212 determines that the user did not select to enable communications to the SDPS, then processing continues to block 1222. If block 1222 determines that the user selected to disable SDPS communications, then block 1224 communicates with the SDPS to remove its registry data record 900 from registry data, block 1226 terminates the communications session gracefully (if required) depending on the RDPS embodiment, block 1228 sets the communications to SDPS user interface indicator to disabled, and processing continues back to block 1112. In one embodiment, block 1224 through 1228 may be processed just as the result of a wireless device being powered off.

[0412] If block 1222 determines the user did not select to disable communications to the SDPS, then processing continues to block 1230. If block 1230 determines that the user selected to modify the RDPS content delivery setting, then the user modifies the setting at block 1232, the delivery setting is set accordingly at block 1234. Preferably, blocks 1230/1232 allow a user to toggle the content delivery setting. No content will be delivered when this setting is disabled. Being registered with the SDPS constitutes being eligible for delivery. Alternative embodiments won't have such a feature. The content delivery setting is a user configured delivery constraint. Block 1234 also sets and an indicator in the user interface for displaying that setting, and block 1236 communicates with the SDPS to insert or remove its registry data record 900 should the setting be different than previous. Of course, appropriate error handling is performed by block 1236 if there is no communications enabled. Thereafter, processing continues to block 1112.

[0413] If block 1230 determines that the user did not select to modify the content delivery setting, then processing continues to block 1238. If block 1238 determines that the user selected to modify the movement tolerance, then the user modifies a validated movement tolerance at block 1240, the movement tolerance is set at block 1242, and processing continues back to block 1112.

[0414] If block 1238 determines that the user did not select to modify the movement tolerance, then processing continues to block 1244. If block 1244 determines that the user selected a content delivery indicator, as maintained in a transmission history data record 970 for deliverable content from the SDPS, then block 1246 communicates with the SDPS using the rec id field 976. In one embodiment, the user peruses the transmission history data in response to receiving a content delivery indicator from the SDPS. In another embodiment, correlation is maintained between individual user interface indicators to their associated transmission history data record 970 for allowing the user to simply select the indicator in the user interface for communicating with the SDPS to deliver the associated content. Providing a visual and/or audible presentation of the indicator is well known in the art, and may be implemented with a variety of methods. Block 1246 makes the request for content to the SDPS with the rec id 976. Thereafter, via a received system event, blocks 1318 through 1326 handle receipt, delivery, and RDPS user interface presentation of the content in a manner appropriate to the content type from the SDPS. Processing continues from block 1246 back to block 1112.

[0415] If block 1244 determines that the user did not select an indicator of deliverable content, then processing continues to block 1250 by way of off page connector 12000. If block 1250 determines that the user selected to configure interests or filters, then block 1252 interfaces with the user to configure interests or filters which are saved locally at block 1254, and processing continues back to block 1112 by way of off page connector 11000. Any configured interests and filters are communicated to the SDPS at blocks 1218 and 1236 as part of registration. Interests field 906 and filter criteria field 908 are set with data configured at block 1252. The RDPS must de-register and re-register with new settings. In an alternative embodiment, block 1254 communicates with the SDPS to update the RDPS' registry data record 900.

[0416] If block 1250 determines that the user did not select to configure interests or filters, then processing continues to block 1256. If block 1256 determines the user selected to perform a situational location query, then the user specifies validated parameters (discussed with FIG. 15B) at block 1258. Thereafter, block 1260 communicates an appropriate formatted request to the SDPS. Thereafter, via a received system event, blocks 1318 through 1326 handle receipt, delivery, and RDPS user interface presentation of the content in a manner appropriate to the content type from the SDPS. Processing leaves block 1260 and returns to block 1112.

[0417] If block 1256 determines that the user did not select to perform a situational location query, then processing continues to block 1264. If block 1264 determines that the user selected to query the number of known RDPS devices at a location(s) (i.e. a client count request), then block 1266 interfaces with the user to specify valid parameters including situational location information and time criteria, and processing continues to block 1260 which was described. A content specification parameter may also be specified for retrieving the situational location content as well. Time criteria embodiments include any time window in history, a current time window (of request, transmission of request, SDPS receipt of request, or processing the request), or a truncated precision time. Truncated precision time allows specifying time windows (e.g. 12:04 pm implies 4 minutes after 12:00 pm and additionally any number of seconds up to and not including 5 minutes after 12:00 pm).

[0418] If block 1264 determines that the user did not select to query the number of RDPS devices at a location(s) (i.e. a client count request), then processing continues to block 1268. If block 1268 determines that the user selected to browse transmission history data, then block 1270 interfaces with the user until he either exits, or selects information from the speed reference information field 978 from a transmission history data record 970. Preferably, block 1270 permits scrolling transmission history data records 970 with fields columnized. If, at block 1272, the user selected information of field 978, then block 1274 automatically performs the action, an automatic dialing of a telephone number, or automatic transposition to a web page. Speed reference information field 978 is preferably related to content that was delivered as referenced by rec id field 976. Thereafter, processing continues back to block 1112. If block 1272 determines that the user exited from block 1270, then processing continues back to block 1112.

[0419] If block 1268 determines that the user did not select to browse the transmission history data, then processing stops at block 1276. Note that some RDPS embodiments will not require blocks 1212 through 1228 because there may not be an active session required to have communications between the RDPS and SDPS.

[0420] FIG. 13 depicts a flowchart for describing system event management processing aspects of a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the RDPS. System event management begins at block 1302, and continues to block 1304. If block 1304 determines the system event is a positional attribute change (e.g. location change) from the RDPS location management system, housekeeping is performed at block 1306 by pruning the location history data maintained at the RDPS. Pruning may be by time, number of entries, or other criteria. Thereafter, block 1308 determines if a CADE is to be generated. In one embodiment, block 1308 compares the current positional attribute (e.g. location) with the former positional attribute of location history data record 920 that contains an event posted YES/NO field 928 set to YES. The distance is calculated and then compared with the movement tolerance. Block 1308 also determines if there was a direction positional attribute change. Processing continues to block 1310 where a location history data record 920 is appended to the location history data for the current location and/or direction with the event posted field 928 set according to what block 1308 determined. Block 1310 flows to block 1312.

[0421] If block 1312 determines that a CADE is to be generated to the SDPS, then processing continues to block 1314. If block 1314 determines that the content delivery setting is set to enabled, then block 1316 formats and issues a CADE request to the SDPS, and processing continues to block 1112 by way of off page connector 11000.

[0422] If block 1314 determines that the content delivery setting is not enabled, then processing continues to block 1112. If block 1312 determines that a CADE is not to be generated, then processing continues to block 1112.

[0423] If block 1304 determines that the system event was not for a RDPS positional attribute change from the location management system, then processing continues to block 1318. If block 1318 determines that the system event is a transmission from the SDPS with content to deliver, or a content delivery indicator to content, then block 1320 performs housekeeping by pruning transmission history data records 970. Pruning is performed by time, number of entries, or some other criteria. Block 1320 flows to block 1322 where the transmission history data is checked to see if the rec id field 702 for the content or content delivery indicator, communicated with the system event, is already present in a transmission history data record 970. If the same content was already delivered, a rec id field 976 will match the rec id field 702 for pending presentation. The system event contains parameters including rec id field 702 with an indicator status for allowing the user to retrieve the content at a later time. If block 1324 determines the rec id field 702 of the event is already contained in the transmission history data, then processing continues back to block 1112 with no delivery processing. If block 1324 determines it is not a redundant delivery, then block 1326 communicates with the SDPS for retrieval of the location field 704, direction field 706, content type field 710, short text field 714, and speed reference info field 716. Any type of content is presented to the RDPS user interface in the appropriate manner. Various embodiments may limit types of content using a variety of methods, located at the RDPS or SDPS. Additionally, either content field 712 and linked content via content links field 722 is retrieved, or content delivery indicator(s) status is retrieved. Thereafter, block 1328 appends a transmission history data record 970 to the RDPS transmission history data, and processing continues to block 1112. Blocks 1320 through 1326 handle all content (or indicator) delivery to the RDPS, preferably asynchronously to all other RDPS processing.

[0424] If block 1318 determines that the system event was not for delivery, then processing stops at block 1330. An alternative embodiment to FIG. 13 processing will not check history for redundant content delivery. Or, a user may enable or disable the feature. Block 1326 may also include applying client located filters for filtering out content. In such an embodiment, a filter criteria field 908 may not be required. The user of the RDPS may also modify the transmission history data to allow a redundant refresh.

[0425] FIG. 14 depicts a flowchart for describing the content administration aspects of the present invention. An administrator, preferably a paying customer with rights to configure the deliverable content database, invokes the present invention administration interface. FIG. 14 is preferably a public access enabled, internet connected user interface for modifying the deliverable content database. The administrator may act on behalf of a paying customer. Processing begins at block 1402 and continues to block 1404 where the administrator is first authenticated as a valid user to perform administration. Then, block 1406 appropriately initializes the administration interface. Thereafter, block 1408 waits for user action (a user event). Once a user action is detected, processing continues.

[0426] If block 1410 determines that the administrator selected to list his deliverable content database records 700, then the deliverable content database is searched using the administrator's authorization id against the authorization id field 720. Any deliverable content database records 700 belonging to the administrator are put into a scrollable list at block 1414, and processing continues back to block 1408. Options are available for appropriately presenting the content, keywords data record 750, and linked content via content links field 722. The scrollable list preferably columnizes the displayable fields 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 714, 716, 718, and 724.

[0427] If block 1410 determines the user did not select to list his deliverable content database configurations, then processing continues to block 1416. If block 1416 determines that the user selected to delete a deliverable content data record 700 from the scrollable list, then block 1418 deletes the record 700 from the content deliverable database along with any associated keywords data record 750, and linked content via content links field 722. Thereafter, block 1420 updates the scrollable list data, and processing continues back to block 1414.

[0428] If block 1416 determines that the administrator did not select to delete, then processing continues to block 1422. If block 1422 determines the administrator selected to add a deliverable content database record 700, then block 1424 interfaces with the administrator for validated entry. Thereafter, block 1426 generates a unique number record identifier for rec id field 702, block 1428 inserts into the deliverable content database, block 1430 inserts any associated keyword data record 750 to the keyword data, and processing continues back to block 1414. Keywords specification allows associating delivery content to a user's interests or filters in registration data for establishing a basis of delivery. Block 1424 provides appropriate interfaces for specifying and reviewing all types of content. Block 1428 additionally populates linked content if content links field 722 is used. Once a deliverable content database record 700 is inserted, it is instantly activated for candidate delivery. The delivery is proactive when the RDPS situational location is automatically determined.

[0429] If block 1422 determines the user did not select to add a deliverable content database record 700, then processing continues to block 1432. If block 1432 determines that the user selected to modify location hierarchy data records 800, then the user modifies the data at block 1436 and processing continues back to block 1408. If block 1432 determines the user did not select to modify location hierarchy data, then processing continues to block 1434 where other user actions are handled. Other user actions include scrolling, window manipulation, exiting the administration interface, or other navigation not relevant for discussion. Processing then continues back to block 1408.

[0430] Preferably, the block 1432 option only presents itself to a special super-user administrator who is unlikely to cause problems for all other administrated configurations. It is very important that all data be maintained with integrity by blocks 1418 and 1428. For example, a deliverable content database record 700 deleted should not be referenced by transmission history data 940. The rec id field 702 will no longer be valid. FIG. 14 processing may include an update deliverable database record option in alternative embodiments.

[0431] FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C depict flowcharts for service event handling aspects of a preferred embodiment of the SDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the RDPS. SDPS processing relevant to the present invention begins at block 1502 when a service event (request) is posted (generated) to the SDPS, and continues to block 1504. All events are requests containing parameters including at least the device id 902 of the RDPS. Flowchart processing block discussions describe other parameters received, depending on the event (request) type.

[0432] If block 1504 determines that the event is an RDPS registration request, then block 1506 accesses registration data to see if the RDPS unique device id is already present (i.e. already registered) in a device id field 902. Thereafter, if block 1508 determines the RDPS does not already have a registration data record 900 registered, then block 1510 inserts a registration data record 900 into registration data. Much of the information may be provided as parameters to the event, or alternatively, block 1506 communicates with the RDPS to gather needed field information. Then, block 1512 provides an acknowledgement to the RDPS, or an error if already registered. Processing continues to block 1514 by way of off page connector 15000. If block 1514 determines that the RDPS was newly registered (i.e. an error was not provided), then block 1516 searches the deliverable content database for delivery activation setting(s) field 718 with a “deliver on RDPS registration” bit enabled. Thereafter, if block 1517 determines there are deliverable content database records 700 with the bit set, then block 1518 processes applicable content transmission (see FIG. 16), and processing stops at block 1519. If block 1517 determines that there was no records, then processing stops at block 1519. If block 1514 determines that the RDPS was already registered (existing entry), then processing continues to block 1519. Thus, a situational location change may be an RDPS state changed to registered.

[0433] If block 1504 determines that the event was not a registration request, then processing continues to block 1520. If block 1520 determines that the event is a de-registration request, then block 1522 access the registration data for the device id field 902 provided with the event parameters, and if block 1524 determines one is found, then it is deleted at block 1526, and then an acknowledgement is provided at block 1512 with processing continuing from there as was described except block 1516 searches for the “deliver on RDPS termination bit” enabled. If block 1524 determines that a registration data record 900 was not found, then an error is provided at block 1512 and processing continues as previously described. Thus, a situational location change may be an RDPS state changed to terminated.

[0434] If block 1520 determines that the event was not for an RDPS de-registration, then processing continues to block 1528. If block 1528 determines that the RDPS user selected to retrieve content for a content delivery indicator previously sent to the RDPS by the SDPS, then block 1530 accesses the deliverable content database by the rec id field 702 provided as parameters to the event, processing continues to block 1532 where the applicable content is processed (see FIG. 16), and processing stops at block 1534.

[0435] If block 1528 determines that the event was not an indicator selection request, then processing continues to block 1536. If block 1536 determines the event is a CADE generated by the RDPS, then block 1538 parses parameters from the request, for example, location and direction. Thereafter, block 1540 completes determination of the situational location from the parameters and converts into a form suitable for searching the deliverable content database. Block 1540 consults location hierarchy data and determines the date/time to further refine the RDPS situational location. Then, block 1544 retrieves deliverable content database records using RDPS parameters and any applicable location hierarchy data records 800 to fields 704, 706 and 708. Also used is data in interests field 906 and filter criteria 908 of the RDPS for comparing against keywords field 754 in keywords data associated with content deliverable database records 700. Delivery activation setting(s) field 718 is consulted as well. In some embodiments, the capabilities of the RDPS are maintained in field 904 to ensure no content of an inappropriate type is delivered. Thus, field 904 may also be utilized. If block 1546 determines that content was found, then block 1548 prunes transmission history data records 940 (by time, depth of records, etc.), block 1550 accesses the SDPS transmission history data, and block 1552 continues. If block 1552 determines that the content was not already transmitted (device id field 942 and rec id field 948 don't match any record in transmission history), then processing continues to block 1532 for processing described by FIG. 16. If block 1552 determines that the content was transmitted, then processing stops at block 1534. If block 1546 determines content applies, then processing stops at block 1534.

[0436] If block 1536 determines that the event was not a CADE, then processing continues to block 1554 by way of off page connector 15002. If block 1554 determines that the event is for a situational location query, then block 1556 searches deliverable content database records 700 with parameters from the RDPS: positional attribute parameters from the RDPS with the location field 704 and direction field 706, time criteria with time criteria field 708, and so on. All fields associated to record 700 are searchable through parameters. Block 1556 also applies location hierarchy data depending on a zoom specification parameter. The zoom specification allows control over the block 1556 search algorithm for whether or not to use hierarchy data, and whether or not to check descending locations, ascending locations up to a maximum threshold parameter of content, both descending and ascending (respectively) up to a threshold of content, or neither ascending nor descending hierarchy data functionality. The maximum threshold parameter may be specified regardless, and optionally limits the amount of content to deliver to the RDPS by size, number of content instances, or number of hierarchical data record nestings to search. Further still block 1556 may use field 904 as described above, or the user's interest and/or filters as described above. Information for records found are transmitted as content to the RDPS at block 1558 (see FIG. 16) and processing stops at block 1572.

[0437] If block 1554 determines that the event was not a situational location query, then processing continues to block 1562. If block 1562 determines that the request is a client count query request, then block 1564 retrieves the known number of RDPS devices at the specified situational location (e.g. location/direction) given specified time criteria; the number of transmission history data records 940 for unique values in rec id field 948 that contain a date/time stamp 952 according to the user's specified time criteria. A null time criteria parameter implies use the current time of processing the request with a truncated precision for a time window. Otherwise, a specified time window was entered by the user, or automatically inserted as a parameter by the RDPS or SDPS. Presence of the content specification parameter implies to additionally retrieve content from the deliverable content database as described by blocks 1538 through 1544. This allows providing information (e.g. graphical) to complement presentation of the total number of RDPS devices identified. Processing then continues to block 1558 for transmitting the count as content.

[0438] If block 1562 determines that the event was not a client count query request, then processing continues to block 1570 where any other SDPS event (request) is processed as is appropriate for the particular service application, and processing stops at block 1572.

[0439] FIG. 16 depicts a flowchart for describing the content transmission aspects of the present invention. FIG. 16 describes processing of blocks 1518, 1532, 1558, 2018, 2032, and 2058. Processing begins at block 1602, continues to block 1604 where registration data is accessed for communications bind information field 904 that is inserted when the RDPS registers, and then continues to block 1606. Block 1606 checks the size of the transmission destined for the RDPS. Thereafter, if block 1608 determines that the information is small enough to not worry about transmission, then block 1610 transmits the situational location dependent information using field 904, block 1612 appends a transmission history data record 940 to transmission history data, and processing stops at block 1616. Block 1610 may first compress and/or encrypt content transmission for efficient and/or safe communications that is then decompressed and/or decrypted by the RDPS at block 1326. Content may also by transmitted at block 1610 depending on capabilities of the RDPS maintained in field 904, for example, transmission speed, memory, storage space, etc. Thus, block 1610 may transmit using transmission delivery constraints of field 904.

[0440] If block 1608 determines there may be too much information to unquestionably transmit, then block 1614 transmits content delivery indicator(s) information to the RDPS and processing continues to block 1612. Thus, the total size of the transmission is a transmission delivery constraint affecting the delivery information of the content. Of course, FIG. 16 could always transmit an indicator, or a transmission delivery constraint size could be configured to cause content delivery indicators delivered all, or most, of the time. Block 1608 may use a system size setting (e.g. number of bytes), or may use size information relative to RDPS capabilities maintained in communications bind information field 904.

[0441] The reader should make note of the nearly identical descriptions and enumerations between the figures in different embodiments. The rightmost two digits of the block numbering have been preserved to facilitate correlation. FIG. 17 correlates FIG. 11, and so on. FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 are applicable to both embodiments: SDPS CADE generation and RDPS CADE generation.

[0442] FIG. 17 depicts a flowchart for describing data processing system aspects relevant to a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the SDPS. When the RDPS is enabled, for example, by a power switch, system manager processing begins at block 1702 and continues to block 1704 where the system appropriately initializes, for example to default interfaces. Processing continues to block 1712. Block 1712 waits for a user event or system event. User interface management is coupled with the system manager to enable a user to the RDPS. Upon detection of an event, block 1712 flows to block 1714 for any user event management processing. Should block 1714 processing return, block 1716 performs any system event management processing. Should processing of block 1716 return, block 1718 handles the event appropriately as is relevant for other events of the RDPS, for example, user interface control of little interest to discussion of the present invention. Thereafter, block 1718 flows to block 1712 for processing as described. Another embodiment of FIG. 17 will implement a multithreaded system wherein events are handled asynchronously as they occur.

[0443] FIGS. 18A and 18B depict flowcharts for describing user event management processing aspects of a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the SDPS. User event management begins at block 1802 and continues to block 1804. If block 1804 determines that the user event is powering the RDPS off, then block 1806 communicates with the SDPS to remove (if any) its RDPS data record 900 from the registration data, block 1808 terminates any communication session gracefully (if required) depending on the RDPS, block 1810 saves settings, for example, the delivery setting for the next power on, and RDPS processing stops at block 1811.

[0444] If block 1804 determines the RDPS was not turned off, then processing continues to block 1812. If block 1812 determines that the user selected to enable communications with the SDPS, then block 1814 establishes communications with the SDPS (if not already established), and block 1816 consults the current delivery setting. In one embodiment, block 1814 through 1820 may be processed just as the result of a wireless device being powered on. If block 1816 determines that the content delivery setting for receiving situational location dependent content is enabled, then block 1818 communicates with the SDPS for inserting a registry data record 900 into the registry data. Thereafter, block 1820 sets a RDPS user interface indicator showing that communications to the SDPS is enabled, and processing returns to block 1712 of FIG. 17 by way of off page connector 17000. If block 1816 determines the delivery setting is not enabled, then processing continues to block 1820.

[0445] If block 1812 determines that the user did not select to enable communications to the SDPS, then processing continues to block 1822. If block 1822 determines that the user selected to disable SDPS communications, then block 1824 communicates with the SDPS to remove its registry data record 900 from registry data, block 1826 terminates the communications session gracefully (if required) depending on the RDPS embodiment, block 1828 sets the communications to SDPS user interface indicator to disabled, and processing continues back to block 1712. In one embodiment, block 1824 through 1828 may be processed just as the result of a wireless device being powered off.

[0446] If block 1822 determines the user did not select to disable communications to the SDPS, then processing continues to block 1830. If block 1830 determines that the user selected to modify the RDPS content delivery setting, then the user modifies the setting at block 1832, the delivery setting is set accordingly at block 1834. Preferably, blocks 1830/1832 allow a user to toggle the content delivery setting. No content will be delivered when this setting is disabled. Being registered with the SDPS constitutes being eligible for delivery. Alternative embodiments won't have such a feature. Block 1834 also sets an indicator in the user interface for displaying that setting, and block 1836 communicates with the SDPS to insert or remove its registry data record 900 should the setting be different than previous. Of course, appropriate error handling is performed by block 1836 if there is no communications enabled. Thereafter, processing continues to block 1712.

[0447] If block 1830 determines that the user did not select to modify the content delivery setting, then processing continues to block 1844. If block 1844 determines that the user selected a content delivery indicator, as maintained in a transmission history data record 970 for deliverable content from the SDPS, then block 1846 communicates with the SDPS using the rec id field 976. In one embodiment, the user peruses the transmission history data in response to receiving a content delivery indicator from the SDPS. In another embodiment, correlation is maintained between individual user interface indicators to their associated transmission history data record 970 for allowing the user to simply select the indicator in the user interface for communicating with the SDPS to deliver the associated content. Providing a visual and/or audible presentation of the indicator is well known in the art and may be implemented with a variety of methods. Block 1846 makes the request for content to the SDPS with the rec id 976. Thereafter, via a received system event, blocks 1918 through 1926 handle receipt, delivery, and RDPS user interface presentation of the content in a manner appropriate to the content type from the SDPS. Processing continues from block 1846 back to block 1712.

[0448] If block 1844 determines that the user did not select an indicator of deliverable content, then processing continues to block 1850 by way of off page connector 18000. If block 1850 determines that the user selected to configure interests or filters, then block 1852 interfaces with the user to configure interests or filters which are saved locally at block 1854, and processing continues back to block 1712 by way of off page connector 17000. Any configured interests and filters are communicated to the SDPS at blocks 1818 and 1836 as part of registration. Interests field 906 and filter criteria field 908 are set with data configured at block 1852. The RDPS must de-register and re-register with new settings. In an alternative embodiment, block 1854 communicates with the SDPS to update the RDPS' registry data record 900.

[0449] If block 1850 determines that the user did not select to configure interests or filters, then processing continues to block 1856. If block 1856 determines the user selected to perform a situational location query, then the user specifies validated parameters (discussed with FIG. 20B) at block 1858. Thereafter, block 1860 communicates an appropriate formatted request to the SDPS, and thereafter via a received system event, blocks 1918 through 1926 handle receipt, delivery, and RDPS user interface presentation of the content in a manner appropriate to the content type from the SDPS. Processing leaves block 1860 and returns to block 1712.

[0450] If block 1856 determines that the user did not select to perform a situational location query, the processing continues to block 1864. If block 1864 determines that the user selected to query the number of known RDPS devices at a location(s) (i.e. a client count request), then block 1866 interfaces with the user to specify valid parameters including situational location information and time criteria, and processing continues to block 1860 which was described. A content specification parameter may also be specified for retrieving the situational location content as well. Time criteria embodiments include any time window in history, a current time window (of request, transmission of request, SDPS receipt of request, or processing the request), or a truncated precision time.

[0451] If block 1864 determines that the user did not select to query the number of RDPS devices at a location(s) (i.e. a client count request), then processing continues to block 1868. If block 1868 determines that the user selected to browse transmission history data, then block 1870 interfaces with the user until he either exits, or selects information from the speed reference information field 978 from a transmission history data record 970. Preferably, block 1870 permits scrolling transmission history data records 970 with fields columnized. If, at block 1872, the user selected information of field 978, then block 1874 automatically performs the action, an automatic dialing of a telephone number, or automatic transposition to a web page. Speed reference information field 978 is preferably related to content that was delivered as referenced by rec id field 976. Thereafter, processing continues back to block 1712. If block 1872 determines that the user exited from block 1870, then processing continues back to block 1712. If block 1868 determines that the user did not select to browse the transmission history data, then processing stops at block 1876. Note that some RDPS embodiments will not require blocks 1812 through 1828 because there may not be an active session required to have communications between the RDPS and SDPS. In one embodiment, the movement tolerance is communicated to the SDPS at blocks 1818 and 1836, and then inserted to movement tolerance field 910.

[0452] FIG. 19 depicts a flowchart for describing system event management processing aspects of a preferred embodiment of the RDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the SDPS. System event management begins at block 1902, and continues to block 1918. If block 1918 determines that the system event is a transmission from the SDPS with content to deliver, or a content delivery indicator to content, then block 1920 performs housekeeping by pruning transmission history data records 970. Pruning is performed by time, number of entries, or some other criteria. Block 1920 flows to block 1922 where the transmission history data is checked to see if the rec id field 702 for the content or content delivery indicator, communicated with the system event, is already present in a transmission history data record 970. If the same content was already delivered, a rec id field 976 will match the rec id field 702 for pending presentation. The system event contains parameters including rec id field 702 with an indicator status for allowing the user to retrieve the content at a later time. If block 1924 determines the rec id field 702 of the event is already contained in the transmission history data, then processing continues back to block 1712 with no delivery processing. If block 1924 determines it is not a redundant delivery, then block 1926 communicates with the SDPS for retrieval of the location field 704, direction field 706, content type field 710, short text field 714, and speed reference info field 716. Any type of content is presented to the RDPS user interface in the appropriate manner. Various embodiments may limit types of content using a variety of methods, located at the RDPS or SDPS. Additionally, either content field 712 and linked content via content links field 722 are retrieved, or content delivery indicator status is retrieved. Thereafter, block 1928 appends a transmission history data record 970 to the RDPS transmission history data, and processing continues to block 1712. Blocks 1920 through 1926 handle all content (or indicator) delivery to the RDPS, preferably asynchronously to all other RDPS processing.

[0453] If block 1918 determines that the system event was not for delivery, then processing stops at block 1930. An alternative embodiment to FIG. 19 processing will not check history for redundant content delivery. Or, a user may enable or disable the feature. Block 1926 may also include applying client located filters for filtering out content. In such an embodiment, a filter criteria field 908 may not be required. The user of the RDPS may also modify the transmission history data to allow a redundant refresh.

[0454] FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 20C depict flowcharts for service event handling aspects of a preferred embodiment of the SDPS of the present invention, in the context of candidate delivery event generation by the SDPS. SDPS processing relevant to the present invention begins at block 2002 when a service event (request) is posted (generated) to the SDPS, and continues to block 2004. All events are requests containing parameters including at least the device id 902 of the RDPS. Flowchart processing block discussions describe other parameters received, depending on the event (request) type.

[0455] If block 2004 determines that the event is an RDPS registration request, then block 2006 accesses registration data to see if the RDPS unique device id is already present (i.e. already registered) in a device id field 902. Thereafter, if block 2008 determines the RDPS does not already have a registration data record 900 registered, then block 2010 inserts a registration data record 900 into registration data. Much of the information may be provided as parameters to the event, or alternatively, block 2006 communicates with the RDPS to gather needed field information. Then, block 2012 provides an acknowledgement to the RDPS, or an error if already registered. Processing continues to block 2014 by way of off page connector 20000. If block 2014 determines that the RDPS was newly registered (i.e. an error was not provided), then block 2016 searches the deliverable content database for delivery activation setting(s) field 718 with a “deliver on RDPS registration” bit enabled. Thereafter, if block 2017 determines there are deliverable content database records 700 with the bit set, then block 2018 processes applicable content transmission (see FIG. 16), and processing stops at block 2019. If block 2017 determines that there was no records, then processing stops at block 2019. If block 2014 determines that the RDPS was already registered (existing entry), then processing continues to block 2019. Thus, a situational location change may be an RDPS state changed to registered.

[0456] If block 2004 determines that the event was not a registration request, then processing continues to block 2020. If block 2020 determines that the event is a de-registration request, then block 2022 access the registration data for the device id field 902 provided with the event parameters, and if block 2024 determines one is found, then it is deleted at block 2026, and then an acknowledgement is provided at block 2012 with processing continuing from there as was described except block 2016 searches for the “deliver on RDPS termination bit” enabled. If block 2024 determines that a registration data record 900 was not found, then an error is provided at block 2012 and processing continues as previously described. Thus, a situational location change may be an RDPS state changed to terminated.

[0457] If block 2020 determines that the event was not for an RDPS de-registration, then processing continues to block 2028. If block 2028 determines that the RDPS user selected to retrieve content for a content delivery indicator previously sent to the RDPS by the SDPS, then block 2030 accesses the deliverable content database by the rec id field 702 provided as parameters to the event, processing continues to block 2032 where the applicable content is processed (see FIG. 16), and processing stops at block 2034.

[0458] If block 2028 determines that the event was not an indicator selection request, then processing continues to block 2036. If block 2036 determines the event is a CADE generated by a service of, or to, the SDPS (see FIG. 3B, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 6), then block 2038 parses parameters from the request, for example, location and direction. Thereafter, block 2040 completes determination of the situational location from the parameters and converts into a form suitable for searching the deliverable content database. Block 2040 consults location hierarchy data and determines the date/time to further refine the RDPS situational location. Then, block 2044 retrieves deliverable content database records using RDPS parameters and any applicable location hierarchy data records 800 to fields 704, 706 and 708. Also used is data in interests field 906 and filter criteria 908 of the RDPS for comparing against keywords field 754 in keywords data associated with content deliverable database records 700. Delivery activation setting(s) field 718 is consulted as well. In some embodiments, the capabilities of the RDPS are maintained in field 904 to ensure no content of an inappropriate type is delivered. Thus, field 904 may also be utilized. If block 2046 determines that content was found, then block 2048 prunes transmission history data records 940 (by time, depth of records, etc.), block 2050 accesses the SDPS transmission history data, and block 2052 continues. If block 2052 determines that the content was not already transmitted (device id field 942 and rec id field 948 don't match any record in transmission history), then processing continues to block 2032 for processing described by FIG. 16. If block 2052 determines that the content was transmitted, then processing stops at block 2034. If block 2046 determines content applies, then processing stops at block 2034.

[0459] If block 2036 determines that the event was not a CADE, then processing continues to block 2054 by way of off page connector 20002. If block 2054 determines that the event is for a situational location query, then block 2056 searches deliverable content database records 700 with parameters from the RDPS: positional attribute parameters from the RDPS with the location field 704 and direction field 706, time criteria with time criteria field 708, and so on. All fields associated to record 700 are searchable through parameters. Block 2056 also applies location hierarchy data depending on a zoom specification parameter. The zoom specification allows control over the block 2056 search algorithm for whether or not to use hierarchy data, and whether or not to check descending locations, ascending locations up to a maximum threshold parameter of content, both descending and ascending (respectively) up to a threshold of content, or neither ascending nor descending hierarchy data functionality. The maximum threshold parameter may be specified regardless, and optionally limits the amount of content to deliver to the RDPS by size, number of content instances, or number of hierarchical data record nestings to search. Further still block 2056 may use field 904 as described above, or the user's interest and/or filters as described above. Information for records found is transmitted as content to the RDPS at block 2058 (see FIG. 16) and processing stops at block 2072.

[0460] If block 2054 determines that the event was not a situational location query, then processing continues to block 2062. If block 2062 determines that the request is a client count query request, then block 2064 retrieves the known number of RDPS devices at the specified situational location (e.g. location/direction) given specified time criteria; the number of location history data records 920 for unique values in rec id field 922 that contain a date/time stamp 930 according to the user's specified time criteria. A null time criteria parameter implies use the current time of processing the request with a truncated precision for a time window. Otherwise, a specified time window was entered by the user, or automatically inserted as a parameter by the RDPS or SDPS. Presence of the content specification parameter implies to additionally retrieve content from the deliverable content database as described by blocks 2038 through 2044. This allows providing information (e.g. graphical) to complement presentation of the total number of RDPS devices identified. Processing then continues to block 2058 for transmitting the count as content.

[0461] If block 2062 determines that the event was not a client count query request, then processing continues to block 2070 where any other SDPS event (request) is processed as is appropriate for the particular service application, and processing stops at block 2072. FIG. 16 depicts a flowchart for describing the content transmission aspects. FIG. 16 describes processing of blocks 2018, 2032, and 2058.

[0462] In any of the embodiments described above, a performance conscious implementation of the present invention including a cache may be pursued given the RDPS has appropriate capability. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, deliverable content database records 700, and joined data from them, may be stored at an RDPS. The SDPS may transmit a compression of the data to the RDPS for decompression and local maintaining. Transmission may be at registration and/or performed asynchronously to the RDPS as necessary. Thus, the deliverable content database, and joined data from it, will be accessed locally to the RDPS to prevent real-time communication of what could be large amounts of content. FIG. 14 processing would include updating any RDPS with a local cache when configuration was complete.

[0463] FIG. 21 depicts a block diagram for describing a preferred embodiment of key architectural web service components at a high level. A web service environment 2100 includes a web service 2102, service server data 2104, external data source(s) such as external data source 2106, a plurality of devices, for example device 2108, internet connectivity 2110, and an optional location service 2112. The web service 2102 implementation/configuration includes a single server data processing system or a plurality of server data processing systems, for example in a clustered configuration. Web service 2102 implementation/configuration preferably includes a plurality of executable threads in support of attached communications devices, for example device 2108. Web service 2102 includes at least one SDPS, and device 2108 is, or contains, an RDPS. Those skilled in the art recognize that web service 2102 is implemented with any of a variety of platforms, hardware, operating system types, data centers, communications connectivity, etc. Appropriate failover, redundancy, scalability, and availability is provided to web service 2102. Web service 2102 preferably includes public website user interface pages and member only user interfaces pages. Web service 2102 maintains server data 2104 for driving functionality provided by web service 2102. Server data 2104 preferably includes maintaining some data in an SQL database and includes a single database or a plurality of databases. Server data 2104 includes file information such as website user interfaces, for example Active Server Pages (ASPs), as well as SQL database data. Server data 2104 preferably contains all the Tables disclosed (e.g. records 2900, 3000, 3100, 3400, 3800, 6500, 6800, 7000, 7800, 8200, 8900, 9200, 9400, 9450, 9500, 10100, 10200, 10700, 14100, 14800, 15300, 15400, 15600, 15700, and all other tables disclosed here), or any subset of the Tables disclosed. Tables are preferably maintained in an SQL database and contain keys, indexes, and constraints that assure appropriate integrity of the data. A plurality of external data sources, for example external data source 2106, may contain useful deliverable content data for delivery to devices. Deliverable Content Database (DCDB) data may completely be contained in server data 2104 as the result of creating it therein. DCDB data may be contained in server data 2104 as the result of moving, transforming, or importing data from one or more external data sources 2106 into the server data 2104. DCDB data may be maintained outside of server data 2104 at external data source(s) 2106 and accessed at the time it is needed through pointer information maintained in server data 2104. Internet connectivity 2110 comprises any medium capable of transporting communications between any or all components of FIG. 21, for example as discussed above for FIG. 1. Devices communicating to web service 2102 by way of internet connectivity 2110 are heterogeneous, for example as discussed for a FIG. 1 RDPS. Device 2108 at least requires the ability to receive data from web service 2102, and preferably has the ability to also send data to web service 2102. Devices, for example device 2108, are mobile devices anywhere in our universe, for example on earth. The device 2108 whereabouts and/or situational location may be determined at itself, at a service, as described above, or anywhere else in the web service environment 2100. In one embodiment, a location service 2112 is provided for communicating the whereabouts and/or situational locations of devices 2108 to web service 2102. Location service 2112 may also include one or more servers. The term “service” implies one or more servers. Location service 2112 implementation/configuration is preferably implemented and configured similarly to web service 2102 as discussed above, and may communicate directly with devices 2108 as well as web service 2102. Location service 2112 may communicate with another service for determining the whereabouts or situational locations of devices. Location Service 2112 may be instrumental in communicating situational location information to web service 2102 for devices that come within range of sensing means connected to Location Service 2112. Devices 2108 preferably have some web browser for navigating the web service 2102, and the web service accommodates the device with an appropriately formatted web page based on the device type and/or browser type. Devices 2108 include mobile devices 2540 as well as those devices used by an Administrator 2532, MCD User 2534, Content Provider 2536, and Site Owner 2538. A single device 2108 can be a mobile device 2540 and the same device used by any, or all, of the user types to web service 2102 (e.g. web service users 2532 through 2538).

[0464] FIG. 22 depicts a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the overall design for web service Active Server Pages (ASPs) supporting heterogeneous device connectivity. Web service 2102 is shown to include public user interfaces 2202, for example public web pages, and membership user interfaces 2204, for example membership web pages. The terminology user interface(s) and web page(s) are used synonymously and interchangeably throughout this disclosure. The term “web page” is intended to be interpreted in the broadest sense of an accessible user interface, regardless of the user interface format, web page format, platform, programming language, or system(s) involved. A web page may include an Active Server Page (ASP), html page, Java Server Page, WML (Wireless Markup Language) page, or any other means for accomplishing a user interface page. Public user interfaces 2202 preferably include animated user interfaces (animated web pages) 2206, non-animated user interfaces (non-animated web pages) 2208, a heterogeneous logon user interface (heterogeneous logon web page(s)) 2210 (FIG. 41 and associated processing), and an automated registration user interface (registration web page(s)) 2212 (FIG. 28 and associated processing). In one embodiment, a parameter is passed to the web pages for specifying the device type accessing the page so the page is returned to the device in the proper format. In one embodiment, a parameter is passed to the web pages for whether or not to provide animated versions of the page so the page is returned to the device in the proper format. In another embodiment, the web service or web service page determines automatically what types of devices (or browsers) is communicating to it, for example using Active Server Page protocol variables (e.g. Server variables) as well known to those skilled in the art. Automatic determination enables returning to the device an appropriately formatted page, or enables automatically setting and passing the appropriate parameter to another page for returning to the device an appropriately formatted page.

[0465] FIG. 23A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Terms of Use option of the web service as an animated page for a full browser. There is little evidence of animation in this screenshot when compared to FIG. 23B. The screenshot captures a snapshot in time, so depending upon when the snapshot was made, there will be more or less visual evidence. Web page header 2302 is animated with radial patterns emanating outward from the center of the header. If it were not for the GPSPing.com theme music selection option 2310, it would be very difficult to see that header 2302 is indeed animated in the screenshot. Each public web page preferably contains an attractive header 2302 for selecting navigable link options, for example, “Home”, “Service”, “Join”, “Help”, “Contact”, and “About”. The “Contact” option need not be available since the web service 2102 presented herein is completely automated and does not require a human being to operate it. The “Contact” option is provided for an extra level of complementary human being service. Each public web page preferably contains an attractive footer 2304, also for selecting navigable link options, for example, “Privacy” and “Terms of Use”. Each web page contains a content view area 2306 containing formatted content in context for a selected navigable link of the web service. The web service 2102 further returns a navigation indicator 2308 for indicating where in the tree hierarchy of web pages a user is at currently, and whether or not the user is viewing an animated page. In one embodiment a web page prefixed domain name of pinggps.com indicates a non-animated page, and a web page prefixed domain name of gpsping.com indicates an animated page. In this way, users know how to type in a URL for the preference of animated or non-animated pages served to their device by web service 2102. Another embodiment will detect the device type or browser type and automatically serve back pages according to the capabilities. Navigation indicator 2308 is itself a link to the self described web service page so the user can click the link to toggle between animated pages and non-animated pages containing the same web page content. Each web page returned to a device from web service 2102 preferably highlights the navigable link option when that corresponding page is currently displayed. Highlighting includes size, font, color, or any other change to demonstrate where the user is currently at in the context of web service 2102. The “Terms of Use” navigable link option of FIG. 23A in the bottom right corner has been changed in color from white to gold and its point size increased.

[0466] FIG. 23B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Terms of Use option of the web service as a non-animated page for a full browser. Notice that the GPSPing.com theme music selection option 2310 is no longer present since that is only available in an animated page. The navigation indicator 2312 now provides a selectable link back to the animated version of the same page in accordance with discussions above. Also notice that a URL parameter (fl=off) has been passed in the URL descriptor 2314 to the web service 2102 for returning a page with no Flash animation.

[0467] FIG. 23C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Auto-Messaging option under the Service option of the web service as an animated page for a full browser. FIG. 23C has been captured as a snapshot wherein there is more evidence of emanation animation in header 2302 as described above. Also, the FIG. 23C animated page provides a Flash presentation 2316 which plays as a video in the displayed page upon being clicked (selected) by a mouse. The page contains other content for this page context such as content 2318.

[0468] FIG. 23D depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Auto-Messaging option under the Service option of the web service as a non-animated page for a full browser. Notice that key presentation mini-screenshots have been taken and inserted directly within the non-animated page. The user is viewing a non-animated page so there had to be adjustments replacing the Flash presentation with fixed content. Also, notice that the same content 2318 is still presented to the page since both pages represent the same context, although in a different format. FIGS. 23A through 23D are examples of public user interfaces 2202.

[0469] FIG. 24 depicts a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the overall design for any particular web service Active Server Page (ASP) supporting heterogeneous device connectivity. Web service 2102 has a user interface design 2400 including website pages 2402. The term “website page” or “web page” is not to limit the scope of this disclosure to certain user interfaces, or various implementations of them, in particular when providing the same functionality. Website pages 2402 include type X pages 2404, type Y pages 2406, type Z pages 2408, and any number of specific types of pages. Page types depend on the device type or browser type receiving the page, whether or not the page should be animated, which URL prefix to use, which web service content is sought, and any other characteristics for determining a customized page to return to the requestor of some device. Page processing flow chart 2410 provides the fundamental processing by each ASP for true heterogeneous device support.

[0470] In a preferred embodiment, a type page 2404, 2406, or 2408 contains encoded logic according to a URL that invokes the page. The URL will have a prescribed domain name and possibly URL parameter(s) for governing the encoded logic for returning an appropriately formatted page to the device. In this way, the type page 2404, 2406, or 2408 (i.e. ASP) responds uniquely for a particular heterogeneous device type, animation preference, domain name server (DNS) prefix, and the particular page context content sought. In one embodiment, the web service home ASP automatically determines a device type or browser type and then sets parameter(s) for redirecting to another ASP of the web service 2102 with those parameter(s). In another embodiment, every ASP automatically determines the device type or browser type upon page load for appropriate processing. In another embodiment, the invoking browser is burdened with knowing the URL and parameter(s) for invoking each ASP for appropriate processing. In yet another embodiment, any or all of the aforementioned processing techniques are incorporated in ASP processing of the web service 2102.

[0471] Page processing flowchart 2410 starts in block 2452 upon being invoked and continues to block 2454. Block 2454 determines how the page was arrived to, for example by www.pinggps.com or www.gpsping.com for processing as described above, along with any parameters that were passed (e.g. ?br=pda for browser type of pda, or ?fl=off for no Flash animation). ASP Server variables (e.g. Request.ServerVariables(“HTTP_HOST”)) and Request objects (e.g. Request.QueryString(“fl”)) provide this information. This design allows a plurality of DNS entries of the World Wide Web to route to a single website home page for subsequent processing. This design also enables a single ASP to support any of a number of heterogeneous devices. Thereafter, block 2456 sets a page load parameter (e.g. URL param) according to the requestor's URL and specified parameters so that ASP processing of the redirected page target performs properly. For example, www.pinggps.com would cause a page load parameter of fl=off to be added to the URL www.gpsping.com (i.e. http://www.gpsping.com?fl=off) for no animation. Block 2456 continues to block 2458 to check if another page should be redirected to with parameter(s). If block 2458 determines that the current ASP will process the requested page correctly, then processing continues to block 2462, otherwise processing flows to block 2460 where an appropriate ASP is determined and invoked with an appropriate URL and parameter(s) for some page type, and then processing terminates for the current ASP at block 2466.

[0472] Block 2462 determines and builds a correctly formatted page to be returned to the requestor (e.g. connected device browser) and block 2464 builds any navigable selection links in the page for appending any parameter(s) determined at block 2456 so parameters are passed to all descending web pages from this point forward in the navigation tree of web service 2102. Therefore, once the appropriate page format is determined for the requesting device, all links returned in the page already reflect proper invocation of subsequent links. The user only has to click a link in the returned page and the invoked page will be properly formatted for his device. Thereafter, this ASP terminates processing at block 2466.

[0473] Flowchart 2410 is performed for every ASP. In this way, heterogeneous devices are determined at the top of every page and handled properly in either the current ASP or for redirection with parameters to another ASP. Thus, flowchart 2410 discloses a preferred design for not only handling heterogeneous devices, but for handling an animation preference, and other reasonable preferences by the requesting browser. In a preferred web service 2102, animated pages include Macromedia Flash and/or Shockwave elements (Macromedia, Flash, and Shockwave are trademarks of the Macromedia company). CD-ROM file name “Default.asp” provides an ASP program source code listing for a home page embodiment of flowchart 2410 exemplifying animation handling, and CD-ROM file name “svcautom.asp” provides an ASP program source code listing for one web service page for animation handling. Heterogeneous browser handling of flowchart 2410 is exemplified by CD-ROM files referenced in disclosure below for FIGS. 40 through 45.

[0474] FIG. 25 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the main architectural web service components used to carry out novel functionality and how different user types interoperate with the web service through heterogeneous devices. The web service 2102 members area 2500 (as opposed to the public site pages of web service 2102) is sometimes referred to as a Mobile Content Delivery (MCD) Internet Server as titled in the drawing. Web service members area 2500 includes a My GPS component 2502 which provides web service members area user interfaces to a heterogeneous device by user type, device type, and user preferences. The My GPS component 2502 intersects with other components in that it is the main shell interface by which other component interfaces show through to a user. All users to the web service members area 2500 access members area interfaces through the My GPS interface. The members area 2500 also includes a Registry Management component 2504 for managing devices to web service 2102, a Filters Management component 2506 for managing convenient user interface filters for automatically filtering data through all members area 2500 user interfaces, a DCDB Management component 2508 for managing deliverable content in the members area 2500 of web service 2102, a Delivery Manager component 2510 for managing content deliveries by situational locations as well as additional device interface functionality disclosed below, and a Users Management component 2512 for managing users in the members area 2500 of web service 2102. Components 2502 through 2512 are preferably composed each of a plurality of web pages, for example ASPs, and each page supports a heterogeneous device by user type, device type, and user preferences. Pages of the members area 2500 are membership user interfaces 2204.

[0475] Components access server data 2104 for novel functionality. The data is preferably maintained in an SQL database. Server data 2104 for members area 2500 includes deliverable content 2514 (e.g. DCDB data, PingSpot content (discussed below)), Registry data 2516 (discussed below)) for maintaining devices to the web service, Device Delivery History data 2518 (Masters and Archives discussed below), User preferences and configurations 2520 (discussed below), Statistics 2522 (discussed below), PingPal configurations 2524 (discussed below), User data 2526 (discussed below) of the web service 2102 members area 2500, Tracking information 2528 for tracking the whereabouts or historical situational locations of heterogeneous devices (discussed below), and user interface filters 2530 (discussed below) for enabling a user friendly user interface to members area 2500. Registry Management 2504 enables Administrator user types to administrate a permitted number of heterogeneous devices to the web service. There are also different types of Administrator user types, each with a specified number of devices they can manage. Filters Management 2506 enables all user types to customize members area user interfaces. DCDB Management 2508 enables Content Provider user types to administrate a permitted number of deliverable content data items to the DCDB of the web service. There are also different types of Content Provider user types, each with a specified number of content items they can manage. Other user types can manage content to the DCDB through My GPS 2502, for example PingSpots and Pingimeters as discussed below. Delivery Manager 2510 interacts with mobile devices of the Registry 2516 for delivery of deliverable content 2514 and other novel processing discussed in detail below. Users Management 2512 is optional to the web service and enables Site Owner user types to administrate a permitted subset of User member account records of User data 2526. All users can manage their own member account records and any records they own or created. Components each access certain areas in server data 2104 as demonstrated by lines adjoining components to the particular data area. Any of the FIG. 25 components can be accessed with any heterogeneous device, mobile or not.

[0476] In one embodiment, external data source(s) 2106 (may be remote) provides deliverable content, and Geocoding Conversion data 2550 enables converting situational location data of external data source(s) 2106 into a more suitable format situational location data, for example in converting a postal address to a latitude and longitude. Data from external data source(s) 2106 may be imported to deliverable content 2514 for participation in delivery, perhaps after a geocoding transform (but not necessarily). Data from external data source(s) 2106 may be accessed at delivery time when needed, or transformed with geocoding data 2550 when needed, in which cases minimal pointer information is maintained in deliverable content 2514 for pointing to needed data when it is needed. Geocoding data 2550 includes databases facilitating conversions such as:

• • [0477] Postal address information to latitude and longitude;
  • [0478] Mapsco grid reference to latitude and longitude, or applicable area in latitude and longitude coordinates;
  • [0479] elephone number for fixed phone location, or mobile phone current location to associated latitude and longitude;
  • [0480] Proximity sensing means location, for example as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,389,010 and 5,726,984 (Kubler et al), to latitude and longitude; or
  • [0481] Any mapping transformation of a situational location subset form or format to another situational location subset form or format.
    The same user can be an Administrator 2532, Content Provider 2536, Site Owner 2538, and general MCD User 2534, while at the same time being a user of a mobile device 2540.

[0482] FIG. 26 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the user interface invoked for automated registration/membership to the web service. FIG. 26 and associated Figures is part of automated registration 2212. Processing begins at block 2602, for example as a result of clicking FIG. 27A links 2702 or 2704, or upon entering a proper URL string in a web address bar of a browser such as FIG. 27D URL string 2798. Thereafter, block 2604 sets a variable M to the membership type requested passed as a (“m”) parameter to the FIG. 26 ASP, and block 2606 determines which user type was requested for registration/membership.

[0483] If block 2606 determines that a public user type was requested (e.g. by way of FIG. 27A links 2702 and 2704), then block 2608 builds a query for querying the number of members area 2500 users already registered in Users data 2526. Thereafter, block 2610 opens a database connection, issues an appropriate select count(*) query and closes the database connection. Then, block 2612 checks to see if there are too many users already registered in the web service. Web service 2102 is fully automated so must ensure current capability accommodates the number of users trying to register to the service. It is conceivable that millions of users may try to register to the web service 2102. A site configuration file is maintained for the maximum number of users (preferably for each user type) the site can currently support at any particular time. If that number becomes exceeded, no other users can register. An automated process (or human being) is notified with an alert email to scale the web service 2102 up to support more users. At that point, the site configuration maximum number of users supported is also increased.

[0484] If block 2612 determines the web service 2102 members area 2500 is already at capacity of maximum number of users supported for the requested user type, then block 2614 sends a site full alert email to an Administrator account, block 2616 handles the error appropriately as discussed below, and processing terminates at block 2618. The Administrator account is preferably an automated program scanning email content for kicking off automated processing for submitting work order(s) to scale up the web service 2102, for example, an increase in communications bandwidth, data storage, processing power, or any other web service resource. Work orders may also be handled by automated processes for scaling up the web service 2102. Once the resources are provisioned, the site configuration maximums are automatically updated with new maximum values in accordance with the scaled website. In one embodiment, the Administrator account can be a human being monitored account for taking care of web service scaling with subsequent manual procedures involved. The site configuration maximums are constants preferably maintained in an include file included by web service 2102 pages. The include file is updated once the web service 2102 is appropriately scaled to support more users.

[0485] If at block 2612 it is determined that the maximum number of users of the requested type will not be exceeded, then processing continues to block 2620 where a Pinger membership account type is determined. If this registration/membership request is for a Pinger type, then block 2622 builds and presents the Pinger registration page of FIG. 27B. Thereafter, in block 2626 the user interfaces to the registration page until doing a Submit of the completed form fields. Upon submission, block 2628 validates user interface fields according to the user type requested just prior to invoking the form processing page. All form validation processing (in this entire disclosure) just prior to invoking a form processing page is preferably implemented in Javascript for cross browser compatibility, but may be implemented with any reasonable method.

[0486] Thereafter, if block 2630 determines one or more fields are invalid, then an error is communicated to the user at block 2632 so user input specification can continue on return to block 2626. Blocks 2628 and 2630 preferably check for SQL injection attacks, common character entry errors, and typical issues that occur in data entry. One method for reporting an error is to use a popup, which is read by the user, then removed without submitting the user interface form fields to the form processing page. Upon return to block 2626, the user responds to the errors reports. If at block 2630 all the fields specified in the user interface are valid, then block 2634 invokes the registration processing page of FIG. 28 with the user input specified as data evidence (preferably form fields), and the current page terminates at block 2618. Processing of blocks 2626 through 2632 are analogous throughout similar user interface processing blocks discussed below in other flowcharts. Other embodiments of this and other flowcharts may not include device side validation at all such as blocks 2628 through 2632 prior to page form submission, such that submission from a user interfacing block such as block 2626 continues directly to a processing page block such as block 2634 for validation and processing.

[0487] If block 2620 determines a Pinger membership was not requested, then processing continues to block 2636. If block 2636 determines a Content Provider Gold membership is being requested, then block 2624 builds and presents the Content Provider Gold registration page of FIG. 27C and processing continues to block 2626 and subsequent processing as already described.

[0488] If block 2636 determines the request was not for a Content Provider Gold membership, then block 2638 builds and presents an appropriate interface corresponding to the membership requested and processing continues on to block 2626 already described. If block 2606 determines that a public user type was not requested, then processing continues to block 2640. Only a certain keyword parameter known to a site administrator can invoke an interface for registering any user type. If block 2640 determines that the membership requested is for site administrator use, then block 2642 builds and presents the FORADMINUSE only registration page of FIG. 27D. Thereafter, processing continues to block 2626 as already described. If block 2640 determines that the registration request is invalid, then the error is handled appropriately at block 2616 by way of reporting the error to the requesting user, or by redirecting the user to an error page.

[0489] FIG. 27A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Join option of the web service as an animated page for a full browser, available from the public website. Public user types of Pinger and Content Provider Gold are exposed in the FIG. 27A user interface. A Platinum Content Provider join link could also be exposed for automated registration and billing, but it is not at the time of taking the screenshot of FIG. 27A. Registration and membership user interface processing preferably enforces a full browser, but alternative embodiments will permit the processing from any heterogeneous device. Member area logon link 2706 is provided for users who are already registered members and wish to logon to the members area 2500 for membership user interfaces (pages) 2204. Logon link 2706 redirects the user to an appropriate logon page depending on the device type. If a successful logon was already made from the device as determined by a logon processing ASP, the logon user interface is automatically bypassed and an appropriate options page presented to the user by his user type, device type, and previously set user preferences, as discussed below. All users can register to web service 2102 automatically, or another embodiment will rely on a human administrator for certain user types.

[0490] FIG. 27B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Pinger registration/membership option of the web service, for example upon clicking link 2702. Fields specified by the user are intuitive. Notice that only the minimal amount of personal information is requested to maintain a level of anonymity. There is still enough information provided by users for web service 2102 statistics based on birth year, sex, location, work industry, and work industry specialty. A work industry specialty clarification may or may not exist for a particular work industry. A “Your Work Industry” selection populates field 2972. An “Industry Specialty” selection populates field 2974. Other embodiments can request less personal information, or more personal information. Giving a new user the sense that not too much information is being requested is preferred to achieve confirmation that the web service 2102 is anonymous. Account security question dropdown 2776 provides a convenient list of options to help the user remember his account information in case he forgets his logon id or password. FIG. 49B shows a dropdown example in detail for user selection. The user selects a desired account security question and then enters a string for the answer in security answer field 2778. Submit button 2714 submits the user specifications for processing. Generally, the submit button in all user interfaces of this disclosure submits user specifications for processing.

[0491] FIG. 27C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Content Provider Gold registration/membership option of the web service, for example upon clicking link 2704. More personal information is required for a Content Provider Gold account membership because they are paying customers to the web service 2102. Fields specified by the user in FIG. 27C are intuitive and are a superset of those specified in FIG. 27B. FIG. 27B shows that the user has already specified data to the user interface just prior to submission. A comment field 2710 is provided for the user to enter a comment to the web service for his account setup. Only a valid transaction code known to a potential Content Provider Gold user enables a successful registration. The transaction code is entered into fields 2722 and 2724, and is validated by the processing page upon successful form submission. Block 2630 ensures the transaction code entered twice matches before submitting to the processing page.

[0492] FIG. 27D depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the administrator specified registration/membership option of the web service, for example upon entering URL 2798. FIG. 27D is a superset of FIG. 27C with the caveat that a different transaction code must be specified by a knowing administrator, and any user type can be requested by the administrator for registration. Notice that additional information can be specified for any user type in the system. All user types are preferably maintained in the same database table(s) so data is populated in the table(s) if provided.

[0493] FIG. 27E depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the email address validation aspect of the web service. Block 2628 further includes processing for prompting the user to re-enter his email address specified in a FIG. 27B through FIG. 27D interface. The FIG. 27E pop-up accepts input from the user for comparison to the email address entered in the “Email Address” form field. Block 2630 additionally compares the email address entered to the pop-up with the email address originally entered in the form. A mismatch causes processing flow from block 2630 to block 2632. A match causes processing flow from block 2630 to block 2634.

[0494] FIG. 28 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated user registration/membership processing resulting from user interaction to the registration/membership user interfaces and submittal therefrom. Processing resulting from block 2634 begins at block 2802 and continues to block 2804 where a variable M is set to the membership type requested as passed from the registration/membership user interface page (“m” variable). Thereafter, block 2806 validates the form fields communicated for processing. Fields are preferably not only validated prior to submission, but similarly also in all processing pages in case an attacker tries to access the processing page(s) directly. Thereafter, block 2808 checks to see if fields passed were all valid. If they were not all valid, then block 2828 handles the error appropriately either by informing the user or confusing a potential attacker, and processing terminates for this ASP at block 2822. Block 2828 will also close any database connection should one be open if arrived to as the result of an error.

[0495] If block 2808 determines that all form fields are valid, then block 2824 determines the number of registration attempts thus far made by this user. For example, registration attempt evidence can be cached at the user's device in a cookie, or kept in the server data 2104 with identifying information in a best attempt to know that this is a repeat registration attempt. Thereafter, if block 2826 determines the maximum number of attempts has been exceeded, then processing continues to block 2828 for processing as heretofore described.

[0496] If block 2826 determines that a maximum number of repeated attempts has not been exceeded, then block 2830 checks if the type of registration requested is a FORADMINUSE request. If block 2830 determines that this is for a FORADMINUSE request, then block 2810 validates the “Transaction code” entered. If the transaction code entered is not valid, then processing continues to block 2828. If block 2810 determines the transaction code is valid, then block 2812 builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a People table record such as FIG. 29, opens a database connection, and does the insert. The number of current registration attempts is incremented for the requestor thereafter at block 2814, and block 2816 issues a query for an automatically generated primary key PersonID 2902 upon SQL insert. Thereafter, block 2818 constructs a default unique account logon name and random password, builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a Users table record such as FIG. 30, and specifies the foreign key of PersonID 3002 to associate the records between tables and facilitate a future SQL cascade delete. PersonID 2902 is identical to PersonID 3002. Block 2818 sets fields 3020 and 3022 according to the user type (discussed below). In another embodiment, fields 3020 and 3022 are also exposed in the FORADMINUSE interface for individual setting of the values (they are described below). Thereafter, block 2818 inserts to the Users table, builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a LastLog table record such as FIG. 31, does the insert to the LastLog table, and closes the database connection.

[0497] Thereafter, block 2820 prepares an acknowledgement email for registration success, sends it to the “Email Address” field specification of the form (such as FIG. 35B), and additionally sends a Notify email to an Administrator email account if a site configuration indicates to do so for documentary purposes. Thereafter, block 2820 presents a successful registration completion page to the user, for example FIG. 35A, and processing terminates at block 2822.

[0498] If block 2830 determines that registration is not for FORADMINUSE, then block 2832 checks to see if the registration attempt is for Pinger membership. If this request is for Pinger membership, then processing continues to block 2844 where a random confirmation code is generated, a system date/time stamp determined, and an email is sent to the user's “Email Address” specified. The email is built to contain the random confirmation code and date/time stamp, for example FIG. 32B. Thereafter, block 2844 builds and presents a verification user interface, for example FIG. 32A which prompts the user to enter the randomly generated confirmation code automatically sent to his email address. Data evidence is set for subsequent processing, and includes the encrypted data for at least the confirmation code, and all fields entered by the user to the registration/membership interface, preferably as hidden form fields for later insert processing. If this user is a paying customer (arrived here by way of block 2838 through 2840), additional data evidence is created for the paying customer. Thereafter, in block 2846 the user interfaces to the verification page until doing a Submit of the completed form fields. Upon submission, block 2848 validates user interface fields just prior to invoking the form processing page.

[0499] Thereafter, if block 2850 determines that one or more fields are invalid, then an error is communicated to the user at block 2852 so user input specification can continue on return to block 2846. Block 2850 preferably checks for SQL injection attacks, common character entry errors, and typical issues that occur in data entry. One method for reporting an error is to use a popup, which is read by the user, then removed without submitting the user interface form fields to the form processing page. Upon return to block 2846, the user responds to the errors reported. If at block 2850 all the fields specified in the user interface are valid (confirmation code preferably not checked yet for match), then block 2854 invokes the verification processing page of FIG. 33 with the user input specified, and the current page terminates at block 2822. Block 2850 will also preferably allow a maximum number of field specification attempts to the FIG. 32A verification interface before handling a maximum attempt error and proceeding directly to block 2828 for appropriate error processing (not shown).

[0500] Blocks 2844 through 2854 ensure no User data 2526 is created for the registrant (i.e. user that is performing registration) until it is proven there is confirmation of his email address specified, and validating email receipt through entering of the confirmation code. This automates account creation to the automated web service 2102 in an appropriate manner using email address as a globally unique identifier.

[0501] If block 2832 determines that the requested membership is not for a Pinger, then processing continues to block 2834. If block 2834 determines that membership being requested is for a Content Provider Gold account, then block 2836 checks the transaction code entered from the form. If it is invalid, then processing continues to block 2828 which was heretofore described. If the transaction code is valid, then block 2838 invokes a connected billing system (e.g. online credit card billing system) for monthly recurring charges. The user interfaces with the billing system until completion or cancellation, whereupon a billing transaction code is returned at block 2838. The billing transaction code will be uniquely generated from the interface upon successful account billing, or it will be an error status indicating that billing did not complete successfully for any of a variety of reasons.

[0502] Thereafter, block 2840 checks the automated billing transaction code returned. If the billing transaction code is the expected proper format and content, then processing continues to block 2844 as heretofore described. If block 2840 determines the transaction code is in error, or indicates an unsuccessful billing transaction, then processing continues to block 2828 for appropriate error handling as already described. If block 2834 determines this is not a Content Provider Gold request, then block 2842 handles the particular public user type as appropriate and analogously to the descriptions above. Thereafter processing terminates at block 2822.

[0503] In one human managed website embodiment, block 2818 sets record activated ActiveUser field 3008 to not active for requiring human reconciliation. Otherwise, block 2818 is assumed to enter activated records with record activated field (ActiveUser field 3008) set to active. The preferred method for creating users in the members area 2500 is through the registration interface processing just discussed. A web service 2102 installation preferably already has a Site Owner user created in the database with record activated ActiveUser field 3008 set to active and user type field 2980 set to Site Owner. The confirmation code generated at block 2844 can be encrypted in a cookie at the user's device, placed in a hidden form field, or stored to another suitable data evidence form. A Site Owner may have access to an SQL Query Manager to Server Data 2104 for enabling all conceivable modifications to server data 2104.

[0504] FIG. 29 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the People Table used to carry out registration/membership functionality; A People Table data record 2900 mostly contains fields that are intuitively determined and are easily matched to fields of FIGS. 27B through 27D. The PersonID 2902 is preferably an automatically generated unique number field for each record in the People Table, and is a primary key. The TableTo field 2904 indicates which foreign key relationship table this table can be joined to. The TableTo field 2904 contains a value indicating a FIG. 30 Users Table record, FIG. 38B Contact Table record, and perhaps a Job Applicant Table (not shown) record. So, the People Table is the main table where records therein can be SQL joined to records in the Users Table, Contact Table, or Job Applicants Table. The People Table data record 2900 contains person information common to a variety of different person record types maintained in server data 2104 for a variety of purposes.

[0505] The record 2900 “Email” field preferably has a unique key or constraint defined preventing duplicates in web service 2102. This is preferably the point of verification that users are who they say they are through verification processing involving their email address.

[0506] UserType field 2980 contains a value for the particular person user type of the record. User types are explained in detail in FIGS. 50B through 50E. A user type indicates a web service 2102 privilege for certain options exposed in the web service interfaces. IPAddr field 2982 preferably contains an internet protocol (ip) address of the registrant's device at successful registration time. This is determined, for example, with ASP Server variables. The Notes field 2984 contains any notes that are made on the user record, for example by Users Management 2512 interfaces. The RemHostIP field 2986 preferably contains the ip address of the actual physical server of web service 2102 that inserted the data record 2900. The HName field 2988 preferably contains the host name of the physical server of web service 2102 that inserted the record, for example because web service 2102 may be a large cluster of physical servers. Extra1 field 2990 and Extra2 field 1992 are provided as convenient reserved future use fields. DTCreated field 2994 contains the date/time stamp for when the record was created in the Database, and the DTLastChg field 2996 contains when the record 2900 was last modified. The RowType field 2998 is a special field for providing demo People Table data records 2900 to the People Table for the Delegate user type. It indicates a real record (“R”), or a demo record (“D”). Delegate user types are essentially read-only access Site Owners of web service 2102. RowType field 2998 enables setting up false People Table records so that Delegates do not see real user data in the database. RowType field 2998 values of “D” imply a row created for Delegate user types.

[0507] FIG. 30 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the Users Table used to carry out registration/membership functionality. The PersonID 3002 is preferably a foreign key for cascade delete to the PersonID 2902 of the People Table. The LogonName field 3004 contains a user's logon identifier for access to the members area 2500. LogonName field 3004 is often referred to as the user name, and therefore should have a unique key or constraint defined to ensure uniqueness in web service 2102. The PW field 3006 contains the user's password for access to the members area 2500. The ActiveUser field 3008 enables (Set to Yes) or disables (Set to No) the Users Table record 3000 without deleting it from the table. Inactive treats the record as though it does not exist in the table. Various embodiments of inserts will insert active records on creation, or may require a human administrator to activate it after being created. FIG. 39 Access Control processing accesses only active records. Inactivating a record immediately prevents it from being a valid user account. The RegMsg field 3010 corresponds to data entered to form field 2710. ChgrIP field 3012 preferably contains an internet protocol (ip) address of the user's device that last modified the applicable data record 3000. The ChgrHIP field 3014 preferably contains the ip address of the actual physical server of web service 2102 that handled the last modification of applicable data record 3000. The ChgrHName field 3016 preferably contains the host name of the physical server of web service 2102 that last modified the applicable data record 3000, for example because web service 2102 may be a large cluster of physical servers. The ChgrID 3018 preferably contains the PersonID value of the People Table data record 2900 that last modified the applicable data record 3000. MaxDevs field 3020 contains the maximum number of devices this user can create (default=0). MaxDCDB field 3022 contains the maximum number of DCDB items this user can create (default=0). Fields 3020 and 3022 are set according to user types and/or contractually agreed upon limitations. For example, a Site Owner user type has full web service capability so these values could each be −1 to indicate an infinite maximum. An Administrator user type may have a −1 for MaxDevs field 3020 and a 0 for MaxDCDB field 3022. A Content Provider user type may have a 0 for MaxDevs field 3020 and a −1 for MaxDCDB field 3022. A Pinger user type may have a 3 or a 1 for MaxDevs field 3020 and a 0 for MaxDCDB field 3022. A Content Provider Gold user type may have a 0 for MaxDevs field 3020 and a 1 for MaxDCDB field 3022. Any user types can automatically be set with constraining limits, or the Users Table of Users data 2526 can be edited to set desired limits based on contractual obligations. Depending on the embodiment, MaxDevs field 3020 and MaxDCDB field 3022 may be exposed for edit in various interfaces and under various circumstances. Res1 field 3024 and Res2 field 3026 are provided as convenient reserved future use fields.

[0508] FIG. 31 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the LastLog Table used to facilitate automatic account data deletion functionality. A LastLog Table data record 3100 contains an ID 3102, IDType field 3104, and LastAccess field 3106. ID 3102 may contain a PersonID 2902 value, or a RegistryID 6502 value. IDType field 3104 contains an indicator of which type of id is contained in the ID 3102 (unique record identifier to People Table or Registry Table). LastAccess field 3106 contains a date/time stamp of when the user described by the People Table PersonID last accessed the members area 2500, or contains a date/time stamp of when the device described by the Registry Table RegistryID last accessed the Delivery Manager 2510. This depends on how to interpret the data record 3100 according to IDType field 3104. On initial insert, the date/time stamp reflects when the record was created. Another embodiment to the LastLog Table is to maintain two tables, one for user accounts and one for devices. Each table would have the same columns as record 3100 except no IDType field 3104 would be required (i.e. 2 columns each table).

[0509] FIG. 32A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the registration/membership account verification of the web service as described above. The “Verify Date/Time Stamp” provides correlation to an automated email sent to the registrant's email address in case multiple registration attempts were made by the same user. The “Confirmation Code” is entered twice for validation prior to verification page processing. Remaining form fields have already been discussed and provide pre-submit processing validation. The “Validate Account” button submits the form for processing after validating fields entered to make sure they are good form for processing (e.g. non-null confirmation code fields that match, and preferably the correct account security information).

[0510] FIG. 32B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the registration/membership account verification automated email of the web service. The registrant receives the automated email, ensures the Verify Date/Time stamp in the email matches the Verify Date/Time Stamp of the FIG. 32A registration verification interface, and enters the randomly generated email Confirmation Code into the FIG. 32A registration verification interface for validation processing.

[0511] FIG. 33 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated user registration/membership account verification processing resulting from user interaction to the registration/membership account verification user interface of FIG. 32A and submittal therefrom. Processing begins at block 3302 and continues to block 3304 where the user registration type M is determined as passed from registration processing. Block 3304 also validates all data evidence passed, for example form fields. Thereafter, block 3306 checks for user interface field validity. If all fields specified are not valid, then processing continues to block 3308 where the error is handled properly and processing terminates at block 3310. Preferably the account security questions and account security answer were validated just prior to being submitted by FIG. 32A processing, but those are re-validated for a sanity check, and to handle an attacker properly.

[0512] If block 3306 determines that all fields specified in FIG. 32A are valid, then block 3312 accesses and un-encrypts the data evidence confirmation code and block 3314 checks if the code entered matches the data evidence of the encrypted confirmation code. If block 3314 determines the user did not enter a matching confirmation code, then processing continues to block 3308. Block 3308 preferably enforces a maximum number of unsuccessful attempts before denying further processing by the user's device or browser. If block 3314 determines the user entered a matching confirmation code, then block 3316 builds an insert command, from data evidence passed at block 2844, to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a People table record such as FIG. 29, opens a database connection, and does the insert. Data evidence is further used for other inserts as discussed below. Block 3318 issues a query for an automatically generated primary key PersonID 2902 upon SQL insert. Thereafter, block 3320 constructs a default unique account logon name and random password, builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a Users table record 3000, and specifies the foreign key of PersonID 3002 to associate the records between tables and facilitate an SQL cascade delete. PersonID 2902 is identical to PersonID 3002. Block 3320 sets fields 3020 and 3022 according to the user type. Thereafter, block 3320 inserts to the Users table, builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a LastLog table record such as FIG. 31, does the insert to the LastLog table, builds an insert command to insert data into Users data 2526 in the form of a PayingCust table record such as FIG. 34 if this is for a paying customer and does the insert to the PayingCust Table, and closes the database connection. Thereafter, block 3322 prepares an acknowledgement email for registration success (such as FIG. 35B), sends it to the “Email Address” field specification of the registration/membership form (passed as data evidence), and additionally sends a Notify email to an Administrator email account if a site configuration indicates to do so for documentary purposes. Thereafter, block 3322 presents a successful registration completion page to the user, for example FIG. 35A, and processing terminates at block 3310.

[0513] FIG. 34 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the PayingCust Table used to carry out functionality for web service paying registrants/members. A PayingCust data record 3400 contains data associated with paying customers of the members area 2500, for example those that are automatically registered, and interface to automated billing. The PersonID 3402 is preferably a foreign key for cascade delete to the PersonID 2902 of the People Table. PersonID 3402 is used to join the record to the associated People Table and Users Table records through PersonID fields 2902 and 3002, respectively. BillingRef field 3404 contains a unique reference to the user's billing account, for example a credit card type and number, billing account number, or accounting number used to do a transaction. The XactionCode field 3406 contains the confirmed transaction code as the result of a successful billing. The PaidThrough field 3408 contains a date/time stamp in the future of when the account is paid through. The DTCreated field 3410 contains the date/time stamp of when the data record 3400 was created (inserted) in the database. Fields 3404 through 3408 are passed as data evidence between registration processes until being inserted

[0514] FIG. 35A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the account registration/membership completion success of the web service. Preferably, only the automatically generated password is shown. The automatically generated logon name is sent in an email upon successful registration. For security reasons, it is best to not keep the logon name and password documented in the same place. Alternatively, the logon name could be presented to the FIG. 35A success window, and the password sent to the user in an email. All users can change their own logon name and/or password at any time in the members area 2500. The Site Owners user type can additionally change any other user's logon name and/or password.

[0515] FIG. 35B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the registration/membership account completion success automated email of the web service. This email is sent as described at FIG. 28 block 2820 and FIG. 33 block 3322.

[0516] FIG. 26 through 35B described fully automated registration and membership processing to web service 2101. Paying customers interface to an online credit card system for automated billing during the registration process. The billing system is interfaced by paying user types independently of web service 2102. However, web service 2102 has interfaces to the billing system for deactivating (payment missed) and re-activating (payment made) accounts. Additional automated billing interfaces are discussed below. Web service 2102 maintains a reasonable maximum number of supported users (and clarified by user types in a preferred embodiment) to web service 2102 based on a known current web service 2102 capability. When a user registration attempt is made which exceeds the number of supported users, automated processing takes place to increase support in web service 2102 and the attempting user is provided with an appropriate error. When the web service 2102 user support is scaled up, site maximums are updated to reflect the new number of maximum supported users for automated checking in subsequent registration attempts. There is a plurality of automated registration user interfaces supporting a plurality of user types to web service 2102. A Notify flag is provided for optionally and automatically documenting an alteration to server data 2104 with an email to an Administrator account. Depending on the embodiment, the Notify flag can be a plurality of distinct flags maintained in web service 2102 for documenting individual types of data alterations, there can be a plurality of Notify flags for various types of data alterations for documentary purposes, or there can be one Notify flag for all data alterations of interest for documentary purposes. All references to a Notify flag in this disclosure for the purpose of documenting an alteration to data can use any one of these embodiments.

[0517] FIG. 36A depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated processing resulting from payment expiration of a paying registrant/member to the web service. Processing starts at block 3602 as the result of billing expiration triggered. Triggering is caused by a database trigger on PaidThrough field 3408 being earlier than a current date/time, a chron job that polls PaidThrough fields 3408 on a scheduled basis, an external process causing the execution of FIG. 36A, or the like. Thereafter, block 3604 determines data evidence for the billing reference (i.e. BillingRef field 3404), block 3606 validates the format and origin in the data evidence, and block 3608 checks if valid. If block 3608 determines that the data evidence is valid, then block 3610 builds an update command to set the associated user account to inactive, opens a database connection, does the update, and closes the database connection. The update command modifies ActiveUser field 3008 to be set for inactive where the BillingRef field 3404 matches the data evidence passed to FIG. 36A processing. The PersonID fields 3002 and 3402 are used to join the appropriate records for the update. Thereafter, block 3612 handles any database I/O errors (if one occurs) with an email alert to an Administrator account for reconciliation. Preferably, the Administrator account includes an automated process monitoring incoming email to act upon. Block 3612 also returns a completion status to the invoking process of FIG. 36A and processing terminates at block 3614. If block 3608 determines the billing reference data evidence to be invalid, then processing continues directly to block 3612 for appropriate error handling, and Administrator account notification to at least document the invalid invocation of FIG. 36A processing.

[0518] FIG. 36B depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated processing resulting from payment reactivation of a paying registrant/member to the web service. Processing starts at block 3652 as the result of billing reactivation triggered. Triggering is caused by an external process causing the execution of FIG. 36B, preferably an automated process rather than a manual process, for example from a credit card billing system. Thereafter, block 3654 determines data evidence including the billing reference (i.e. BillingRef field 3404), block 3656 validates the format and origin in the data evidence, and block 3658 checks if valid. Data evidence passed to FIG. 36 processing preferably includes the XactionCode field 3406 and PaidThrough field 3408 (if not already updated in record 3400 prior to invoking FIG. 36 processing). If block 3658 determines that all data evidence is valid, then block 3660 builds an update command to set the associated user account back to active and an update command to update fields 3406 and 3408 of the corresponding record 3400, opens a database connection, does the updates, and closes the database connection. The record 3000 update command modifies ActiveUser field 3008 to be set for active where the BillingRef field 3404 matches the data evidence passed to FIG. 36B processing. The PersonID fields 3002 and 3402 are used to join the appropriate records for the update. The record 3400 update command modifies with data evidence XactionCode field 3406 and PaidThrough field 3408 where the BillingRef field 3404 matches data evidence passed to FIG. 36B processing (assuming not already updated by external processing). Thereafter, block 3662 handles any database I/O errors (if one occurs) with an email alert to an Administrator account for reconciliation. Block 3662 also returns a completion status to the invoking process of FIG. 36B and processing terminates at block 3664. If block 3658 determines the billing reference data evidence to be invalid, then processing continues directly to block 3662.

[0519] It is possible that the record is not found for being updated at blocks 3610 and 3660 since web service 2102 is fully automated and user account records may have been automatically deleted because of inactivity for a site configured length of time (account expiration time). These not found errors preferably do not cause error processing in blocks 3612 and 3662. Not found errors are preferably ignored. Data evidence may be passed in encrypted form to FIGS. 36A and/or 36B in which case the FIGS. 36A and/or 36B processing is responsible for unencrypting (e.g. assuming not an https connection already).

[0520] FIG. 37A depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated processing for warning obsolete registrant/member accounts in the web service that they are identified, or have devices identified, for automated deletion. Processing starts at block 3702 and continues to block 3704. Block 3702 is preferably initiated with a periodically scheduled job (e.g. chron job), or in an ASP that is consistently accessed without affecting user experience performance. Block 3704 builds a query to the FIG. 31 LastLog Table records 3100 for selecting all records which contain a LastAccess field 3106 being reasonably old in accordance with the current date/time and a website expiration configuration (e.g. site expiration for user account and devices of 6 months minus a reasonable warning lead time). LastAccess field 3106 always reflects when a user last entered the members area 2500 when the IDType field is for the People Table. LastAccess field 3106 always reflects when a user's device last accessed the Delivery Manager 2510 when the IDType field 3104 is for the Registry Table. Thereafter, block 3706 opens a database (DB) connection, selects the potentially obsolete LastLog records and opens a cursor into the resulting list of records.

[0521] Thereafter, block 3708 gets the next LastLog record with the cursor and continues to block 3710. Block 3710 determines if all records were already processed (or if there were none to process to start with). If there is a next record to process, block 3712 checks the LastLog record IDType field 3104 to see if it is for a User account or a device. If block 3712 determines the LastLog record is for a device, then block 3718 builds a query to the FIG. 65 Registry Table records 6500 (discussed below) using ID 3102 for selecting the Registry Table record containing the matching unique RegistryID 6502, and joining Owner field 6522 with People Table PersonID 2902 to select the device owner's account information, specifically the owner's email address. Thereafter, block 3718 does the query for also selecting enough information to create a friendly warning email (e.g. First name, last name, etc), creates the warning email, and sends it to the owner's email address. Processing then flows back to block 3708.

[0522] If block 3712 determines the LastLog record is for a user account, then block 3720 builds a query to the FIG. 29 People Table records 2900 using ID 3102 for selecting a record containing the unique PersonID 2902 to return the user account information, specifically the user's email address. Thereafter, block 3720 does the query for also selecting enough information to create a friendly warning email (e.g. First name, last name, etc), creates the warning email, and sends it to the owner's email address from the People Table. Processing then flows back to block 3708.

[0523] If block 3710 determines there are no records remaining to process, then block 3714 closes the DB connection and processing terminates at block 3716. Thus, obsolete devices or user accounts are automatically warned for being removed from the system to keep web service 2102 and members area 2500 fully automated without maintaining unnecessary server data 2104. Another embodiment to FIG. 37A is to process user accounts and devices individually and/or with different site configuration expirations for each. The warning email tells the user how to keep the user account or device active, for example, do a members area logon or access the Delivery Manager. The email preferably also includes how much time the user has remaining to do the access.

[0524] FIG. 37B depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the automated processing for deletion of obsolete registrant/member accounts in the web service. Processing starts at block 3752 and continues to block 3754. Block 3752 is preferably initiated with a periodically scheduled job (e.g. chron job), or in an ASP that is consistently accessed without affecting user experience performance. Block 3754 builds a query to the FIG. 31 LastLog Table records 3100 for selecting all records which contain a LastAccess field 3106 being too old in accordance with the current date/time and an absolute website expiration configuration (e.g. site expiration for user account and devices of 6 months). LastAccess field 3106 always reflects when a user last entered the members area 2500 when the IDType field is for the People Table. LastAccess field 3106 always reflects when a user's device last accessed the Delivery Manager 2510 when the IDType field 3104 is for the Registry Table. Thereafter, block 3756 opens a database (DB) connection, selects the potentially obsolete LastLog records and opens a cursor into the resulting list of records.

[0525] Thereafter, block 3758 gets the next LastLog record with the cursor and continues to block 3760. Block 3760 determines if all records were already processed (or if there were none to process to start with). If there is a next record to process, block 3762 checks the LastLog record IDType field 3104 to see if it is for a User account or a device. If block 3762 determines the LastLog record is for a device, then block 3770 builds a delete command for issue to the FIG. 65 Registry Table (discussed below) records 6500 using ID 3102 for specifying the Registry Table record containing the matching unique RegistryID 6502. Thereafter, block 3770 does the delete command for removing the device from server data 2104. Block 3770 will also delete any device associated records (prior to deleting the Registry Table record) in other tables that do not have a foreign key relationship to the Registry table (e.g. on RegistryID 6502) for automatic cascade delete. Processing then flows back to block 3758.

[0526] If block 3762 determines the LastLog record is for a user account, then block 3768 builds a delete command to the FIG. 29 People Table records 2900 using ID 3102 for specifying the record containing the unique PersonID 2902. Thereafter, block 3768 does the delete for removing the user from server data 2104. Block 3768 will also delete any user associated records (prior to deleting the People Table record) in other tables that do not have a foreign key relationship to the People table (e.g. on PersonID 2902) for automatic cascade delete. Processing then flows back to block 3758.

[0527] If block 3760 determines there are no records remaining to process, then block 3764 deletes all the LastLog records processed by FIG. 37B and then closes the DB connection. Processing then terminates at block 3766. Block 3764 preferably builds a delete command with a where clause that selected records at block 3756. Thus, obsolete devices or user accounts are automatically removed from the system to keep web service 2102 and members area 2500 fully automated without maintaining unnecessary server data 2104. Another embodiment to FIG. 37B is to process user accounts and devices individually and/or with different site configuration expirations for each user or user type.

[0528] FIG. 38A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the web service personnel contact aspect of the web service. The contact option is a convenience and need not be provided as an option to the fully automated web service 2102 as disclosed. The reader can examine the drawing for obvious understanding of the processing involved.

[0529] FIG. 38B depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the Contact Table used to carry out functionality for users who contact web service personnel through the web service contact option. Contact Table data record 3800 contains fields as determined when comparing to FIG. 38A (i.e. Complaint, Msg). On submittal, a record is first inserted into the People Table (record 2900) with obvious fields specified in FIG. 38A. Then, a record 3800 is inserted into the Contact Table with a foreign key relationship between PersonID 2902 and PersonID 3802 for cascade delete. The TableTo field 2904 is set for associating the Contact Table record. Subject field 3806 contains an enumeration from the “Subject” dropdown selection made of FIG. 38A. UserID 3808 can contain a PersonID 2902 from other web service 2102 processing for associating the contact action with a user of the members area 2500. ApplicantID 3810 can contain a PersonID 2902 from other web service 2102 processing for associating the contact action with a user who has submitted an employment application to the company of web service 2102.

[0530] FIG. 39 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the security access control processing aspects of the web service. Every user interface (e.g. pages) of the members area 2500 enforces security access control to prevent attacks and to reveal appropriate options by user type. There are also variables of the user accounts made available to each page that includes the access control processing. Each members area page preferably includes the list of different user types, which are permitted to access the particular page, defined ahead of the included access control processing. For example, in an ASP VBScript embodiment, each member area page would include an array:

[0531]

	...
	ACCESS_LIST =
	array(ACCESS_SITEOWNER, ACCESS_ADMINISTRATOR,
	ACCESS_PINGER, ACCESS_DELEGATE,
	ACCESS_CONTENTPROVIDER, ACCESS_GOLD,
	ACCESS_PLATINUM, ACCESS_ENDUSER)
	%>
	<!--#include file=“incl/mcdvusr.asp” -->
	<%
	...

such that each member in the array elaborates to a user type constant equivalent to values maintained in UserType field 2980. Then, the included access control page (e.g. mcdvusr.asp) uses the user type list to determine which user types can access the current page. The example above includes most user types, but any user type subset can be specified in the array depending upon which user types are permitted to access the current page.

[0532] Access Control processing starts at block 3902 and continues to block 3904 where the parent page (i.e. the including page with the VBScript example above) is checked for being a members logon page. The members logon page preferably includes a constant before including the Access Control page such as:

[0533]

	...
	VALIDATE_PG_ACCESS = “LOGON”
	...

That way FIG. 39 processing would know that the parent page is the members logon page for unique access control processing. If block 3904 determines this access control processing has been included in a members logon page (e.g. VALIDATE_PG_ACCESS variable set as above), then processing continues to block 3918 where Remember Me data evidence is sought. A user can optionally request to keep successful logon data evidence at logon time (FIGS. 42A through 42C fields 4202, 4232, and 4262) so another logon is not required in the future. The logon interface is automatically bypassed to go to presenting options as long as successful logon data evidence is found (i.e. Remember Me option checked). For example, a cookie with long term expiration can be maintained at the user's device logged on from.

[0534] If block 3918 determines that successful logon data evidence is found, then a variable for forcing a logon is set to FALSE at block 3920, otherwise block 3918 continues to block 3930 where the variable for forcing a logon is set to TRUE. Blocks 3920 and 3930 each continue to block 3906. If block 3904 determines the parent page is not for a member area 2500 logon page, then processing continues to block 3906. Block 3906 checks if successful logon data evidence is found since the page being accessed may not be a members area logon page. If block 3906 determines the successful logon data evidence is not found, then block 3922 checks to see if the access control including page is for members area logon processing. If block 3922 determines the page access is for members area logon processing, then the variable for forcing a logon is set to TRUE at block 3924 and processing continues to block 3908. If block 3922 determines the page being accessed is not a members area logon page (and there is no successful logon data evidence), then block 3936 handles the error appropriately, block 3934 closes any DB connection that may be open (not if arrived to by way of block 3922) and processing terminates at block 3932. Thus, if there is no data evidence showing a previous successful logon, and the page being accessed is not the members area logon, then the page is not permitted to be accessed. Error handling may redirect to an invalid page, or actually produce an error for the user to see. This way any URLs typed manually into a browser cannot access pages not permitted to be accessed. If block 3906 determines there is successful logon data evidence, then processing continues to block 3908. Block 3908 checks if this is a members area logon page access and that there was successful logon evidence found OR if this is an access to any other members area page. If either of these cases is true, then processing continues to block 3910 where logon data evidence is interrogated, otherwise processing continues to block 3944.

[0535] Block 3910 unencrypts the logon data evidence and sanity checks its format to make sure this is not an attack by a website attacker. Thereafter, block 3912 checks the findings. If block 3912 determines the successful logon data evidence is valid, then processing continues to block 3938 where a validation query is built using data from the successful logon data evidence. Block 3938 then opens a DB connection and preferably queries the People Table (records 2900) and Users Table (records 3000) with a join for an active user based on the logon data evidence (e.g. using the user id and password encrypted from a previous successful logon as found in the data evidence). There are many alternative embodiments for exactly what identifying data is kept in the successful logon data evidence for constructing the query to determine there is indeed such an active user. Regardless, there has to be enough unique information in the successful logon data evidence for uniquely identifying a user. Thereafter, if block 3940 determines the successful logon data evidence is valid for a user in the People/Users Table(s) (i.e. found the record), then block 3942 builds a LastLog Table update command for this user and does the update with the current date/time for LastAccess field 3106. This ensures the LastLog Table always reflects the last time a page was accessed in the members area by the user. Block 3942 also checks the ACCESS_LIST (e.g. VBScript array example above) for user types permitted to access the page with the UserType field 2980 in the record returned from the query. Thereafter, if block 3914 determines the logon data evidence contains a user type authorized to access the page, then processing continues to block 3944. If block 3914 determines the user type is not permitted to access the page, then block 3916 permanently removes all logon data evidence and Remember Me data evidence so it cannot be used again by the user for page accesses, because the user is trying to access a page not permitted to be accessed. Block 3916 continues to block 3928 where again it is determined if the including page is for a members area logon page. If block 3928 determines it is, then block 3926 sets the forced logon variable to TRUE and processing continues to block 3944. If block 3928 determines it is any other members area page, then processing continues to block 3936 for error processing already described.

[0536] If block 3940 determines the successful logon data evidence is not valid (no corresponding active user data records 2900/3000 found in Users data 2525 (People/Users Table(s))), then processing continues to block 3916 already described. If block 3912 determines the successful logon data evidence (from a previous logon) is invalid, then processing also continues to block 3916.

[0537] Block 3944 again checks to see if a members area logon page is being accessed since there are paths to get to block 3944 which require the check. If block 3944 determines it is not a members area logon page being accessed, then block 3948 checks for Remember Me checkmark data evidence. If it is found at block 3948, then block 3952 resets the expiration time of all logon data evidence for a long term in the future (e.g. 30 days from current date/time). One embodiment is setting cookie data evidence with an expiration in the future. Thereafter, processing continues to block 3934. If block 3948 determines there is no Remember Me evidence, then block 3950 resets the expiration time of all logon data evidence for a short term in the future (e.g. 30 minutes from current date/time). Preferably, a session cookie is used so the user's session to web service 2102 only times out after 30 minute of inactivity. Thereafter, processing continues to block 3934.

[0538] If block 3944 determines this access control processing is for a members area logon page, then block 3946 checks if the variable to force a members area logon has been set to TRUE. If block 3946 determines the variable (REQUIRE_LOGON) to force a members logon page is set to true, then processing continues to block 3934, otherwise processing continues to block 3952 already described. The FIG. 39 Access Control also makes user account variables associated with a successful page access validation available to the parent (including) page subsequent processing, such as PersonID 2902, UserType field 2980, MaxDevs field 3020, and MaxDCDB field 3022, etc. Any field from account applicable records 2900 or 3000 can be made accessible to code of the parent (including) page after the point of including access control processing in the parent (including) page. The field data can be available from either the previous successful logon evidence validated, or from querying the People/Users Table(s) at block 3938. The variable to force a members area logon is also passed back to the parent (including) page with either a TRUE or FALSE setting.

[0539] FIG. 39 Access Control can also query all devices owned by the user accessing the including page of FIG. 39 processing for making available to the including pages just as PersonID and other fields are as disclosed herein. So, records 6500 with Owner field 6522 matching the user can be queried for all RegistryIDs 6502 and other record 6500 information for making available to the including pages. The Deviceid field 6504 of the device can also be automatically determined, for example by most recent interaction with the Delivery Manager 2510, for making associated record 6500 data available to all pages the user interacts with from the device.

[0540] FIG. 40 depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the Help option of the web service for a full browser. The web service 2102 preferably automatically determines the device browser invoking a web page and automatically returns the appropriately formatted page (as described below). With the proliferation of different browsers, and different versions of the browsers, this is not always a guaranteed successful approach, so there is a public user interface help page for launching the correct link for a particular device. Members area logon link 4002 provides a navigable (i.e. clickable) link to a full browser members area logon page such as FIG. 42A. Members area logon link 4004 provides a navigable (i.e. clickable) link to a PDA browser members area logon page such as FIG. 42B. Members area logon link 4006 provides a navigable (i.e. clickable) link to a microbrowser (e.g. WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) device) members area logon page such as FIG. 42C. Worst case, the user determines the underlying link URL and manually enters it into his device, for example his Favorites or bookmarks, to force the correct logon page when needed. Preferably, there are members area 2500 options not permitted on a smaller scale browser for performance reasons, so the members area 2500 interfaces will present options to the user based on device type, as well as user type and user preferences. Each of the links 4002 through 4006 take the user to a My GPS logon page for access to the members area 2500. If successful logon data evidence exists (has already taken place previously with Remember Me option set) from the device accessing links 4002 through 4006, then the logon interface is automatically bypassed and options are presented as though the user just logged on. This is discussed below. A closer examination of the links 4002 through 4006 shows the same ASP is invoked with a browser type parameter in the URL string (e.g. http://www.gpsping.con/MCD/xmcd.asp?br=pda). The ASP determines how to format the appropriate page based on the browser type parameter. Another embodiment could have different pages for each device and/or browser type. Memory lapse link 4008 is for users that forget their logon name or password (discussed below).

My GPS

[0541] FIG. 41 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the web service members area 2500 logon aspect of the web service supporting heterogeneous device connectivity. Logon processing starts at block 4102, for example as a result of clicking a link 4002, 4004, or 4006, or manually entering the underlying URL of those links. Block 4102 continues to block 4104 where the device browser type is determined. Preferably, the browser type is passed as a parameter, passed as a parameter from another page that automatically determines the browser type and then passes a browser type parameter to FIG. 41, or is automatically determined at block 4104. Browser type is determined similarly for all members area pages. Block 4104 sets an ACCESS_LIST for all users (or user types) permitted to access the logon page (e.g. VBScript ACCESS_LIST example above) and sets VALIDATE_PG_ACCESS=“LOGON” (also described above) to indicate to included FIG. 39 access control processing that this is a members area logon page being accessed. Block 4104 continues to block 4106 where the FIG. 39 Access Control processing is performed. Thereafter, block 4108 determines if access-control processing set a variable for forcing a members area logon (i.e. REQUIRE_LOGON=TRUE or FALSE as described above). If a members area logon is required, then block 4110 accesses data evidence for the number of consecutive unsuccessful logon attempts thus far from the requesting device. Thereafter, if block 4112 determines the maximum number of consecutive unsuccessful logon attempts from the requesting device per the data evidence has been exceeded, then the error is handled appropriately at block 4126 and processing terminates at block 4148. If block 4112 determines that the number of consecutive unsuccessful logon attempts from the requesting device has not been exceeded, then block 4114 provides a logon interface according to the browser type determined at block 4104, and the user interfaces to the logon interface at block 4116 until submitting credentials to logon. FIGS. 42A through 42C depict preferred embodiments for a logon interface (page) to a full browser, PDA, and microbrowser (e.g. WAP) device, respectively.

[0542] When submit is invoked, block 4118 validates fields provided, for example to make sure they are non-null, and a password of proper length. Thereafter, block 4120 checks if fields entered were valid. If block 4120 determines the logon name and password are valid, then processing continues to block 4124 where logon processing of FIG. 43 is invoked, and current page processing terminates at block 4148. If block 4120 determines not all fields were valid for processing, then an error is provided at block 4122 so user entry can continue back at block 4116. Form fields do not have to be validated at the client device at a block 4118 through 4122 in some embodiments. Submission of credentials can go directly to block 4124 for validation and processing.

[0543] The REQUIRE_LOGON variable passed from FIG. 39 processing for forcing a logon was determined based on successful logon data evidence found for preventing the user from redundantly re-entering logon name and password into a logon interface every time he accesses the members area 2500. If block 4108 determines a members area logon is not required, then block 4128 sends an email for documentary purposes of the user logging on (with bypass method) if a flag to send such an alert is enabled. Thereafter, blocks 4130 through 4136 determine the device (or browser) type for presenting the correct members area options interface format. If block 4130 determines the device type (or browser type) is a WAP device, then block 4140 redirects the WAP device to the WAP options page, for example FIGS. 46E to 46F. If block 4130 determines the device (or browser) is not a WAP device, then block 4132 checks for a PDA browser. If block 4132 determines the device type (or browser type) is a PDA browser device, then block 4142 redirects the PDA device to the PDA options page, for example FIG. 46D. If block 4132 determines the device (or browser) is not a PDA device, then block 4134 checks for a full browser. If block 4134 determines the device type (or browser type) is a full browser device, then block 4144 redirects the full browser device to the full browser options page, for example FIG. 46B. If block 4134 determines the device (or browser) is not a full browser device, then block 4136 checks for a special browser. If block 4136 determines the device type (or browser type) is a special device, then block 4146 redirects the special device to the appropriate special options page. If block 4136 determines the device (or browser) is not a special device, then block 4136 continues to block 4138 to handle an error for the unknown device type and processing terminates at block 4148. Blocks 4140, 4142, 4144, and 4146 also continue to block 4148 where processing terminates. FIG. 45 processing handles options pages. CD-ROM file name “xmcd.asp” provides an ASP program source code listing for a members area logon embodiment of FIG. 41. Various embodiments of blocks 4130, 4132, 4134 and 4136 can check for browser type and/or device type to determine appropriately presented and formatted options.

[0544] FIG. 42A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the web service member logon aspect using a full browser. FIG. 42B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the web service member logon aspect using a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) browser. FIG. 42C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the web service member logon aspect using a microbrowser, for example on a cell phone. Entry field 4292 of the Figures is for entry of a matching LogonName field 3004. Entry field 4294 of the Figures is for entry of a matching PW field 3006 (password).

[0545] FIG. 43 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the web service member logon processing resulting from user interaction to the logon user interfaces and submittal therefrom. Logon processing starts at block 4302 and continues to block 4304 where the device (or browser) type is determined. Preferably, the browser type is passed as a parameter, or is automatically determined at block 4304. Block 4304 also validates form fields passed for logon name and password (the credentials). Thereafter, if block 4306 determines the user specified fields are valid, then block 4308 sets (if first time here for device according to logon attempt data evidence), or increments, the number of consecutive logon attempts in data evidence for the requesting device, and block 4310 determines if the maximum consecutive attempts has been exceeded (with consecutive logon attempts data evidence). If block 4310 determines the maximum consecutive attempts was exceeded by this try, then block 4316 handles the error appropriately and processing terminates at block 4318. If block 4306 determines that form fields are not valid, then processing continues to block 4316 for error handling and termination of processing therefrom. If block 4310 determines the maximum number of consecutive attempts is not exceeded, then block 4320 builds a query with the user logon name and password specified (the credentials) to select an active record from the Users Table, opens a DB connection, does the query, and closes the DB connection. Thereafter, if block 4322 determines the credentials were valid (i.e. found record in Users Table), then block 4326 prepares and encrypts successful logon data evidence (for example a cookie to the user's device) for subsequent page accesses of the members area 2500. Thereafter, block 4328 checks to see if the Remember Me option was checked (FIGS. 42A through 42C fields 4202, 4232, and 4262). If the user selected Remember Me, then block 4312 sets Remember Me data evidence and encrypted successful logon data evidence for a long term expiration period (e.g. 30 days). Thereafter, block 4330 resets consecutive logon attempts data evidence for 0 attempts thus far, and block 4332 sends an email to an Administrator account if a flag indicates to do so for documentary purposes. Thereafter, block 4334 checks if the device browser type is a WAP device. If block 4334 determines the device browser type is a WAP device browser, then block 4336 checks if it supports cookies. If block 4336 determines the WAP device supports cookies, then block 4338 sets an options page link variable for the WAP options page with cookie support. Thereafter, block 4348 checks the user type to make sure no Administration or Content Provider user types are using a poorly performing WAP device to do their members area options. An alternative embodiment may allow the WAP device to do any options any other device can do. If block 4348 determines the user is an Administrator or Content Provider user type, then processing continues to block 4316. If block 4348 determines the user type is eligible for displaying options to the WAP device, then block 4342 provides a logon success page (e.g. FIG. 44C) with an options link 4402 set according to the options page link variable. Block 4342 waits for the options link to be invoked by the user, and then invokes the options page according to the link. Thereafter, current page processing terminates at block 4318.

[0546] If block 4336 determines the WAP device does not support cookies, then block 4344 builds a key to be passed as a URL variable for subsequent interfaces, block 4346 sets the options page link variable for the WAP options page with no cookie support (and the key parameter), and processing continues to block 4348. If block 4334 determines the device is not a WAP device, then block 4340 sets the options page link variable according to the device (or browser) type detected at block 4304, and processing continues to block 4342 where an appropriate success page is presented to the user depending on his device, for example, any of FIG. 44A, 44B, or 44C. Block 4342 also waits for the options link 4402 to be invoked by the user, and then invokes the options page according to the link. Thereafter, current page processing terminates at block 4318.

[0547] A preferred embodiment of block 4342 provides the options link 4402 to navigate to FIG. 46A whenever the device is determined to be a full browser device. FIG. 46A is presented as a page for first time logons into the members area 2500 to highlight features and usefulness of web service 2102. Once successful logon data evidence is saved to the user's device, subsequent accesses to the members area 2500 options page causes immediate automatic navigation to an options page (e.g. FIG. 46B by way of FIG. 45 processing), such as resulting from block 4144. Therefore, FIG. 46A is bypassed for users that have already logged on successfully before and have placed a checkmark in Remember Me option 4202.

[0548] If block 4328 determines the Remember Me option was not checked, then block 4314 sets successful logon data evidence to short-term expiration (e.g. 30 minutes) and processing continues to block 4330. If block 4322 determines the credentials entered for logon are not valid, then block 4324 sends an email for documentary purposes to an Administrator account if a Notify flag is enabled and processing continues to block 4316.

[0549] Thus, the option link 4402 always provides a convenient navigable link to the correctly formatted options page as clicked from the correctly formatted success page depending on the device and/or browser type. Success page examples include any of FIGS. 44A through 44C depending on the device. Options page examples include any of FIGS. 46B, 46D, 46E and 46F. The user is always presented with an appropriate set of options in an appropriate format based on browser type and/or device type as well as user and/or user type.

[0550] FIG. 44A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for member logon success completion to the web service using a full browser. FIG. 44B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for member logon success completion to the web service using a PDA browser. FIG. 44C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for member logon success completion to the web service using a microbrowser, for example on a cell phone. A success page interface is bypassed when there is successful logon data evidence as determined by FIG. 39 Access Control, and then determined at block 4108 processing for continuing to block 4128 and subsequent processing. This allows a “fastpath” to options without requiring users to re-logon every time they want to access the members area 2500.

[0551] FIG. 45 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the web service options presented to a user of any heterogeneous device that completed a previous successful logon into the web service. Processing starts at block 4502 and continues to block 4504 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users (e.g. authorized user types). Thereafter, block 4506 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 4508 where the client device (or browser) type is determined, and then the user type from access control processing is used to set a user type display variable for the user's type, for example, to present display field 4602. Note that block 4506 access control processing will not continue to block 4508 if it is determined that the user should not have access to further processing of the FIG. 45 flowchart. User types are well described in FIGS. 50B through 50E.

[0552] Execution of block 3936 prevents processing further by any page that includes FIG. 39 processing. This prevents unauthorized access to members area pages. In one validation, FIG. 39 logic flows to block 3936 when the user type is unauthorized to access the parent page (page including the access control), for example blocks 3942 to 3914. Page access authorization depends on user type of the logged on user. Options presented to the user are also presented by the user type. In another validation, data evidence must exist for a successful logon when the page being accessed requires a previous valid logon has already been performed. Logon applicable pages for entering/validating credentials do not require successful logon data evidence for members area 2500 pages.

[0553] In another embodiment, each user specifically may be authorized to access specific pages. For example, the ACCESS_LIST can include a list of user identifiers or reference(s) to them, or credentials, which are preferably maintained in an SQL database queried by credentials for determining which pages a user can access (although a file, string, or any other means to store the relationships between users and accessible pages can be used). Each user in the database would have a list of pages they are allowed to access, or a wildcard pattern describing pages they can access. So, each members area 2500 page loaded would determine if a user has access to it through applicable access control, and if the user does, then the user type would be used to present options based on user type.

[0554] In yet another embodiment, once a user is validated for access to a page, the specific user can be presented options of the page depending on the user. For example, each user credentials would be associated with exposable options in each interface depending on user specific assigned options permitted. While the user type would initially provide a set of presented options, further options would be assignable by an administrator, or configured by the system, in response to actions by the user in certain options.

[0555] So, all user interfaces of this disclosure are presented to users by user type, user credentials, specific user permitted options, browser type and/or device type, and then additionally any user preferences that have been configured upon access to at least one page accessed by the user (preferences discussed below). Any blocks in subsequent flowcharts that do access control also behave as just described.

[0556] If the user is permitted access to the page, then block 4506 continues to block 4508 as described, and onto block 4510 to check device (or browser) type. If block 4510 determines the page is being accessed by a WAP device (e.g. cell phone), then block 4524 displays the user type variable text (e.g. field 4602 of FIG. 46E), and displays members area 2500 options appropriate for the WAP device and user type, for example as depicted in FIGS. 46E and 46F. FIG. 46F results from a user paginating from FIG. 46E. Processing then terminates at block 4530.

[0557] If block 4510 determines that the device or browser type is not a WAP device then block 4510 continues to block 4512. If block 4512 determines the device or browser type is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), for example a device that runs a Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer, or Palm browser, or the like, then processing continues to block 4568. In some embodiments, a Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer device will be processed by a unique execution path from a Palm PDA browser which will be processed by a unique execution path from yet a different PDA. Therefore, it is understood that there may be many decisions made like blocks 4510 through 4516 for distinctly handling the nuances and specific requirements for a particular type of device (or browser). Block 4568 builds the options page through the user type display field 4602 (FIG. 46D referenced in these PDA discussions) from the user type display variable, builds the Users options category header 4604 (FIG. 46D), and builds the Users My Preferences option 4606 and Users Find option 4608. Thereafter, block 4570 checks the user type. If block 4570 determines the user is not an Administrator or Content Provider, then block 4572 builds the PingPals options category header 4614 (FIG. 46D), PingPals Manage option 4616, PingSpots options category header 4622, PingSpots Manage option 4624, and PingSpots Add option 4626. Thereafter, block 4574 builds the Delivery options category header 4658 (FIG. 46D), Delivery Start option 4660, Delivery User Specified Location Start option 4662, Delivery Configurator option 4664, and Logout option 4666. Thereafter, block 4576 checks to see if this user is supportable. If block 4570 determines the user is an Administrator or Content Provider, then processing continues directly to block 4574 thereby providing no PingPals or PingSpots options to the user.

[0558] If block 4576 determines the user is supportable, then block 4578 builds support option 4668 and processing continues to block 4580. If block 4576 determines the user is not supportable, then block 4576 continues to block 4580. A supportable user type is preferably one that did not enroll automatically through the public website. Web Service 2102 is fully automated and contracted user types that were enrolled in the system by a human being are supportable. Web service 2102 supports many different user types. In another embodiment, being supportable is accomplished on a user by user basis with the user account (e.g. field in records 3000). In another embodiment, automatically registered users are also supportable, for example through the FIG. 38A contact interface, a pop-up with a support phone number and/or navigable web link, or the like, where help is provided.

[0559] If block 4580 determines the user is a Site Owner, then block 4582 builds Debug Variables option 4670, the page is completed for serving back to the user's device at block 4518, and processing terminates at block 4530. If block 4580 determines the user is not a Site Owner, then block 4518 completes the page to service back to the user's device, and processing terminates at block 4530. Note that the PDA interface was presented to the user by device type (or browser type), and user (or user type).

[0560] If block 4512 determines that the device or browser type is not a PDA device then block 4512 continues to block 4514. If block 4514 determines the device or browser type is a full browser capable device, for example a device that runs a Microsoft Internet Explorer, or like full browser, then processing continues to block 4534. Block 4534 builds the options page through the user type display field 4602 (FIG. 46B referenced in these full browser discussions) from the user type display variable, builds the Users options category header 4604 (FIG. 46B), and builds the Users My Preferences option 4606 and Users Find option 4608. Thereafter, block 4536 checks the user type. If block 4536 determines the user is a Site Owner or Delegate, then block 4520 builds the Users Manage option 4610 (FIG. 46B) and User Options Privileges option 4612, otherwise block 4536 continues to block 4538. Block 4520 also continues to block 4538. If block 4538 determines the user is not an Administrator or Content Provider, then block 4522 builds the PingPals options category header 4614 (FIG. 46B), PingPals Manage option 4616, PingPals Groups option 4618, PingPals Add Group option 4620, PingSpots options category header 4622, PingSpots Manage option 4624, PingSpots Add option 4626, Pingimeters options category header 4628, Pingimeters Manage option 4630, and Pingimeters Add option 4632. Thereafter, block 4522 continues to block 4540. If block 4538 determines the user is an Administrator or Content Provider, then processing continues directly to block 4540 thereby providing no PingPals, PingSpots, Pingimeters options to the user. Note that the full browser interface of FIG. 46B contains extra PingPals options and a set of Pingimeters options that were not presented to the PDA interface of FIG. 46D for the same user type. A performance conscious web service presents options that make sense for a device. The presented embodiment chose not to present the more user interface intensive options to the PDA, however it did present the options that made sense for still capturing functionality that makes most sense for the mobile user with a PDA. Other embodiments will make all options available regardless of device, or may implement the interfaces differently to enhance the performance. Any subset of options can be made available to any type of device (or browser).

[0561] Block 4540 builds Filters options category header 4634 (FIG. 46B), Filters Maps option 4636, and Filters Specify option 4638. Thereafter, if block 4542 determines the user is an Administrator, Pinger, Site Owner, or Delegate, then block 4544 builds the Registry option category header 4640 (FIG. 46B), Registry Manage option 4642, and Registry Add option 4644. Processing then continues to block 4552. If block 4552 determines the user is a Site Owner or Delegate, then block 4554 builds Registry Import/Export option 4646 (FIG. 46B), and processing continues to block 4556. If block 4552 determines the user is not a Site Owner or Delegate, then block 4552 continues to block 4556. If block 4542 determines the user is not an Administrator, Pinger, Site Owner, or Delegate, then processing continues to block 4556. Block 4556 builds the Delivery Content Database (DCDB) options category header 4648. Thereafter, block 4558 checks the user.

[0562] If block 4558 determines the user is a Content Provider, Site Owner, or Delegate, then block 4560 builds the DCDB Manage option 4650 (FIG. 46B) and DCDB Add option 4652. Thereafter, block 4562 checks the user. If block 4558 determines the user is not a Content Provider, Site Owner or Delegate, then block 4558 continues to block 4562. If block 4562 determines the user is a Site Owner or Delegate, then block 4564 builds the DCDB Import/Export option 4654 (FIG. 46B), and then block 4566 builds the DCDB Indicators option 4656, the Delivery options category header 4658 (FIG. 46D), Delivery Start option 4660, Delivery User Specified Location Start option 4662, Delivery Configurator option 4664, and Logout option 4666. Thereafter, block 4546 checks to see if this user is supportable. If block 4562 determines the user is not a Site Owner or Delegate, then processing continues directly to block 4566 thereby providing no Import/Export option 4654 to the user.

[0563] If block 4546 determines the user is supportable, then block 4548 builds support option 4668 (FIG. 46B) and processing continues to block 4550. If block 4546 determines the user is not supportable, then block 4546 continues to block 4550. If block 4550 determines the user is a Site Owner, then block 4532 builds Debug Variables option 4670, the page is completed for serving back to the user's device at block 4518, and processing terminates at block 4530. If block 4550 determines the user is not a Site Owner, then block 4518 completes the page to service back to the user's device, and processing terminates at block 4530. Note that the full browser interface was presented to the user by device type (or browser type), and user (or user type). FIG. 46B shows that the Filters Maps option 4636 has been presented to the options initial page as though the user already clicked that option. Other embodiments will default any other option to the device.

[0564] If block 4514 determines the device or browse type is not a full browser, then block 4516 checks for a special type. If block 4516 determines the page is being accessed by a special device, then block 4526 displays the user type variable text, and displays members area 2500 options back to the user that are appropriate for the special device and user type. Processing then terminates at block 4530. If block 4516 determines the page is not being accessed by a special device, then block 4528 displays the user type variable text, and displays members area 2500 options back to the user that are appropriate for the particular device and user type. Processing then terminates at block 4530.

[0565] So, options in the members area 2500 of web service 2102 are presented by device type (or browser type) and user (or user type). Other embodiments will present options depending on specific users. Any subset of options can be made available to any type of device (or browser) as well as to any particular user (or user type). CD-ROM file names “xoptions.asp” and “woptions.asp” provides ASP program source code listings for presenting members area 2500 options to heterogeneous devices of different users (e.g. FIG. 45).

[0566] FIG. 46A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the interface presented after a successful logon where the user has just submitted credentials for logging into the web service from a full browser. FIG. 46A is intended for first time user logons.

[0567] FIG. 46B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the interface presented after a successful logon to the web service from a full browser. FIG. 46B is not intended for first time logons, however, it is intended for all subsequent accesses to members area 2500. In a preferred full browser embodiment, FIG. 46B is implemented with frames, namely header frame 4692, footer frame 4694, options frame 4696, and page content frame 4698. Clicking options in the options frame 4696 loads pages into the content frame 4698. Header frame 4692 and footer frame 4694 are loaded once upon entry to the members area which eliminates redundant traffic of content from the service to the user's device. Another embodiment may not use frames and may load all content of the browser window (e.g. FIG. 46B) with each option selected. A Site Owner user type that accesses the members area with a full browser sees ALL members area options as depicted in FIG. 46B. FIG. 46C depicts an illustration for describing the html frames embodiment of web service member pages. Frames 4692 through 4698 are shown as areas that get filled with content from the web service.

[0568] FIG. 46D depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the interface presented after a successful logon to the web service from a PDA browser. A Site Owner user type sees ALL members area options that are reasonable for a PDA browser as depicted in FIG. 46D. The device type has eliminated some of the options which are better off accessed with a full browser, without affecting required functionality while mobile.

[0569] FIGS. 46E and 46F depict preferred embodiment screenshots for the interface presented after a successful logon to the web service from a microbrowser, for example on a cell phone or WAP device. A Site Owner user type sees ALL members area options that are reasonable for the WAP device as depicted in FIGS. 46E and 46F. The device type has eliminated some of the options which are better off accessed with a full browser, without affecting required functionality while mobile. In general, for any user type, the cell phone interface is preferably a subset of a PDA interface, and the PDA interface is preferably a subset of the full browser interface. However, any and all options can be presented to all device types.

[0570] FIG. 47 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of the web service logout processing resulting from user interaction to the logout user interface from heterogeneous devices. Processing starts at block 4702, for example when clicking logout option 4666, and continues to block 4704 where the device type (or browser type) is determined. Thereafter, block 4706 immediately expires all successful logon data evidence and remember me data evidence (thereby removing the data evidence as though the user has never successfully logged on before) and block 4708 is the first check to communicate back a successful logoff to the requesting device. If block 4708 determines the device type (or browser type) to be a WAP device (e.g. cell phone), then block 4716 builds and presents back to the user a logoff page, for example FIG. 48B. If block 4708 determines the device type (or browser type) is not a WAP device, then processing continues to block 4710. If block 4710 determines the device type (or browser type) to be a PDA device, then block 4718 builds and presents back to the user a logoff page that simply closes out the current page interface. If block 4710 determines the device type (or browser type) is not a PDA device, then processing continues to block 4712. If block 4712 determines the device type (or browser type) to be a full browser device, then block 4720 builds and presents back to the user a logoff page, for example FIG. 48A, for simply closing out the current page interface. If block 4712 determines the device type (or browser type) is not a full browser device, then processing continues to block 4714 for building and presenting back to the user a logoff page for simply closing out the current page interface of the special device as determined. Blocks 4716, 4718, 4720, and 4714 each continue to block 4722 where processing terminates. CD-ROM file name “xmcdlout.asp” provides an ASP program source code listing for a members area logoff embodiment of FIG. 47.

[0571] FIG. 49A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the interface presented to a full browser after a user requests to discover a password or user logon name for an account in the web service (e.g. clicking memory lapse link 4008). The user enters his first and last name, birth year, account security question and answer, and then specifies the logon name or password in known portion field 4902. The correct radio button must be selected which describes data entered to known portion field 4902. All fields specified by the user to FIG. 49A must match corresponding record 2900/3000 fields for the user. FIG. 49B depicts the account security question dropdown options in the preferred embodiment screenshot for the interface presented to a full browser after a user requests to discover a password or user logon name for an account in the web service. The user selects the option from the pulldown that will match security question field 2976 of his record 2900 and then answer it with a match to the “SecAns” field of record 2900 which was populated as a required field at registration time.

[0572] FIG. 49C depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of carrying out processing for presenting a web service user interface form and then processing user specifications to the interface prior to submitting to the service for further processing. Processing starts at block 4952 and continues to block 4954 where a user interface is presented to a user, for example FIG. 49A. Thereafter, the user interacts with the user interface at block 4956 until submit is invoked. Submit is invoked when form specifications are completed. Upon submittal, block 4958 validates user specifications according to the record type (e.g. FIG. 49A logon/password request form record) and block 4960 checks results. If block 4960 determines the fields are valid (and can be submitted for processing), then block 4964 invokes user specification processing and current page processing terminates at block 4962. If block 4960 determines that not all fields specified are valid, then block 4966 provides an error to the user so that specification can continue back at block 4956 (e.g. pop-up).

[0573] FIG. 49D depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of carrying out form processing resulting from submission of user specifications for discovering an account password or user logon name. Processing starts at block 4970, for example as the result of a block 4964, and continues to block 4972 for validating user specifications to FIG. 49A, and then to block 4974. If block 4974 determines all user specifications are valid, then block 4976 builds a People/Users table query to return the joined record from records 2900 and 3000 which match user specifications made to FIG. 49A. The query should return at least the user's email address and missing portion of credentials. Block 4976 opens a DB connection, does the query, and closes the DB connection. Thereafter, if block 4978 determines the user's information was found, then an appropriate email is built at block 4980 destined for the user's email address queried from record 2900 for containing the logon name or password from record 3000 as needed per specification to FIG. 49A. The query built at block 4976 will return the user's information if indeed all form specifications to FIG. 49A match for a query result. Block 4980 sends the email to the user, block 4982 provides a success acknowledgement to the user, and processing terminates at block 4984. The user is then free to navigate by closing the window, using the BACK key to a previous context, or navigating to another user interface context. This is true of all interfaces disclosed in this application. If block 4978 determines there was no matching joined record, or if block 4974 find an invalid user specification, then block 4986 handles reporting the error to the user in an appropriate manner, and processing terminates at block 4984. A preferred embodiment will enforce a maximum number of consecutive unsuccessful attempts to discover a missing logon credential portion from the same device using data evidence, in a similar manner to flowcharts above.

[0574] FIG. 50A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for logon success completion to the web service using a full browser when the user type is a Pinger. FIG. 50A is identical in description as FIG. 46B except there are fewer options exposed to the user because the user type is a Pinger (using a full browser).

[0575] FIGS. 50B through 50E depict preferred embodiment screenshots for the Privileges option, such as upon clicking User Options Privileges option 4612. FIGS. 50B through 50E are actually presented to page content frame 4698 in an actual implementation of members area 2500 of web service 2102 upon clicking User Options Privileges option 4612. A user interface viewing area border 5050 simply shows the bounded and scrollable content that is presented to frame 4698. While information in these screenshots (FIGS. 50B through 50E) can be determined elsewhere in this disclosure, the reader can take the time to read the information in one place (FIGS. 50B through 50E) for a thorough understanding of user types and user type options privileges of the preferred embodiment members area 2500. FIGS. 50D and 50E show a preferred matrix for which user types get access to which options, and which device types (or browser types) get which options. Other embodiments will expose options differently. The matrix describes a preferred embodiment of 8 user types, each with a unique set of options privileges defined system wide. An End User is a user who can configure preferences for one or more associated receiving devices that can receive content according to the installation and configuration of the system. End Users use the Delivery Manager 2510. End Users are not required registered users (records 2900/3000) in members area 2500. Devices can be administrated for receiving content according to system defaults, or according to administrator configurations. While there are End Users using the devices, they need not be known to the system. End users are created when there are device users under a single Administrator account wanting to personalize behavior and preferences of their device(s) without having a members area 2500 registered account. There can be many End Users under a single Administrator account. Only device logon credentials are needed. A Content Provider is responsible for creating and maintaining deliverable content that is candidate for delivery to participating devices. The more enticing content made available, the more consumers will want to become Pingers. An Administrator is responsible for creating and maintaining eligible receiving devices. A Site Owner is a super user who has every option privilege possible in the system, and also has options privileges unavailable to other users of the system. A Delegate is a special option privilege for read-only (R/O) access to most options in the system. A Delegate is a potential customer for a web service 2102 installation, an investor, or someone provided with the option privilege to experience the members area 2500 in read-only mode. A Pinger is equivalent to an Administrator except a Pinger is a user who automatically becomes an Administrator for up to 3 devices through automated registration through the public site. A Pinger account is preferably free. The more Pingers to members area 2500, the more interest content providers will have in providing deliverable content. Members area 2500 provides a huge menu of enticing GPS features that make becoming a Pinger a great opportunity and service. A CP Gold (Content Provider Gold) account is equivalent to a Content Provider account except a CP Gold user automatically registers himself through the web service 2102 public website and preferably has a maximum of 1 content item that can be configured for a particular situational location at any time, and changed any time. A CP Platinum (Content Provider Platinum) account is equivalent to a Content Provider account except a CP Platinum user has a contractual number of content items that can be configured for particular situational locations with the ability to change them at any time. Content Providers are paying customers to web service 2102. Content items may be changed frequently, and instantly become activated for automated delivery. Another embodiment will limit a Pinger to a single device, and the credentials for it can be forced to match the user logon name and password credentials. Or, the Registry options exposed as discussed below force a maximum of a single RDPS (device) in the account.

[0576] The dark grey highlighting of cells in the table from FIGS. 50D to 50E indicate options preferably presented to a WAP device. The light grey highlighting indicates options added to the WAP device options for preferably presenting to a PDA device. The cells not highlighted indicate options added to the PDA device options for preferably presenting to any full browser device. Registry Add row 5002 with a “YES” value indicates the user type can add devices under his account up to a maximum as determined by MaxDevs field 3020. DCDB Add row 5004 with a “YES” value indicates the user type can add DCDB content items under his account up to a maximum as determined by MaxDCDB field 3022. Different embodiments will populate fields 3020 and 3022 based on different requirements, user types, etc.

[0577] FIG. 50F depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of carrying out processing for presenting a web service user interface form and then processing in accordance with user selectable actions of the user interface form, for example a user interface of members area 2500. Processing starts at block 5010 and continues to block 5012 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users (or authorized user types). Thereafter, block 5014 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5016 where the client device (or browser) type is determined and any defaulted fields of the user interface are set appropriately (automatically populated, defaulted, or disabled), and then block 5018 presents the user interface according to the device (or browser) type. Thereafter, a user interfaces with the user interface at block 5020 until a processing action is invoked from the page presented at block 5018. When an action is invoked by the user, block 5022 validates any applicable user specifications and block 5024 checks the results. Note that block 5014 access control processing will not continue to block 5016 if it is determined that the user should not have access to further processing of the FIG. 50F flowchart, just as described for FIG. 45 above. If block 5024 determines the fields are valid (and can be submitted for processing), then block 5028 invokes applicable action associated processing, and current page processing terminates at block 5026. If block 5024 determines that not all fields specified are valid, then block 5030 provides an error to the user so that specification can continue back at block 5020 (e.g. pop-up). Generally, FIG. 50F processing occurs at the user interface after selection (e.g. mouse clicking) of selectable options 4604 through 4670 for presenting the applicable interface (i.e. page). Other embodiments of blocks 5016 and 5018 will populate dropdowns, build queries for page field population, read cookies, or access any other data evidence to initialize a page. For example, Filters options 4636 and 4638 result in setting filter data evidence that gets accessed at block 5016 for automatically populating filter display field 5040 (FIG. 50G) and filtering any records associated with the context of the displayed page (discussed below).

[0578] FIG. 50G depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the My Prefs option selected from a full browser, as the result of selecting the Users My Preferences option 4606 from a full browser device. FIG. 50G shows the interface for a Pinger user type with a full browser device. Descriptions generally refer to FIG. 46B since all options are displayed for a Site Owner user type to a full browser. FIG. 50H depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the My Prefs option selected from a PDA browser, as the result of selecting the Users My Preferences option 4606 from a PDA device. A user interface viewing area border 5050 is a dark border around the user interface area. It should be understood that the page displayed within the viewing area bounded by border 5050 can be scrolled and interacted with depending on the device type. FIG. 50I depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for the My Prefs option selected from an arbitrary device of supported heterogeneous devices, as the result of selecting the Users My Preferences option 4606. FIG. 50I is the preferred format for discussing user interfaces to heterogeneous devices. Border 5050 surrounds and identifies a user interface area regardless of the heterogeneous device type. Those skilled in the art will recognize that options 4604 through 4670 can result in a user interface with the same functionality, albeit with different appearances, sizes, formats and controls to do the same functionality. All user interface (page) descriptions hereinafter are referred to as a user interface that can be displayed to any heterogeneous device, for example as discussed in detail above. A user interface viewing area border 5050 simply shows scrollable content that is presented to a user by way of page content frame 4698, PDA device format such as FIG. 46D, cell phone format such as FIG. 46E, or any other presentation format to any heterogeneous device. It is redundant showing the minor differences between similar interfaces for the same option just to describe the same functionality to heterogeneous devices. Therefore, user interface discussions hereinafter refer to a page bounded by a border 5050 which is displayed, scrolled, interfaced to, and managed as appropriate for a particular device. Border 5050 need not be labeled in the figures since it is the rectangular dark line boundary around all screenshots hereinafter. The device type (or browser type) is also assumed to have been determined for appropriate processing. This allows focusing on the key aspects of the present disclosure. User interfaces (pages) preferably include a navigation context bar 5060 for indicating to a user what context in the members area 2500 the current page is being displayed, however, such information may or may not be presented to a device (e.g. in consideration of minimizing data communications).

[0579] FIG. 51 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of carrying out processing for presenting the user interface to view or modify web service record information. For this discussion, FIG. 51 is discussed in context for registrant/member personal account information, as the result of selecting the view account information button 5062 or modify account information button 5064. View account information button 5062 enables every user to view their own records 2900 and 3000. Modify account information button 5064 enables every user to modify information in their own records 2900 and 3000. A user can delete his user account from web service 2102 with the delete account button 5058. Button 5058 is provided for the user removing himself from the web service 2102. This will delete the records 2900 and 3000 as well as any records 6500, 7000, etc, or any other record created by the user in web service 2102. This prevents relying on automated account deletion to remove obsolete users.

[0580] Processing starts at block 5102 and continues to block 5104 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5106 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5110 where record id evidence is accessed for reading the user's information. Record id data evidence is preferably passed as an argument in the form when selecting buttons 5062 or 5064. Record id data evidence is placed as a parameter in the form processing for the button when the page 501 is built and FIG. 39 access control processing makes it available to the page as the PersonID of the user accessing the page. Block 5110 then builds a table join query to read from the People Table and Users Table using the record id data evidence, opens a DB connection, does the query, and closes the DB connection. Thereafter, if block 5112 determines no record was found (unlikely since page access was just validated for this user), then block 5108 reports the error appropriately to the user interface, and processing terminates at block 5120. If block 5112 determines the query found the information, then block 5114 builds and presents the top portion of the page (e.g. FIG. 52A top portion), and initializes a read-only field switch to null (i.e. modify ok). Thereafter, block 5116 determines if FIG. 51 was invoked for view or modify. If block 5116 determines that the information is for view, then the read-only field switch is set at block 5118 to make all fields disabled (or readonly), otherwise the field switch remains set to null (i.e. “ ” for modify ok). For example, an html field definition embedded in VBScript such as:

<input name=“fN” type=“text” id=“fN” value=“<%=pfn %>” size=“20”<%=dfld %>/>

[0581] references the VBScript variable dfld (disable field) which elaborates to either a null value (i.e. do not disable the field) or the string of: disabled=“disabled” (field is disabled). In this way, every html form construct that includes <%=dfld %> within its context can be disabled or available for edit. If block 5116 determines the information is for modify, then processing continues to block 5122 where the record interface is presented for modify (FIG. 52B). Block 5118 also continues to block 5122 where the record user interface is presented disabled (FIG. 52A). Block 5122 also presents a modify button 5298 if the fields are editable (i.e. information for modify as the result of selecting button 5064). Block 5122 also inserts a hidden field into the form of FIG. 52B so processing has record id data evidence (PersonID 2902/3002) of what gets modified. Thereafter, the user interfaces to block 5124 until the Modify button 5298 is invoked. If FIG. 52A is displayed for viewing, then block 5124 never exits to block 5126. The user has to use the browser back key, select a different selectable option 4604 through 4670, close the window, or perform another user interface action that may be available for the particular heterogeneous device. If FIG. 52B is displayed for modifying, then block 5124 continues to block 5126 when the Modify button 5298 is invoked upon interfacing to FIG. 52B. Block 5126 validates FIG. 52B form fields according to requirements of the record types 2900 and 3000. Thereafter, block 5128 determines if all fields are valid for processing, and if they are, then block 5132 provides a warning pop-up to ensure user information should be modified, for example as depicted in FIG. 52C. Thereafter, if block 5134 determines the information should be modified (acted on by user with confirm), then block 5136 invokes modify record processing (FIG. 53 processing), and block 5120 terminates processing for the current page. If block 5134 determines information should not be modified (user cancels), then processing continues back to block 5124. If block 5128 determines that not all fields are valid for processing, then block 5130 provides an error in such a way that user interface specification can continue back at block 5124. Fields of FIGS. 52A and 52B are easily associated to record fields 2900 and 3000.

[0582] FIG. 53 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of processing for modifying web service record information. For this discussion, FIG. 53 is discussed in context of modification processing of user account information. Processing starts at block 5302 and continues to block 5304 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5306 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5308 where the form fields for the record information are validated according to record type (i.e. person record=People and Users Tables records=records 2900 and 3000), and then results are checked at block 5310. If any field is found invalid for processing at block 5310, then block 5324 reports the error appropriately to the user interface, and processing terminates at block 5326. If all fields are found to be valid at block 5310, then block 5312 builds update commands for the People Table and Users Table using fields from the form where the PersonID equals the record id data evidence passed for processing. Thereafter, block 5314 opens a DB connection, block 5316 does the updates, and block 5318 closes the DB connection. Thereafter, block 5320 sends an alert email to an Administrator account if a Notify flag is enabled to document this type of database update, block 5322 builds and serves back a success interface (e.g. FIG. 54A) to the user, and processing terminates at block 5326. Users can change their LogonName field 3004 and/or password field 3006. A uniqueness key or constraint on LogonName field 3004 prevents more than one user from using the same LogonName. Obvious error processing not shown in flowcharts would report the error as a unique key error (logon name already in use), and the user could then try another LogonName.

[0583] If the user modifies his email address, a re-verification should be performed to ensure the email address is valid for the user. Email address data evidence is preferably placed as a hidden field in the form of FIG. 52B to compare with any user update of the email entry field in the form after submission. Block 5308 will detect the difference before continuing to block 5310. Assuming all form fields are valid, then block 5310 will continue to a block 5311 for checking for and responding to a difference. If there is a difference, then block 5311 sends a randomly generated confirmation code to the new email address, presents FIG. 32A, and waits for a user response to FIG. 32A (verification processing was described above). If the user fails to enter the correct confirmation code at block 5311 user interface processing within a reasonable number of attempts, then user account modification processing continues to block 5324 for handling the error. If the user enters the correct confirmation code at block 5311 user interface processing, then processing continues to block 5312 for doing the updates. A uniqueness key or constraint on the Email field prevents more than one user from using the same Email address. Obvious error processing not shown in flowcharts would report the error as a unique key error (email address already in use), and the user could then try another Email address (an unlikely error). Another embodiment will simply make the email address disabled/read-only for user account modifications, in which case an account would have to be deleted and re-created through registration with a new email address.

[0584] FIG. 54A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for successful completion of modifying web service record information, for example the record information modified as discussed in FIG. 53. FIG. 54B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for viewing web service user account information. FIG. 54B is arrived to by way of invoking button 5062. Note that FIG. 52A demonstrates the user's information before it is modified, FIG. 52B demonstrates the user's information has been edited just prior to submitting it with modify button 5298, and FIG. 54B demonstrates a view of the user's information after it has been modified. Every user to members area 2500 can maintain their registrant information through the My GPS component 2502 with buttons 5062 and 5064 via the Users My Preferences option 4606. The My GPS component 2502 is the main interface to members area 2500 for each user, and it includes the set of options available to all users regardless of user type.

[0585] Button 5058 invokes FIG. 60 processing for a single record id data evidence (PersonID field 2902/3002 of user) to be deleted, preferably after the user responds affirmatively to a prompt (e.g. FIG. 59C) produced by client side processing for FIGS. 50G through 50I. FIG. 60 can enforce attack prevention at block 6048 to ensure nobody except a Site Owner deletes other user records (e.g. using UserType field 2980 and PersonID 2902/3002 from FIG. 39 access control with RecordID 2902/3002 passed for deletion). See FIG. 60 discussions below.

Users Management

[0586] A Site Owner user type can manage user information of other users of the members area 2500 through Users Management component 2512. Users management component 2512 comprises the selectable Users Management option 4610 under Users options category header 4604. In another preferred embodiment, there is no option 4610 for a human to manage user account records. The fully automated web service 2102 does not need such an option. Users Management option 4610 is provided for enabling a human to change information in other person records, for example, UserType field 2980, fields 3004, 3006, 3008, 3020, 3022, or any other fields of any record in the People and Users tables (records 2900 and 3000). An SQL administrator could use a query manager (e.g. SQL Server Enterprise manager) to directly manage any records in the SQL database, but that may be inconvenient. So, a convenient scalable web interface is provided to web service 2102 for managing user records from anywhere in the world over the internet by way of https over an encrypted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. An SSL connection is the preferred method for accessing members area 2500.

[0587] FIG. 55 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of processing for managing records of the web service. For this discussion, user information records are discussed as being managed, for example upon clicking Users Manage option 4610. Processing starts at block 5502 and continues to block 5504 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5506 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5508 where the search form interface is built and presented to the user, for example the search interface of FIG. 56A. Thereafter, a user interfaces with the search interface at block 5510 until a search action is requested, for example by search button 5602. When the search action is requested by the user, block 5514 validates any applicable user specifications and block 5516 checks the results. If block 5514 determines the fields are valid (and can be submitted for processing), then block 5520 invokes search processing of FIG. 57, and current page processing terminates at block 5518. If block 5516 determines that not all fields specified are valid, then block 5522 provides an error to the user so that specification can continue back at block 5510 (e.g. pop-up). Any pending Filters Management component settings made by the user further filter records found by the search interface.

[0588] FIG. 56A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for searching for web service user registrant/member account records. By default, FIG. 56A finds all records in the database including as described by active filters from Filters Management component 2506. As soon as data is entered to a field of the FIG. 56A search form, or selects a value other than “Any”, the search result is narrowed accordingly. Search fields of FIG. 56A are easily identifiable to records 2900 and 3000. All fields of records 2900 and 3000 may be searchable, or any subset thereof, in other embodiments. Defaulted fields 5604 and 5606 may be disabled by block 5508 as the result of first querying the total count of user records in the database, and determining that there are less than a website installed search minimum (e.g. 10). This limits the search criteria options since there are so few records that a search almost doesn't make sense. Any subset of fields can be defaulted this way, or all of the fields can be defaulted this way, based on a configured threshold of total records where a search indeed makes sense. If there were more than the website installed minimum for searching, then defaulted fields 5604 and 5606 would be available to the user for specification. Any field can be defaulted with a value for search and saved as data evidence for defaulting field(s) the next time the user is in the same interface at a future time. In this way, the user specifies search criteria, and that specification always defaults the interface according to the user's last specification for each field in the search interface.

[0589] FIG. 56B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot of the Work Industry selection dropdown options for searching for web service user registrant/member account records. A selection from the dropdown may have had a corresponding “Industry Specialty” dropdown of selections to make at the time of member registration. These were all provided to registrants, for example in FIGS. 27B through 27D.

[0590] FIG. 56C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot of Order By selection dropdown options for searching for web service user registrant/member account records. Order by specification 5620 sorts search results by preferred fields, and adds the fields to the search results if they are not already part of a standard set of fields shown in the results list.

[0591] FIG. 56D depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for searching for web service user registrant/member account records after some user specification for doing a search. Order by specification field 5620 specifies to return all search results sorted by their last name. Order by specification 5622 specifies to then return user records sorted by zip code within the last name results. Work industry specification 5624 indicates to only return records in the Real Estate industry (e.g. as entered to FIGS. 27B through 27D), and country specification 5626 limits search results to those registrants of the United States (e.g. as entered to FIGS. 27B through 27D). Order by specifications preferably include selecting any field from records 2900 and 3000 for sorting results, and for display of fields not provided in search results for standard list display.

[0592] FIGS. 57 and 58 depict flowcharts for a preferred embodiment of search processing of records of the web service. For this discussion, user information search criteria (e.g. from FIG. 56D) is discussed as being processed, for example upon clicking search button 5602. Processing starts at block 5702 and continues to block 5704 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5706 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5708. Block 5708 builds the top of the page to return to the user, validates all fields specified in the search criteria interface (e.g. FIG. 56D) according to the record type (i.e. records 2900 and 3000), and processing continues to block 5710. If all fields specified in the search criteria interface are valid, then processing continues to block 5712. If there is at least one invalid field specified, then block 5746 reports the error appropriately to the user interface, and processing terminates at block 5756.

[0593] Block 5712 sets a variable ROWSPERPG to rows per page data evidence as configured by records per page field 5086 of FIG. 50. A defaulted number is used if the data evidence is not found. Then, block 5714 checks to see how this page processing was arrived to, for example, by pagination or directly from the search criteria interface. If block 5714 determines the processing page was arrived to directly as the result of invoking the search button 5602, then block 5718 accesses page filter data evidence for appending to a SQL Select WHERE clause. Thereafter, block 5720 builds any SQL ORDER BY clause if order by specifications were made, appends SQL WHERE clause criteria based on search criteria interface field specifications, appends any Filters management data evidence found to the SQL WHERE clause, and constructs a SQL query string suffix comprised of a completed WHERE clause and ORDER BY clause. If the user accessing the page (as determined by access control) is a Delegate, then the WHERE clause is also clarified with: RowType=‘D’ to make sure no real users are seen by Delegates. Delegates can only view demo user data for privacy reasons. WHERE clause conditions will use “LIKE” or “=” depending on the field type being searched. Thereafter, block 5722 completes building the SQL SELECT statement with the SQL query string suffix appended for all records 2900 joined to 3000 on PersonID. List output variable ROWSTART is initialized to 1 and list output variable ROWLAST is set to ROWSPERPG. These variables enable proper pagination between pages of results, and are maintained as list pagination data evidence. Thereafter, block 5724 opens a DB connection, opens an active cursor using the SQL SELECT statement and determines the number of resulting rows produced by the query which is kept in a variable TOTALROWS. Thereafter, if block 5726 determines there are no resulting rows, then block 5728 reports the condition of no results to the user interface, closes an open DB connection, and processing terminates at block 5756.

[0594] If block 5726 determines there is at least one row in the results (i.e. TOTALROWS>=1), then block 5730 saves the SQL SELECT query as query data evidence, rows are fetched up to the variable ROWSTART, the list output header is built (e.g. 5902), an ORDER BY column 5904 is added to the results if not already presented in the standard list output, and a variable ROWSOUT is set to 0. Name information is already put out in the standard result list form, so only the zip code column had to be added to the results (FIG. 59A), assuming the search criteria example of FIG. 56D. Thereafter, if block 5732 determines ROWSOUT>=ROWSPERPG, then no additional rows are iterated out from query results in which case block 5738 builds management controls 5906 through 5910. and pagination information 5912 is output. Thereafter, if block 5740 determines TOTALROWS>ROWSOUT, then processing continues to block 5748, otherwise processing continues to block 5742 where a DB connection is closed and onto block 5802 of FIG. 58 by way off page connector 58000.

[0595] If block 5748 determines ROWSTART=1, then processing continues to block 5752, otherwise block 5750 builds the user interface page with pagination control for first page pagination control 5922 (FIG. 59B) and previous page pagination control 5924 (FIG. 59B). Thereafter, processing continues to block 5752. If block 5752 determines that ROWLAST>=TOTALROWS then processing continues to block 5802 by way of off page connector 58000, otherwise block 5754 builds the user interface page with pagination control for last page pagination control 5928 (FIG. 59B) and next page pagination control 5926 (FIGS. 59A and 59B). Thereafter, processing continues to block 5802.

[0596] If block 5732 determines ROWSOUT were not greater than or equal to ROWSPERPG, then block 5734 checks if all rows have been fetched for output processing. If block 5734 determines all rows have been fetched (processed), then processing continues to block 5738 already described. If block 5734 determines all rows have not been fetched (processed), then block 5736 manufactures a checkbox (e.g. checkbox 5914) for a row, associates record id data evidence (i.e. PersonID), for example in a hidden field associated with the checkbox, builds the row output (e.g. a row 5916) for presenting all fields of the list header 5902, increments the ROWSOUT variable by 1, then fetches the next row using the open cursor. Thereafter, processing continues back to block 5732. Blocks 5732 through 5736 comprise a loop for output of rows satisfying search criteria. Processing continuing to block 5802 by way of off page connector 58000 also preferably builds and presents a “Back to Top” link at the page bottom in case the user has to scroll lots of information as dictated by ROWSPERPG.

[0597] If block 5714 determines the search processing page was arrived to by pagination (e.g. controls 5922 through 5928), then block 5716 accesses the query data evidence, accesses the list pagination data evidence (ROWSTART and ROWLAST), then continues to block 5724 for issuing the query and performing subsequent processing.

[0598] The user interfaces with search results at block 5802 until an action is selected. FIGS. 59A and 59B are examples of the search results interface upon the start of block 5802. When an action is selected, block 5806 checks if it was pagination to go to the first results page, for example clicking control 5922. If block 5806 determines pagination to go to first page was selected (e.g. by way of control 5922), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for first page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5806 determines the action was not for go to first page, then processing continues to block 5808. If block 5808 determines pagination to go to the previous page was selected (e.g. by way of control 5924), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for previous page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5808 determines the action was not for go to previous page, then processing continues to block 5810. If block 5810 determines pagination to go to the next page was selected (e.g. by way of control 5926), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for next page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5810 determines the action was not for go to next page, then processing continues to block 5812. If block 5812 determines pagination to go to the last page was selected (e.g. by way of control 5928), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for last page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5812 determines the action was not for go to last page, then processing continues to block 5814. If block 5814 determines a delete, view, or change action was invoked, then processing continues to block 5828, otherwise block 5824 handles the action appropriately and processing continues back to block 5802. Block 5824 handles actions associated with the interface depending on the device type that are not necessarily relevant for understanding this disclosure.

[0599] Block 5828 determines how many rows are marked with a checkmark by the user and block 5830 validates it. If block 5832 determines no checkmarks are present, then block 5820 provides an error for report to the user so user specification can continue back at block 5802. If block 5830 determines at least one row has been checked, then block 5832 checks the action type. If block 5832 determines that delete was invoked by the user (e.g. delete management control 5910 selected), then block 5836 provides a confirmation message and block 5838 determines the user's answer to the “Are you sure?” confirmation (e.g. pop-up of FIG. 59C). If block 5838 determines the user confirmed the delete, then the confirmation is cleared at block 5840, list management data evidence is set for delete at block 5842, block 5826 invokes list processing of FIG. 60, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5838 determines the user cancelled the delete, then the confirmation is cleared at block 5822, and the user continues to interact with the search results at block 5802. If block 5832 determines that delete was not selected, then list management data evidence is set for view (i.e. view management control 5906 selected) or modify (i.e. change management control 5908 selected) per user action, block 5826 invokes list processing of FIG. 60, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. Thus, FIGS. 57 through 58 provide search result list processing of registrant records for being conveniently viewed, modified, or viewed.

[0600] FIG. 59A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for results from searching the web service user registrant/member account records after a user search specification. FIG. 59A is in fact a real output from the search criteria as specified in FIG. 56D. Note the names are sorted on last name and the ROWSPERPG is set at 5. FIG. 59B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for paginated results from searching the web service user registrant/member account records after a user search specification. The Site Owner user has invoked pagination control 5926 from FIG. 59A to get to FIG. 59B. FIG. 59C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for a warning prompt for deleting one or more marked records. Other embodiments may present a different confirmation appearance or method.

[0601] FIG. 60 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of search result list processing of records of the web service. For this discussion, FIG. 60 was invoked at block 5826. Processing starts at block 6002 and continues to block 6004 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 6006 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 6008. If block 6008 determines the user is a Delegate (from access control processing), then block 6010 forces list management data evidence to view since Delegate access is read only to the members area. Processing then continues to block 6012. If block 6008 determines the user is not a Delegate, then processing continues to block 6012.

[0602] Block 6012 iterates through the form checkboxes (from FIGS. 59A, 59B) to build an array of record ids (i.e. PersonIDs) from record id data evidence associated with rows that are check-marked for action. Additionally built is a WHERE clause string of the same check-marked record id evidence (i.e. PersonIDs) so an action can be done in a single SQL query to multiple records (e.g. records 2900 and 3000 joined on PersonID). Thereafter, block 6014 checks if at least one check-marked checkbox (e.g. 5914) was found. If none were check-marked, then block 6018 reports an appropriate error to the user, block 6046 closes any DB connection that is open (none open yet), and current page processing terminates at block 6032. If block 6014 determines at least one checkmark is found, then block 6016 checks list management data evidence. If block 6016 determines list management data evidence indicates a delete action, then an SQL Delete command is built at block 6048 for the People Table with the WHERE clause of record ids built at block 6012. The corresponding User Table record(s) will cascade delete. Block 6048 also opens a DB connection, does the People Table delete, closes the DB connection, sends an email to an Administrator account if a Notify flag indicates to document this type of transaction, and a success interface is returned to the user. Processing then continues to block 6046 for closing any DB connection that is still open, and current page processing terminates at block 6032. Block 6048 will also delete any records and data of server data 2104 that has been created by the user account(s) being deleted by block 6048 which are not set up for cascade delete. Such records should be deleted prior to finally deleting the record 2900 which cascade deletes other records.

[0603] If block 6016 determines the list management data evidence does not indicate a delete action, then block 6020 accesses pending query data evidence, concatenates WHERE clause information of record ids (PersonIDs) built at block 6012 so only the check-marked rows are fetched, opens a DB connection, does the query, and fetches the first row. Thereafter, block 6022 checks if even a first row was fetched. If block 6022 determines no first row was fetched (no rows result from query), then block 6018 handles reporting the error to the user and processing continues from there as described above. If block 6022 determines a first row was fetched, then block 6024 builds the top portion of the page to return to the user. Thereafter, if block 6026 determines the list management data evidence is for view, then block 6028 sets the disabled/read-only switch (dfld variable as discussed above) for read-only and processing continues to block 6030. If block 6026 determines the list management data evidence is not for view, then processing continues to block 6030 (where the dfld variable is null for modify capability).

[0604] If block 6030 determines there is only 1 row returned from the query at block 6022, then block 6034 builds and presents a record interface, presenting a Modify button only if the list management data evidence indicate a modify action (e.g. control 5908). Block 6034 also associates record id data evidence (PersonID) of the information presented, preferably as a hidden form field. Block 6034 presents FIG. 61A and FIG. 61B (scrolled forward) if the list management data evidence was for view of a single row check-marked, such as with a checkmark at checkbox 5952. Block 6034 presents FIG. 61C and FIG. 61D (scrolled forward) if the list management data evidence was for modify of a single row check-marked, such as with a checkmark at checkbox 5952. Thereafter, the user interfaces to any of FIGS. 61A through 61D at block 6036 until a Modify action is invoked, for example clicking button 6150. If a view interface is presented (FIGS. 61A, 61B), then no Modify button can be pressed. The user can use the Back key, click the first page link 6102 to return to the first page of records (FIG. 59A), close the window, or do whatever makes sense at the device. If the Modify button 6150 is pressed, then block 6038 validates form fields according the record type (i.e. records 2900 and 3000), and processing continues to block 6040. If block 6040 determines at least one field is invalid, then block 6042 reports the error to the user so field specification can continue back at block 6036 (e.g. pop-up). If block 6040 determines all fields are valid, then block 6044 invokes modify record processing of FIG. 53, block 6046 closes any open DB connection, and current page processing terminates at block 6032.

[0605] If block 6030 determines there is more than 1 row returned by the query at block 6020, then block 6050 checks the list management data evidence for the action requested. FIG. 61E shows the user has selected (i.e. check-marked) multiple rows prior to invoking a control 5906 through 5910. If block 6050 determines the list management data evidence is not modify, then processing continues to block 6064. If block 6064 determines the list management data evidence is not for view, then block processing continues to block 6018 since list management data evidence is invalid. If block 6064 determines the list management data evidence is for view, then block 6066 builds the output page topmost portion, and block 6068 builds a record output from the last record fetched. Thereafter, if block 6070 determines the last row was fetched for output, then block 6074 completes page output and processing continues to block 6046. If block 6070 determines there is another row to output, then block 6072 fetches the next row and processing loops back to block 6068. Blocks 6066 through 6074 include a processing loop for presenting a view of multiple records such as FIGS. 61F through 61G. FIGS. 61F and 61G are actual view outputs from processing upon invoking view management control 5906 on FIG. 61E.

[0606] If block 6050 determines the list management data evidence is for modify, then block 6052 builds a Modify List user interface, iterates through fetches of query results from block 6020, and establishes record id array data evidence (e.g. PersonIDs) for records returned, preferably as hidden form fields in FIGS. 61H and 61I. FIGS. 61H and 61I actually result from invoking modify management control 5908 from FIG. 61E. Data from the first record in the query results is conveniently defaulted in fields (e.g. record 6168). A preferred embodiment will save which row was check-marked first from list output (e.g. FIG. 61E) as first check data evidence so that the first checkmark determines which data is used to default the modify list interface (e.g. FIGS. 61H and 61I). Note checkmark column 6170 is included for the user selecting which fields with checkmarks to update in the plurality of records resulting from the query at block 6020. Thereafter, the user interfaces to FIGS. 61H and 61I at block 6054 until Modify button 6172 is invoked. When modify is invoked, processing continues to block 6056 where fields are validated from FIGS. 61H and 61I, and block 6058 checks validation results. If block 6058 determines all fields are valid (i.e. syntax, at least one checkmark, checkmark corresponds to non-null field, etc), then block 6062 invokes Modify List processing of FIG. 62, and processing continues to block 6046. If not all fields are valid as determined at block 6058, then an error is reported at block 6060 to the user so field specification can continue back at block 6054 (e.g. pop-up).

[0607] FIGS. 61A and 61B depict preferred embodiment screenshots for viewing user account information of a selected user record, for example when placing a single checkmark at checkbox 5952 and invoking control 5906. FIGS. 61C and 61D depict preferred embodiment screenshots for modifying user account information of a selected user record, for example when placing a single checkmark at checkbox 5952 and invoking control 5908. FIG. 61E depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for results from searching the web service user registrant/member account records after a user search specification, and then user selecting records to manage with checkmarks placed next to a plurality of desired records for management. FIGS. 61F and 61G depict preferred embodiment screenshots for viewing a plurality of selected user account records, for example in accordance with those records that were check-marked in FIG. 61E and then invoking control 5906. FIGS. 61H and 61I depict preferred embodiment screenshots for modifying a plurality of selected user account records, for example in accordance with those records that were check-marked in FIG. 61E and then invoking control 5908.

[0608] FIG. 62 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment for processing the request to modify a plurality of records of the web service. For this discussion, FIG. 62 was invoked at block 6062. Processing starts at block 6202 and continues to block 6204 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 6206 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 6208. Block 6208 validates form fields (e.g. from FIGS. 61H and 61I), and then block 6210 checks validation results. If at least one field is invalid, then block 6226 appropriately reports the error to the user, and processing terminates at block 6228. If all fields are valid, then block 6210 continues to block 6212. Block 6212 builds a WHERE clause string from record id array data evidence (e.g. from hidden form field), builds an update command for the People Table with any fields specified and check-marked in FIGS. 61H and 61I, builds an update command for the Users Table with any fields specified and check-marked in FIGS. 61H and 61I, and concatenates the WHERE clause string of record ids (PersonIDs) constructed at block 6212 to the update command(s). Thereafter, block 6216 opens a DB connection, block 6218 does the update command(s), block 6220 closes the DB connection, block 6222 send an email to an administrator account if a Notify flag indicates to document this type of transaction, block 6224 builds and serves back a successful result interface, and processing terminates at block 6228. So, a plurality of users are modified all at once as check-marked, for example on FIG. 61E and modified at FIGS. 61H and 61I.

[0609] An Administrator and Site Owner user type can manage and add devices to members area 2500 through the Registry Management component 2504. Registry Management component 2504 comprises the selectable Registry Manage option 4642 and Registry Add option 4644 under Registry options category header 4640. Registry Management component 2504 also provides a Registry Import/Export option 4646 to a Site Owner user type (read only access for Delegate) for scripting management of devices. Scripts maintained can insert large numbers of devices, update large numbers of devices, delete large numbers of devices, or do any management to devices as discussed herein, except automated with scripting. It may be inconvenient requiring a user to use a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to maintain large numbers of devices, therefore full scripting capability is provided for managing records 6500 in the Registry Table. No administrator or user (except a Site Owner) can see or manage another administrator's devices, unless an “Affinity Delegate” privilege (discussed below) has been granted to that user. A Pinger is also an administrator, but on a smaller scale. Each Pinger user type can add up to a small maximum number (1 or 3) of devices, and then manage them.

[0610] FIG. 63 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of carrying out processing for presenting a web service user interface form in the members area and then processing user specifications to the interface prior to submitting to the service for further processing. For this discussion, FIG. 63 is invoked for adding a record 6500 to a Registry Table (FIG. 65 records) upon invoking Registry Add option 4644. Processing starts at block 6302 and continues to block 6304 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 6306 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 6308. Block 6308 builds and presents FIG. 66A for adding a Registry record, and then a user interfaces with FIG. 66A at block 6310 until the Add button 6602 action is invoked. When an add action is invoked by the user, block 6312 validates user field specifications to FIG. 66A, and block 6314 checks the results. If block 6314 determines the fields are valid (and can be submitted for processing), then block 6318 invokes FIG. 64 processing for adding the record 6500, and current page processing terminates at block 6316. If block 6314 determines that not all fields specified are valid, then block 6320 provides an error to the user so that specification can continue back at block 6310 (e.g. pop-up).

[0611] FIG. 64 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment for processing the submittal to add a Registry Table record to the web service. FIG. 64 is invoked at block 6318 per discussion above for adding a record 6500 to the Registry Table (FIG. 65 records). Processing starts at block 6402 and continues to block 6416 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 6418 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 6404. Block 6404 validates user field specifications to FIG. 66A, and block 6406 checks the results. If block 6406 determines all fields are valid, then block 6426 queries the number of devices this user currently has in the Registry Table (SELECT(Count) from Registry Table query built where Owner field 6522 equals the PersonID passed from FIG. 39 access control processing). Thereafter, if block 6428 determines the count returned at block 6424 equals or exceeds the MaxDevs field 3020 for this user as passed from FIG. 39 access control processing, then block 6420 reports the error to the user in an appropriate manner and processing terminates at block 6414. If block 6428 determines the user (doing the add) has not exceeded his allowed maximum of devices, then block 6408 builds a Registry Table insert command from FIG. 66A specifications, opens a DB connection, does the insert, and closes the DB connection. Thereafter, block 6410 sends an email to an administrator account if a Notify flag is set to document this type of transaction, and block 6412 sets default Master and Archive templates for Delivery Manager processing using the unique RegistryID auto-generated at block 6408 on the SQL insert (e.g. SELECT @@Identity AS NewID). Thereafter, block 6422 determines if an error occurred creating the device Master or Archive. If block 6422 determines an error occurred in creating the Master and/or Archive for this newly created device, then processing continues to block 6420. If block 6422 determines, everything created successfully, then block 6424 provides the user with a successful add acknowledgement interface such as FIG. 66B, and processing terminates at block 6414.

[0612] In one embodiment, the device Master and Archive is an html file created as a unique web service file path constructed with RegistryID. In another embodiment, the device Master and Archive is an html file created as a row in an SQL database for easy query. The device Master and Archive are discussed in detail with Delivery Manager component 2510 descriptions below.

[0613] FIG. 65 depicts a preferred embodiment of a data record in the Registry Table used to maintain heterogeneous devices participating with the web service 2102. RegistryID 6502 is preferably a unique primary key automatically generated by the underlying SQL database system to ensure uniqueness when inserting a record 6500 to the Registry Table. Deviceid field 6504 is a device logon name and the PW field 6506 is the device logon password. Fields 6504 and 6506 are used to logon to the Delivery Manager component 2510. In a preferred embodiment, these are maintained separately from LogonName field 3004 and PW field 3006, as shown by FIGS. 66A, 66E, and 66F. In another embodiment, fields 6504 and 6506 are populated with equivalent values from fields 3004 and 3006, respectively, for one to one correspondence between a registrant's account and a device he can manage. In yet another embodiment, fields 6504 and 6506 are not included in record 6500 in which case fields 3004 and 3006 are used from the User Table record 3000 containing a PersonID equivalent to the Owner field 6522. User interfaces are appropriately adjusted depending on the embodiment in use. The Descr field 6508 contains an optional user specified description of the device record 6500. IPAddr field 6510 contains an ip address of the device of record 6500. Type field 6512 contains the type of device, for example a certain type of cell phone, PDA, or equipment type so device interface processing can best adapt to the device through the Delivery Manager component 2510. Track field 6514 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to track the device whereabouts. Interests field 6516 contains user interests associated with the device for content to be included for delivery. This is preferably a string of words or phrases separated by commas (e.g. “basketball,estate sale,a great deal,cheap gas,baseball”=an interest in “basketball”, “estate sale”, “a great deal”, “cheap gas”, “baseball”). Filters field 6518 contains user filter criteria associated with the device for content to omit from delivery. They are configured identically to Interests except they are strings to cause associated deliverable content to not be delivered. MoveTol field 6520 contains a movement tolerance of the device, for example to define how much the device should physically move before a request to find content can be automatically made for the device. That way a device that never moves only has a single request made for its situational location. MoveTol field 6520 is an optional field in certain embodiments. Owner field 6522 contains the PersonID of the People/Users Tables that created (added) the record 6500. A unique key is preferably defined on Deviceid field 6504 to ensure unique device names. Insertion without a unique name should cause an insert error. AssocUsers field 6524 contains a unique joinable column id to a table containing potentially a plurality of users who have an “Affinity Delegate” privilege assigned to also manage the device as though they owned it. Compress field 6526 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to compress deliverable content before sending it to the device by the device's situational location. IndicOnly field 6528 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to always send an indicator for content rather than the content itself, perhaps to prevent large communications of data to the device by its situational location. BrowseRcpt field 6530 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to deliver content to the device in an active Delivery Manager connected browser window. SMSRcpt field 6532 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to deliver situational location derived content in an SMS message. SMSAddr field 6534 contains an SMS recipient address (e.g. [email protected]) for SMS message delivery of situational location derived content, for example to the device. EmailRcpt field 6536 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not to deliver situational location derived content in an email message. EmailAddr field 6538 contains an email recipient address (e.g. [email protected]) for email message delivery of situational location derived content, for example to the device. IntRadius field 6540 contains a mobile interest radius (also referred to as interest radius, moving interest radius, and traveling interest radius) surrounding the mobile device of record 6500 during mobility, which is the eligible target for situational location derived content. IntRadius field 6540 can be maintained in any units but preferably is maintained in feet, however, it can be derived from any units in a user interface. The mobile interest radius is a distance from a current device location which defines a circle (in a two dimensional embodiment (e.g. earth's surface)) around the device (device at circle middle) as a target area for receiving content to the device. In a three dimensional embodiment, the mobile interest radius is a distance from a current device location which defines a sphere in space around the device (device at sphere middle) as a target region in space for receiving content to the device. A mobile interest radius is moving as the device moves, so is in effect a moving target for deliverable content. SrchMethod field 6542 defines a preferred search method for the device when finding situational location content for the device. Search Methods include, and are not limited to:

[0614]

Const PRECISE_EXACTMATCH = 1	‘Seconds (S) from client is used for exact match.
Const PRECISE_ROUNDnMATCH = 2	‘Seconds (S) from client are rounded to an
	integer, then used to match exactly.
Const PRECISE_ROUNDw1D = 3	‘S from client are rounded to a # with one decimal
	place, then used to match exactly.
Const PRECISE_HALFSECOND = 4	‘S +/− .5 second range.
Const PRECISE_FULLSECOND = 5	‘S +/− 1 second range.
Const PRECISE_SP25toP75 = 6	‘X.25 < S < X.75 uses X; X.0 <= S <= X.25: (X − 1)
	& X; X.75 <= S <= X + 1: X & (X + 1).
Const PRECISE_SM1toSP1 = 7	‘S = X.aaa...: (X − 1) to (X + 1) range.
Const PRECISE_BYUSER = −N	‘Negative indicates an interest radius in feet

Verbose field 6544 if a Yes/No flag for whether or not to send a verbose version of situational location content, for example including location parameters of where the content was configured for, the time of sending, and other extra attribute information with the situational location derived content. DTCreated field 6546 contains a date/time stamp of when the record 6500 was created in (added to) the Registry Table. DTLastChg field 6548 contains a date/time stamp of when any field in the record 6500 was last modified. ActiveDev field 6550 is a Yes/No flag for whether or not the record 6500 is active to the web service 2102. Inactive treats the record as though it does not exist in the table, except for the owner of the record to manage it. CIP field 6552 preferably contains an internet protocol (ip) address of the user's device that created the applicable data record 6500. The CHIP field 6554 preferably contains the ip address of the actual physical server of web service 2102 that created applicable data record 6500. CHName field 6556 preferably contains the host name of the physical server of web service 2102 that created applicable data record 6500, for example because web service 2102 may be a large cluster of physical servers. ChgrIP field 6558 preferably contains an internet protocol (ip) address of the user's device that last modified the applicable data record 6500. The ChgrHIP field 6560 preferably contains the ip address of the actual physical server of web service 2102 that last modified applicable data record 6500. ChgrHName field 6562 preferably contains the host name of the physical server of web service 2102 that last modified applicable data record 6500, for example because web service 2102 may be a large cluster of physical servers. RRsrvd1 field 6564 and RRsrvd2 field 6566 are reserved fields for future use.

[0615] FIG. 66A depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for adding a Registry record to the web service 2102, for example by invoking Registry Add option 4644. Fields specified are mapped to the record 6500. Field labels are easily identifiable to corresponding record 6500 fields. Default Interest Radius specification 6640 is shown as a disabled system defaulted amount. This can be a system wide setting default easily changed in a site configuration file, or may be selectable in feet, meters, yards, miles, kilometers, or any other distance units. The amount of units permitted will depend on the units selected. Upon record add, the units are preferably converted to feet as the universal format for maintaining this specification 6640 to IntRadius field 6540. The interest radius (also referred to as mobile interest radius, moving interest radius, and traveling interest radius) can later be specified at any time by the user when interfacing to the Delivery Manager 2510, so it makes sense to force a system default value for simply adding the record. Default Search Method specification 6642 may be a system wide setting default easily changed in a site configuration file (e.g. shown as disabled in FIG. 66A), or may be selectable in accordance with settings as described above for SrchMethod field 6542. The search method can be specified at any time by the user when interfacing to the Delivery Manager 2510, so that it makes sense to force a system default value for simply adding the record. The SMS Address specification 6634 sets the value for field 6534. The Email address specification 6638 sets the value for field 6538. Associated User(s) specification 6624 corresponds to field 6524 and is automatically populated with all users that the owner of the device being added has provided an “Affinity Delegate” privilege to. The “Affinity Delegate” privilege allows another user to manage the device as if they owned (created) it. If no affinity relationship has been provided to other users, then the dropdown is disabled as shown with text of “None Configured to Associate”. Dropdown 6624 gets populated at block 6308 after affinity relationships are determined (discussed below). Various record 6500 embodiments may not need field 6524 since “Affinity Delegate” privilege assignments can be determined as needed. Fields 6502, 6546, 6548, and 6552 through 6562 are set automatically by add processing such as FIG. 64 (e.g. block 6408 insert command build).

[0616] FIG. 66B depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for successful completion of having added a Registry record 6500 to the web service. FIGS. 66A through 67C are analogous in processing the devices of the Registry Table as described by FIGS. 55 through 62 for processing users in the People/Users Table, in consideration of how records are managed (i.e. searched, viewed, modified, deleted, listed, paginated, etc). The flowcharts among FIGS. 55 through 62 shall be described below in context for Registry Table records 6500.

[0617] Other embodiments will provide a “dummy-proof” user interface for adding a record 6500 to web service 2102 for the device registration. A wizard or minimal user interaction interface can be used. In one preferred embodiment, a record 6500 is created at the time of creating records 2900 and 3000 for the user account, thereby eliminating user hassle in creating a separate device record. In another embodiment, record 6500 fields are provided as part of the user account record(s) 2900 and/or 3000 for associating a device with the account at the time of creating the account. There are various embodiments which can facilitate registration of devices in web service 2102 without departing from the essence of functionality provided by the record fields.

[0618] FIG. 55 depicts a flowchart for a preferred embodiment of processing for managing records of the web service. For this discussion, device information records 6500 are discussed as being managed, for example upon clicking Registry Manage option 4642. Records 6500 are searched and processed analogously to records 2900/3000 as discussed above, and discussion above for records 2900/3000 is relevant in the context of records 6500. Processing starts at block 5502 and continues to block 5504 where the ACCESS_LIST (as discussed above) is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5506 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5508 where the search form interface is built and presented to the user, for example the search interface of FIG. 66C. Thereafter, a user interfaces with the search interface at block 5510 until a search action is requested, for example by search button 6698. When the search action is requested by the user, block 5514 validates any applicable user specifications and block 5516 checks the results. If block 5514 determines the fields are valid (and can be submitted for processing), then block 5520 invokes search processing of FIG. 57, and current page processing terminates at block 5518. If block 5516 determines that not all fields specified are valid, then block 5522 provides an error to the user so that specification can continue back at block 5510 (e.g. pop-up). Any pending Filters Management component settings made by the user further filter records found by the search interface.

[0619] FIG. 66C depicts a preferred embodiment screenshot for searching for web service Registry records with a search criteria. By default, FIG. 66C finds all records in the database including as described by active filters from Filters Management component 2506. As soon as data is entered to a field of the FIG. 66C search form, or selects a value other than “Any”, the search result is narrowed accordingly. Search fields of FIG. 66C are easily identifiable to records 6500. All fields of record 6500 may be searchable, or any subset thereof, in alternative embodiments. Defaulted Date/Time Range specifications 6676 and 6678 may be disabled by block 5508 as the result of first querying the total count of records 6500 in the database for this user (or user type), and determining that there are less than a website installed search minimum. This limits the search criteria options since there are so few records that a search almost doesn't make sense. Any subset of fields can be defaulted this way, or all of the fields can be defaulted this way, based on a configured threshold of total records where a search indeed makes sense. If there were more than the website installed minimum for searching, then defaulted Date/Time Range specifications 6676 and 6678 would be available to the user for specification. Specification 6676 searches on field 6546 and specification 6678 searches on field 6548. Any field can be defaulted with a value for search and saved as data evidence for defaulting field(s) the next time the user is in the same interface at a future time. In this way, the user specifies search criteria, and that specification always defaults the interface according to the user's last specification for each field in the search interface. A Site Owner sees all records 6500 in the web service. Other users only see records 6500 they created by default. Owner field 6674 allows a Site Owner (will be disabled when a Site Owner encounters the interface of 66C if no “Affinity Delegate” privilege is explicitly defined (Site Owner needs no “Affinity Delegate” privileges since can see all users records anyway)) to specify the logon name of the user for seeing records 6500 as though he was logged in as that user. A Site Owner, or user granted with the “Affinity Delegate” privilege by another user, enters the logon name to field 6674 to match to LogonName field 3004 for returning the PersonID 3002 which will then override all processing for page display as though FIG. 39 processing from Access Control made that PersonID available to the including page and subsequent pages. In another embodiment, the specified owner field 6674 simply narrows the search results to records owned by that user by comparing the PersonID 3002 (of the same record 3000 Logon Name field 3004 entered to the field 6674) with the Owner field 6522 of searched records 6500. The registry affinity dropdown 6672 will contain a list of all logon names that have provided an “Affinity Delegate” privilege (discussed below) to the user who encounters FIG. 66C (a Site Owner can enter anything he wants to field 6674). Therefore, any user that has been granted the “Affinity Delegate” privilege from any other user can select the granting logon name from the dropdown 6672 to populate field 6674 for seeing records 6500 as though he was logged on as that user, or for narrowing the search to that user's records (depends on embodiment). Selecting (clicking) from the dropdown 6672 automatically populates field 6674. FIG. 66C shows what displays in dropdown 6672 when the user has no “Affinity Delegate” privileges granted by any other user. Block 5508 gathers assigned “Affinity Delegate” privileges to populate dropdown 6672, and block 5720 ensure an appropriate query is built.

[0620] Any, many or all fields can be defaulted with values, or disabled based on desired search criteria support, or associated numbers of records 6500 in the web service. The “Rcv indicators Only” dropdown, “Rcv Compressed Only” dropdown, etc provide the user with a selection for Any, Yes, or No for searching records 6500. Associated user dropdown 6680 provides being able to search those records 6500 which have associated users as defined by the “Affinity Delegate” privilege discussed below. Dropdowns 6672 and 6680 will reveal identical logon names with associated PersonIDs upon selection, but are maintained separately so that granulated “Affinity Delegate” privileges can be implemented. In one embodiment, there is a Registry “Affinity Delegate” privilege for searching records 6500 (dropdown 6672 and field 6674), a DCDB “Affinity Delegate” privilege for searching records 7000, and a specific “Affinity Delegate” privilege for searching certain types of other records. There can also be a specific User to User “Affinity Delegate” privilege for generally acting on behalf of another user (dropdown 6680). All search results can be sorted according to the “Order By” dropdown specifications which preferably include every column of record 6500.

[0621] FIGS. 57 and 58 depict flowcharts for a preferred embodiment of search processing of records of the web service. For this discussion, device information search criteria (e.g. from FIG. 66C) is discussed as being processed, for example upon clicking search button 6698. Records 6500 are searched and processed analogously to records 2900/3000 as discussed above, and discussion above for records 2900/3000 is relevant in the context of records 6500. Processing starts at block 5702 and continues to block 5704 where the ACCESS_LIST is set for authorized users. Thereafter, block 5706 performs FIG. 39 access control processing and continues to block 5708. Block 5708 builds the top of the page to return to the user, validates all fields specified in the search criteria interface (e.g. FIG. 66C) according to the record type (i.e. record 6500), and processing continues to block 5710. If all fields specified in the search criteria interface are valid, then processing continues to block 5712. If there is at least one invalid field specified, then block 5746 reports the error appropriately to the user interface, and processing terminates at block 5756.

[0622] Block 5712 sets a variable ROWSPERPG to rows per page data evidence as configured by records per page field 5086 of FIG. 50I. A defaulted number is used if the data evidence is not found. Then, block 5714 checks to see how this page processing was arrived to, for example, by pagination or directly from the search criteria interface. If block 5714 determines the processing page was arrived to directly as the result of invoking the search button 6698, then block 5718 accesses page filter data evidence for appending to a SQL Select WHERE clause. Thereafter, block 5720 builds any SQL ORDER BY clause if order by specifications were made, appends SQL WHERE clause criteria based on search criteria interface field specifications, appends any Filters management data evidence found to the SQL WHERE clause, and constructs a SQL query string suffix comprised of a completed WHERE clause and ORDER BY clause. The WHERE clause is also amended with the PersonID of the logged on user of FIG. 66C if the user type is not a Site Owner and no specification was made at field 6674. If a specification was made at field 6674, then the WHERE clause is amended with the associated PersonID which is preferably determined in block 5708 by querying the Users Table for the PersonID with the logon name and ensuring one that granted the “Affinity Delegate” privilege was returned at block 5710 (Site Owner does not require an “Affinity Delegate” privilege). WHERE clause conditions will use “LIKE” or “=” depending on the field type being searched. Thereafter, block 5722 completes building the SQL SELECT statement with the SQL query string suffix appended for all records 6500. List output variable ROWSTART is initialized to 1 and list output variable ROWLAST is set to ROWSPERPG. These variables enable proper pagination between pages of results, and are maintained as list pagination data evidence. Thereafter, block 5724 opens a DB connection, opens an active cursor using the SQL SELECT statement and determines the number of resulting rows produced by the query which is kept in a variable TOTALROWS. Thereafter, if block 5726 determines there are no resulting rows, then block 5728 reports the condition of no results to the user interface, closes an open DB connection, and processing terminates at block 5756.

[0623] If block 5726 determines there is at least one row in the results (i.e. TOTALROWS>=1), then block 5730 saves the SQL SELECT query as query data evidence, rows are fetched up to the variable ROWSTART, the list output header is built (e.g. 6682), no ORDER BY columns are added to the standard list output since none was selected, and a variable ROWSOUT is set to 0. Columns shown in FIG. 66D are already put out in the standard result list form. Thereafter, if block 5732 determines ROWSOUT>=ROWSPERPG, then no additional rows are iterated out from query results in which case block 5738 builds management controls 6686 through 6690, and pagination information 6692 is output. Thereafter, if block 5740 determines TOTALROWS>ROWSOUT, then processing continues to block 5748, otherwise processing continues to block 5742 where a DB connection is closed and onto block 5802 of FIG. 58 by way off page connector 58000.

[0624] If block 5748 determines ROWSTART=1, then processing continues to block 5752, otherwise block 5750 builds the user interface page with pagination control for first page pagination control and previous page pagination control. Thereafter, processing continues to block 5752. If block 5752 determines that ROWLAST>=TOTALROWS then processing continues to block 5802 by way of off page connector 58000, otherwise block 5754 builds the user interface page with pagination control for last page pagination control and next page pagination control. Thereafter, processing continues to block 5802.

[0625] If block 5732 determines ROWSOUT were not greater than or equal to ROWSPERPG, then block 5734 checks if all rows have been fetched for output processing. If block 5734 determines all rows have been fetched (processed), then processing continues to block 5738 already described. If block 5734 determines all rows have not been fetched (processed), then block 5736 manufactures a checkbox (e.g. checkbox 6694) for a row, associates record id data evidence (i.e. RegistryID), for example in a hidden field associated with the checkbox, builds the row output (e.g. a row 6696) for presenting all fields of the list header 6682, increments the ROWSOUT variable by 1, then fetches the next row using the open cursor. Thereafter, processing continues back to block 5732. Blocks 5732 through 5736 comprise a loop for output of rows satisfying search criteria. Processing continuing to block 5802 by way of off page connector 58000 also preferably builds and presents a “Back to Top” link at the page bottom in case the user has to scroll lots of information as dictated by ROWSPERPG.

[0626] If block 5714 determines the search processing page was arrived to by pagination (e.g. pagination controls analogously displayed such as those of controls 5922 through 5928), then block 5716 accesses the query data evidence, accesses the list pagination data evidence (ROWSTART and ROWLAST), then continues to block 5724 for issuing the query and performing subsequent processing.

[0627] The user interfaces with search results at block 5802 until an action is selected. FIG. 66D is an example of the search results interface upon the start of block 5802. When an action is selected, block 5806 checks if it was pagination to go to the first results page, for example clicking a pagination control (controls not shown since only 4 records). If block 5806 determines pagination to go to first page was selected, then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for first page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5806 determines the action was not for go to first page, then processing continues to block 5808. If block 5808 determines pagination to go to the previous page was selected (controls not shown since only 4 records), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for previous page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5808 determines the action was not for go to previous page, then processing continues to block 5810. If block 5810 determines pagination to go to the next page was selected (controls not shown since only 4 records), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for next page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5810 determines the action was not for go to next page, then processing continues to block 5812. If block 5812 determines pagination to go to the last page was selected (controls not shown since only 4 records), then FIG. 57 processing is invoked after properly setting ROWSTART and ROWLAST data evidence for last page results at block 5816, and current page processing terminates at block 5818. If block 5812 determines the action was not for go to last page, then processing continues to block 5814. If block 5814 determines a delete, view, or change action was invoked, then processing continues to block 5828, otherwise block 5824 handles the action appropriately and processing continues back to block 5802. Block 5824 handles actions associated with the interface depending on the device type that are not necessarily relevant for understanding this disclosure.