Thin client

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for obtaining information on a mobile computing environment utilizing a distributed communication network. A pattern template is generated. This pattern template is stored on a thin client computer. A query is then created on the thin client computer based in part on user input. A network is queried for information utilizing a distributed communication network. A response is then received to the query from the distributed communication network. This response is processed utilizing an application tool on the thin client computer. The response is filtered by the application tool based on the pattern template. Information is then displayed to a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping address information (e.g. locations denoted by name or address, street addresses, landmarks, etc.) off of disparate sources and onto new or existing maps, are disclosed. A mapping component (e.g. a standalone application, a web-browser plug-in, an ActiveX control, a DLL, a COM object, a web object, a part of a an application displaying and/or generating maps, etc.) running on an electronic device (e.g. personal computer, workstation, thin client, PDA, cellular phone, GPS device, etc.) may receive input of address information and relay the received input to a mapping application (e.g. an online mapping service such as Google Maps®, Yahoo! Maps®, Windows Live Search Maps®, MapQuest®, etc.; or a mapping application running locally on a PDA, cell phone, etc.) for plotting on a common map, displayed by a map-display application (e.g. a browser, a web user agent, etc.). A mapping component may have a permanent visibility to the user (e.g. by being a top-most application in a windowed environment, by being present in a portion of the user's desktop that is commonly unobstructed by other applications such as the system tray, by being a widget, by being a control on a browser toolbar, etc.) A mapping component may be a module of a display application. A mapping component may receive user input directly, for example by typing; and/or via the clipboard, for example via a drag-and-drop or copy/paste operation or a pre-determined key combination; and/or via the use of context menus; and/or by any other means supported by the electronic device. A mapping component may aggregate multiple received address information prior to relaying the aggregated address information to a mapping application and/or a map-display application. A mapping component may parse, or otherwise process the location data prior to relaying the location data to a mapping application and/or a map-display application. The user may select an existing map for receiving the input; or, the optimal map for displaying the address information may be selected automatically; or, a mapping service may associate the user with stored maps and select the optimal map for receiving the address information.

Abstract: A system is provided for delivering Internet and digital content to a variety of thin client devices. A web portal for accessing and selecting content is used in conjunction with graphical user interfaces on a personal computer for setting up and controlling the content channels. The user interfaces, scheduling, and communication management are controlled by a system control software application running on a local server with an Internet connection. A high speed local area network provides for streaming content from the Internet or local server to thin client devices. A digital audio playback device is connected to the local server via the local area network connection and decodes streamed audio files, and converts them into analog audio signals for input into a conventional stereo. Digital content is streamed automatically from the local server to another Internet playback device, based on end user content preferences and schedule selections.

Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page. After the user has reviewed the email message, the user can send the email message, causing the browser to submit another request to the host mail server that contains both the email message and the audio or video data. Upon receiving this second request, the host mail server converts the email message and the audio or video data to a MIME message and forwards the MIME message to the intended recipient.