Systems and methods for saving internet content into a handheld internet appliance

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring Internet content displayed on a web site in a handheld Internet appliance to a local database in the handheld Internet appliance are provided. The systems and methods of the present invention consist of a software solution that enables users of handheld Internet appliances to automatically transfer information displayed on web sites to local databases associated with handheld Internet appliance applications. A user interface is provided in the web sites for enabling users to automatically transfer the information displayed on the web sites into the handheld Internet appliance.

1 . A method for automatically transferring information from a web site displayed on a handheld Internet appliance into a local database in the handheld Internet appliance, the method comprising: 
 inserting an application program interface in the web site for determining the information to be transferred;    inserting a user interface in the web site for selecting a plurality of options for transferring the information from the first web site into the handheld Internet appliance; and    providing a software plug-in to automatically transfer the information from the web site into the local database in the handheld Internet appliance, the transfer performing all necessary format conversions and taking place independent from a synchronization operation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld Internet appliance comprises a wirelessly-enabled personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the handheld Internet appliance further comprises a plurality of local applications, the plurality of local applications comprising: 
 an address book application;    a calendar application;    an e-mail application;    a memo pad application;    a to-do list application;    a web browser application;    a word processing application; and    a spreadsheet application.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local database stores a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with a local application in the handheld Internet appliance.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the user interface in the web site comprises inserting a button in the web site, the button comprising a menu displaying menu options for transferring the information from the web site into the handheld Internet appliance.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the software plug-in comprises software routines for: retrieving the information from the first web site to be saved in the handheld Internet appliance; formatting the information to be saved according to the local database to which the information is going to be transferred; loading the formatted information into the local database in the handheld Internet appliance; and replacing parameters associated with the information on the second web site's URL.  
   
   
       11 . A system for automatically transferring information from a web site displayed on a handheld Internet appliance into a local database in the handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising: 
 an application program interface inserted in the web site for determining the information to be transferred into the handheld Internet appliance;    a user interface inserted in the web site for selecting a plurality of options for transferring the information from the web site into the handheld Internet appliance; and    a software plug-in to automatically transfer the information from the web site into the local database in the handheld Internet appliance, the software plug-in performing all necessary data translations and being invoked in response to a single actuation by the user.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the handheld Internet appliance comprises a wirelessly-enabled personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the handheld Internet appliance further comprises a plurality of local applications, the plurality of local applications comprising: an address book application; a calendar application; an e-mail application; a memo pad application; a to-do list application; a web browser application; a word processing application; and a spreadsheet application.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the local database stores a plurality of data records representing information entered by the user when interacting with a local application in the handheld Internet appliance.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1   1 , wherein inserting the user interface in the web site comprises inserting a button in the web site, the button comprising a menu displaying menu options for transferring the information from the web site into the handheld Internet appliance.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the local application comprises the address book application and the option for saving the information from the web site comprises saving an address from the web site into the address book application.  
   
   
       18 . The system of claim  16 , wherein the plurality of options for launching a second web comprises: launching a second web site to map an address displayed on the first web site; launching a second web site to find driving directions to the address displayed on the first web site; and launching a second web site to find commercial locations nearest to the address displayed on the first web site.  
   
   
       19 . A handheld Internet appliance comprising a plurality of software components for transferring information from a web site into a local database in the handheld Internet appliance, the software components comprising: 
 an application program interface inserted in the web site for determining the information to be transferred;    a user interface inserted in the web site for selecting a plurality of options for transferring the information from the web site into the handheld Internet appliance; and    a software plug-in to automatically transfer the information from the web site into the local database in the handheld Internet appliance independent of a synchronization application and in response to a single or no actuation by a user.    
   
   
       20 . The handheld Internet appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the software plug-in comprises software routines for: retrieving the information from the already open web site to be saved in the handheld Internet appliance; formatting the information to be saved according to the local database to which the information is going to be transferred; loading the formatted information into the local database in the handheld Internet appliance; replacing parameters associated with the information on the second web site's URL; automatically launching a second local application from an already open local application in the handheld Internet appliance; automatically launching a web site from the already open local application; and automatically filling on-line forms of a web site with a data record stored in the local database in the handheld Internet appliance.