Web browser of wireless device having serialization manager for maintaining registry of converters that convert data into format compatible with user interface of the device

Abstract

An information browser system and method enables sending of information requests to remote information sources and receiving of requested information from the remote sources on a wireless communication device. Information in any of a plurality of formats, including WML, HTML and WMLScript, is converted into a format in which the information can be displayed or otherwise further processed by the device. Information browsing functions may also be integrated with other communication functions on a mobile communication device.

1. A web browser for a wireless communication device, the web browser comprising:
 a page cache resident on the wireless communication device, the page cache containing a plurality of pages comprising content rendered in a plurality of formats;  
 a plurality of first converters resident on the wireless communication device, the plurality of first converters configured to create a plurality of first renderes, the plurality of first renderers operatively connected to the page cache to add the pages comprising rendered content to the page cache, the plurality of first renderers for rendering the plurality of pages from information received in response to a plurality of requests for the content for display by the web browser in a format compatible with a user interface implemented in the wireless communication device;  
 a renderer controller resident on the wireless communication device, the renderer controller configured to examine, in response to each of the plurality of requests, a resultant content type and to determine at least one second converter configured to create at least one second renderer required to render one of the plurality of pages for display by the web browser in the format compatible with the user interface implemented in the wireless communication device; and  
 a serialization manager resident on the wireless communication device, the serialization manager configured to maintain a registry of converters registered with the serialization manager, to register the plurality of first converters resident on the wireless communication device in the registry of converters, and to determine whether each of the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is resident on the wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       2. The web browser of  claim 1 , wherein the serialization manager is further configured to determine whether the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is non-resident on the wireless communication device, and to requests the at least one second converter over a wireless network and to download and install the at least one second converter on the wireless communication device if it is determined that the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is non-resident on the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       3. The web browser of  claim 2 , wherein the serialization manager is further configured to register at least one third converter as a first converter in the registry of converters, the at least one third converter being non-resident on the wireless communication device and requestable for download and installation to the wireless communication device in response to a receipt of information of a content type associated with the at least one third converter at the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       4. The web browser of  claim 1 , the web browser having a plurality of communications interfaces configured for communications via a plurality of communication protocols, the communication protocols including Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). 
     
     
       5. The web browser of  claim 4 , wherein pages obtained via HTTP are in a filtered format generated by a WML filter. 
     
     
       6. The web browser of  claim 4 , wherein pages obtained via HTTP are in a filtered format generated by an HTML filter. 
     
     
       7. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for implementing a web browser for a wireless communication device, the web browser comprising:
 a page cache resident on the wireless communication device, the page cache containing a plurality of pages comprising content rendered in a plurality of formats;  
 a plurality of first converters resident on the wireless communication device, the plurality of first converters configured to create a plurality of first renderers, the plurality of first renderers operatively connected to the page cache to add the pages comprising rendered content to the page cache, the plurality of first renderers for rendering the plurality of pages from information received in response to a plurality of requests for the content for display by the web browser in a format compatible with a user interface implemented in the wireless communication device;  
 a renderer controller resident on the wireless communication device, the renderer controller configured to examine, in response to each of the plurality of requests, a resultant content type and to determine at least one second converter configured to create at least one second renderer required to render one of the plurality of pages for display by the web browser in the format compatible with the user interface implemented in the wireless communication device; and  
 a serialization manager resident on the wireless communication device, the serialization manager configured to maintain a registry of converters registered with the serialization manager, to register the plurality of first converters resident on the wireless communication device in the registry of converters, and to determine whether each of the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is resident on the wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       8. A method for rendering a page on a wireless communication device using a web browser comprising the steps of:
 maintaining a registry of converters registered with a serialization manager;  
 registering a plurality of first converters resident on the wireless communication device in the registry of converters, the plurality of first converters configured to create a plurality of first renderers for rendering the plurality of pages from information received in response to a plurality of requests for the content for display by the web browser in a format compatible with a user interface implemented in the wireless communication device;  
 receiving information in response to a requests for content over a wireless network;  
 in response to the requests, examining a resultant content type and determining at least one second converter configured to create at least one second renderer required to render the page for display by the web browser in the format compatible with the user interface implemented in the wireless communication device;  
 determining whether the second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is resident on the wireless communication device;  
 if the at least one second converter is determined to be registered in the registry of converters and is resident on the wireless communication device, then rendering the page for display by the web browser in the format compatible with the user interface implemented in the wireless communication device; and  
 storing the rendered page in a page cache.  
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of selecting a further comprising:
 determining whether the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is non-resident on the wireless communication device; and if it is determined that the at least one second converter is a first converter registered in the registry of converters and is non-resident on the wireless communication device, then requesting the at least one second converter over a wireless network, and downloading and installing the at least one second converter on the wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising registering at least one third converter as a first converter in the registry of converters, the at least one third converter being non-resident on the wireless communication device; and downloading and installing the at least one third converter to the wireless communication device in response to a receipt of information of a content type associated with the at least one third converter at the wireless communication device.