Method and apparatus for accessing a common database from a mobile device and a computing device

Abstract

A method for accessing data contained in a data network using a mobile device or a different computing device. Common data may be accessed by both the mobile device and the computing device, with the mobile device communicating over a wireless data network and the computing device communicating over a data network such as the Internet, a private network or a network of public and private networks. A different format may be used to process and display the data on each of the two devices, with the data being converted as necessary for display on the devices. The data may be updated by the computing device and then made available to the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for accessing data contained in a data network system, comprising:
 receiving a request from a mobile device through a wireless data network to access the data, the data being associated with an account for the mobile device and the mobile device having a display screen, wherein the data is accessible by a computing device remotely located and coupled to a data network selected from a group consisting of the Internet, a private network and a network of public and private networks; 
 retrieving the data after the request is authenticated with respect to the account; and 
 forwarding the data to the mobile device in a first format displayable on the display screen of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting the computing device for credential information when the computing device attempts to access the data; and 
 providing access to the data in a second format after the credential information is verified. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 updating the data upon receiving updated information from the computing device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first format is used to display the data on the mobile device and the second format is used to display the data on the computing device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first format is a first markup language and the second format is a second markup language. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data comprises a plurality of hyperlinks, and further, wherein the retrieving further comprises:
 contacting a resource identified by the one of the hyperlinks over the data network; 
 fetching the data in a second format from the resource; and 
 converting the fetched data to the first format. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first format is a first markup and the second format is a second markup language. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data comprises data for configuring or reconfiguring a feature of the mobile device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a wireless telephone. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device includes a processor, and further, wherein the processor controls a telephony function. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes an update to the data and causes the data to be updated. 
     
     
       12. A method for accessing data contained in a data network system, comprising:
 receiving a request from a mobile device through a wireless data network to access the data, the data being associated with an account for the mobile device, the account being provisioned after the mobile device has been authenticated in accordance with a first authentication process between the mobile device and a server system that hosts the account, and the mobile device having a display screen, wherein the data is accessible by a computing device remotely located and coupled to a data network selected from a group consisting of the Internet, a private network and a network of public and private networks;   retrieving the data after the request is authenticated with respect to the account in accordance with a second authentication process different from the first authentication process; and   forwarding the data to the mobile device in a first format displayable on the display screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
       13. A communications apparatus for accessing data contained in a data network system, the communications apparatus comprising:
 a server system, including at least one processor, configured for receiving a request from a wireless-communication user device through a wireless data network to access the data, the data being associated with an account for the wireless-communication user device, the account being provisioned after the wireless-communication user device has been authenticated in accordance with a first authentication process between the wireless-communication user device and the server system, and the wireless-communication device having a display screen, wherein the data is accessible by a computing device remotely located and coupled to a data network selected from a group consisting of the Internet, a private network and a network of public and private networks;   wherein the server system is configured to forward the data to the wireless-communication user device, in response to the data being retrieved after the request is authenticated in accordance with a second authentication process, in a first format displayable on the display screen of the wireless-communication user device, wherein the second authentication process is different from said first authentication process.   
     
     
       14. A communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first authentication process utilises an identifier associated with the wireless-communication user device. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first authentication process utilises an identifier associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
       16. A communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second authentication process utilises a username and password associated with a user of the remotely located computing device. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the second authentication process utilises a username and password associated with a user of the remotely located computing device. 
     
     
       18. A method for accessing data contained in a data network system, comprising:
 receiving a request from a mobile device through a wireless data network to access the data, the data being associated with an account for the mobile device, the account being provisioned after an authenticated session is established between the mobile device and a server system that hosts the account to form a provisioned account, and the mobile device having a display screen, wherein the data is accessible by a computing device remotely located and coupled to a data network selected from a group consisting of the Internet, a private network and a network of public and private networks;   retrieving the data after the request is authenticated with respect to the provisioned account; and   forwarding the data to the mobile device in a first format displayable on the display screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
       19. A communications apparatus for accessing data contained in a data network system, the communications apparatus comprising:
 one or more servers, including at least one processor, configured for receiving a request from a wireless-communication user device through a wireless data network to access the data, the data being associated with an account for the wireless-communication user device, the account being provisioned after the wireless-communication user device has been authenticated by the one or more servers in accordance with a first authentication process between the wireless-communication user device and the one or more servers, and the wireless-communication device having a display screen, wherein the data is accessible by a computing device remotely located and coupled to a data network selected from a group consisting of the Internet, a private network and a network of public and private networks;   wherein the one or more servers is configured to forward the data to the wireless-communication user device, in response to the data being retrieved after the request is authenticated by the one or more servers in accordance with a second authentication process, in a first format displayable on the display screen of the wireless-communication user device, wherein the second authentication process is different from said first authentication process.   
     
     
       20. A communications apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first authentication process conducted by the one or more servers utilises an identifier associated with the wireless-communication user device. 
     
     
       21. A communications apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second authentication process conducted by the one or more servers utilises a username and password associated with a user of the remotely located computing device.