User Interface Systems And Methods For Input And Display Of Secure And Insecure Message Oriented Communications

• US 20120159323A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Integrity, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Protected Mobility LLC
• Inventors: Marlow, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Given the rise in popularity of communicating personal, private, sensitive, or vital peer-to-peer or peer-to-group information over potentially insecure text messaging infrastructure, it would be highly desirable to provide a solution that would enable the initiator and/or the consumer of these communiqués to determine the state of the privacy associated with the messages. The non-limiting technology herein provides systems and methods for enabling a consumer to graphically, linguistically, verbally, or programmatically, determine the privacy and security state of a communiqué and/or the privacy/security association with the at least one plurality of peers. Methods and systems provided by a computer application can enable a consumer to input message oriented data that will be subsequently communicated to at least one of a plurality of peers. Upon reception of the data, systems and methods are also describe to display the message oriented communiqué to the at least one peer consumer or other user.

Claims

1. A user interface method for enabling a user to interact with a device having a processor, memory coupled to the processor and at least one input/output device coupled to the processor, the input/output device comprising at least a display and at least one mechanism that allows the user to input selections, the method comprising:

receiving messages from remote sources;

displaying said messages on said display in an ordered sequence;

providing, in association with each of said displayed messages, an indication as to whether the message is secure or insecure,

wherein the providing enables the user to determine before opening the message whether a received message is secure or insecure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said indication comprises a visual display displayed on the display.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the indication comprises a secure icon.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises displayed text displayed on the display.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises an audible signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is associated with the processor automatically enabling or disabling additional functionality associated with processing the indicated message.

7. A user system for receiving messages from at least one network and processing said messages for presentation to a user, the system comprising:

a processor;

a presentation device operatively coupled to the processor;

a communications adapter operatively coupled to the processor, the communications adapter in use receiving messages from at least one network;

a non-transitory memory device operatively coupled to the processor, said memory device storing instructions that the processor executes to present, on the presentation device operatively coupled to the processor, a notification that a message has been received by the device, the notification enabling the user to ascertain whether the received message is secure or not without having to open and read the message.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said notification comprises a visual notification and the presentation device comprises at least one display.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the notification comprises an audible notification and the presentation device comprises at least one audio transducer.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the notification comprises a tactile notification and the presentation device comprises at least one transducer that generates tactile sensations.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the notification comprises a secure icon.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the notification comprises displayed text.

13. A method of using a handheld device comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, at least one display coupled to the processor and at least one input device coupled to the processor, the method comprising:

controlling the processor to generate and display, on the display, a message composition input presentation screen that allows the user to input and read a message for transmission;

further displaying, on the composition input presentation screen, an indication as to whether the message being composed is secure or insecure;

receiving, from the at least one input device, a toggle instruction indicating that a user wishes to change the secure/insecure status of the message being composed;

in response to receipt of the toggle instruction, altering the indication based on a user-expressed preference; and

also based on the user-expressed preference, processing the composed message as secure or insecure.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the indication comprises an icon.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the indication comprises an audible signal.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the indication comprises displayed text.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the message comprises an SMS message, and the processing comprises encrypting.

18. The method of claim 13 further including providing an indication on the display that a received message is secure or insecure that the user can understand without having to open the received message.