Method and apparatus for presenting auditory icons in a mobile terminal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing an audio user interface for a mobile terminal comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a plurality of messages from at least one message source, each message associated with at least one corresponding auditory icon, each message further associated with at least one corresponding visual icon;
(b) prioritizing the plurality of messages to identify at least one message based on at least one context value;
(c) presenting the auditory icon associated with the identified message; and
(d) representing, in a display of the mobile terminal, the visual icon corresponding to the identified message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for presenting one or more auditory icons are provided to deliver contextual information in a timely manner to the user without requiring the user to view the mobile terminal'"'"'s display. The auditory icons may correspond to visual icons that are provided on a display of the mobile terminal, for example, a navigational bar. The mobile terminal receives a plurality of messages from one or more message sources, prioritizes them according to one or more context values, and presents to the user auditory icons associated with the messages in accordance with any number of pre-set preferences set by the user.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of providing an audio user interface for a mobile terminal comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a plurality of messages from at least one message source, each message associated with at least one corresponding auditory icon, each message further associated with at least one corresponding visual icon; (b) prioritizing the plurality of messages to identify at least one message based on at least one context value; (c) presenting the auditory icon associated with the identified message; and (d) representing, in a display of the mobile terminal, the visual icon corresponding to the identified message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing an audio user interface for a mobile terminal comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a plurality of messages from at least one message source, each message associated with at least one corresponding auditory icon, wherein each message is further associated with at least one corresponding visual icon; (b) identifying at least one best match message based on at least one context value; (c) presenting the auditory icon associated with the identified message; and (d) representing, in a display of the mobile terminal, the visual icon corresponding to the identified message.
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16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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(a) prioritizing a plurality of received messages to identify at least one message based on at least one context value, the message being associated with an auditory icon and a visual icon; (b) presenting the auditory icon associated with the identified message; and (c) representing, in a display of a mobile terminal, the visual icon associated with the identified message.
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17. A method of providing a plurality of icons on a mobile terminal comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a plurality of messages from at least one external message source, each message associated with at least one associated auditory icon and at least one associated visual icon; (b) prioritizing the plurality of messages in order of match to at least one context value; (c) representing, in a display of the mobile terminal, the visual icons associated with the messages using a display format that visually prioritizes the visual icons according to match with the context value; and (d) presenting at least one auditory icon associated with one of the represented visual icons. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A mobile terminal comprising:
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(a) a display capable of displaying visual icons, each visual icon having an associated auditory icon; (b) a user input device that permits a user of the mobile terminal to select at least one of the visual icons displayed on the display; and (c) an auditory user interface for presenting the associated auditory icon when the visual icon has been selected; and (d) a processor programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the steps comprising; (i) prioritizing a plurality of messages based on at least one context value; and (ii) displaying visual icons associated with each of the messages in order of priority as determined by the prioritizing step. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A mobile device comprising in combination:
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(a) a display comprising a plurality of user-selectable icons arranged in an order determined by a degree of matching between information corresponding to respective ones of the first plurality of visual icons and at least one context value; and (b) a sound generator providing an audio icon associated with the plurality of user-selectable visual icons, wherein the sound generator provides the audio icons associated with each of the plurality of user-selectable visual icons in order of priority. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A mobile terminal comprising:
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(a) a display capable of displaying visual icons, each visual icon having an associated auditory icon; (b) a means for allowing a user to provide a context for use in determining priority of the visual icons; (c) a means for displaying visual icons so as to vary the size of the icon in relationship to the priority of the visual icon; (d) a user input device that permits a user of the mobile terminal to select at least one of the visual icons displayed on the display; and (e) means for presenting the associated auditory icon when the visual icon has been selected.
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Specification