Method, system and apparatus using a sensory cue to indicate subsequent action characteristics for data communications
First Claim
1. A method for indicating characteristics of a subsequent action, the method implemented in a communications device having processing resources and an operating system object including a user interface element for selection of the subsequent action, the method comprising:
- prior to a user beginning the subsequent action, the communications device processing resources providing a sensory cue corresponding to a set of subsequent action characteristics when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device using compact mark-up language (CML), the set of subsequent action characteristics relate to the wireless data communications;
the subsequent action characteristics comprise a link type, transmission mode, security measure attributes, maximum message size, cost of a subsequent action, or speed of a network;
the sensory cue informing the user of the corresponding set of subsequent action characteristics, and the sensory cue comprises an image that is embedded into the user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and is removed when the subsequent action does not include wireless data communications performed by the communications device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications device provides a user with a sensory cue that informs the user of certain characteristics of a subsequent action that includes data communications. By informing the user of the data communication characteristics before the user initiates the data communication action, the invention appropriately sets user expectations regarding the data communication characteristics. For example, one embodiment of the invention is implemented in a portable communications device with a screen. For subsequent actions that include wireless communications, the portable communications device simultaneously displays a wireless link icon sensory cue next to a user interface graphic element. The user interface element is used to initiate the subsequent action. The user interface element can be an operating system object having an embedded link type icon. The wireless link icon informs the user that the subsequent action corresponding to the user interface element requires wireless communication and the expense and time associated therewith. A method, a system and an apparatus for indicating characteristics of a subsequent action to a user before the user begins the subsequent action are provided.
128 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for indicating characteristics of a subsequent action, the method implemented in a communications device having processing resources and an operating system object including a user interface element for selection of the subsequent action, the method comprising:
- prior to a user beginning the subsequent action, the communications device processing resources providing a sensory cue corresponding to a set of subsequent action characteristics when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device using compact mark-up language (CML), the set of subsequent action characteristics relate to the wireless data communications;
the subsequent action characteristics comprise a link type, transmission mode, security measure attributes, maximum message size, cost of a subsequent action, or speed of a network;
the sensory cue informing the user of the corresponding set of subsequent action characteristics, and the sensory cue comprises an image that is embedded into the user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and is removed when the subsequent action does not include wireless data communications performed by the communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- prior to a user beginning the subsequent action, the communications device processing resources providing a sensory cue corresponding to a set of subsequent action characteristics when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device using compact mark-up language (CML), the set of subsequent action characteristics relate to the wireless data communications;
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26. A communications device including a client and an operating system object including a user interface element for user selection of a subsequent action, the client comprising:
- processing resources adapted to initiate the subsequent action, the subsequent action having characteristics, the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the client using compact mark-up language (CML); and
processing resources adapted to indicate to a user, prior to the user initiating the subsequent action, the subsequent action characteristics, the subsequent action characteristics comprising a link type, transmission mode, security measure attributes, maximum message size, cost of a subsequent action, or speed of a network, the indicating processing resources provide a sensory cue to the user corresponding to a set of subsequent action characteristics when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications, the sensory cue informs the user of the subsequent action characteristics, and the sensory cue comprises an image and is embedded into the user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and is removed when the subsequent action does not include wireless data communications performed by the communications device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- processing resources adapted to initiate the subsequent action, the subsequent action having characteristics, the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the client using compact mark-up language (CML); and
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35. A communications system comprising:
- a source of data;
a communications device including a client and an operating system object including a user interface element for user selection of a subsequent action, the client including;
processing resources adapted to initiate the subsequent action, the subsequent action having characteristics, the subsequent action including wireless data communications performed by the client using compact mark-up language (CML); and
processing resources adapted to indicate to a user, prior to the user beginning the subsequent action, the subsequent action characteristics, the subsequent action characteristics comprising a link type, transmission mode, security measure attributes, maximum message size, cost of a subsequent action, or speed of a network, the processing resources adapted to indicate by providing a sensory cue to the user corresponding to a set of subsequent action characteristics when the subsequent action includes wireless data communication, wherein the sensory cue comprises an image and is embedded into the user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and is removed when the subsequent action does not include wireless data communications performed by the communications device; and
a server, in communication with the source of data and the client. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
- a source of data;
Specification