Method, system and apparatus using a sensory cue to indicate subsequent action characteristics for data communications

• US 8,001,485 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Marianetti, Ronald II, Lincke, Scott D., Sipher, Joseph K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Ba
• Application Number:
  US12/142,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20080282162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 715/805, 715/837, 715/711, 715772-774, 715/822
• US Class Current: 715/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/045 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply hybrid encryption, i.e. combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 : Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

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.

Claims

1. A communications device, comprising:

a processor; and

processing resources operative by the processor to initiate a subsequent action having characteristics including wireless data communications performed by a client; and

processing resources operative by the processor to indicate to a user using a sensory cue the subsequent action characteristics prior to the user initiating the subsequent action, the sensory cue comprising an image, said sensory cue embedded into a user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and removed when the subsequent action does not include wireless data communications performed by the communications device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the client transmits data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the subsequent action.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the client transmits data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the user interface element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensory cue is adapted for perception by the user.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the subsequent action characteristics correspond to factors enabling the user to determine whether to initiate the subsequent action.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one sensory cue is provided for at least one subsequent action, each sensory cue corresponding to characteristics of the data communication including characteristics of a communication path used for the data communication, each sensory cue informs the user of the corresponding data communication characteristics.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a screen, and the image is displayed on the screen.

8. 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 having characteristics including wireless data communications performed by the client;

processing resources adapted to indicate by providing a sensory cue to a user the subsequent action characteristics prior to the user beginning the subsequent action when the subsequent action includes wireless data communication, wherein the sensory cue comprises an image, said sensory cue embedded into the user interface element when the subsequent action includes wireless data communications performed by the communications device and 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.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the client transmits data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the subsequent action.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the client transmits data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the user interface element.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensory cue is adapted for perception by the user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the subsequent action characteristics correspond to factors enabling the user to determine whether to initiate the subsequent action.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one sensory cue is provided for at least one subsequent action, each sensory cue corresponding to characteristics of the data communication including characteristics of a communication path used for the data communication, each sensory cue informs the user of the corresponding data communication characteristics.

14. A method, comprising:

embedding a sensory cue into a user interface element displayed on a screen of a communications device when a subsequent action includes performing wireless data communications by the communications device; and

removing the sensory cue from the user interface element when the subsequent action does not include performing wireless data communications by the communications device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensory cue comprises an icon.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising transmitting data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the subsequent action.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising transmitting data from the communications device responsive to a user selection of the user interface element.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising adapting a sensory cue for perception by the user.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein subsequent action characteristics for the subsequent action correspond to factors enabling the user to determine whether to initiate the subsequent action.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising providing at least one sensory cue for at least one subsequent action, each sensory cue corresponding to characteristics of the data communication including characteristics of a communication path used for the data communication, each sensory cue informs the user of the corresponding data communication characteristics.