METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS USING A SENSORY CUE TO INDICATE SUBSEQUENT ACTION CHARACTERISTICS FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

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 (100) with a screen (1700). For subsequent actions that includes wireless communications, the portable communications device simultaneously displays a wireless link sensory icon (1610) next to a user interface element. The user interface (1710) icon is used to initiate the subsequent action. The user interface element (1710) can be an operating system object having an embedded link type icon. The wireless link icon (1610) 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.