The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 23, 2008
Deborah H. Bandera, Austin, TX (US);
Sara C. Brumfield, Austin, TX (US);
James T. Ray, Austin, TX (US);
Debora M. Yang, Austin, TX (US);
Deborah H. Bandera, Austin, TX (US);
Sara C. Brumfield, Austin, TX (US);
James T. Ray, Austin, TX (US);
Debora M. Yang, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Embodiments that indicate usage information of services for wireless communication devices via ambient elements are disclosed. Some embodiments determine usage of a service for a wireless communication device and manipulate one or more ambient elements to indicate the usage to a user of the device. Various embodiments may determine usage by measuring a quantity of data transferred or measuring a number of voice minutes consumed according to a rate plan. Changing ambient elements may comprise activating vibration modules or changing colors of screen elements, or changing screen brightness of the devices, as examples. Examples of wireless communication devices are cell phones, smartphones, satellite phones, and other types of mobile communication devices that use wireless communication services.