We claim:
1. A method for alerting a user of a device that includes a user interface, comprising:
detecting an alert in response to a trigger;
identifying the alert that is associated with the trigger;
activating an alert mode operating state in response to a selected alert;
mapping a context of the user interface to another context that is associated with the selected alert when the alert mode operating state is active; and
notifying the user of the selected alert through the user interface when the alert mode operating state is active.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the alert in response to the trigger corresponds to at least one of: detecting an interrupt request on the device, detecting a service request from an application program on the device, and detecting a received broadcast transmission that is received by the device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger corresponds to at least one of a time based trigger, an event based trigger, and a peer-to-peer based trigger.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger corresponds to a time based trigger that is associated with at least one of a scheduler function, a calendar function, an appointment function, an alarm clock function, a chronograph function, and a countdown timer function.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger corresponds to an event based trigger that is associated with at least one of a low battery warning, a stolen device warning, a registration warning, and a message notification.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prioritizing the identified alert, and selecting the identified alert as the selected alert when the priority of the identified alert satisfies a priority rule.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the priority rule is arranged to manage identified alerts according to a hierarchy based on at least one of: an assigned priority level that is associated with the identified alert and a time of occurrence that is associated with the identified alert.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein a low battery alert has a higher priority than a message alert.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: persisting in the alert mode operating state until the selected alert is dismissed.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: dismissing the selected alert in response to a timeout condition that is associated with the selected alert.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the timeout condition is associated with at least one of: the expiration of a scheduled appointment, the expiration of a scheduled alarm, the expiration of a countdown timer, and the expiration of a specified time.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: dismissing the selected alert in response to a selector from the user interface.
13. The method of claim 9,.wherein notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to activating a visual cue with the user interface, wherein the visual cue includes at least one field that is dynamically updated while the alert mode persists.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: returning to an initial operating state when the selected alert is dismissed.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of: a display screen, a speaker-type device, an LED-type device, and a vibrating-type device.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to activating a cue on the user interface, wherein the cue corresponds to at least one of: a visual cue, an audible cue, and a vibrating cue.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the activated cue is associated with at least one of: the selected alert, a type that is associated with the selected alert, and a status that is associated with the selected alert.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to activating a visual cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the visual cue corresponds to at least one of: a graphical display screen, an animation sequence, a flashing screen, a pop-up display, a screen overlay, a colored screen, a colored pattern for a display screen, a colored LED, a blinking LED, a blinking sequence for an LED, and a colored blinking sequence for a colored LED.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to activating an audible cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the audible cue corresponds to at least one of: a single tone, a sequence of tones, multiple tones, a sequence of multiple tones, a compressed audio file playback, an uncompressed audio file playback, a MIDI file playback, and a synthesized sound playback.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to activating a vibrating cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the vibrating cue corresponds to at least one of: a single vibration, a repeating vibration, a sequence of vibrations, and a pattern of vibrations that form a rhythm.
21. The method of claim 1, further comprising: activating a transition sequence after a predetermined time interval expires while the alert mode operating state is active.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the transition sequence comprises at least one of: a horizontal screen wipe, a vertical screen wipe, a fade effect, a half-tone effect, a flash-fade effect, a flashing effect, and a cross-dissolve effect.
23. The method of claim 9, further comprising: returning to an initial screen after the selected alert is dismissed, and updating a status indicator of a display in the user interface after the selected alert is dismissed, wherein the status indicator is related to the selected alert.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the status indicator dynamically changes.
25. An apparatus, comprising:
a user interface that includes a display screen and a selector; and
a means for detecting an alert in response to a trigger;
a means for identifying the alert that is associated with the trigger;
a means for activating an alert mode operating state in response to a selected alert;
a means for mapping a context of the user interface to another context that is associated with the selected alert when the alert mode operating state is active; and
a means for notifying the user of the selected alert through the user interface when the alert mode operating state is active.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for prioritizing the identified alert, and a means for selecting the identified alert as the selected alert when the priority of the identified alert satisfies a priority rule.
27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to a means for activating a visual cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the visual cue corresponds to at least one of: a graphical display screen, an animation sequence, a flashing screen, a pop-up display, a screen overlay, a colored screen, a colored pattern for a display screen, a colored LED, a blinking LED, a blinking sequence for an LED, and a colored blinking sequence for a colored LED.
28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to a means for activating an audible cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the audible cue corresponds to at least one of: a single tone, a sequence of tones, multiple tones, a sequence of multiple tones, a compressed audio file playback, an uncompressed audio file playback, a MIDI file playback, and a synthesized sound playback.
29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for notifying the user of the selected alert corresponds to a means for activating a vibrating cue that is associated with the selected alert, wherein the vibrating cue corresponds to at least one of: a single vibration, a repeating vibration, a sequence of vibrations, and a pattern of vibrations that form a rhythm.
30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for dynamically updating the display screen when the alert mode operating state is active such that content associated with the display screen is updated according to a time interval.
31. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for dynamically changing a status indicator region of the display screen, wherein the status indicator region is includes information that is associated with an identified alert.
32. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for transitioning the display screen from an alert screen to an initial screen when the alert mode operating state is active over a predetermined timeout interval.
33. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for alternating between views on the display screen when the alert mode operating state is active.
34. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for transitioning between views on the display screen after the selected alert is dismissed.
35. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for transitioning a header region of the display screen after the selected alert is dismissed, wherein the header region includes an indicator that is associated with the selected alert.
36. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for prioritizing identified alert, and a means for selecting the identified alert as the selected alert when the priority of the identified alert satisfies a priority rule.
37. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a means for dismissing the selected alert in response to at least one of: a timeout and the activation of the selector in the user interface.
38. An apparatus, comprising:
a user interface that includes a display and a selector; and
an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the user interface and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to:
detect an alert in response to a trigger;
identify the alert that is associated with the trigger;
activate an alert mode operating state in response to a selected alert;
map a context of the user interface to another context that is associated with the selected alert;
notify the user of the selected alert through the user interface when the alert mode operating state is active.
39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the user interface includes a vibrating means, and wherein the electronic system is arranged to notify the user of the selected alert by activating the vibrating means when the alert mode operating state is active.
40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the user interface includes a sound means, and wherein the electronic system is arranged to notify the user of the selected alert by activating the sound means when the alert mode operating state is active.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A server device comprising:
a communications section which sends and receives predetermined information to and from at least one customer terminal and at least one sales-staff terminal which are connected with each other through a communications network;
a product-information sender which sends predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal through said communications section;
a contact-information receiver which receives contact information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent by said product-information sender, through said communications section;
an information acquirer which acquires information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal, in accordance with the contact information received by said contact-information receiver; and
a sales-information sender which sends the information acquired by said information acquirer and the contact information received by said contact-information receiver, to the at least one sales-staff terminal through said communications section.
2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein:
said product-information sender sends a Web page including predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal; and
said sales-information sender sends an e-mail including the information acquired by said information acquirer and the contact information received by the contact-information receiver, to the at least one sales-staff terminal.
3. The server device according to claim 1, further including:
a customer-information storage section which stores information regarding at least one registered customer, in advance; and
a staff-information storage section which stores information regarding at least one sales staff in association with the information stored in said customer-information storage section, and
wherein said information acquirer acquires information regarding the customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal from said customer-information storage section, and acquires also the information regarding a sales staff corresponding to the customer from said staff-information storage section, and
said sales-information sender sends an e-mail including the information regarding the customer and acquired by said information acquirer and the contact information received by said contact-information receiver, to an e-mail address included in the information regarding the at least one sales staff and acquired by said information acquirer.
4. A method for supporting sales performance, comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information to at least one customer terminal via a communications network;
receiving contact information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal, in accordance with the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information and the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information, to at least one sales staff terminal through a communications network.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein:
said step of sending the product information includes a step of sending a Web page including the predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal; and
said step of sending the sales information includes a step of sending an e-mail including the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information, said at least one sales staff terminal.
6. A method for supporting sales performance, comprising the steps of:
sending a Web page including product information, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving contact information sent from said at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to said at least one customer terminal, from a predetermined storage section storing customer information, in accordance with the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information;
acquiring information regarding at least one corresponding sales staff, from a predetermined storage section storing sales staff information, in accordance with the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information regarding the customer; and
setting, as an addressee, an e-mail address included in the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information regarding the at least one corresponding sales staff, thereby sending an e-mail including the information acquired at said step of acquiring the customer information and the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information, said to at least one sales-staff terminal of the at least one corresponding sales staff through a communications network.
7. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information to at least one customer terminal via a communications network;
receiving contact information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal, in accordance with the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information and the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information, to at least one sales staff terminal through a communications network.
8. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing an instruction sequence for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information to at least one customer terminal via a communications network;
receiving contact information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal, in accordance with the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information and the contact information received at said step of receiving the contact information, to at least one sales staff terminal through a communications network.
9. A server device comprising:
a communications section which sends and receives predetermined information to and from at least one customer terminal and at least one sales-staff terminal connected with each other through a communications network;
a product-information sender which sends predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal through said communications section;
a request-information receiver which receives request information, sent form the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent by said product-information sender, through said communications section;
an information acquirer which acquires information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal and product information corresponding to the request information, in accordance with the request information received by said request-information receiver; and
a sales-information sender which sends the information acquired by said information acquirer to the at least one sales-staff terminal through the communications section.
10. The server device according to claim 9, wherein:
said product-information sender sends a Web page including the predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal; and
said sales-information sender sends an e-mail including the information acquired by said information acquirer to the at least one sales-staff terminal.
11. A server device comprising:
a customer-information storage section which stores in advance information regarding at least one registered customer;
a staff-information storage section which stores information regarding at least one sales staff in association with information regarding the at least one customer stored in said customer-information storage section;
a communications section which sends and receives predetermined information to and from at least one customer terminal and at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network;
a customer-information sender which sends the information stored in said customer-information storage section to the at least one customer terminal through said communications section;
a request-information receiver which receives request information, sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the information sent by said customer-information sender and for requesting to update registered information, through said communications section;
an information updating section which updates the information regarding the at least one customer and being received by said request-information receiver; and
a sales-information sender which sends the information updated by said information updating section, to the at least one sales-staff terminal through the communications section.
12. The server device according to claim 11, wherein:
said customer-information sender sends a Web page including the customer information corresponding to the at least one customer terminal to the at least one customer terminal; and
said sales-information sending section sends an e-mail including the information updated by said information updating section, to said at least one sales-staff terminal.
13. A method for supporting sales performance, comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal and the product information corresponding to the request information, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information to said at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:
said step of sending the product information includes a step of sending a Web page including the predetermined product information to the at least one customer terminal; and
said step of sending the sales information includes a step of sending an e-mail including the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information, to the at least one sales-staff terminal.
15. A method for supporting sales performance, comprising the steps of:
sending information regarding at least one customer registered in a predetermined storage section, in response to accessing from the at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information, sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the customer information sent at said step of sending the customer information and representing a request for updating registered information;
updating the information registered in the predetermined storage section, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the information updated at said step of updating the information, to at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein:
said step of sending the customer information includes a step of sending a Web page including the customer information corresponding to the at least one customer terminal, to the at least one customer terminal; and
said step of sending the sales information includes a step of sending an e-mail including the information updated at said step of updating the information, to the at least one sales-staff terminal.
17. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance, said method comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer corresponding to the at least one customer terminal and the predetermined product information corresponding to the request information, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information to at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.
18. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance, said method comprising the steps of:
sending information regarding a customer and being stored in a predetermined storage section, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information for requesting to update registered information, sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the customer information sent at said step of sending the information;
updating the customer information stored in the predetermined storage section, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the customer information updated at said step of updating the customer information, to at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.
19. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing an instruction sequence for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance, said method comprising the steps of:
sending predetermined product information, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the product information sent at said step of sending the product information;
acquiring information regarding a customer of the at least one customer terminal and the product information corresponding to the request information, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the information acquired at said step of acquiring the information to at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.
20. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing an instruction sequence for controlling a computer to execute a method for supporting sales performance, said method comprising the steps of:
sending information regarding a customer registered in a predetermined storage section, in response to accessing from at least one customer terminal through a communications network, to the at least one customer terminal;
receiving request information sent from the at least one customer terminal in association with the customer information sent at said step of sending the customer information;
updating the information regarding the customer stored in the predetermined storage section, in accordance with the request information received at said step of receiving the request information; and
sending the information including the information updated at said step of updating the information to at least one sales-staff terminal through a communications network.