Patent ID: 7107250

Claim:
A user interface device which comprises: a communications control unit being configured to receive a communication having information indicating at least one request for authorisation for use of a credential and indicating a monetary amount associated with the use of the credential, and wherein the communication is initiated by an electronic funds transfer point of sale (EFTPOS) device where the credential is being used for a transaction, the EFTPOS device being remote from the user interface device such that the communication is sent to the user interface device in response to use of the credential at the remote EFTPOS; and a computer, the computer being configured to process the requests for use of the credential which are transmitted to the user interface device, and the user interface device being such that in use the computer is operative to cause the user interface device to emit an alerting signal on receipt of the request for authorisation for use of the credential and the emitted alerting signal being indicative of the deemed importance of a particular use of the credential, wherein characteristics of the emitted alerting signal are customizable by a user, customizable characteristics including a specification of a range of monetary amounts within a request for authorisation that causes the alerting signal to be emitted at a tone selected by the user.