WO2000024179A1

WO2000024179A1 - Method of searching stored telephone numbers in cellular phones

Info

Publication number: WO2000024179A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000621
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Chul Kim
Original assignee: Kim Hyun Chul
Priority date: 1998-10-17
Filing date: 1999-10-15
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: KR19990083656A; AU6126099A

Abstract

A method of easily and simply searching a desired one of a plurality of telephone numbers stored in a cellular phone is disclosed. In the method of this invention, first letters of words of a desired name are input in the cellular phone by orderly pressing specified keys designated to input the first letters. In response to input of the first letters, all the names, individually having first letters designated by the orderly pressed specified keys, are output from a memory of the cellular phone. All the names and associated telephone numbers are displayed on the display of the cellular phone, thus allowing a user to select the desired telephone number from displayed data. The method of this invention is used for searching data, consisting of one or more words and being stored in a system with a keypad having a plurality of keys, each key being designated to input a plurality of letters.

Description

METHOD OF SEARCHING STORED TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN CELLULAR PHONES

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a method of searching stored telephone numbers in telephones, such as cellular phones, and, more particularly, to a method of easily and simply searching a desired one of stored telephone numbers in cellular phones.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, a cellular phone is a mobile telephone system using low- powered radio transmitters, with each transmitter covering a distinct geographical area. Most conventional cellular phones are typically provided with a function of storing names, telephone numbers, or simple memorandums in a memory. Therefore, such cellular phones allow a user to search and locate a desired one of the stored telephone numbers from the memory without forcing the user to memorize the desired telephone number when it is necessary to confirm the telephone number or to call a person on the phone.

The conventional cellular phone with such a telephone number storing and searching function is used as follows. When it is necessary for a user to call a person, for example, 'John F. Kennedy', on the phone with a plurality of names including the name 'John F. Kennedy' being stored in the memory, the user may search the telephone number of 'John F. Kennedy' by inputting the full name 'John F. Kennedy¹ using the keypad or by inputting the first name 'John' prior to selecting the name 'John F. Kennedy' from a name list displayed on the display of the phone using the arrow keys, or the ^•** key and the #► key. The key arrangement of the keypad provided on a conventional cellular phone is shown in Fig. 1. In order to input the first name 'John' in such a cellular phone, it is necessary for the user to orderly input the letters 'J', 'o', 'h', and 'n' by appropriately operating the keypad. In such a case, the letter 'J' is input by pressing the '5' key once, the letter 'o' is input by pressing the '6' key three times, the letter ' h' is input by pressing the '4' key twice, and the letter 'n' is input by pressing the '6' key twice.

That is, in order to input the first name 'John' in the cellular phone, it is necessary to press specified keys of the keypad eight times in the order of '5', '6', '6', '6', '4', ', '6', and '6' keys. On the other hand, in order to input the full name 'John F. Kennedy', it is necessary for the user to press specified keys twenty five times in the order of '5', '6', '6', '6', '4', '4', '6', '6', '#', '3', '3', '3', '#', '5', '5', '3', '3', '6', '6', '3', '3', '3', '9', '9', '9', and 'search' keys. Therefore, it is very difficult to input the full name 'John F. Kennedy' in the cellular phone, and so most users preferably input the first name 'John' prior to selecting the desired name 'John F. Kennedy' from a name list displayed on the display of the phone using the arrow keys, or the ^•** key and the #► key, when it is necessary to search the stored telephone number of 'John F. Kennedy'. However, such a conventional method of searching a desired one of stored telephone numbers is problematic in that it is very inconvenient to users as follows. That is, even though a user tries to search, for example, the stored telephone number of 'John F. Kennedy' by inputting the first name 'John' in place of inputting the full name 'John F. Kennedy', the conventional method regrettably forces the user to press the specified keys eight times and to select the desired name from a name list displayed on the display of the phone.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of easily and simply searching a desired one of a plurality of telephone numbers stored in a cellular phone .

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of searching data, consisting of one or more words and being stored in a system, such as a cellular phone with a keypad having a plurality of keys, each key being designated to input a plurality of letters, comprising the steps of: inputting first letters of words of desired data by orderly pressing specified keys designated to input the first letters; outputting all data, individually having first letters designated by the orderly pressed specified keys, from a memory; and displaying the data on a display so as to allow a user to select the desired data from displayed data.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, showing an example of the keypad arrangement of a conventional cellular phone.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Of course, in a telephone system with a keypad having a plurality of keys, each key being designated to input specified number of letters, symbols and numerals as shown in Fig. 1, the method of searching a desired one of stored telephone numbers according to the present invention is differently performed in accordance with input languages.

In the case of some languages, such as English, Greek, German, Russian and Italian consisting of Roman letters, one or more letters form one word.

When it is necessary to search, for example, the stored telephone number of a name consisting of one or more English words in the method of this invention, specified keys, designated to input the first letters of the words of the desired name, are orderly operated by a user. When the specified keys are orderly operated by the user as described above, the cellular phone outputs all the names, individually having first letters designated by the orderly pressed specified keys, from the memory and displays the names on the display so as to allow the user to select the desired name from the displayed names. Therefore, the user easily and simply searches the desired telephone number in the cellular phone .

In a detailed description, when a plurality of names spelled in Roman letters and associated telephone numbers are stored in the memory of a cellular phone as shown in table 1, the telephone number of 'John F. Kennedy' is searched as follows in the method of this invention. That is, when it is necessary for a user to call 'John F. Kennedy' on the phone, he presses specified keys of the keypad in the order of '5', '3' and '5' keys since the three first letters 'J', 'F' and 'K' of the three words 'John', 'F' and 'Kennedy' of the name 'John F. Kennedy' are designated by the '5', '3' and '5' keys, respectively.

Table 1. Stored names and telephone numbers

In the keys of the keypad, the '5' key is designated to input '5JKL¹, while the '3' key is designated to input '3DEF'. Therefore, when the specified keys are operated by the user in the order of '5', '3' and '5' keys, all the names, individually having the letters designated by the 3' and '5' keys as their first letters, are displayed on the display of the cellular phone. The user is thus allowed to easily select the desired name from the name list displayed on the display of the cellular phone .

When there is only one name 'John F. Kennedy' meeting the letters designated by the orderly operated '5', '3' and '5' keys as shown in table 1, the display of the cellular phone only displays the name 'John F. Kennedy' and his telephone number.

If several names, meeting the letters designated by the '5', '3' and '5' keys, are stored in the cellular phone, the display of the cellular phone displays a name list including the name 'John F. Kennedy'. In such a case, it is necessary for the user to select the desired name 'John F. Kennedy' from the displayed name list using the arrow keys, or the ^*** key and the #^► key.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a method of easily and simply searching a desired one of a plurality of telephone numbers stored in a cellular phone.

In the above preferred embodiment, the method of this invention is used with, for example, cellular phones. However, it should be understood that the method of this invention may be preferably used with systems, having a plurality of keys, each key being designated to input two or more letters, such as wire telephones or electronic pocket books, in addition to the cellular phones.

The method of this invention may be also used for inputting or searching information in ARS systems.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method of searching data, consisting of one or more words and being stored in a system, such as a cellular phone with a keypad having a plurality of keys, each key being designated to input a plurality of letters, comprising the steps of: inputting first letters of words of desired data by orderly pressing specified keys designated to input said first letters; outputting all data, individually having first letters designated by the orderly pressed specified keys, from a memory; and displaying the data on a display so as to allow a user to select the desired data from displayed data.