Method and system for managing changes to a contact database

• US 20030148790A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chin, Peter G., Fuller, Jason William, Tenenbaum, Jessica Dale, Pappalardo, Susan Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Described is a system and method for updating a contact and adding a new contact from a call log in a communications device. The system includes a contact manager that is directed towards creating and updating call contact cards in a contact database with information retrieved from call logs of phone calls made to or from the communications device. In one embodiment, information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, thereby reducing workload to a user. The method includes determining if a request is for updating an existing contact card or for adding a new contact card to the contact database. The update or addition is made with information retrieved from call logs. Call information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, when it is determined that the request is to add a new contact card to the contact database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing changes to a contact database, the method comprising:

receiving a request to update a contact card stored in the contact database with call information related to a phone call;

retrieving a contact list of contact cards stored in the contact database;

receiving a selection of a contact card to be updated within the contact list;

updating the selected contact card with the call information related to the phone call; and

replacing the existing contact card in the contact database with the updated contact card.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the contact list comprises a list of contact names associated with contact cards stored in the contact database.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a phone number.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the call information further comprises a name of a caller.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a date of the phone call.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a time of the phone call.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a duration of the phone call.

8. A computer-implemented method for managing changes to a contact database, the method comprising:

receiving a request to create a new contact card in the contact database with call information related to a phone call;

pre-populating a predetermined data field of the new contact card with call information;

receiving contact data to be associated with the call information;

modifying data fields in the new contact card with the received contact data; and

updating the contact database with the modified contact card.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined data field includes at least one of a home phone number, a work phone number, a pager phone number, a car phone number, a radio phone number, an assistant phone number, and a mobile phone number.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for updating a contact database in a mobile communications device, the instructions comprising:

receiving a request to save call information related to a phone call;

determining if the request to save the call information is an update to existing information in a contact card stored in the contact database or a request to create a new contact card in the contact database;

if the request is to update existing information,

retrieving a contact list of contact cards stored in the contact database;

receiving a selection of a contact card to be updated within the contact list;

updating the selected contact card with the call information related to the phone call;

replacing the existing contact card in the contact database with the updated contact card;

else if the request is to create a new contact card,

pre-populating a data field of the new contact card with call information;

receiving contact data to be associated with the new contact card;

modifying a data field in the new contact card with the received contact data; and

updating the contact database with the modified contact card.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the contact list comprises a list of at least one contact name associated with a contact card stored in the contact database.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the call information comprises a phone number.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the call information comprises a name of a caller.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the call information comprises a date of the phone call.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the call information comprises a time of the phone call.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the call information comprises a duration of the phone call.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the pre-populated data field includes at least one of a home phone number, a work phone number, and a mobile phone number.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the pre-populated data field is determined by evaluating a time associated with the phone call.

19. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable components, comprising:

a contact database configured to store contact cards, wherein contact cards include data fields configured to contain contact information;

a call log configured to record incoming and outgoing phone calls, wherein each phone call corresponds to a call entry in the call log, and each call entry includes call information; and

a contact manager coupled to the contact database and the call log, wherein the contact manager is arranged to update at least one data field in the contact card in the contact database with call information from a call entry in the call log in response to a user instruction.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the call information comprises a phone number.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the call information comprises a name of a caller.

22. A mobile communications device for creating a new contact card in a contact database, comprising:

a contact database configured to store contact cards, wherein the contact cards include a data field for containing contact information;

a call log configured to log incoming and outgoing phone calls, wherein each phone call has a corresponding entry in the call log, and wherein each call entry includes call information; and

a contact manager coupled to the contact database and the call log, wherein the contact manager is arranged to create the new contact card in the contact database with call information from a call entry in the call log in response to a user instruction.

23. The mobile communications device of claim 22, wherein creating the new contact card in the contact database further comprises pre-populating a data field within the new contact card with call information.

24. The mobile communications device of claim 22, wherein the pre-populated data field comprises at least one of a home phone number, a work phone number, a pager phone number, a car phone number, a radio phone number, an assistant phone number, and a mobile phone number.

25. In a computer device having a graphical user interface and a user selection interface mechanism, a method of activating a selection for changing a contact database, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of call entries in a call log of phone calls;

displaying a context menu in response to a user selection of an entry in the call log; and

displaying a plurality of options in the context menu, one of the options being to update a contact card in the contact database with call information from the selected entry in the call log.

26. A computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of data structures comprising:

a first data structure including a plurality of call entries, each call entry describing call information about a phone call; and

a second data structure including a plurality of contact cards, each contact card being associated with a contact, wherein at least one contact card includes updated call information from a call entry in the first data structure.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the at least one contact card further comprises call information prior to being updated with call information from the call entry in the first data structure.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the call information of each call entry further comprises a phone number.