Domain-driven abbreviated dialing

• US 20060172777A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Klein, Mark D., Stelter, Ronald D., Brackbill, Douglas L.
• Application Number:
  US11/338,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/555 Statistics, e.g. about subscribers but not being call statistics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424

Abstract

A domain-driven abbreviated dialing method and system allow a user to dial a telephone number using an abbreviated dial string, such as for example the last M digits of a telephone number, where M is an integer less than the length of the telephone number. The abbreviated dial string is automatically resolved to a full telephone number and the number is dialed. If the user'"'"'s entry cannot be unambiguously resolved, the user can be prompted to select among a limited set of candidate numbers to dial; alternatively, the system can make a “best guess”. Previous dialing behavior, known characteristics of the user, user preferences, location, domain, and/or any combination thereof can be used in order to determine which telephone number the user intends to call.

Claims

1. A method for abbreviated dialing of a telephone number, comprising:

receiving caller input comprising an abbreviated dial string;

determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string; and

initiating a call to the determined telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises selecting a telephone number having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises selecting a telephone number having an end sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

determining at least one domain; and

selecting a telephone number belonging to at least one determined domain and having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining at least one domain comprises determining a domain to which the caller belongs.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein domain membership is automatically determined.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein domain membership is user-configured.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting a calling network responsive to domain membership.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein:

receiving caller input comprises receiving caller input via a calling device; and

determining at least one domain comprises determining a domain to which the calling device belongs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

determining at least two domains;

determining at least two telephone numbers, each belonging to at least one determined domain and having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string; and

selecting one of the determined telephone numbers based on domain priority.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein domain priority is predefined.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein domain priority is variable depending on at least one of time of day, day of week, date, location, and user configuration.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string;

prompting the caller to select among the determined telephone numbers; and

receiving caller selection of a telephone number.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string; and

selecting one of the telephone numbers based on past dialing behavior.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string;

prompting the caller to enter at least one additional digit;

responsive to receiving at least one additional digit, determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the telephone number comprises:

retrieving from a data store at least one telephone number having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving caller input is performed at a calling device, and wherein the data store is located remotely with respect to the calling device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the telephone number comprises, at the calling device:

generating an abbreviated dialing query;

transmitting the abbreviated dialing query to a resource capable of accessing the data store;

receiving, from the resource, a response including the determined telephone number.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the telephone number comprises, at a wireless carrier voice switch:

generating an abbreviated dialing query;

transmitting the abbreviated dialing query to a resource capable of accessing the data store;

receiving, from the resource, a response including the determined telephone number.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving caller input is performed at a calling device, and wherein the data store is located at the calling device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving caller input is performed at a calling device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the calling device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone, a wired telephone, an Internet-connected telephone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a payphone, and a kiosk.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string comprises retrieving at least one candidate telephone from a set of candidate telephone numbers, wherein the set of candidate telephone numbers is determined based on at least one characteristic of the caller.

24. A computer program product for abbreviated dialing of a telephone number, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving caller input comprising an abbreviated dial string;

determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string; and

initiating a call to the determined telephone number.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program code for determining the telephone number comprises computer program code for selecting a telephone number having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program code for determining the telephone number comprises computer program code for selecting a telephone number having an end sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

27. A system for abbreviated dialing of a telephone number, comprising:

a telephone number store, for storing associations for resolving abbreviated dialing queries;

an abbreviated dialing interface server, for receiving an abbreviated dialing query comprising an abbreviated dial string, and for determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string by reference to the telephone number store; and

a communication mechanism for transmitting the determined telephone number to a call initiator for initiating a call to the determined telephone number.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by selecting a telephone number having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by selecting a telephone number having an end sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

determining at least one domain; and

selecting a telephone number belonging to at least one determined domain and having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines at least one domain by determining a domain to which the caller belongs.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein domain membership is automatically determined.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein domain membership is user-configured.

34. The system of claim 30, further comprising a switch for selecting a calling network responsive to domain membership.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the abbreviated dialing interface server receives caller input originating at a calling device; and

the abbreviated dialing interface server determines at least one domain by determining a domain to which the calling device belongs.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

determining at least two domains;

determining at least two telephone numbers, each belonging to at least one determined domain and having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string; and

selecting one of the determined telephone numbers based on domain priority.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein domain priority is predefined.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein domain priority is variable depending on at least one of time of day, day of week, date, location, and user configuration.

39. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string;

transmitting, to a calling device, an instruction to prompt the caller to select among the determined telephone numbers; and

receiving caller selection of a telephone number.

40. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string; and

selecting one of the telephone numbers based on past dialing behavior.

41. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

determining at least two telephone numbers, each having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string;

transmitting, to a calling device, an instruction to prompt the caller to enter at least one additional digit;

responsive to receiving at least one additional digit, determining a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string.

42. The system of claim 27, wherein abbreviated dialing interface server determines the telephone number by:

retrieving from the telephone number store at least one telephone number having a sequence of digits that matches the abbreviated dial string.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein caller input originates at a calling device, and wherein the telephone number store is located remotely with respect to the calling device.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the calling device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone, a wired telephone, an Internet-connected telephone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a payphone, and a kiosk.

45. The system of claim 27, wherein the abbreviated dialing interface server determines a telephone number from the abbreviated dial string by retrieving at least one candidate telephone from a set of candidate telephone numbers, wherein the set of candidate telephone numbers is determined based on at least one characteristic of the caller.