MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND A METHOD FOR PLACING A CALL

• US 20080039054A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Kang Hee
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal having a phonebook replays a stored message when an entry of the phonebook is selected using a speed dial number and the stored message is associated with the selected phonebook entry. The message may be the spoken name of the person associated with the selected phonebook entry thereby enabling the terminal user to have an audio confirmation of the party being called. The message may be recorded by the terminal microphone or may be captured from a connected call. Alternatively the message may be a text message that is synthesized to a voice message by a text-to-speech function.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a communication using a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving user input at an input unit configured with the terminal;

selecting one of a plurality of phonebook entries responsive to the user input, wherein each phonebook entry includes a contact number;

reproducing a stored audio message if the stored audio message is associated with the selected phonebook entry; and

initiating a communication with the contact number of the selected phonebook entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a speed dial number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is a voice call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message is replayed for pre-selected duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message is recorded using a microphone disposed on the terminal and is stored in a memory of the terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message is recorded from connected call and is stored in a memory of the terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message is password protected.

8. A method of initiating a communication using a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving user input at an input unit configured with the terminal;

selecting one of a plurality of phonebook entries responsive to the user input, wherein each phonebook entry includes a contact number;

converting a text message to a voice message if the text message is associated with the selected phonebook entry; and

initiating a communication with the contact number of the selected phonebook entry.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a speed dial number.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication is a voice call.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the test message is converted to a voice message using a text-to-speech (TTS) function.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the TTS function includes at least one of a male voice, a female voice, and a child voice.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the voice message is played for pre-selected duration.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the text message is password protected.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a speed dial number.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication is a voice call.

15. A mobile communications terminal comprising:

a key input unit configured to provide a user input;

an audio output unit;

a microphone configured to receive a voice input;

a memory configured to store a plurality of phonebook entries and a plurality of messages, wherein each phonebook entry comprises at least a contact number, and wherein each message is associated with one of the plurality of phonebook entries; and

a control unit configured to select one of the plurality of phonebook entries according to the user input, to play the message if the message is associated with the selected phonebook entry, and to dial the contact number of the selected phonebook entry.

16. The terminal of claim 15 further comprising a text-to-speech (TTS) configured to convert the message to a voice message if the voice message is a text message.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the TTS synthesizer includes at least one of a male voice, a female voice, and a child voice.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the control unit is further configured to play the message for a pre-selected duration.