ALPHA CHARACTER SUPPORT AND TRANSLATION IN DIALER

• US 20080317240A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: St. Pierre, Robert P., Bui, Timothy L., Chang, Li-Kai K., Dhawan, Anil, Hamilton, Jason S., Mehta, Navneet, Gambardella, Genevieve, Gachet, Kelly Ann Grantham
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/368
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

The innovation supports the ability to map alpha characters entered directly into the dialer application of a smartphone. These alpha characters can be entered via a smartphone keyboard (e.g., QWERTY keyboard) and converted to the appropriate digits as mapped to a conventional telephone keypad. The resultant numerical digits can be used to prompt a network call. Additionally, the innovation can be used during an active call to respond to prompts that traditionally require 12-key mappings. This innovation allows a user to both dial a number directly via a smartphone keyboard, and filter contacts by name, in a non-modal manner.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates conversion of an alpha-numeric input into a smartphone, comprising:

a receiving component that receives the alpha-numeric input; and

a conversion component that converts each character of the alpha-numeric input into an appropriate numeric digit, wherein the numeric digit is employed to control operation of the smartphone.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a selection component that facilitates selection of an input modality that facilitates entry of the alpha-numeric input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the input modality is at least one of a home screen, a dialer, a QWERTY keyboard, or a microphone.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a translation component that employs a conversion table to transform each character of the alpha-numeric input into the appropriate numeric digit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an analysis component that evaluates each character of the alpha-numeric input and determines appropriate translation requirement based upon a predetermined relationship.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a speech recognition component that converts speech to text, wherein the alpha-numeric input includes a spoken word and the text identifies each character of the alpha-numeric input.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a mapping component that maps each character of the alpha-numeric input to the appropriate numeric digit as a function of a conversion table.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a machine learning and reasoning (MLR) component that employs at least one of a probabilistic and a statistical-based analysis that infers an action that a user desires to be automatically performed.

9. A computer-implemented method of processing an alpha input using a mobile device, comprising:

receiving the alpha input, wherein the alpha input includes a plurality of characters;

mapping each character of the alpha input to an appropriate numerical digit; and

employing each of the appropriate numerical digits to control operation of the mobile device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising rendering each of the appropriate numerical digits by way of a display on the mobile device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising populating a log with each of the alpha input and the appropriate numerical digit.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising selecting at least one of a home screen, a dialer, a keyboard or a microphone to generate the alpha input.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, the act of mapping employs a conversion table that identifies a relationship between each character of the alpha input and the appropriate numerical digit.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the alpha input to a user upon mapping each character of the alpha input to an appropriate numerical digit.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising phonetically analyzing the alpha input to determine the appropriate numerical digit.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, or mobile media player.

17. A computer-executable system that facilitates processing an alpha-numeric smartphone input, comprising:

means for receiving the alpha-numeric smartphone input, wherein the alpha-numeric smartphone input represents a ‘

vanity’

telephone number;

means for converting the alpha-numeric smartphone input into a numeric input; and

means for triggering a smartphone call based upon the numeric input.

18. The computer-executable system of claim 17, further comprising means for mapping each character of the alpha-numeric smartphone input to each digit of the numeric input, wherein the mapping employs a conversion table.

19. The computer-executable system of claim 17, further comprising means for inputting the alpha-numeric smartphone input, wherein the means for inputting is one of a home screen, a dialer, a QWERTY keyboard and a microphone.

20. The computer-executable system of claim 19, further comprising means for selecting the means for inputting the alpha-numeric smartphone input.