Systems and Methods for Semi-Automatic Dialing from a Mixed Entry Sequence Having Numeric and Non-Numeric Data

• US 20090154682A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Qiu, Weigen
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/216.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A system and method for semi-automated dialing is provided. The system includes a display, and a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation. An input is received from the keyboard. A determination is made if the input consists only from the keys that have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation. If this is the case, then a numeric analysis is performed. Otherwise, a word analysis is performed. The numeric analysis includes determining if the input has an alternate interpretation, and if so then displaying them so that the user may select the intended input. Determining alternate interpretations includes comparing the input with a dictionary. The word analysis includes searching for word matches between the received input and words in a dictionary, and then converting the matched words into numbers using telephone convention. Results from the analyses may be dialed.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for semi-automated dialing, useful in association with a personal appliance having a display, a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation and a microprocessor capable of dialing an input sequence from either the alphabetic or numeric keys or a combination of both, the method for semi-automated dialing comprising:

receiving an input from the keyboard, wherein the input includes a sequence of characters;

determining if the received input has an alternate interpretation;

displaying the received input along with any alternate interpretations on the display;

receiving a selection from a user, wherein the selection is chosen from the displayed input and alternate interpretations; and

dialing the selection.

2. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining if the received input has an alternate interpretation includes comparing the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in a dictionary.

3. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 2, wherein the list of words includes a list of at least one vanity number used in a wide-area telephone service system.

4. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 2, wherein the comparing the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in a dictionary includes utilizing the alphabetic interpretation of the keys.

5. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 3, wherein the list of at least one vanity number may be dynamically configured.

6. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 5, wherein the configuration of the list of at least one vanity number may be remotely populated.

7. A computer implemented method for semi-automated dialing, useful in association with a personal appliance having a display, a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation and a microprocessor capable of dialing an input sequence from either the alphabetic or numeric keys or a combination of both, the method for semi-automated dialing comprising:

receiving an input from the keyboard, wherein the input includes a sequence of characters;

determining if the sequence of characters consists of input from the keys that have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation;

if the characters consist of input from the keys that have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation, then performing a numeric analysis on the sequence of characters; and

else, if the characters comprise input from the keys that do not have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation, then performing a word analysis on the sequence of characters.

8. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 7, wherein the performing a numeric analysis on the sequence of character further comprises:

determining if the received input has an alternate interpretation;

if the received input has an alternate interpretation, then receiving user input, wherein the receiving user input comprises;

displaying the received input along with any alternate interpretations on the display;

receiving a selection from a user, wherein the selection is chosen from the displayed input and alternate interpretations;

dialing the selection; and

else, if the received input does not have an alternate interpretation, then dialing the received input.

9. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 8, wherein the performing a word analysis on the sequence of character further comprises:

searching for at least one word match between the received input and a corpus;

converting the characters of the sequence of characters, which match at least one word in the corpus, into numbers by utilizing telephone convention; and

dialing the numbers generated by converting the characters.

10. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 9, wherein determining if the received input has an alternate interpretation includes comparing the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in a dictionary.

11. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 10, wherein the list of words includes a list of at least one vanity number used in a wide-area telephone service system.

12. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 10, wherein the comparing the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in a dictionary includes utilizing the alphabetic interpretation of the keys.

13. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 11, wherein the list of at least one vanity number may be dynamically configured.

14. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 13, wherein the configuration of the list of at least one vanity number may be remotely populated.

15. A semi-automated dialing system, useful in association with a user, the apparatus comprising:

a display, a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation and a microprocessor capable of dialing an input sequence from either the alphabetic or numeric keys or a combination of both, the method for semi-automated dialing comprising;

a keyboard configured to enable receiving of an input of a sequence of characters, and wherein the keyboard includes at least one key having both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation;

a dialer analyzer configured to determine if the received input has an alternate interpretation;

a display configured to display the received input along with any alternate interpretations;

an interface configured to receive a selection from the user, wherein the selection is chosen from the displayed input and alternate interpretations; and

a wireless connector configured to dial the selection.

16. The semi-automated dialing system of claim 15, further comprising at least one dictionary, and a word identifier configured to compare the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in the at least one dictionary.

17. The semi-automated dialing system of claim 16, wherein the at least one dictionary includes a wide-area telephone service system directory including a list of at least one vanity number.

18. The semi-automated dialing system of claim 17, wherein the word identifier configured to compare the sequence of characters with a list of words stored in the at least one dictionary includes utilizing the alphabetic interpretation of the keys.

19. The semi-automated dialing system of claim 17, wherein the wide-area telephone service system directory may be dynamically configured.

20. The method of semi-automated dialing, as recited in claim 19, wherein the wide-area telephone service system directory may be remotely populated.