Phone Dialer with Advanced Search Feature and Associated Method of Searching a Directory

• US 20100008490A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Roberts, Brain, Relyea, Donald H., Gharachorloo, Nader
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/216.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A method of retrieving a directory listing includes steps of storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of the keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet; receiving a sequence of inputs each designating a plurality of the symbols; identifying a number of the directory listings having at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; displaying candidate ones of the directory listing having the at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; and selecting one of the candidate directory listings to be contacted.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of said keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet;

receiving a sequence of inputs each designating a plurality of said symbols;

identifying a number of said directory listings having at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs;

displaying candidate ones of said directory listing having said at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs; and

selecting one of said candidate directory listings to be contacted.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying is response to said number of directory listings being equal to or less than a maximum displayable number of listings.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein:

said step of identifying a number of said directory listings having at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs includes;

(i) adding a next input to a previously received string of inputs to form a new search string; and

(ii) identifying a number of said directory listings having said a least one of said keys consistent with said new search string,

said method further comprising repeating steps (i) and (ii) until said number of directory listings is equal to or less than said maximum displayable number of listings.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said directory listings is searchable by a name key and a network address key, said name key comprising a plurality of symbols selected from alphabetic characters.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said network address key is selected from the group consisting of telephone numbers, email addresses, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said inputs is associated with a defined set of at least one numeric symbol and two alphabetic symbols.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein there are at least ten distinct inputs, said ten inputs respectively associated with the set of symbols including {1}, {2, A, B, C}, {3, D, E, F}, {4, G, H, I}, {5, J, K, L}, {6, M, N, O}, {7, P, R, S}, {8, T, U, V}, {9, W, X, Y} and {0}.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of selecting includes continuing to receive said sequence of inputs until only one of said directory listing is unambiguously identified.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying candidate ones of said directory listings includes ordering said candidate directory listings based on a recency of access.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying candidate ones of said directory listings includes ordering said candidate directory listings based on a number of calls made to respective ones of said directory listings.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising steps of associating a preferred contact mode with each of said directory listings and supplying a network address associated with said preferred contact mode.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said preferred contact modes are selected from the group consisting of landline telephone, home telephone, office telephone, cellular telephone, email, instant messaging and voice mail.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising a step of initiating contact with a party associated with a selected directory listing using said preferred contact mode.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of said keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet;

a keypad manually operable for receiving a sequence of keystrokes each designating a plurality of said symbols;

a processor configured to identify a number of said directory listings having at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs; and

a display configured to display candidate ones of said directory listing having said at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs in

said process operable for selecting one of said candidate directory listings to be contacted.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said display is responsive to said number of directory listings being equal to or less than a maximum displayable number of listings.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said processor is further configured to:

(i) add a next input to a previously received string of inputs to form a new search string;

(ii) identify a number of said directory listings having said a least one of said keys consistent with said new search string; and

repeat operations (i) and (ii) until said number of directory listings is equal to or less than said maximum displayable number of listings.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said processor is further configured to associate a preferred contact mode with each of said directory listings and supply a network address to communications system, the network address associated with said preferred contact mode.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said network address is a telephone number or email address and said preferred contact modes are selected from the group consisting of home telephone, office telephone, cellular telephone, email, instant messaging and voice mail.

19. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of said keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet;

a second executable portion for receiving a sequence of inputs each designating a plurality of said symbols;

a third executable portion for identifying a number of said directory listings having at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs;

a fourth executable portion for displaying candidate ones of said directory listing having said at least one of said keys consistent with said sequence of inputs; and

a fifth executable portion for selecting one of said candidate directory listings to be contacted.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein said further executable portion is responsive to said number of directory listings being equal to or less than a maximum displayable number of listings and said third executable portion includes portions for

(i) adding a next input to a previously received string of inputs to form a new search string;

(ii) identifying a number of said directory listings having said a least one of said keys consistent with said new search string; and

(iii) repeating operations (i) and (ii) until said number of directory listings is equal to or less than said maximum displayable number of listings.