PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AN ITEM FROM A DATABASE

• US 20100010963A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kannuu Pty Ltd., Kanuu Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kannuu Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Dinn, Kevin William
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting database items from a database, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period.

Claims

1. A method of selecting database items from a database, the database items being indexed by a list of item identifiers, the method comprising the steps of:

generating an initial display including one or more parts of item identifiers for selection, enabling selection of the one or more parts and in response to selection of the one or more parts, generating a display of a further one or more parts for selection, and enabling selection of the further one or more parts in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of iterating the selection steps until an item identifier is completed, and enabling selection of the item identifier to select the database item.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of generating the initial display includes selecting the one or more parts to be displayed based on predetermined criteria.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the predetermined criteria is the frequency of selection of database items associated within the item identifier parts.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the predetermined criteria is a ranking of the one or more parts in relation to a tree hierarchy classification of one or more parts of item identifiers.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of enabling display of one or more parts of item identifiers includes the step of displaying a plurality of parts of item identifiers.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of generating the display includes the step of generating a display of an entire item identifier.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the item identifier includes one or more alphanumerics.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the item identifier is a text string.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the item identifier is a word.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the v database is stored in a memory of a computing device.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the computing device is a mobile telephone.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the computing device is a PDA.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the step of enabling selection allows selection of the one or more parts byway of a joystick.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein a predetermined criteria is frequency of selection of the database item associated with the item identifier.

34. A computer programme including instructions for controlling a computing device to implement a method in accordance with claim 1.

35. A computer readable medium providing a programme in accordance with claim 34.

15. A method of selecting database items from a database, the database items being indexed by a list of item identifiers, comprising the steps of enabling a display of one or more parts of item identifiers for selection, the item identifiers being generated on a display being chosen for generation in accordance with predetermined criteria.

17. An apparatus for selecting database items from a database, the database items being indexed by a list of item identifiers, the apparatus comprising a display, an input means, a generating means for generating an initial display including one or more parts of item identifiers for selection, means for enabling selection via the input means of the one or more parts, means responsive to selection of the one or more parts for generating a display of a further one or more parts for selection, means enabling selection via the input means of the further one or more parts, and addition means to add the further one or more parts to the selected one or more parts to build a larger, or whole of an item identifier.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, the means enabling selection being arranged to enable iteration of the selection steps until an item identifier is completed, and also to enable selection of the item identifier when completed, in order to select the database item.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the means for generating the initial display is arranged to select the one or more parts to be displayed based on predetermined criteria.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the predetermined criteria is the frequency of selection of database items associated with the item identifier parts.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein predetermined criteria is a ranking of the one or more parts in relation to a tree hierarchy classification of one or more parts of item identifiers.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 21, including memory means storing the tree hierarchy.

23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the means enabling the display of one or more parts of item identifiers is arranged to display a plurality of parts of item identifiers.

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the means enabling the display is arranged to enable a display of entire item identifier.

25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the item identifier includes one or more alphanumerics.

26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein the item identifier is a text string.

27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein the item identifier is a word.

28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, including memory means storing the database.

29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, being a mobile telephone.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, being a PDA.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein the input means is a joystick.

32. An apparatus for selecting database items from a database, the database items being indexed by a list of item identifiers, comprising a means enabling a display of one or more parts of item identifiers for selection, the means selecting the item identifiers for display in accordance with predetermined criteria.

33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 32, wherein the predetermined criteria is frequency of selection of the database item associated with the item identifier.