SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISAMBIGUATING ENTRIES IN A CONTACTS LIST DATABASE IMPLEMENTED ON A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20110034156A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: MOORE, Aaron L., GATTI, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party

Abstract

Methods and systems for disambiguating entries within a contacts listing database of a mobile device detect newly created contact records having a same data element (e.g., a telephone number) and alert the user. Other contact records storing the same data element may be identified. Matching contact records may be grouped and provided a group label so that when a call is received from a member of the group, the mobile device can identify the caller using the group label. Call logs can similarly be disambiguated by informing a user when a call has been made to or received from a number that matches values in data fields of more than one contact record and enabling the user to edit or augment information recorded in the call log to properly reflect the identity of the other party to the call.

Claims

1. A method for disambiguating entries in a mobile device contacts list database including a plurality of contact records each comprising a plurality of data fields, comprising:

receiving a telephone number;

comparing the received telephone number to entries in the stored records; and

generating a display alerting a user of the mobile device when the received telephone number matches a value stored in a first data field in more than one of the plurality of contact records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a contact name.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises an image.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a telephone number comprises receiving the telephone number as part of creation of a new contact record for storage in the contacts list database, the telephone number being received from one of a key pad, a message, and a log file.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

the method further comprising:

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the new contact record with a group label;

receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

storing the new contact record comprising the received telephone number and the identified group label in the contacts list database.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

the method further comprising:

generating a prompt for a response from a user to select for deletion at least one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

deleting the selected at least one of the two or more stored records.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a telephone number comprises receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the display comprises displaying the caller identifying information and information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number the call display comprises.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a contact name.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving a telephone number comprises one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device; and

generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

the method further comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with a group label for storage in a call log;

receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

storing the received telephone number and the identified group label in call log.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving a telephone number comprises one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device; and

generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

the method further comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log;

receiving a user response selecting one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log; and

storing in a call log the received telephone number and information stored in a second data field of the selected one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log.

15. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein a contacts list database including a plurality of contact records each comprising a plurality of data fields; and

a cellular telephone transceiver coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

receiving a telephone number;

comparing the received telephone number to entries in the stored records; and

generating a display alerting a user of the mobile device when the received telephone number matches a value stored in a first data field in more than one of the plurality of contact records.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a contact name.

18. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises an image.

19. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving a telephone number comprises receiving the telephone number as part of creation of a new contact record for storage in the contacts list database, the telephone number being received from one of a key pad, a message, and a log file.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number, and

the processor performs further steps comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the new contact record with a group label;

receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

storing the new contact record comprising the received telephone number and the identified group label in the contacts list database.

22. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number, and

the processor performs further steps comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to select for deletion at least one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

deleting the selected at least one of the two or more stored records.

23. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving a telephone number comprises receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that generating the display comprises displaying the caller identifying information and information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number the call display comprises.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the information stored in a second data field includes a contact name.

26. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that the information stored in a second data field includes a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

27. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving a telephone number comprises one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device;

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with a group label for storage in a call log;

receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

storing the received telephone number and the identified group label in call log.

28. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving a telephone number comprises one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device;

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions such that generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising;

generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log;

receiving a user response selecting one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log; and

storing in a call log the received telephone number and information stored in a second data field of the selected one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log.

29. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving a telephone number;

comparing the received telephone number to entries in the stored records; and

generating a display alerting a user of the mobile device when the received telephone number matches a value stored in a first data field in more than one of the plurality of contact records.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein means for generating the display comprises means for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

31. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a contact name.

32. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises an image.

33. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

34. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein means for receiving a telephone number comprises means for receiving the telephone number as part of creation of a new contact record for storage in the contacts list database, the telephone number being received from one of a key pad, a message, and a log file.

35. The mobile device of claim 34,

wherein means for generating the display comprises means for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

further comprising:

means for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the new contact record with a group label;

means for receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

means for storing the new contact record comprising the received telephone number and the identified group label in the contacts list database.

36. The mobile device of claim 29,

wherein means for generating the display comprises means for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number, further comprising:

means for generating a prompt for a response from a user to select for deletion at least one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

means for deleting the selected at least one of the two or more stored records.

37. The mobile device of claim 29 wherein means for receiving a telephone number comprises means for receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein means for generating the display comprises means for displaying the caller identifying information and information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number the call display comprises.

39. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a contact name.

40. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

41. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein:

means for receiving a telephone number comprises one of means for receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and means for receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device; and

means for generating the display comprises means for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

further comprising;

means for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with a group label for storage in a call log;

means for receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

means for storing the received telephone number and the identified group label in call log.

42. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein:

means for receiving a telephone number comprises one of means for receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and means for receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device; and

means for generating the display comprises means for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number,

further comprising;

means for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log;

means for receiving a user response selecting one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log; and

means for storing in a call log the received telephone number and information stored in a second data field of the selected one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log.

43. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for receiving a telephone number;

at least one instruction for comparing the received telephone number to entries in the stored records; and

at least one instruction for generating a display alerting a user of the mobile device when the received telephone number matches a value stored in a first data field in more than one of the plurality of contact records.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein generating the display comprises displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a contact name.

46. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises an image.

47. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the information stored in a second data field that is displayed comprises a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

48. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein at least one instruction for receiving a telephone number comprises at least one instruction for receiving the telephone number as part of creation of a new contact record for storage in the contacts list database, the telephone number being received from one of a key pad, a message, and a log file.

49. The computer program product of claim 48,

wherein at least one instruction for generating the display comprises at least one instruction for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number, and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the new contact record with a group label;

at least one instruction for receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

at least one instruction for storing the new contact record comprising the received telephone number and the identified group label in the contacts list database.

50. The computer program product of claim 43,

wherein at least one instruction for generating the display comprises at least one instruction for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number, and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for generating a prompt for a response from a user to at least one instruction for select for deletion at least one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

at least one instruction for deleting the selected at least one of the two or more stored records.

51. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein at least one instruction for receiving a telephone number comprises at least one instruction for receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein at least one instruction for generating the display comprises at least one instruction for displaying the caller identifying information and information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number the call display comprises.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a contact name.

54. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the information stored in a second data field includes a group label assigned to the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number.

55. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein:

at least one instruction for receiving a telephone number at least one instruction for comprises one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device;

at least one instruction for generating the display comprises at least one instruction for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

the computer-readable medium further comprises;

at least one instruction for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with a group label for storage in a call log;

at least one instruction for receiving a user response identifying a group label; and

at least one instruction for storing the received telephone number and the identified group label in call log.

56. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein:

at least one instruction for receiving a telephone number comprises at least one instruction for one of receiving the telephone number as caller identification information as part of an incoming telephone call and receiving the telephone number as part of a call placed on the mobile device;

at least one instruction for generating the display comprises at least one instruction for displaying information stored in a second data field of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number; and

the computer-readable medium further comprises;

at least one instruction for generating a prompt for a response from a user to associate the received telephone number with one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log;

at least one instruction for receiving a user response selecting one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log; and

at least one instruction for storing in a call log the received telephone number and information stored in a second data field of the selected one of the more than one of the plurality of contact records with a first data field value matching the received telephone number for storage in a call log.