Process and Apparatus for Selecting an Item From a Database

• US 20120246591A1
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kannuu Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kannuu Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Dinn, Kevin William
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method of selecting an item from a plurality of items, the method comprising:

displaying, in a first area of a display, a first plurality of portions of item identifiers, the item identifiers corresponding to items in a database;

enabling selection of one of the first plurality of portions of item identifiers by using an up, down, left, right, select functionality of a directional controller on an input device;

displaying the selected portion of the item identifier in a second area of the display;

displaying, in response to the selection of the one of the first plurality of portions of item identifiers, a further display of a second plurality of portions of item identifiers, the second plurality of portions of item identifiers comprising at least two portions of item identifiers chosen for display based on the selection of the one of the plurality of portions of item identifiers;

enabling selection of one of the second plurality of portions of item identifiers by using an up, down, left, right, select functionality of a directional controller on an input device;

combining the portion of the item identifier selected from the second plurality of portions of item identifiers with the portion of the item identifier selected from the first plurality of portions of item identifiers to create a larger portion of the item identifier; and

displaying the larger portion of the item identifier in the second area of the display;

wherein the first plurality of portions of item identifiers and the second plurality of potions of item identifiers are orthographic symbols; and

wherein the at least two portions of item identifiers chosen for display based on the selection of the one of the plurality of portions of item identifiers are chosen to reduce the number of actuations of the directional controller that would otherwise be necessary to input the item identifier.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36, further comprising iterating the selection steps until an item identifier is completed.

38. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the at least two portions of item identifiers are chosen based on at least one predetermined criterion.

39. A method in accordance with claim 38, wherein the predetermined criterion is at least one of the frequency of selection of items associated with the plurality of portions of the item identifiers, the recency of selection of items associated with the plurality of portions of the item identifiers, or the likelihood of selection of items associated with the plurality of portions of the item identifiers.

40. A method in accordance with claim 38, wherein the predetermined criterion is a ranking of the plurality of portions of item identifiers in relation to a hierarchical classification of the plurality of portions of item identifiers.

41. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the item identifier is a text string.

42. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the item identifier is a word.

43. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the database is stored in a memory of a computing device.

44. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein the computing device is a remote server.

45. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein the computing device is a mobile telephone.

46. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein the computing device is a television.

47. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein the computing device is a personal portable appliance.

48. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the item identifier is a meaning unit comprised of one or more orthographic symbols.

49. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the first plurality of portions of item identifiers and the second plurality of portions of item identifiers are alphanumeric symbols.

50. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the first plurality of portions of item identifiers and the second plurality of portions of item identifiers are ideographic symbols.

51. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the second plurality of portions of item identifiers comprise at least four portions of item identifiers.