Method and apparatus for dynamic abbreviated dialing assignment

• US 5,568,546 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Marutiak, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US08/331,829
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/354, 379/356, 379/357, 379/216, 379/288, 379/280, 379/130, 379/131, 379/140, 379/141, 379/40
• US Class Current: 379/355.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically and dynamically determining a list of frequently called telephone numbers for abbreviated dialing or speed dialing. The method and apparatus maintain a list of each telephone number dialed, either manually or by abbreviated dialing, over a period of time. This list is periodically updated to remove infrequently used telephone numbers. The list is also sorted such that the most frequently used telephone numbers will be displayed as a top set or page thereof. The apparatus includes a telephone set which has multiple display areas where one set or page of telephone numbers available for abbreviated dialing is displayed. Each display area is associated with and adjacent to a respective switch. A paging switch which causes the display of one or more subsequent sets or pages of the abbreviated dialing list may also be included. To make a telephone call using the abbreviated dialing apparatus, the user actuates the switch adjacent to the display area displaying the frequently dialed number or a label (name) corresponding to the frequently dialed number. From that switch actuation, the apparatus will read the corresponding number to be dialed from memory and automatically dial the number. This abbreviated dialing list is self starting and self maintaining, the user never needs to personally `program` the telephone set.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically determining a list of abbreviated dialing numbers for making a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a handset going off-hook;

b. after the handset is off-hook, reading a list of abbreviated dialing numbers from a memory;

c. displaying the topmost entries of the list of abbreviated dialing numbers;

d. determining if an abbreviated dialing selection is used to initiate the telephone call and if an abbreviated dialing selection was used, skipping ahead to step k, otherwise continuing to step e;

e. collecting a manually dialed number;

f. determining if the manually dialed number to the numbers is on the list of abbreviated dialing numbers and if it is on the list skipping to step 1, otherwise continuing to step g;

g. adding the manually dialed number to the list;

h. determining if a number of entries of the list with the added manual dialed number exceeds a maximum number therefor and if the maximum number is not exceeded the method is completed, otherwise continuing to step i;

i. deleting an entry having the lowest usage other than the most recent manually dialed call and if there is a tie between entries for the lowest usage, deleting the lowest usage entry that is the least recent to be used from the list;

j. skipping ahead to step p;

k. updating a usage count value and a last used date for the dialed number, and skipping to step p;

l. updating usage count value and last used date for the dialed number;

m. determining if the usage count has exceeded a threshold as a possible displayed entry, and if the usage count has not exceeded the threshold then skipping to step p, otherwise continuing to step n;

n. requesting a label for this entry;

o. sorting the list from the entry having the most usage of its dialed number to the entry having the least usage; and

p. storing the sorted list in said memory for use upon a next telephone call.

2. The method for dynamically determining a list of abbreviated dialing numbers for making a telephone call as set forth in claim 1, after step n and before step o, further comprising the step of storing the label for this entry in the memory.

3. A method for dynamically determining a list of abbreviated dialing numbers for making a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a handset going off-hook;

b. after the handset is off-hook, reading a list of abbreviated dialing numbers from a memory;

c. displaying the topmost entries of the list of abbreviated dialing numbers;

d. determining if an abbreviated dialing selection was used to initiate the telephone call and if an abbreviated dialing selection was used, skipping ahead to step k, otherwise continuing to step e;

e. collecting a manually dialed number;

f. determining if the manually dialed number to the numbers is on the list of abbreviated dialing numbers and if it is on the list skipping to step k, otherwise continuing to step g;

g. adding the manually dialed number to the list;

h. determining if a number of entries of the list with the added manual dialed number exceeds a maximum number therefor and if the maximum number is not exceeded the method is completed, otherwise continuing to step i;

i. deleting an entry having the lowest usage other than the most recent manually dialed call and if there is a tie between entries for the lowest usage, detecting the lowest usage entry that is the least recently used;

j. skipping ahead to step m;

k. updating a usage count value and a last used date for the dialed number;

l. sorting the list from the entry having the most usage of its dialed number to the entry having the least usage; and

m. storing the sorted list in said memory for use upon a next telephone call.

4. A method for dynamically determining a list of abbreviated dialing numbers for making a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a handset going off-hook;

b. after the handset is off-hook, reading a list of abbreviated dialing numbers from a memory;

c. displaying the top-most entries of the list of abbreviated dialing numbers;

d. determining if an abbreviated dialing selection is used to initiate the telephone call and if an abbreviated dialing selection was used, skipping ahead to step k, otherwise continuing to step e;

e. collecting a manually dialed number;

f. determining if the manually dialed number to the numbers is on the list of abbreviated dialing numbers and if it is on the list skipping to step k, otherwise continuing to step g;

g. adding the manually dialed number to the list;

h. determining if a number of entries of the list with the added manual dialed number exceeds a maximum number therefor and if the maximum number is not exceeded the method is completed, otherwise continuing to step i;

i. deleting an entry having the lowest usage other than the most recent manually dialed call and if there is a tie between entries for the lowest usage, deleting the lowest usage entry that is the least recently used;

j. skipping ahead to step 1;

k. updating a usage count value and a last used date for the dialed number, and

l. storing the sorted list in said memory for use upon a next telephone call.