Cellular telephone having simplified user interface for storing and retrieving telephone numbers

• US 5,926,769 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindberg, Henrik, Valimaa, Veli-Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/801,773
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 455/564-566, 379/354, 379/355, 379/356, 379/914
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

In a first embodiment a method includes the steps of (a) entering n numeric characters from a keypad; (b) detecting the entry of the n^th numeric character; and (c) storing n-1 of the entered characters in a multi-location telephone number memory at a location specified by the n^th numeric character. In one embodiment the step of detecting includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th numeric character is depressed for an amount of time that exceeds a predetermined duration, while in another embodiment the step of detecting includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th numeric character is depressed a plurality of times within a period that is less than a predetermined duration. In a further embodiment the step (c) stores a first n-m of the entered characters in a multi-location telephone number memory, where m is equal to or greater than one, at a location specified by the m^th character or characters. In a still further embodiment the step (c) stores a first n-m of the entered characters in a specified location of a specified one of a plurality of multi-location telephone number memories, wherein m is greater than one, and wherein both the location and the multi-location telephone number memory are specified by the m^th characters.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless communicator to store a telephone nuumber into a memory of the wireless communicator, comprising the steps of:

entering n consecutive numeric characters from a keypad without entering a non-numeric character;

measuring a duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th numeric character; and

storing the first n-1 of the entered characters in a multi-location telephone number memory at a location specified by the n^th numeric character.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th numeric character is depressed for an amount of time that exceeds a predetermined duration.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th numeric character is depressed a plurality of times within a period that is less than a predetermined duration.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of storing includes preliminary steps of:

reading the specified location; and

determining if the specified location is empty;

if the specified location is determined to be empty, then storing the first n-1 of the entered characters in the specified location;

else,

if the specified location is determined not to be empty, prompting a user as to whether to store the first n-1 of the entered characters in the specified location, and

storing the first n-1 of the entered characters in the specified location only if an affirmative response is received from the user.

5. A method for operating a wireless communicator to store a telephone number into a memory of the wireless communicator, comprising the steps of:

entering n consecutive characters from a keypad using characters selected from a set of keys consisting of numeric keys 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9;

measuring a duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th character; and

storing a first n-m of the entered characters in a multi-location telephone number memory, where m is equal to or greater than one, at a location specified by the m^th character or characters.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed for an amount of time that exceeds a predetermined duration.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed a plurality or times within a period that is less than a predetermined duration.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of storing includes preliminary steps of:

reading the specified location; and

determining if the specified location is empty;

if the specified location is determined to be empty, then storing the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location;

else,

if the specified location is determined not to be empty, prompting a user as to whether to store the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location, and

storing the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location only if an affirmative response is received from the user.

9. A method for operating a wireless communicator to store a telephone number into a memory of the wireless communicator, comprising the steps of:

entering n consecutive characters from a keypad using characters selected from a set of keys consisting of numeric keys 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9;

measuring a duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th character; and

storing a first n-m of the entered characters in a specified location of a specified one of a plurality of multi-location telephone number memories, wherein m is greater than one, and wherein both the location and the multi-location telephone number memory are specified by the last entered m^th characters.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed for an amount of time that exceeds a predetermined duration.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of measuring includes a step of detecting that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed a plurality of times within a period that is less than a predetermined duration.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of storing includes preliminary steps of:

reading the specified location in the specified multi-location telephone number memory; and

determining if the specified location is empty;

if the specified location is determined to be empty, then storing the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location;

else,

if the specified location is determined not to be empty, prompting a user as to whether to store the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location, and

storing the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location only if an affirmative response is received from the user.

13. A wireless communicator comprising a keypad, a display, a memory, and a controller coupled to said keypad, display and memory, said controller operating under the control of a stored program to enter n consecutive characters from said keypad and for measuring a duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th character, said controller further operating to store a first n-m of the entered characters into a specified location of at least one multi-location telephone number memory that forms a portion of said memory, wherein at least the location is specified by the m^th character or characters, wherein the n characters are entered from the keypad using characters selected from a set of keys consisting of numeric keys 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

14. A wireless communicator as set forth in claim 13, wherein there are a plurality of said multi-location telephone number memories, and wherein an identity of one of said plurality of multi-location telephone number memories is also specified by at least one of said m^th characters.

15. A wireless communicator as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller further operates, when measuring the duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th character, to determine that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed for an amount of time that exceeds a predetermined duration.

16. A wireless communicator as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller further operates, when measuring the duration of at least one keypress for designating the entry of the n^th character, to determine that a keypad key used to enter the n^th character is depressed a plurality of times within a period that is less than a predetermined duration.

17. A wireless communicator as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller further operates, upon designating the entry of n^th character, to read the specified location in the multi-location telephone number memory and to determine if the specified location is empty;

if the specified location is determined to be empty, said controller operates to store the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location;

else, if the specified location is determined not to be empty, said controller operates said display to prompt a user as to whether to store the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location, and thereafter stores the first n-m of the entered characters in the specified location only if an affirmative response is received from the user.

18. A wireless communicator as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller is further operative to detect a predetermined keypad key depression characteristic, during a time when no numeric keypad keys have been previously depressed and buffered, to read a location in the multi-location telephone number memory that is specified by the depressed keypad key, and to display on said display a telephone number that is stored in said location.