Method of readily reading a received message and mobile telephone using the same

• US 6,195,544 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimazaki, Sadayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/157,538
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/415, 455/519, 455/186.1, 455/518, 455/414, 455/550, 455/575, 455/422, 455/466, 455/413, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

In a mobile telephone, received messages can be readily confirmed and are grouped to be readily read. The mobile telephone includes a storage unit, a unit for setting a plurality of groups, and a unit for storing message data. Each of a plurality of telephone numbers is allocated to any of the plurality of groups. The unit for storing message data stores the message data into a storage region of the storage unit corresponding to at least one of the plurality of groups based on an identifier corresponding to the message data when the message data corresponding to one selected from the plurality of telephone numbers is received.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating transmitted messages, in a mobile telephone, comprising the steps of:

setting a plurality of groups;

allocating each of a plurality of telephone numbers to any one of said plurality of groups; and

when message data corresponding to one selected from among said plurality of telephone numbers is received, storing said message data into a storage region corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups based upon an identifier corresponding to said message data,

wherein said step of storing said message data includes;

when said message data is received, judging whether or not a specific telephone number corresponding to said message data is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers allocated to any one of said plurality of groups;

when said specific telephone number is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers, storing said message data into said storage region corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups, which is allocated with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers, which is coincident with said specific telephone number; and

when said specific telephone number is not coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers, storing said message data into a remaining storage region other than the plurality of storage regions corresponding to said plurality of groups.

2. A method of manipulating transmitted messages in a mobile telephone, comprising the steps of:

setting a plurality of groups;

allocating each of a plurality of telephone numbers to any one of said plurality of groups; and

when message data corresponding to one selected from among said plurality of telephone numbers is received, storing said message data into a storage region corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups based upon an identifier corresponding to said message data,

wherein said step of setting a plurality of groups includes

entering one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

entering a name of any one group of said plurality of groups, which name is allocated with said entered telephone number, and

allocating said storage region to said group having said entered name.

3. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

reading said stored message data.

4. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 3, wherein said step of reading said message data includes:

designating at least one of said plurality of groups; and

reading said message data stored in said storage region corresponding to said at least designated one of said plurality of groups.

5. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 4, wherein said step of designating at least one of said plurality of groups includes:

displaying a list of names previously entered for said plurality of groups.

6. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 3, wherein said step of reading said message data includes:

in response to a message data readout request sent from an external appliance, outputting said message data which is stored in at least one of said plurality of storage regions corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups designated by said message data readout request.

7. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of setting a plurality of groups, further comprising the step of:

allocating each of a plurality of notification sounds different from each other to one of said plurality of groups to notify the reception of said message data.

8. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 7, wherein said each of notification sounds is previously allocated to one of said plurality of groups, and

wherein said step of storing said message data further comprises the step of:

when said message data is received, producing one of said notification sounds which is allocated to any one of said plurality of groups based on said identifier corresponding to said message data.

9. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of setting a plurality of groups includes allocating said entered telephone number to any one of said plurality of groups.

10. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of setting a plurality of groups includes allocating said entered telephone number to at least two groups of said plurality of groups.

11. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of setting a plurality of groups includes:

entering a first one of said plurality of telephone numbers;

entering a name of a first one among said plurality of groups, which is allocated with said first telephone number;

allocating a first memory area of said storage region to said first group;

entering a second one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

entering as a second name, a name of a specific one of said plurality of groups, which is allocated with said second telephone number;

judging whether or not said second name is coincident with the name of said first group;

when said second name is not coincident with the name of said first group, allocating a second memory area of said storage region to said specific group, and

wherein said step of storing said message data includes;

storing said first telephone number into said first memory area;

when said second name is coincident with the name of said first group, storing said second telephone number into said first memory area; and

when said second name is not coincident with the name of said first group, storing said second telephone number into said second memory area.

12. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

displaying a list of said entered names of said plurality of groups.

13. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of storing said message data includes:

storing said message data into said storage region where a single message data can be stored.

14. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of storing said message data includes:

storing a plurality of said message data into said storage region.

15. A method of manipulating transmitted messages according to claim 2, wherein said step of storing said message data includes:

when said message data is received, judging whether or not a specific telephone number corresponding to said message data is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers allocated to any one of said plurality of groups; and

determining said storage region used to store said message data based on said judgment result.

16. A mobile telephone comprising:

a storage unit;

means for setting a plurality of groups, each of a plurality of telephone numbers being allocated to any one of said plurality of groups; and

means for storing message data into a storage region of said storage unit corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups based upon an identifier corresponding to said message data when said message data corresponding to one selected from said plurality of telephone numbers is received,

wherein said means for storing said message data includes;

means for judging whether or not a specific telephone number corresponding to said message data is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers allocated to any one of said plurality of groups when said message data is received;

means for storing said message data into said storage region corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups, which is allocated with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers, which is coincident with said specific telephone number when said specific telephone number is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers; and

means for storing said message data into a remaining storage region other than the plurality of storage regions corresponding to said plurality of groups when said specific telephone number is not coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers.

17. A mobile telephone comprising:

a storage unit;

means for setting a plurality of groups, each of a plurality of telephone numbers being allocated to any one of said plurality of groups; and

means for storing message data into a storage region of said storage unit corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups based upon an identifier corresponding to said message data when said message data corresponding to one selected from said plurality of telephone numbers is received,

wherein said means for setting a plurality of groups, further includes

means for entering one of said plurality of telephone numbers,

means for entering a name of any one group of said plurality of groups, which is allocated with said entered telephone number, and

means for allocating said storage region to said group having said entered name.

18. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for reading said message data from said storage unit.

19. A mobile telephone according to claim 18, wherein said means for reading said message data includes:

means for designating at least one of said plurality of groups; and

means for reading said message data stored in said storage region corresponding to said designated one of said plurality of groups.

20. A mobile telephone according to claim 19, wherein said means for designating at least one of said plurality of groups includes:

means for displaying a list of names previously entered for said plurality of groups.

21. A mobile telephone according to claim 18, wherein said means for reading said message data includes:

in response to a message data readout request sent from an external appliance, outputting said message data which is stored in at least one of said plurality of storage regions corresponding to at least one of said plurality of groups designated by said message data readout request.

22. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for setting a plurality of groups, further comprises:

a plurality of units respectively allocated to said plurality of groups, wherein one of said plurality of units corresponding to said message notifies the reception of said message data.

23. A mobile telephone according to claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of units is previously allocated to one of said plurality of groups, and

wherein said means for storing said message data further comprises:

means for producing one of a plurality of notification sounds which one sound is allocated to any one of said plurality of groups based upon said identifier corresponding to said message data when said message data is received.

24. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for setting a plurality of groups includes:

means for allocating said entered telephone number to any one of said plurality of groups.

25. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for setting a plurality of groups includes:

means for allocating said entered telephone number to at least two groups of said plurality of groups.

26. A mobile telephone according to claim 17 wherein said means for setting a plurality of groups includes:

means for entering a first one of said plurality of telephone numbers;

means for entering a name of a first one of said plurality of groups, which is allocated with said first telephone number;

means for allocating a first memory area of said storage region to said first group;

means for entering a second one of said plurality of telephone numbers;

means for entering as a second name, a name of a specific one of said plurality of groups which is allocated with said second telephone number;

means for judging whether or not said second name is coincident with the name of said first group; and

means for allocating a second memory area of storage region to said specific group when said second name is not coincident with the name of said first group, and

wherein said means for storing said message data includes;

means for storing said first telephone number into said first memory area;

means for storing said second telephone number into said first memory area when said second name is coincident with the name of said first group; and

means for storing said second telephone number into said second memory area when said second name is not coincident with the name of said first group.

27. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for displaying a list of said entered names of said plurality of groups.

28. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for storing said message data stores said message data into said storage region where a single message data can be stored.

29. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for storing said message data stores a plurality of said message data into said storage region.

30. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, wherein said means for storing said message data includes:

means for judging whether or not a specific telephone number corresponding to said message data is coincident with any one of said plurality of telephone numbers allocated to any one of said plurality of groups when said message data is received; and

means for determining said storage region for storing said message data based on the judgment result.