Method for retrieval of stored telephone numbers in a radio communication device

• US 6,430,405 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jambhekar, Shrirang N., Pisutha-Arnond, S. Num, Bleimann, Gregor E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/206,476
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/564, 455/415, 455/418, 455/414, 455/403, 379/355, 379/356, 379/93.19, 379/100.14, 379/93.23, 379/93.17, 379/354, 379/216, 379/201, 379/202, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.03, 379/355.05, 379/355.07, 379/356.01, 379/216.01, 379/201.04, 379/355.09
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

The unique method for implementing icons in a radio communication device (103) which provides a plurality of radio communication services such as radiotelephone, facsimile and electronic mail services enables a more efficient user interface. The radio communication device preferably comprises a touch screen display (119) for displaying functional icons stored with directory numbers to simplify the retrieval of information and the transmission of messages. In particular, functional icons associated with one of the plurality of communications services can enable easier searching of directories or transmission of messages when stored in connection with directory numbers.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving telephone numbers in a radio communication device, the radio communication device having a memory and a graphical display, the method comprising the steps of:

searching a plurality of telephone numbers stored in the memory, each of the plurality of telephone numbers having an associated graphical icon wherein said associated graphical icon is one of a plurality of predetermined graphical icons, each of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons different from each other and further defining said telephone number;

choosing a first telephone number and associated graphical icon; and

displaying said first telephone number and the associated graphical icon on the graphical display, wherein said step of searching comprises the step of searching said plurality of telephone numbers to determine which of said plurality of telephone numbers are selected icon telephone numbers associated with a first one of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons, and wherein said step of choosing a first telephone number comprises the step of choosing said selected icon telephone numbers, and wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of displaying said selected icon telephone numbers and said first one of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons on the graphical display.

2. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons represents one of a plurality of radio communication services.

3. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of radio communication services includes facsimile services, paging services, e-mail services, data services, video services and short messaging services.

4. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 1 wherein two or more of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons represents one of a plurality of radio communication services.

5. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of radio communication services includes facsimile services, paging services, e-mail services, data services, video services and short messaging services.

6. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 4 wherein said two or more of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons comprise a first portion of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons and wherein a second portion of said plurality of predetermined graphical icons represents a category of telephone numbers.

7. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 6 wherein a category of telephone numbers includes office telephone numbers, home telephone numbers and mobile telephone numbers.

8. A method in a radio communication device comprising:

selecting a name from a plurality of names stored in the radio communication device;

displaying a plurality of graphical icons associated with the name selected upon selecting the name,

each of the plurality of graphical icons associated with no more than one corresponding address associated with the name selected; and

displaying an address associated with the name selected upon selecting one of the graphical icons displayed.

9. A method of retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 8, dialing the address where the address is a telephone number.

10. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 8, each graphical icon representing one of a plurality of radio communication services.

11. The method for retrieving telephone numbers according to claim 10, the plurality of radio communication services includes facsimile service, paging services, e-mail services, data services, video services and short messaging services.