System and method for matching calls to electronic phonebook entries

• US 6,449,475 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chinnaswami, Karthick
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US09/469,059
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/414, 455/418, 455/567, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/142.01, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party

Abstract

A system (36, 38) for accurately matching a phone call to a corresponding entry in an electronic phonebook (40) adapted for use with a telephone (10). The system (36, 38) includes a first mechanism (38) for identifying the phone call and providing a phone number in response thereto. A second mechanism (38) determines a home area code associated with the phone. A third mechanism (38) employs the home area code and the phone number to accurately match the phone call to a corresponding entry in the electronic phonebook (40) whether or not entries in the electronic phonebook (40) contain area codes. In a specific embodiment, the first mechanism (38) includes a mechanism (38) for identifying the phone call as an incoming or outgoing call. A caller identification system (38) identifies incoming calls and provides the phone number in response thereto. Another mechanism (38) stores an outgoing number dialed by the user and provides the outgoing number as the phone number in response thereto. The area code of the wireless phone (10) is stored in on a computer (36). The third mechanism (38) prepends digits, based on the area code, to the phone number if the phone number is seven digits in length and provides an adjusted number in response thereto. The third mechanism (38) includes another mechanism (38) for adjusting entries in the electronic phonebook (40) that have only seven digits by prepending the digits based on the area code to the seven-digit phonebook entries and providing adjusted entries in response thereto. An additional mechanism (38) compares the adjusted number to entries in the electronic phonebook (36) including the adjusted entries and provides a match signal in response thereto as an output of the third mechanism (38) if the adjusted number matches an entry in the electronic phonebook (40).

Claims

1. A system for accurately matching a phone call to a corresponding entry in an electronic phonebook comprising:

first means for identifying a phone number corresponding to said phone call and providing said phone number in response thereto;

second means for determining a home area code; and

third means for employing said home area code and at least a portion of said phone number to accurately match said phone call to a corresponding entry in said electronic phonebook whether or not entries in said electronic phonebook contain area codes, wherein;

said first means includes means for identifying said phone call as an incoming or outgoing call;

said third means includes means for prepending digits based on said area code to said phone number if said phone number is seven digits in length and providing an adjusted number in response thereto;

said third means includes means for adjusting entries in said electronic phonebook that have only seven digits by prepending said digits based on said area code to said seven-digit phonebook entries and providing adjusted entries in response thereto; and

said third means includes means for comparing said adjusted number to entries in said electronic phonebook including said adjusted entries and providing a match signal in response thereto as an output of said third means if said adjusted number matches an entry in said electronic phonebook.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a caller identification system for identifying incoming calls and providing said phone number in response thereto.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first means includes means for storing an outgoing number dialed by a user and providing said outgoing number as said phone number in response thereto.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a computer for storing said area code of a wireless phone associated with said electronic phonebook.

5. A method for accurately matching a phone call to a corresponding entry in an electronic phonebook comprising the steps of:

identifying said phone call and providing a phone number in response thereto;

determining a home area code;

employing said home area code and at least a portion of said phone number to accurately match said phone call to a corresponding entry in said electronic phonebook whether or not entries in said electronic phonebook contain area codes;

identifying said phone call as an incoming or outgoing call;

prepending digits based on said area code to said phone number if said phone number is seven digits in length and providing an adjusted number in response thereto;

adjusting entries in said electronic phonebook that have only seven digits by prepending said digits based on said area code to said seven-digit phonebook entries and providing adjusted entries in response thereto; and

comparing said adjusted number to entries in said electronic phonebook including said adjusted entries and providing a match signal in response thereto as an output of said third means if said adjusted number matches an entry in said electronic phonebook.