Electronic data searching method and apparatus

• US 6,502,090 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Raisanen, Harri
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US09/052,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-206, 709/226-238
• US Class Current: 707/721
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A mobile communications device has a display screen (1), Down-Scroll and Up-Scroll switches (3,4), left and right soft switches (5,6), and a memory (9) for storing a directory of names and respective telephone numbers. In a search mode operation mode, one of the stored names is displayed on the display screen (1) and a Search Key is defined as the first character of that name. Using the right soft switch (6), the Search Key can be extended to include one or more subsequent characters of the displayed name. Using the left soft switch (5), the Search Key can be shortened to remove characters from the key. The stored directory can then be searched in alphabetical order to identify a first subsequent entry not commencing with the extended search key and the identified entry displayed if one exists.

Claims

1. A method of searching an entry from a directory of alphanumeric entries stored in electronic form in the memory of an electronic device having a display and at least one user actuatable search switch, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) displaying one of said entries on the display and defining as a search key the first character of that entry;

(2) using said search switch to extend the search key to include one or more subsequent characters of the displayed entry; and

(3) searching the directory of entries in alphabetical order to identify a first subsequent entry not commencing with the extended search key, and displaying the identified entry if one exists.

2. A method according to claim 1 and comprising in step (2) initially defining the search key as a null string and, upon activation of the search switch, redefining the search key as the first character of the displayed entry.

3. A method according to claim 1 and comprising extending the search key by one character each time the search switch is actuated.

4. A method according to claim 1 and comprising responding to actuation of a second search switch to shorten the extended search key by removing one or more of said subsequent characters from the search key.

5. A method according to claim 4 and comprising shortening the search key by one character each time the second search switch is actuated.

6. A method according to claim 1 and comprising redefining, following the search, the search key as the first character or characters of the identified entry, sufficient to distinguish the search key by one character from the beginning of the previously displayed name.

7. A method according to claim 6 and comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) based upon the new extended search key and the newly displayed entry.

8. A method according to claim 1 and comprising commencing searching of the directory of entries using the search key following actuation of the first mentioned search switch for a period of time greater than a predetermined initial time period.

9. A method according to claim 1 and comprising:

repeating steps (b) and (c) based upon the new extended search key and the newly displayed entry;

commencing searching of the directory of entries using the search key following actuation of the first mentioned search switch for a period of time greater than a predetermined initial time period; and

following the elapse of each further predetermined time period after the initial time period, repeating step (c) using the new extended search key.

10. A method according to claim 9 and comprising, in response to actuation and subsequent deactuation of the search switch before elapse of the initial time period, determining if the next entry in alphabetical order commences with the extended search key and, If yes, then stopping the search and continuing to display the currently displayed entry and, If no, then defining the next entry as said identified entry and displaying that next entry.

11. A method according to claim 1 and comprising restricting the search in step (c) to those entries which differ from the Search Key only by the final character of the Search Key.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the search continues cyclically for the entries searched.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising making said search key visible on the display.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said making step comprises distinguishing said search key from other characters of the displayed entry.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said making step comprises underlining characters of the search key.

16. Apparatus having an electronic memory for storing an existing directory of alphanumeric entries, the apparatus further comprising:

a display;

at least one user actuatable search switch; and

signal processing means coupled to said user actuatable switch, for detecting actuation thereof, and to said display, the signal processing means being arranged to display one of said entries in said existing directory on the display and to define as a search key the first character of that entry, to respond to actuation of the search switch by extending the search key to include one or more subsequent characters of the displayed entry to define an extended search key, to search the directory of entries in alphabetical order to identify a first subsequent entry not commencing with the extended search key, and to display the identified entry if one exists.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said search key is visible on the display.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said search key is distinguishable from other characters of the displayed entry.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein characters of the search key are underlined.

20. A mobile communications device comprising:

a display;

at least one user actuatable search switch; and

signal processing means coupled to said user actuatable switch, for detecting actuation thereof, and to said display, the signal processing means being arranged to display one of said entries in an existing directory on the display and to define as a search key the first character of that entry, to respond to actuation of the search switch by extending the search key to include one or more subequent characters of a displayed entry to define an extended search key, to search the directory of entries in alphabetical order to identify a first subsequent entry not commencing with the extended search key, and to display the indentified entry if one exists.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein said search key is visible on the display.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said search key is distinguishable from other characters of the displayed entry.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein characters of the search key are underlined.