Method of anticipatory dialing

• US 6,608,895 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tadiran Telecom Business Systems Ltd. (Tiv Taam Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tadiran Telecom Business Systems Ltd. (Tiv Taam Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Avidan, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAROLD, JEFFEREY F
• Application Number:
  US09/186,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 379/354, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.05, 379/356.01, 379/359
• US Class Current: 379/355.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

A method of anticipating an access code such as a telephone number. A database of reference access codes is provided. As each character of a new access code is dialed, the database is searched for reference access codes that have the same leading digits. If one match is found, that matching reference access code is displayed to allow the user to call it without dialing new characters. If more than one match is found, the matching reference access codes are ranked according to a selection criterion. Preferably, the database includes an indication of the history of usage of the reference access codes and the selection criterion is based on the usage histories of the reference access codes, for example, according to their times of most recent usage, and also according to other criteria such as current day of the week. The highest ranking reference code is displayed. If the user completes dialing with no match found, then the newly dialed access code is included in the database.

Claims

1. In a communications system that includes a data input device and a display device that displays data entered on the data input device, wherein a user initiates a session by entering a desired one of a plurality of access codes, each of the access codes having a certain number of characters greater than 1, a method for completing entry of a target access code after the user has entered a number N of the characters of the target access code, N being at least 1 but less than the number of characters in the target access code, and for initiating the session, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database of a plurality of reference access codes, each of said reference access codes having a plurality of characters;

(b) initially entering a number N of the characters of the target access code in the data input device and displaying the entered numbers on the display;

(c) identifying, from among said plurality of reference access codes, at least one candidate access code having at least N+1 characters, a first N of said at least N+1 characters being identical to the N characters entered by the user;

(d) displaying on the display those characters of the candidate access code that are in excess to the entered N characters;

(e) if a plurality of said candidate access codes are identified;

(i) providing a selection criterion for selecting only one of said plurality of said candidate access codes, and

(ii) selecting one of said plurality of candidate access codes to use to complete the target access code, said selecting being based on said selection criterion;

(f) if the displayed characters are the characters of the desired access code, initiating the session;

(g) if the displayed characters are not the characters of the desired access code, entering at least an additional character in the data input device and displaying said entered character or characters on said display device;

(h) repeating steps “

c”

through “

g”

until the desired access code is displayed or until all of the characters of the desired access code have been entered, wherein N is now the initially entered characters and the entered additional character or characters;

wherein the access code is a telephone number to be dialed by the communication system; and

further comprising the step of;

(i) automatically dialing the candidate telephone number when a predetermined time has elapsed after a character has been entered.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said database includes, for each said reference access code, an indication of a history of prior usage, and wherein said selection criterion is based on said indication of said history of prior usage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said indication of said history of prior usage includes, for each said at least one reference access code, a time of most recent usage.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

(d) replacing said time of most recent usage of said selected candidate access code with a current time.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, if a plurality of said at least one candidate access code is identified, said selecting of one of said at least one candidate access code is effected by steps including assigning a rank to each of said plurality of candidate access codes, said one of said plurality of candidate access codes that is selected then being said candidate access code having a highest said rank.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(i) for each of said plurality of reference access codes, assigning an age of most recent usage based on said time of most recent usage.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said rank decreases with said age of most recent usage.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said time of most recent usage includes a time of day of most recent usage, and wherein said rank is based on said time of day of most recent usage and on a current time of day.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said time of most recent usage includes a day of week of most recent usage, and wherein said rank is based on said day of week of most recent usage and on a current day of week.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said time of most recent usage includes a date of most recent usage, and wherein said rank is based on said date of most recent usage and on a current date.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

(i) entering the entire target access code, by the user; and

(j) if none of said plurality of reference access codes is identical to the target access code, inserting the target access code in the database as a new reference access code having a current time as said time of most recent usage thereof.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

(i) for each of said plurality of reference access codes, assigning a age of most recent usage based on said time of most recent usage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(j) providing a deletion age; and

(k) removing from said database each of said plurality of reference access codes for which said age of most recent usage exceeds said deletion age.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein said providing of said database is effected by steps including storing access codes entered by the user in an ordered stack, said order providing said indication of said history of prior usage.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein, if a plurality of said at least one candidate access code is identified, said selecting of one of said at least one candidate access code is effected by steps including assigning a rank to each of said plurality of candidate access codes, said one of said plurality of candidate access codes that is selected then being said candidate access code having a highest said rank.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(i) entering the entire target access code, by the user; and

(j) if none of said plurality of reference access codes is identical to the target access code, inserting the target access code in the database as a new reference access code.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing of said selection criterion is effected by steps including:

(A) providing a plurality of candidate criteria; and

(B) selecting one of said candidate criteria as said selection criterion.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is for dialing a telephone number on a communications device having a dial button, and wherein said session is initiated by activating said dial button.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said entered characters are displayed in a first format and said excess characters of the candidate access code are displayed in a second format which is different from said first format.