Automatic sorting system and method for electronic telephone directory

• US 6,731,746 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Usami, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, KAREN L
• Application Number:
  US09/593,774
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 379/354, 379/356.01, 379/201.03, 379/114.29, 709/220
• US Class Current: 379/356.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

An automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory to sort telephone numbers in the electronic telephone directory prepares a calling information list which indicates an expected calling frequency in each day of the week and time period on the basis of a priority numerical value of the telephone numbers according to the calling times and function setting conditions of the telephone numbers in each day of the week and time period; and automatically sorts and indicates the telephone numbers in lowering order of the expected calling frequency with reference to the calling information list for days of the week and time periods when the electronic telephone directory is opened.

Claims

1. An automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory to sort telephone numbers in the electronic telephone directory, comprising:

a calling information list indicating an expected outgoing calling frequency in each day of the week and time period on the basis of a priority numerical value of the telephone numbers according to the outgoing calling times and function setting conditions of the telephone numbers in each day of the week and time period; and

telephone number sorting means which automatically sorts and indicates the telephone numbers in lowering order of the expected outgoing calling frequency with reference to the calling information list for days of the week and time periods when the electronic telephone directory is opened.

2. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

3. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

4. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

5. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expressed calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

6. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

7. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

8. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

9. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

10. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is expressed as follows:

11. The automatic sorting system for an electronic telephone directory according to claim 1, wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is alternatively selected from the following:

12. An automatic sorting method for an electronic telephone directory to sort telephone numbers in the electronic telephone directory, comprising:

a step for preparing as a calling information list an expected outgoing calling frequency in each day of the week and time period according to a priority numerical value of the telephone numbers according to the outgoing calling times and function setting conditions of the telephone numbers in each day of the week and time period; and

a step for automatically sorting and indicating the telephone numbers in lowering order of the expected outgoing calling frequency with reference to the calling information list for days of the week and time periods when the electronic telephone directory is opened.

13. An automatic sorting system for sorting telephone numbers in an electronic telephone directory, comprising:

means for preparing a time situation information list indicating the calling times of telephone numbers in each day and time for every user;

means for preparing a function setting situation information list indicating priority numerical values of the telephone numbers according to a function setting condition for every user;

means for calculating an expected calling frequency in each day of the week and time period according to the calling times of telephone numbers in each day and time and the priority numerical values of the telephone numbers; and

telephone number sorting means which automatically sorts and indicates the telephone numbers in lowering order of the expected calling frequency for days of the week and time periods when the electronic telephone directory is opened;

wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is selected from the following;

14. An automatic sorting method for sorting telephone numbers in an electronic telephone directory, comprising the steps of:

preparing a time situation information list indicating the calling times of telephone numbers in each day and time for every user;

preparing a function setting situation information list indicating priority numerical values of the telephone numbers according to a function setting condition for every user;

calculating an expected calling frequency in each day of the week and time period according to the calling times of telephone numbers in each day and time and the priority numerical values of the telephone numbers; and

automatically sorting and indicating the telephone numbers in lowering order of the expected calling frequency for days of the week and time periods when the electronic telephone directory is opened;

wherein said expected calling frequency (Sab) is selected from the following;