Telephone directory address storing method and information terminal having telephone function as well as storage medium on which program therefor is recorded

• US 6,792,090 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yosikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/392,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.13, 379/142.15, 379/142.17, 379/201.02, 379/201.04, 379/218.01, 379/245, 379/247, 709/328, 709/329, 700/17, 700/214, 345/619, 345/1.2
• US Class Current: 379/142.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party

Abstract

A telephone directory address storing method and an information terminal by which telephone directory information is efficiently managed to achieve augmentation of the operability. The information terminal includes a display section, a storage section, an inputting section, a circuit interface section, and a control section for controlling the entire information terminal. The control section has a function of drawing a window delineated by closed line segments on the display section. The display section draws a first window displayed most forwardly with respect to any other window, fetches a character train selected on a second window into the first window through the storage section, waits a call origination instruction from the inputting section in the first window, dials in response to a call origination instruction from the inputting section through the circuit interface section, and simultaneously stores the character train selected on the second window into a telephone directory address storage section.

Claims

1. A telephone directory address storing method for an information terminal which has an operating system operable to display a plurality of window screens on a display unit and which is provided with a telephone function, the method comprising:

displaying at least first and second windows on the display simultaneously, wherein the first window is operable to display a selected telephone number for dialing and the second window is operable to display character information from which the selected telephone number is selected;

selecting the character information on the second window and storing the selected character information;

extracting a telephone number from within the selected and stored character information;

originating a telephone call to a telephone circuit based on the extracted telephone number, wherein the telephone call is originated from the first window; and

transferring and storing all of the selected character information to and into a telephone directory address storage section.

2. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character information stored in said telephone directory address storage section is read out, and a telephone number is extracted from within the read out character information, and a telephone call is originated to said telephone circuit based on the extracted telephone number.

3. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telephone directory address storage section is partitioned into a plurality of item columns, and character information corresponding to each of the items is extracted from the selected character information and transferred to and stored in a respective item column.

4. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telephone directory address storage section has a history column, and history information is stored into said history column of a pertaining telephone number when a telephone call origination operation is performed or in response to inputting of characters from an operation section.

5. A telephone directory address storing method by an information terminal which has an operating system by which a plurality of window screens can be displayed on a display unit and is provided with a telephone function, comprising:

displaying a first window for controlling origination of a telephone call;

selecting character information on a second window initiated by said operating system and displayed separately from and simultaneously with said first window and storing the selected character information;

extracting a telephone number from within the stored character information;

displaying the telephone number on said first window;

originating a telephone call to a telephone circuit based on the telephone number displayed on said first window; and

transferring and storing all of the selected character information to and into a telephone directory address storage section.

6. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein character information selected from within reception information displayed on said second window is stored, and the stored character information is transferred to and stored into said telephone directory address storage section.

7. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the character information stored in said telephone directory address storage section is read out, and a telephone number is extracted from within the read out character information, and a telephone call is originated to said telephone circuit based on the extracted telephone number.

8. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said telephone directory address storage section is sectioned into a plurality of item columns, and character information corresponding to each of the items is extracted from the selected character information and transferred to and stored into a corresponding item column.

9. A telephone directory address storing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said telephone directory address storage section has a history column, and history information is stored into said history column of a pertaining telephone number when a telephone call origination operation is performed or in response to inputting of characters from an operation section.

10. An information terminal having a telephone function and having an operating system which allows a plurality of window screens to be displayed on a display unit, the information terminal comprising:

character information selection means for selecting character information displayed on a second window screen initiated by said operating system;

storage means for storing the character information selected by said character information selection means;

means for extracting a telephone number from within the character information stored in said storage means;

means for outputting the telephone number extracted by said means for extracting a telephone number to a first window in order to originate a telephone call to a telephone circuit, wherein the first and second windows are displayed on the display unit simultaneously; and

telephone directory address storage means for storing the character information stored in said storage means as address information.

11. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for reading out the character information stored in said telephone directory address storage means, extracting a telephone number from within the read out character information, and originating a telephone call to a circuit based on the extracted telephone number.

12. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 10, wherein said telephone directory address storage means is sectioned into more than one item column, and includes item comparison memory means for extracting character information corresponding to each of the items corresponding to the item columns from within the selected character information and transferring and storing the character information to and into the pertaining item column.

13. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 11, wherein said item comparison memory means stores characters relating to the items, and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character information selected by said character information selection means, the character information with the characters stored in said item comparison memory means and stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into the pertaining item column of said telephone directory address storage means.

14. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes an address comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said address comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into an address column of said telephone directory address storage section.

15. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

16. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a post comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said post comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a post column of said telephone directory address storage section.

17. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a mail comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said mail comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a mail column of said telephone directory address storage section.

18. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a FAX comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said FAX comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a FAX column of said telephone directory address storage section.

19. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a division comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said division comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a division column of said telephone directory address storage section.

20. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a company name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said company name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a company name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

21. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for storing, when a telephone call to said telephone circuit is originated, a call origination history into a history column of said telephone directory address storage section.

22. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for inputting characters from an operation section to store the call origination history into a history column of said telephone directory address storage section.

23. An information terminal having a telephone function and having an operating system which allows a plurality of window screens to be displayed on a display unit, comprising:

means for displaying a first window for controlling origination of a telephone call;

means initiated by said operating system for displaying a second window on the display unit concurrently with the first window;

character information selection means for selecting character information displayed on said second window screen;

storage means for storing the character information selected by said character information selection means;

means for extracting a telephone number from within the character information stored in said storage means and displaying the telephone number on said first window;

means for outputting the telephone number displayed on said first window in order to originate a telephone call to a telephone circuit; and

telephone directory address storage means for storing the character information stored in said storage means as address information.

24. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

means for displaying reception information on said second window;

character information selection means for selecting character information from within the reception information displayed on said second window screen;

storage means for storing the character information selected by said character information selection means; and

telephone directory address storage means for storing the character information stored in said storage means as address information.

25. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for reading out the character information stored in said telephone directory address storage means, extracting a telephone number from within the read out character information, and originating a telephone call to a circuit based on the extracted telephone number.

26. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 23, wherein said telephone directory address storage means is sectioned into more than one item column, and includes item comparison memory means for extracting character information corresponding to each of the items from within the selected character information and transferring and storing the character information to and into the pertaining item column.

27. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 26, wherein said item comparison memory means stores characters relating to the items, and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character information selected by said character information selection means, the character information with the characters stored in said item comparison memory means and stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into the pertaining item column of said telephone directory address storage means.

28. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes an address comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said address comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into an address column of said telephone directory address storage section.

29. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

30. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a post comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said post comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a post column of said telephone directory address storage section.

31. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a mail comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said mail comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a mail column of said telephone directory address storage section.

32. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a FAX comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said FAX comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a FAX column of said telephone directory address storage section.

33. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a division comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window,

the character train with predetermined characters registered in said division comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a division column of said telephone directory address storage section.

34. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 27, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a company name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said company name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a company name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

35. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for storing, when a telephone call to said telephone circuit is originated, a call origination history into a history column of said telephone directory address storage section.

36. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for inputting characters from an operation section to store the call origination history into a history column of said telephone directory address storage section.

37. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 24, wherein said telephone directory address storage means is sectioned into more than one item column, and includes item comparison memory means for extracting character information corresponding to each of the items from within the selected character information and transferring and storing the character information to and into the pertaining item column.

38. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 37, wherein said item comparison memory means stores characters relating to the items, and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character information selected by said character information selection means, the character information with the characters stored in said item comparison memory means and stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into the pertaining item column of said telephone directory address storage means.

39. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes an address comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said address comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into an address column of said telephone directory address storage section.

40. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

41. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a post comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said post comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a post column of said telephone directory address storage section.

42. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a mail comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said mail comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a mail column of said telephone directory address storage section.

43. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a FAX comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said FAX comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a FAX column of said telephone directory address storage section.

44. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a division comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said division comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a division column of said telephone directory address storage section.

45. An information terminal having a telephone function as claimed in claim 38, wherein said item comparison memory means includes a company name comparison memory section and compares, when a character train other than a numeral is included in the character train fetched from said second window, the character train with predetermined characters registered in said company name comparison memory section, and then stores, when coincident characters are detected in the character train, the character train into a company name column of said telephone directory address storage section.

46. A storage medium on which a program is stored for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

displaying a first window for controlling origination of a telephone call;

selecting character information on a second window different from said first window and storing the selected character information, wherein said second window is displayed simultaneous with said first window;

extracting a telephone number from within the stored character information and displaying the telephone number on said first window;

originating a telephone call to a telephone circuit based on the telephone number displayed on said first window; and

transferring and storing the selected character information to and into a telephone directory address storage section.