Method of programming telephone numbers and identifiers in a telephone

• US 7,010,116 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Fleming, Hoyt A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Briney III, Walter F
• Application Number:
  US09/217,255
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 379/354, 379/70, 379/88.19, 379/88.15, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/356.01, 379/355.07, 379/355, 455/564
• US Class Current: 379/356.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading

Abstract

A method and telephone apparatus which detects when a telephone number has been entered into the telephone and determines if the entered telephone number has previously been stored in the memory of the telephone is provided. If the entered telephone number has not been previously stored, it is then stored into memory. In addition, the telephone automatically initiates a call to a remote computer and transmits the entered telephone number to the remote computer. The computer assigns an alphanumeric identifier to the telephone number and transmits the alphanumeric identifier back to the telephone which stores the alphanumeric identifier in the telephone memory in association with the telephone number. Accordingly, the telephone number can later be recalled and dialed through the use of the alphanumeric identifiers.

Claims

1. A method of programming telephone numbers and information corresponding to the telephone numbers into a telephone comprising:

detecting at a telephone a telephone number which has been entered into the telephone;

determining if the entered telephone number is already stored into a memory of the telephone;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in the memory of the telephone;

prompting a user to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into the memory of the telephone; and

storing the entered telephone number into the memory of the telephone only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored;

initiating from the telephone a telephone call to a computer;

transferring the entered telephone number to the computer;

receiving information associated with the entered telephone number from the computer;

storing the received information into the memory of the telephone in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein the computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by an electronic mail message and the act of receiving the information is performed by receiving the electronic message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone automatically prompts the user to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into the memory of the telephone if the entered telephone number is not stored in the memory of the telephone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the entered telephone number was entered into the telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed after a user has completed a telephone call to the entered telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed after a predetermined number of entered telephone numbers have been stored into the memory of the telephone.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the predetermined number of entered telephone numbers were stored into the memory of the telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed only during off peak time intervals.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of initiating a telephone call to a computer is performed after an entered telephone number has been entered a predetermined number times.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier associated with the entered telephone number which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number and an address associated with the entered telephone number.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the information associated with the entered telephone on a display of the telephone.

12. A method of programming telephone numbers and information corresponding to the telephone numbers into a telephone comprising:

detecting at a telephone a telephone number which has been entered into the telephone;

determining if the entered telephone number is already stored into a memory of the telephone;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in the memory of the telephone;

prompting a user to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into the memory of the telephone; and

storing the entered telephone number into the memory of the telephone only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored;

initiating from the telephone a telephone call to a computer;

transferring the entered telephone number to the computer;

receiving information associated with the entered telephone number from the computer;

storing the received information into the memory of the telephone in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein the computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by paging the telephone and the act of receiving the information is performed by receiving the page.

13. A telephone comprising:

an input device for inputting dialed telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a programmed processor, said programmed processor is programmed to;

detect a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determine if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory;

prompt a user to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into said memory; and

store the entered telephone number into said memory only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored

initiate a telephone call to a computer;

transfer the entered telephone number to the computer;

receive information associated with the entered telephone number from the computer;

store the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein the computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by paging the telephone and said processor is programmed to receive the information by receiving the page.

14. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to automatically prompt the user of said telephone to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into said memory if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory.

15. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the entered telephone number was entered into the telephone.

16. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer after a user has completed a telephone call to the entered telephone number.

17. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer after a predetermined number of entered telephone numbers have been stored into said memory.

18. The telephone of claim 17 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the predetermined number of entered telephone numbers were stored into said memory.

19. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer is only during off peak time intervals.

20. The telephone of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to the computer after an entered telephone number has been entered a predetermined number times.

21. The telephone of claim 13 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier associated with the entered telephone number which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number.

22. The telephone of claim 13 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number and an address associated with the entered telephone number.

23. The telephone of claim 13 further comprising a display for displaying the information associated with the entered telephone.

24. A telephone comprising:

an input device for inputting dialed telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a programmed processor, said programmed processor is programmed to;

detect a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determine if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory;

prompt a user to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into said memory; and

store the entered telephone number into said memory only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored

initiate a telephone call to a computer;

transfer the entered telephone number to the computer;

receive information associated with the entered telephone number from the computer;

store the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein the computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by an electronic mail message and said processor is programmed to receive the information by receiving the electronic message.

25. A telephone system comprising:

a computer, said computer having a database of telephone numbers and information associated with the telephone numbers; and

a telephone comprising;

an input device for entering telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a programmed processor, said programmed processor is programmed to;

detect a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determine if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory, store the entered telephone number into said memory;

initiate a telephone call to said computer;

transfer the entered telephone number to said computer;

receive information associated with the entered telephone number from said computer;

store the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein said computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by an electronic mail message and said processor is programmed to receive the information by receiving the electronic message.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to prompt a user of said telephone to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into said memory and stores said entered telephone number only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the telephone call to the computer is initiated only if the entered number was determined not to be already stored into said memory.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the entered telephone number was entered into the telephone.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer after a user has completed a telephone call to the entered telephone number.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined number of entered telephone numbers have been stored into said memory.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the predetermined number of entered telephone numbers were stored into said memory.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer is only during off peak time intervals.

33. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor is programmed to initiate a telephone call to said computer after an entered telephone number has been entered a predetermined number times.

34. The system of claim 25 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier associated with the entered telephone number which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number and an address associated with the entered telephone number.

36. The system of claim 25 further comprising a display for displaying the information associated with the entered telephone.

37. A telephone system comprising:

a computer, said computer having a database of telephone numbers and information associated with the telephone numbers; and

a telephone comprising;

an input device for entering telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a programmed processor, said programmed processor is programmed to;

detect a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determine if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory, store the entered telephone number into said memory;

initiate a telephone call to said computer;

transfer the entered telephone number to said computer;

receive information associated with the entered telephone number from said computer;

store the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein said computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by paging the telephone and said processor is programmed to receive the information by receiving the page.

38. A telephone system comprising:

a computer, said computer having a database of telephone numbers and information associated with the telephone numbers; and

a telephone comprising;

an input device for entering telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a controller coupled to said memory circuit, said controller;

detecting a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determining if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory storing the entered telephone number into said memory;

initiating a telephone call to said computer;

transferring the entered telephone number to said computer;

receiving information associated with the entered telephone number from said computer;

storing the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein said computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by paging the telephone and said controller receives the information by receiving the page.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller prompts a user of said telephone to confirm whether the entered telephone number should be stored into said memory and stores said entered telephone number only if the user confirms that the entered telephone number should be stored.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller initiates the telephone call to the computer only if the entered number was determined not to be already stored into said memory.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the entered telephone number was entered into the telephone.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer after a user has completed a telephone call to the entered telephone number.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined number of entered telephone numbers have been stored into said memory.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the predetermined number of entered telephone numbers were stored into said memory.

45. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer is only during off peak time intervals.

46. The system of claim 38 wherein said controller initiates a telephone call to said computer after an entered telephone number has been entered a predetermined number times.

47. The system of claim 38 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier associated with the entered telephone number which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number.

48. The system of claim 38 wherein the information associated with the entered telephone number comprises an alphanumeric identifier which can be used by the user to retrieve and dial the associated telephone number and an address associated with the entered telephone number.

49. The system of claim 38 further comprising a display for displaying the information associated with the entered telephone.

50. A telephone system comprising:

a computer, said computer having a database of telephone numbers and information associated with the telephone numbers; and

a telephone comprising;

an input device for entering telephone numbers;

a memory circuit; and

a controller coupled to said memory circuit, said controller;

detecting a telephone number which has been entered into said telephone;

determining if the entered telephone number is already stored into said memory;

if the entered telephone number is not stored in said memory, storing the entered telephone number into said memory;

initiating a telephone call to said computer;

transferring the entered telephone number to said computer;

receiving information associated with the entered telephone number from said computer;

storing the received information into said memory in association with the entered telephone number; and

wherein said computer transfers the information associated with the entered telephone number to the telephone by an electronic mail message and said controller receives the information by receiving the electronic message.