Method for inputting address of receiver in messaging service

• US 7,058,417 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Cha-Sup
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/728,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/186.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455564-565, 715/526, 715/769, 715/780, 715/789, 715/803, 715/808
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method for messaging service, e.g. short message service (SMS), in a mobile phone, capable of inputting a phone number of receiver directly into a message editing window. Disclosed is also a computer-readable recording medium including therein a software program for execution of the method. After the user has entered a message, it is determined which type of a direct input is requested by the user for inputting of the address of the receiver in the message editing window. If the requested type determined by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a look-up (searching) function, it is activated an address look-up window as a new display layer while still activating the message editing window, and inputted the address of the receiver selected by the user directly into the message editing window. Further, if the requested type determined by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a short key function, the address of the receiver is inputted directly into the message editing window next to the inputted message utilizing the short key, while activating the message editing window.

Claims

1. A method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether a direct inputting of the address of the message recipient on a message editing window is selected by a user of the messaging service; and

(b) if it is determined that the direct inputting of the address in the message editing window has been selected in the step (a), entering the address of the message recipient directly into the message editing window activating with the message editing window activated.

2. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 1, further comprising the step of (c) closing the message editing window and activating a new input window for entering the address of the message recipient, if it is determined that the direct inputting of the address in the message editing window has been not selected in step (a).

3. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein in the step (a) a window is activated to confirm whether the user selects the direct inputting of the address of the message receiver in the message editing window, after the user has entered the message to be transmitted using the messaging service.

4. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein in the step (a), the user'"'"'s selection to the direct inputting of the address of the recipient in the message editing window is determined by whether or not a predetermined ASCII code value has been inputted, after the user enters the message to be transmitted using the messaging service.

5. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 4, wherein a new input key is provided to enter the predetermined ASCII code value for a selection to the direct inputting of the address of the receiver in the message editing window.

6. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) further comprises:

(d) determining a type is requested by the user for the direct input of the address of the recipient in the message editing window;

(e) if the requested type determined in the step (d) by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a look-up function, activating a look-up window as a new window within the message editing window, and inputting the address of the recipient selected by the user into the message editing window; and

(f) if the requested type determined in the step (d) by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a short key function, causing the address of the recipient to be inputted directly in the message editing window within the message editing window.

7. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 6, wherein the look-up window of the step (e) is provided with a first display section for representing a look-up category, a second display section for entering a search parameter and a third display section for displaying a result of searching.

8. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 6, wherein the inputting by the short key function of the step (f) comprises executing new ASCII code value for a special character used on entering the message, wherein the special character is utilized as an identifier for inputting the address of the recipient following the special character.

9. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 8, wherein as the identifier of the address of the recipient a first special character key designates inputting of a short key for a phone book, a second special character key designates inputting of an address of a group of recipients, a third special character key designates inputting of a phone number address by the user, and a fourth special character key designates inputting of an e-mail address by the user.

10. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 6, wherein the inputting by the short key function of the step (f) comprises generating an icon to be utilized as an identifier of the address of the recipient, displaying the icon, and causing the icon to be selected in a scrolled way.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein the address of the recipient is comprised of one of a telephone number and an e-mail address.

12. A method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service, comprising the steps of:

(a) after a user of the messaging service has entered a message, determining a type of a direct input requested by the user for inputting of the address of the recipient in a message editing window;

(b) if the requested type determined in step (a) by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a look-up (searching) function, activating an address look-up window as a new display layer while still activating the message editing window, and inputting the address of the recipient selected by the user directly into the message editing window; and

(c) if the requested type determined in the step (a) by the user for the direct input of the address is an input by a short key function, causing the address of the recipient to be inputted directly into the message editing window subsequently to the inputted message utilizing the short key, while still activating the message editing window.

13. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 12, wherein the look-up window of step (b) is provided with a first display section for representing a looked-up category, a second display section for entering a search parameter and a third display section for displaying a result of searching.

14. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 12, wherein the inputting by the short key function of the step (c) comprises executing a new ASCII code value for a special character used on entering the message, wherein the special character is utilized as an identifier for inputting the address of the recipient following the special character.

15. The method for inputting an address of a recipient in a messaging service according to claim 14, wherein as the identifier of the address of the recipient a first special character key designates inputting of a short key for a phone book, a second special character key designates inputting of an address of a group of recipients, a third special character key designates inputting of a phone number address by the user, and a fourth special character key designates inputting of an e-mail address by the user.

16. The method for inputting an address of a receiver in a messaging service according to claim 12, wherein the inputting by the short key function of the step (c) comprises generating an icon to be utilized as an identifier of the address of the recipient, displaying the icon, and causing the icon to be selected in a scrolled way.

17. The method as in claim 12, wherein the address of the recipient is one selected from a telephone number and an e-mail address.

18. A computer-readable recording medium including a control program for use in a messaging service system provided with a processor, the control program being adapted to execute a first function for determining whether a selection is made for direct inputting of an address of a message recipient in a message editing window;

and a second function for allowing a user to enter an address of a message recipient directly into a message editing window with the message editing window activated, if it is determined that the selection was made to the direct inputting of the address of message recipient in the message editing window.

19. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 18, wherein the control program further comprises a program to execute a third function for closing the message editing window and activating a new input window for the address of recipient, so as to allow inputting of the address, if it is determined that no selection was made to close the message editing window and activate the new input window for the address of the recipient.