System and method for text to dialable number conversion in a mobile platform

• US 7,092,739 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mikan, Jeffrey Clinton, Heil, Kenneth D., Creigh, George Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/316,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 455/564, 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/414.4, 455/186.1, 379/900, 379/289, 379/221.4, 379/265.02, 709/328, 370/352, 370/353
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A mobile platform for use in a mobile communications network. The mobile platform includes an alphanumeric input device adapted to receive alphanumeric input from a user as an input alphanumeric string; memory; and a processor coupled to the alphanumeric input device and the memory. The processor receives the input alphanumeric string; replaces one or more characters within the input alphanumeric string with its numeric equivalent to generate an output numeric string; and initiates a dialed call using the output numeric string.

Claims

1. A mobile platform for use in a mobile communications network, comprising:

an alphanumeric input device adapted to receive alphanumeric input from a user as an input alphanumeric string;

memory; and

a processor coupled to the alphanumeric input device and the memory, the processor operable to;

receive the input alphanumeric string;

communicate with a remote platform to replace one or more characters within the input alphanumeric string with its numeric equivalent to generate an output numeric string; and

initiate a dialed call using the output numeric string,

wherein said processor formats a message to said remote platform containing said input alphanumeric string, and wherein said remote platform returns said output numeric string to said mobile platform.

2. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a hardware alphanumeric keyboard.

3. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a software alphanumeric keyboard.

4. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a stroke based input device.

5. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric input device is remotely coupled to the mobile platform.

6. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to convert the input alphanumeric string a single character at a time as the input alphanumeric string is entered by the user.

7. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to convert the input alphanumeric string after the complete input alphanumeric string is entered by the user.

8. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising a display screen, and further wherein the processor is operable to display the output numeric string for viewing by the user.

9. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising an internal database of input alphanumeric strings, and the processor is further operable to convert a selected one of the input alphanumeric strings from the database.

10. A method of converting an alphanumeric input string into a numeric input string for dialing a called number from within a mobile platform, the method comprising:

receiving the input alphanumeric string;

formatting a message to said remote platform containing said input alphanumeric string;

communicating with a remote platform that replaces one or more characters within the input alphanumeric string with its numeric equivalent to generate an output numeric string;

receiving an output numeric string from said remote platform; and

initiating a dialed call using the output numeric string.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a hardware alphanumeric keyboard.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a software alphanumeric keyboard.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a stroke based input device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

converting the input alphanumeric string a single character at a time as the input alphanumeric string is entered by a user.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

converting the input alphanumeric string after the input alphanumeric string is completely entered by a user.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the output numeric string for viewing by a user.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a database of alphanumeric strings.