Method and system for providing selected service by displaying numbers and strings corresponding to inputted buttons

• US 7,890,146 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: KT Corporation
• Inventors: Kang, Moon-Soon, Park, Jin-ho, Moon, Eun-Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US11/803,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

A method and system for providing a mobile service is disclosed. In one embodiment, both of numbers and characters, corresponding to numeric buttons entered by a user, are displayed on two separate display regions, respectively. According to one embodiment, a voice call or wireless Internet service being selected by the user can be quickly performed. Furthermore, it does not need to learn how to use, it is easy for a user to access information quickly, and to enhance the user convenience because a user can select one of various services via one button push.

Claims

1. A method of providing an Internet access service, comprising:

(a) receiving, at a user terminal, an input signal for a numeric button, wherein the numeric button corresponds to a number and a character, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA);

(b) recognizing the input signal as a number and a character corresponding to the number;

(c) displaying the number and the character on a number string display region and a character string display region of the user terminal, respectively, wherein the number and character string display regions have different respective locations on the user terminal;

repeating (a) through (c) until there is any input signal for a function button;

on receiving the input signal for the function button, determining when the function button is associated with the number string display region or the character string display region; and

when the function button is associated with the character string display region, transmitting an Internet access request including a character string displayed on the character string display region to an Internet service access apparatus, wherein the character string comprises a plurality of characters,

wherein the user terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the method further comprises;

performing a spelling check on the character string;

when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, converting the language of the character string into one of the languages that the user terminal supports;

generating the Internet access request including the converted character string; and

transmitting the Internet access request to the Internet service access apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a voice call request including a number string displayed on the number string display region to a mobile communication system when the function button is associated with the number string display region, wherein the number string comprises a plurality of numbers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the character string display region comprises N(>

=2) sub-regions configured to display characters of plural languages, respectively, and wherein the sub-regions are associated with plural function buttons, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input signal for a language conversion button;

on receiving the input signal for the language conversion button, converting the language of the character string on the character string display region from a first language into a second language; and

displaying the character string in the second language on the character string display region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the character string in the Internet access request comprises more than one character, the Internet service access apparatus transmits one of a domain address corresponding to the character string and a web page corresponding to the domain address to the user terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if when the character string in the Internet access request comprises a service type and a keyword that are distinguished by a predetermined separator, the Internet service access apparatus transmits to the user terminal a search list that is generated by using the service type and the keyword.

7. A method of providing an Internet access service, comprising:

receiving, at an Internet service access apparatus, an Internet access request including a character string from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA), wherein the character string comprises a plurality of characters, wherein the user terminal displays i) a number string comprising a plurality of numbers and ii) the character string, corresponding to numeric buttons which the user enters, on a number string display region and a character string display region of the user terminal, respectively, and

when a function button associated with the character string display region is entered, the user terminal transmits the Internet access request including the character string displayed on the character string display region to the Internet service access apparatus, wherein the user terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the user terminal i) performs a spelling check on the character string, ii) when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, converts the language of the character string into one of the languages that the user terminal supports, iii) generates the Internet access request including the converted character string and iv) transmits the Internet access request to the Internet service access apparatus;

obtaining the character string from the Internet access request;

determining whether or not the obtained character string comprises more than one character;

when the character string comprises more than one character, transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) request including the character string to a character string domain name system (DNS) server and receiving a URL corresponding to the character string from the character string DNS server; and

transmitting the URL corresponding to the character string to the user terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

when the character string in the Internet access request comprises a service type and a keyword that are distinguished by a predetermined separator,

transmitting the URL request corresponding to the service type to the character string DNS server and receiving the URL corresponding to the service type from the character string DNS server;

transmitting a search list generation request including the URL and the keyword to a search server and receiving a search list that is generated by using search result from more than one information server corresponding to the URL; and

transmitting the search list to the user terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving location information of the user terminal from one of the user terminal and a location detection server; and

transmitting the location information to one of the character string DNS server and the search server,

wherein the character string DNS server transmits a URL associated only with the location information or the search server generates the search list by using the search result associated only with the location information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the character string DNS server

obtains the character string from the URL request, and

obtains the URL corresponding to the character string by comparing previously stored character strings with previously stored URLs.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the URL transmitted to the user terminal is included in a web page corresponding to the URL.

12. A user terminal for providing an Internet access service, comprising:

a display section;

a keypad comprising a plurality of numeric buttons and a plurality of function buttons, wherein each numeric button corresponds to a number and a character;

a button recognition processor configured to recognize numbers and characters that are associated with the numeric buttons, wherein the numbers form a number string and the characters form a character string;

a display controller configured to display the number string and the character string on a number string display region and a character string display region, respectively, wherein both regions are independent from each other;

a signal generator configured to determine when the function button is associated with the character string display region when the function button is entered, and generate an Internet access request including the character string on the character string display region when the inputted function button is associated with the character string display region; and

a transceiver configured to transmit the Internet access request to an Internet service access apparatus,

wherein the user terminal supports a plurality of languages, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA), and wherein the user terminal is further configured to i) perform a spelling check on the character string, ii) when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, convert the language of the character string into one of the languages that the user terminal supports, iii) generate the Internet access request including the converted character string and iv) transmit the Internet access request to the Internet service access apparatus.

13. The user terminal of claim 12, further comprising:

a language conversion button configured to generate a conversion signal; and

an input character string converter configured to convert a first language of the character string on the character string display region into a second language when receiving the conversion signal.

14. An Internet service access system for providing an Internet access service, comprising:

a proxy server configured to i) receive an Internet access request including a character string, comprising a plurality of characters, from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA), ii) obtain the character string from the Internet access request, iii) transmit a uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to the character string to the user terminal, wherein the user terminal is configured to display

     1) a number string comprising a plurality of numbers and

     2) the character string, corresponding to numeric buttons that the user enters, on a number string display region and a character string display region of the user terminal, respectively, and

when a function button corresponding to the character string display region is entered, the user terminal is further configured to transmit the Internet access request including the character string displayed on the character string display region to an Internet service access apparatus, wherein the user terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the user terminal is further configured to i) perform a spelling check on the character string, ii) when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, convert the language of the character string into one of the languages that the user terminal supports, iii) generate the Internet access request including the converted character string and iv) transmit the Internet access request to the Internet service access apparatus; and

a character string domain name system (DNS) server, being in data communication with the proxy server through a communication network, configured to provide a URL corresponding to the character string by comparing previously stored character strings with previously stored URLs.

15. The Internet service access system of claim 14, wherein when the character string comprises a service type and a keyword that are distinguished by a predetermined separator,

wherein the proxy server is further configured to i) transmit an URL request corresponding to the service type to the character string DNS server, ii) receive the URL corresponding to the service type from the character string DNS server, iii) transmit a search list generation request including the URL and the keyword to a search server, iv) receive a search list that is generated by using search result from more than one information server corresponding to the URL, and v) transmit the search list to the user terminal.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed cause a processor to perform a method of providing an Internet access service, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a user terminal, an input signal for a numeric button, wherein the numeric button corresponds to a number and a character, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA);

(b) recognizing the input signal as a number and a character corresponding to the number;

(c) displaying the number and the character on a number string display region and a character string display region of the user terminal, respectively, wherein the number and character string display regions are different in location from each other;

repeating (a) through (c) until there is any input signal for a function button;

on receiving the input signal for the function button, determining when the function button is associated with the number string display region or the character string display region; and

when the function button is associated with the character string display region, transmitting an Internet access request including a character string being displayed on the character string display region to an Internet service access apparatus, wherein the character string comprises a plurality of characters,

wherein the user terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the method further comprises;

performing a spelling check on the character string;

when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, converting the language of the character string into one of the languages that the user terminal supports;

generating the Internet access request including the converted character string; and

transmitting the Internet access request to the Internet service access apparatus.

17. A method of providing an Internet access service, comprising:

a) receiving, at a mobile terminal, a plurality of key inputs each of which is associated with a number and at least one character, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a first display region and a second display region which have different respective locations on the mobile terminal;

b) recognizing the key inputs as numbers and corresponding characters, wherein the numbers form a number string and the characters form a character string, and wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the Internet access service based on the character string; and

c) displaying the number string and the character string on the first and second display regions, respectively,

receiving a function key, wherein the function key is configured to call at a phone number corresponding to the number string or send an Internet service request based on the character string;

determining when the function key is associated with the first display region or the second display region;

when the function key is associated with the first display region, performing a phone call at the phone number; and

when the function key is associated with the second display region, transmitting the Internet access request to an Internet service access apparatus,

wherein the mobile terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the method further comprises;

performing a spelling check on the character string;

when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string, converting the language of the character string into one of the languages that the mobile terminal supports;

generating an Internet access request including the converted character string; and

transmitting the Internet access request to an Internet service access apparatus.

18. An Internet service access apparatus for providing an Internet access service, comprising:

means for receiving, at a mobile terminal, a plurality of key inputs each of which is associated with a number and at least one character, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a first display region and a second display region, which have different respective locations on the mobile terminal;

means for recognizing the key inputs as numbers and corresponding characters, wherein the numbers form a number string and the characters form a character string, and wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the Internet access service based on the character string; and

means for displaying the number string and the character string on the first and second display regions, respectively,

mean for receiving a function key, wherein the function key is configured to call at a phone number corresponding to the number string or send an Internet service request based on the character string;

mean for determining when the function key is associated with region or the second display region;

mean for, when the function key is associated with the first display region, performing a phone call at the phone number; and

mean for, the function key is associated with the second display region, transmitting the Internet access request to an Internet service access apparatus,

wherein the mobile terminal supports a plurality of languages, and wherein the apparatus further comprises;

means for performing a spelling check on the character string;

means for converting the language of the character string into one of the languages that the mobile terminal supports, when there is an incorrect spelling in the character string;

means for generating an Internet access request including the converted character string; and

means for transmitting the Internet access request to an Internet service access apparatus.