Method and apparatus for displaying a record from a structured database with minimum keystrokes

• US 6,370,518 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Payne, Craig, Rossmann, Alain S., Laursen, Andrew L., Wulff, Jonathan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/166,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-4, 345/123, 345/334, 345/357, 345/350, 345/440, 345/764, 345/619, 379/229, 341/22, 455/575
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

An improved query input technique is disclosed in which a user supplies a few character-based queries and is able to retrieve and display at least as portion of a record from a structured database. For every character the user enters, a progressively reduced list of indexes that start with the entered characters is displayed. When a desired index identifying the record is among those indexes being displayed, the user may cease the character entry and scroll a zoom window upon the desired index to explore the full record. Various visual feedback indicators can also be displayed for the benefit of the user. Consequently, the user can access and display pertinent information of a certain record from a database quickly and efficiently with a reduced number keystrokes.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a record from a structured database on a display screen of an electronic device having a reduced-size input interface, the structured database including a plurality of records, the records including at least one field and being indexed by indexes comprising n characters, the method comprising:

displaying on the display screen a portion of indexes from the structured database;

receiving successively n symbols from the input interface, the n symbols sequentially and respectively corresponding to the n characters of a desired index of the indexes for the records of the structured database, each of the symbols representing a group of characters one of which corresponds to the associated n^th character of the desired index;

displaying on the display screen a reduced portion of the indexes, including the desired index, from the structured database, the reduced portion displays those of the indexes where each of the n characters in the indexes is respectively matched by one of the characters of the group of characters represented by the each of the symbols; and

displaying a zoom window positioned upon one of the indexes being displayed on the display screen, the zoom window displaying the one of the indexes and the at least one field of the record.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reduced-size input interface is a phone keypad comprising numeric keys and wherein each of the n symbols is one of the numeric keys.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reduced-size input interface is soft keys displayed in the display screen and wherein each of the n symbols symbol is one of the soft keys.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, the method still further comprising:

refreshing the display screen with the record corresponding to the one of the indexes having the zoom window positioned thereover after a predetermined key in the input interface is activated.

5. A method for displaying a record from a structured database on a screen, the record including at least one field and indexed by a desired index comprising a string of characters, the method comprising:

initially displaying on the screen an initial portion of indexes from the structured database;

subsequently receiving a first symbol from an input device if the desired index is not among the indexes being displayed on the screen;

the first symbol representing a first group of characters one of which is a first character in the string of characters of the desired index; and

indicating the desired index with a cursor when the desired index is among the indexes being displayed in the screen and the cursor is scrolled to the desired index, wherein the cursor is a zoom window, the zoom window displaying the desired index and at least one field.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, the method further comprising:

displaying a first number indicating the number of the indexes in the structured database.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, the method still further comprising:

displaying a second number indicating the number of a first chosen indexes that start with any of the characters in the first group represented by the first symbol.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said indicating the desired index with a cursor comprises:

moving the cursor across a list of adjoining indexes to the desired index.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said cursor is a zoom window and wherein said moving the cursor across a list of adjoining indexes comprises:

displaying in the zoom window respectively each of the adjoining indexes along with a field of an adjoining record indexed by the each of the adjoining indexes when the zoom window moves across the list of adjoining indexes.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, the method further comprising:

refreshing the screen with only the record being displayed after a predetermined key in an input interface is activated.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the input interface is a phone keypad comprising numeric keys and wherein the first symbol is one of the numerical keys.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the input interface is soft keys displayed in the screen and wherein the first symbol is one of the soft keys.

13. The method as recited in claim 5, the method further comprising:

displaying a list of first chosen indexes started with one of the first group of characters.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said displaying a list of first chosen indexes comprises:

highlighting the first character of first chosen indexes being displayed to indicate that the first symbol has been entered.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, the method still further comprising:

receiving a second symbol from the input device if the desired index is still not among the first chosen indexes being displayed in the screen;

the second symbol representing a second group of characters one of which is a second character of the string of characters in the desired index; and

displaying a number to indicate the number of chosen indexes that start with one of the characters in the first group represented by the first symbol followed by one of the characters in the second group represented by the second symbol.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, the method still further comprising:

updating the screen with a list of second chosen indexes started with one of the first group of characters corresponding to the first symbol and successively with one of the second group of characters corresponding to the second symbol; and

highlighting the second character of the second chosen indexes being displayed to indicate that both of the first symbol and the second symbol have been entered.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, the method still further comprising:

receiving, successively and respectively, subsequent symbols till the desired index is displayed in the screen.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, the method further comprising:

displaying a sign to indicate that the first symbol, the second symbol and the subsequent symbols have been entered.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the sign indicates graphically a retrieval of the record is being narrowed down with each of the first symbol, the second symbol and the subsequent symbols entered.

27. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the input interface is a phone keypad comprising a plurality of keys, each representing a group of characters.

28. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the input interface is a plurality of soft keys, each representing a group of characters.

29. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the processor executing the code in the memory further causes the application module to drive the screen driver to:

display a list of chosen indexes staring with a character in a group of characters represented by a symbol activated from the input interface.

20. A method for displaying a record from a structured database on a screen, the record including at least one field and indexed by a desired index comprising a string of characters, the method comprising:

receiving a list of indexes of the structured database;

displaying as many of the indexes sequentially as the screen can accommodate;

receiving respectively and successively, if the desired index is not among the indexes being displayed on the screen;

a series of symbols until the desired index is caused to be displayed on the screen, wherein each of the symbols represents a group of characters one of which corresponds to a character in the string of characters of the desired index; and

moving a zoom window to the desired index;

the zoom window displaying the desired index and the at least one field of the record.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, the method further comprising:

displaying the record completely on the screen after a predefined key is activated.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said receiving a series of symbols comprises:

displaying, respectively and progressively, a list of chosen indexes with respect to each of the symbols entered.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, the method further comprising:

displaying a sign to indicate the number of the symbols have been entered.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the sign is a number of icons, each of icons representing one of the symbols that has been entered.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the sign is a number of highlighted characters in one of the chosen indexes being displayed, each of highlighted characters representing one of the symbols that has been entered.

30. The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the processor executing the code in the memory still causes the application module to drive the screen driver to:

display a sign to indicate the number of symbols activated from the input interface.

31. The device as recited in claim 22, wherein the sign is a number of icons, each of icons representing one of the symbols that has been entered.

32. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the sign is a number of highlighted characters in one of the chosen indexes being displayed, each of highlighted characters representing one of the symbols that has been entered.

26. An apparatus for displaying a desired record from a structured database on a screen, the record including at least one field and indexed by a desired index comprising a string of characters, the apparatus comprising:

a screen driver commanding the screen;

an input interface;

a memory for storing code for an application module,

a processor coupled to the memory, the input interface and the screen driver, the processor executing the code in the memory to cause the application module to drive the screen driver to;

display on the screen a portion of indexes from the structured database;

position a zoom window on one of indexes being displayed on the screen;

wherein the zoom window displays the one of indexes along with a field of a record indexed by the one of indexes; and

move the zoom window to the desired index when a navigation key is being activated and the desired index is among the indexes being displayed in the screen;

wherein the zoom window displays the desired index and the at least one field of the desired record.

33. A computer readable medium including computer program code for displaying a record from a database on a display screen of an electronic device having a reduced-size input interface, the database including a plurality of records, the records including at least one field and being indexed by indexes of alphanumeric characters, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving a first symbol from the input interface, the first symbol pertaining to a first group of alphanumeric characters, and the first alphanumeric character of a desired index of the indexes for the database being one of the alphanumeric character of the first group;

computer program code for retrieving a first list of the indexes of the database in which their first alphanumeric character matches one of the alphanumeric characters of the first group;

computer program code for displaying on the display screen at least a portion of the retrieved first list of the indexes, the desired index being one of the indexes;

computer program code for receiving a second symbol from the input interface, the second symbol pertaining to a second group of alphanumeric characters, and the second alphanumeric character of the desired index of the indexes for the database being one of the alphanumeric characters of the second group;

computer program code for retrieving a second list of the indexes of the database in which their first alphanumeric character matches one of the alphanumeric characters of the first group and their second alphanumeric character matches one of the alphanumeric characters of the second group; and

computer program code for displaying on the display screen at least a portion of the retrieved second list of the indexes, the desired index being one of the indexes.

34. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the electronic device is a mobile device.

35. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

36. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for displaying a count of the number of the indexes within the list being displayed.

37. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for displaying a selection indicator that selects one of the indexes being displayed on the display screen and displays at least one field from the record associated with the selected index.

38. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for displaying an indicator of the number of symbols that have been used to retrieve the list from the database.

39. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for displaying an retrieval effectiveness indicator for each of the symbols that are received, wherein a dimension of the retrieval effectiveness indicator is determined based on the size of the retrieve list of the indexes which are determined to match verses all of the indexes of the database.