Method and system for managing changes to a contact database

• US 6,909,910 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tenenbaum, Jessica Dale, Pappalardo, Susan Elizabeth, Chin, Peter G., Fuller, Jason William
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20030148790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/564, 455/565, 455/566, 455/567, 707/102, 707/101, 707/100, 701/00
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Described is a system and method for updating a contact and adding a new contact from a call log in a communications device. The system includes a contact manager that is directed towards creating and updating call contact cards in a contact database with information retrieved from call logs of phone calls made to or from the communications device. In one embodiment, information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, thereby reducing workload to a user. The method includes determining if a request is for updating an existing contact card or for adding a new contact card to the contact database. The update or addition is made with information retrieved from call logs. Call information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, when it is determined that the request is to add a new contact card to the contact database.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for updating a contact database in a mobile communications device, the instructions comprising:

receiving a request to save call information related to a phone call;

determining if the request to save the call information is an update to existing information in a contact card stored in the contact database or a request to create a new contact card in the contact database;

if the request is to update existing information,

retrieving a contact list of contact cards stored in the contact database;

receiving a selection of a contact card to be updated within the contact list;

updating the selected contact card with the call information related to the phone call;

replacing the existing contact card in the contact database with the updated contact card;

else if the request is to create a new contact card,

pre-populating a data field of the new contact card with call information;

receiving contact data to be associated with the new contact card;

modifying a data field in the new contact card with the received contact data; and

updating the contact database with die modified contact card.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the contact list comprises a list of at least one contact name associated with a contact card stored in the contact database.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a phone number.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a name of a caller.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a date of the phone call.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a time of the phone call.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a duration of the phone call.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the pre-populated data field includes at least one of a home phone number, a work phone number, and a mobile phone number.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the pre-populated data field is determined by evaluating a time associated with the phone call.

10. In a computer device having a graphical user interface and a user selection interface mechanism, a method of activating a selection for changing a contact database, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of call entries in a call log of phone calls;

displaying a context menu in response to a user selection of an entry in the call log; and

displaying a plurality of options in the context menu, one of the options being to update a contact card in the contact database with call information from the selected entry in the call log, wherein an existing contact card is replaced with the updated contact card.