Mobile terminal and method for associating photos with telephone numbers in a mobile terminal

• US 7,783,290 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller; Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US11/253,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/415, 455/433, 455564-566, 455/567, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03
• US Class Current: 455/433
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A mobile terminal is described, along with a method for associating photos with contact information in a mobile terminal by using a reference field, which facilitates convenient searching of photos and contact information stored in a mobile terminal. According to the method, a person'"'"'s photos can be immediately viewed while the user is browsing a contact list. Additionally, when a user wishes to contact a person whose photo he is viewing, the user can immediately contact the person with the mobile terminal without having to search for the person'"'"'s contact information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory of the mobile terminal, contact information for contacting at least one other terminal in a contact information database and photo information including a plurality of photos of people in a photo information database that is separate from the contact information database and that does not include the contact information;

displaying a photo selected among the plurality of photos during a photo viewing mode and before a contacting mode is started to contact said at least one other terminal of a person associated with the displayed photo;

receiving a command while the photo is displayed indicating a request to contact the person associated with the displayed photo;

checking the photo information database to determine whether the displayed photo is associated with the contact information for contacting the person associated with the displayed photo;

using an identifier value from the photo information database if the checking step determines the displayed photo is associated with the contact information, said identifier value indicating a location of the contact information in the contact information database for the person associated with the displayed photo; and

contacting the person associated with the displayed photo using the contact information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier value is associated with the displayed photo by designating the displayed photo as a representative photo for the person.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein designating the displayed photo as the representative photo comprises:

inputting personal information by using a function for adding or editing personal information;

selecting the displayed photo as the representative photo;

updating a representative photo field associated with the selected representative photo; and

setting the identifier value associated with the representative photo to a contact list database ID value associated with the personal information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein checking the file in the photo database comprises determining a value of a representative photo field associated with the displayed photo.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier value does not exist when the representative photo field value is 0.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier value exists when the representative photo field value is 1.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the command comprises one of pressing a key corresponding to a calling or messaging function and selecting a contact operation from a menu.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the command comprises selecting to call a phone number, and contacting the person comprises automatically calling a phone number associated with the person.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the command comprises selecting to send one of a text message and an email message, and contacting the person comprises automatically creating a message addressed to one of a text message address and an email address of the person, and completing and sending the text message or email message.

10. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory configured to store contact information for contacting at least one other terminal in a contact information database and photo information including a plurality of photos of people in a photo information database that is separate from the contact information database and that does not include the contact information;

a display configured to display a photo selected among the plurality of photos during a photo viewing mode and before a contacting mode is started to contact a user associated with the displayed photo;

an input unit configured to receive a command while the photo is displayed indicating a request to contact a person associated with the displayed photo; and

a controller configured to check the photo information database to determine whether the displayed photo is associated with the contact information for contacting the person associated with the displayed photo, to use an identifier value from the photo information database if the displayed photo is determined to be associated with the contact information, and to control a communication unit to contact the person associated with the displayed photo using the contact information, said identifier value indicating a location of the contact information in the contact information database for the person associated with the displayed photo.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the input unit is further configured to allow a user to associate any of the stored plurality of the photos with stored contact information.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the photo information database includes a field indicating whether or not the displayed photo is associated with the stored contact information, and the identifier when the field includes a value indicating the displayed photo is associated with the contact information.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 12, wherein the identifier value does not exist when the field has a value of 0, and does exist when the field has a value of 1.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the command corresponds to a user manipulating a key for a calling function or a messaging function.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically call a phone number corresponding to the person associated with the displayed photo when the user manipulates the key for the calling function.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to open a messaging application allowing a user to create a message to be sent to the person associated with the displayed photo when the user manipulates the key for the messaging function.