Mobile communication device capable of providing candidate phone number list and method of controlling operation of the mobile communication device

• US 8,780,064 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Hun, Park, Jin Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JENNIFER T
• Application Number:
  US13/423,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-178, 455/566, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 715/783, 715/810, 715/825
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile communication device capable of providing a candidate phone number list and a method of controlling an operation of the mobile communication device is provided. The method includes displaying a phone number input window and a display window on the touch screen, displaying a string of numbers input to the phone number input window in the display window and displaying a candidate phone number list on the touch screen if a touch input to the display window is detected when the input number string is displayed in the display window, the candidate phone number list including a plurality of phone numbers that contain the input number string.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a user interface for entering numeric digits, wherein the user interface is displayed at a first area of a display;

displaying digits within a second area of the display, wherein each digit of the digits is displayed in response to receiving a respective user input to a corresponding portion of the user interface;

displaying a candidate list in response to receiving a first user input at the display, wherein the candidate list includes at least one entry, wherein each entry of the candidate list includes an identifier that identifies a contact, wherein each entry of the candidate list is associated with a phone number which includes a number that matches the displayed digits, and wherein the first user input is different from the respective user input;

terminating the displaying of the candidate list when a second user input is received at an area of the display that is outside of an area of the display at which the candidate list is displayed, wherein the terminating the displaying of the candidate list permits further receiving of the respective user input; and

displaying a menu of selectable communication functions when a third user input selects a first entry of the candidate list, wherein the selectable communication functions include a call function that activates a call initiation procedure upon selection thereof, or a message function that activates a message creation procedure upon selection thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a matched-entry number on the display at a location that is outside of the first area of the display, wherein the matched-entry number reflects a number of entries included in the candidate list.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input is received at a region of the second area of the display other than where the digits are displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the respective user input is based on handwriting recognition or QWERTY keyboard inputs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on a third area of the display, information related to at least one of signal strength, wireless communication status, battery power, or time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch sensitive display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the displaying of the user interface after receiving the first user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input is received within the second area of the display.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a display; and

a processor cooperating with the memory and display, and being configured to;

cause the display to display a user interface for entering numeric digits, wherein the user interface is displayed at a first area of a display;

cause the display to display digits within a second area of the display, wherein each digit of the digits is displayed in response to a respective user input to a corresponding portion of the user interface;

cause the display to display a candidate list in response to receiving a first user input at the display, wherein the candidate list includes at least one entry, wherein each entry of the candidate list includes an identifier that identifies a contact, wherein each entry of the candidate list is associated with a phone number which includes a number that matches the displayed digits, and wherein the first user input is different from the respective user input;

cause the display to terminate the displaying of the candidate list when a second user input is received at an area of the display that is outside of an area of the display at which the candidate list is displayed, wherein the terminating the displaying of the candidate list permits further receiving of the respective user input; and

cause the display to display a menu of selectable communication functions when a third user input selects a first entry of the candidate list, wherein the selectable communication functions include a call function that activates a call initiation procedure upon selection thereof, or a message function that activates a message creation procedure upon selection thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the display to display a matched-entry number on the display at a location that is outside of the first area of the display, wherein the matched-entry number reflects a number of entries included in the candidate list.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first user input is received at a region of the second area of the display other than where the digits are displayed.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the respective user input is based on handwriting recognition or QWERTY keyboard inputs.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the display to display, on a third area of the display, information related to at least one of signal strength, wireless communication status, battery power, or time.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display is a touch sensitive display.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the display to terminate the displaying of the user interface after receiving the first user input.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first user input is received within the second area of the display.