Patent US7065385B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7065385B2
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Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for dialing telephone numbers using alphabetic selections
Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB
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Filing: 2002-09-12
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Granted: 2006-06-20
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Expires: 2022-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphanumeric input device. The alphanumeric input device allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters and selection of a plurality of numeric characters. An alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters is sensed. The sensed alphabetic character is translated into a number. A numeric character, that is selected separately from the selection of the alphabetic character, is sensed. A telephone number that includes the translated number and the sensed numeric character is dialed.
Inventors
- 👤 Bassam Jarrad
- 👤 Greg Dunko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/2748; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphabetic input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters, the method comprising: sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphabetic input device; selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on the duration of selection of the alphabetic character; and dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein: the sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character senses a sequence of a plurality of selected alphabetic characters; the translating translates the sequence of the plurality of selected alphabetic characters to a sequence of numbers; and the dialing dials a telephone number that includes the translated sequence of numbers and the sensed numeric character.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphabetic input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters, the method comprising: sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphabetic input device; selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on the duration of selection of the alphabetic character; and dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein: the sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character senses a sequence of a plurality of selected alphabetic characters; the translating translates the sequence of the plurality of selected alphabetic characters to a sequence of numbers; and the dialing dials a telephone number that includes the translated sequence of numbers and the sensed numeric character.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the translating comprises: providing a correspondence between the plurality of alphabetic characters and a plurality of numbers; and identifying as the translated number, one of the plurality of numbers that corresponds to the sensed alphabetic character.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein more than one of the plurality of alphabetic characters corresponds to the same one of the plurality of numbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein: alphabetic characters “A”, “B”, and “C” each correspond to the number “2”.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein: alphabetic characters “A”, “B”, and “C” each correspond to the number “2”; alphabetic characters “D”, “E”, and “F” each correspond to the number “3”; alphabetic characters “G”, “H”, and “I” each correspond to the number “4”; alphabetic characters “J”, “K”, and “L” each correspond to the number “5”; alphabetic characters “M”, “N”, and “O” each correspond to the number “6”; alphabetic characters “P”, “Q”, “R”, and “S” each correspond to the number “ 7 ”; alphabetic characters “T”, “U”, and “V” each correspond to the number “8”; and alphabetic characters “W”, “X”, “Y”, and “Z” each correspond to the number “9”.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the dialing occurs after sensing an indication from a user that entry of the phone number is complete.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising: selectively searching a phone book in the communication device to identify a name that corresponds to a selected alphabetic character based on the duration of selection of the alphabetic character; displaying the identified name from the phone book for viewing by a user; retrieving a telephone number from the phone book that corresponds to the identified name; and dialing the retrieved telephone number in response to a name selection signal that is received from a user.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphanumeric input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters and separate selection of a plurality of numeric characters, the method comprising: sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphanumeric input device; selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on the duration of selection of the alphabetic character; sensing a numeric character that is selected among the plurality of numeric characters separately from the selection of the plurality of alphabetic characters; and dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number and the sensed numeric character, wherein the communication device includes a keyboard with a plurality of alphabetic keys and a separate plurality of numeric keys, and the sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character is in response to a user selecting one of the plurality of alphabetic keys, and the sensing a numeric character is in response to a user separately selecting one of the separate plurality of numeric keys.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphanumeric input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters and separate selection of a plurality of numeric characters, the method comprising: sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphanumeric input device; selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on the duration of selection of the alphabetic character; sensing a numeric character that is selected among the plurality of numeric characters separately from the selection of the plurality of alphabetic characters; and dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number and the sensed numeric character, wherein the communication device includes a keyboard with a plurality of alphabetic keys and a separate plurality of numeric keys, and the sensing a duration of a user's selection of an alphabetic character is in response to a user selecting one of the plurality of alphabetic keys, and the sensing a numeric character is in response to a user separately selecting one of the separate plurality of numeric keys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A communication device, comprising: an alphabetic input device that provides a plurality of alphabetic characters for selection, and that is configured to sense a selection of an alphabetic character; a translation circuit that is operative to selectively translate a selected alphabetic character into a number based on a duration of a user's selection of the alphabetic character; and a dialing circuit that is operative to dial a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein: the alphabetic input device is operative to sense a sequence of a plurality of selected alphabetic characters; the translation circuit is operative to translate the sequence of the plurality of selected alphabetic characters into a sequence of numbers; and the dialing circuit is operative to dial a number that includes the translated sequence of numbers and the selected numeric character.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A communication device, comprising: an alphabetic input device that provides a plurality of alphabetic characters for selection, and that is configured to sense a selection of an alphabetic character; a translation circuit that is operative to selectively translate a selected alphabetic character into a number based on a duration of a user's selection of the alphabetic character; and a dialing circuit that is operative to dial a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein: the alphabetic input device is operative to sense a sequence of a plurality of selected alphabetic characters; the translation circuit is operative to translate the sequence of the plurality of selected alphabetic characters into a sequence of numbers; and the dialing circuit is operative to dial a number that includes the translated sequence of numbers and the selected numeric character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A communication device according to claim 9 , wherein the translation circuit is operative to provide a correspondence between the plurality of alphabetic characters and a plurality of numbers, and is operative to identify as the translated number, one of the plurality of numbers that corresponds to the selected alphabetic character.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A communication device according to claim 10 , wherein more than one of the plurality of alphabetic characters correspond to the same one of the plurality of number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A communication device according to claim 11 , wherein: alphabetic characters “A”, “B”, and “C” each correspond to the number “2”.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication device according to claim 11 , wherein: alphabetic characters “A”, “B”, and “C” each correspond to the number “2”; alphabetic characters “D”, “E”, and “F” each correspond to the number “3”; alphabetic characters “G”, “H”, and “I” each correspond to the number “4”; alphabetic characters “J”, “K”, and “L” each correspond to the number “5”; alphabetic characters “M”, “N”, and “O” each correspond to the number “6”; alphabetic characters “P”, “Q”, “R”, and “S” each correspond to the number “ 7 ”; alphabetic characters “T”, “U”, and “V” each correspond to the number “8”; and alphabetic characters “W”, “X”, “Y”, and “Z” each correspond to the number “9”.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communication device according to claim 9 , wherein: the dialing circuit is operative to dial the telephone number is response to receiving an indication signal from a user that entry of the phone number is complete.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer program product for dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphabetic input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters, the computer program product comprising program code embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program code comprising: program code for sensing an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphabetic input device; program code for selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on a duration of a user's selection of the alphabetic character; and program code for dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein the program code for translating the sensed alphabetic character comprises: program code for providing a correspondence between the plurality of alphabetic characters and a plurality of numbers; and program code for identifying as the translated number, one of the plurality of numbers that corresponds to the sensed alphabetic character.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer program product for dialing a telephone number from a communication device that includes an alphabetic input device that allows selection of a plurality of alphabetic characters, the computer program product comprising program code embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program code comprising: program code for sensing an alphabetic character that is selected among the plurality of alphabetic characters of the alphabetic input device; program code for selectively translating the sensed alphabetic character into a number based on a duration of a user's selection of the alphabetic character; and program code for dialing a telephone number that includes the translated number, wherein the program code for translating the sensed alphabetic character comprises: program code for providing a correspondence between the plurality of alphabetic characters and a plurality of numbers; and program code for identifying as the translated number, one of the plurality of numbers that corresponds to the sensed alphabetic character.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein more than one of the plurality of alphabetic characters corresponds to the same one of the plurality of numbers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-06-19 | 2009-12-19 | 2010-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-06-19 | 2013-12-19 | 2014-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-06-19 | 2017-12-19 | 2018-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |