Learned speed dialing

Details Learned speed dialing Learned speed dialing

1999-03-31

2001-09-25

Chan, Wing F. (Department: 2643)

Telephonic communications

Supervisory or control line signaling

Substation originated

C379S354000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06295355

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telecommunication devices and, more particularly, to telecommunication devices with speed dialing.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Some telephonic devices have a feature (referred to herein as “speed dial”) that allows the user to store one or more telephone numbers in a memory and then call those numbers using a relatively simple process. For example, speed dial may be performed by pressing a button programmed with the desired stored telephone number, or selecting a desired telephone number (or person to be called) in a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer-implemented telephonic device. The speed dial feature is generally intended to store frequently used telephone numbers so that the user may more quickly and conveniently dial these frequently used telephone numbers.
Generally, the user must program a speed dial “directory” with the desired telephone numbers. As the user's telephone number usage changes, the user can change the speed dial directory to reflect changes in the telephone numbers that the user most frequently uses. For example, if the user realizes that a new telephone number (i.e., one that is not in the directory) is frequently used, the user can add this telephone number to the speed dial directory. In addition, if the speed dial directory is full, the user must choose which currently stored telephone number to replace with the new telephone number. However, the user may not be able to easily keep track of changes in telephone number usage. Thus, the user may not be able to properly update the speed dial directory so that frequently used numbers can replace relatively infrequently used telephone numbers in the speed dial directory. Accordingly, there is a need for system that allows the user to easily identify changes in telephone number usage and update the speed dial directory.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the present invention, a learned speed dial system for use in a telecommunication device is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the learned speed dial system monitors the telephone numbers dialed by the user. When the number of times a particular telephone number is used reaches a predetermined threshold, the learned speed dial system then checks to see if the telephone number is in the speed dial directory. If this telephone number is not in the speed dial directory, the learned speed dial system prompts the user to update the speed dial directory with this telephone number. The user can then elect to update the speed dial directory with this new telephone number, as desired. In a further refinement, the learned speed dial system may be configured to automatically add this telephone number to the speed dial directory if the directory is not full.
In another aspect of the present invention, if the speed dial directory is full, the learned speed dial system prompts the user to select a telephone number to delete from the speed dial directory. In a further refinement, the learned speed dial system keeps track of the usage of the currently stored speed dial telephone numbers. The learned speed dial system can then automatically select the least-used telephone number in the speed dial directory, which the user can then confirm. Still further, the user may configure the learned speed dial system to automatically replace the least-used telephone number with the “new” telephone number. In yet a further refinement, the learned speed dial system may store deleted telephone numbers in a back-up directory so that the user can correct mistakes in removing a telephone number for the directory. For embodiments in which the telecommunication device includes a “telephone book” or an “address book”, the learned speed dial system can be further configured determine if the deleted telephone number is already stored in the user's telephone or address book before storing the deleted telephone number in the back-up directory. In a further refinement, the learned speed dial system may provide a prompt to the user to add the currently dialed telephone number to the telephone or address book as well as the speed dial directory. In yet a further refinement, the threshold for adding a telephone number to the telephone or address book may be different from the threshold for adding a telephone number to the speed dial directory.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the user can configure the criteria for the predetermined threshold. Similarly, the user can configure the criteria for the least-used telephone number in the speed dial directory.


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patent: 5903634 (1999-05-01), Wakabayashi et al.
patent: 6005927 (1999-12-01), Rahrer et al.

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