GB2346762A - Telephone-book search-function equipped telephone - Google Patents

Telephone-book search-function equipped telephone Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2346762A
GB2346762A GB9928814A GB9928814A GB2346762A GB 2346762 A GB2346762 A GB 2346762A GB 9928814 A GB9928814 A GB 9928814A GB 9928814 A GB9928814 A GB 9928814A GB 2346762 A GB2346762 A GB 2346762A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
telephone
name
search
names
voice
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9928814A
Other versions
GB9928814D0 (en
Inventor
Tatsuaki Okamura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NEC Corp
Original Assignee
NEC Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NEC Corp filed Critical NEC Corp
Publication of GB9928814D0 publication Critical patent/GB9928814D0/en
Publication of GB2346762A publication Critical patent/GB2346762A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/56—Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
    • H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
    • H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
    • H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
    • H04M1/27467—Methods of retrieving data
    • H04M1/2748—Methods of retrieving data by matching character strings

Abstract

A telephone-book search-function equipped telephone allows a user to search for telephone numbers easily and correctly. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone 10 comprises an operation unit 12 which accepts user's input, a memory 13, a control unit 14, and an ADPCM code/voice conversion unit 15 which converts ADPCM data, received from the control unit 14, to a voice. The memory 13 comprises telephone book data M1, KANA ADPCM data M2, and numeric ADPCM data M3. The control unit 14 comprises means for informing the user of voiced guidance messages, means for deciding a row to which the first KANA character of a partner's name belongs, means for searching the telephone book data M1 for the name(s) belonging to this row, and means for reading the KANA characters of a decided name, one character at a time, from the KANA ADPCM data M2 and, at the same time, for reading the numeric characters of a telephone number corresponding to the name, one character at a time, from the numeric ADPCM data M3. The Japanese KANA characters can be substituted by English letters.

Description

TELEPHONE-BOOK SEARCH-FUNCTION EOUIPPED TELEPHONE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a telephone-book search-function equipped telephone which has a telephone book in which telephone numbers may be registered in advance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, a cellular telephone such as the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-3-45057 is known which allows the user to search for and dial the telephone number of a partner while walking or driving without having to view the display of the telephone. This type of cellular telephone creates, in advance, a telephone book containing data such as partner's names and telephone numbers through user's voice input and searches this telephone book for the telephone number of a partner in response to a name that is input through user's voice input.
This type of telephone recognizes user's voice input and, in response to it, searches the telephone book. However, there is a limit to the number of registered words that can be recognized. For example, when several hundreds of telephone numbers are registered, the problem is that the voice input recognition rate decreases and therefore the telephone cannot search for telephone numbers properly. For this reason, the number of telephone numbers that can be registered is limited, for example, to several numbers, providing the user with only the limited function of the search function of the telephone book.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention seeks to solve the problems associated with the prior art described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone-book searchfunction equipped telephone with which the user can search for and dial the telephone number of a partner simply by performing simple key operation and checking guidance messages.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone-book search-function equipped telephone in which telephone book data containing names and telephone numbers is stored therein and search is performed in the telephone book data for a te I ephone partner to make a cals, the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone comprising: an operation unit which accepts from a user at least two types of commands for the names and the telephone numbers contained in the telephone book data, the at least two types of commands being selection and decision; a voice playback unit which outputs messages to the user ; and a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises: means for extracting one of the names from the telephone book data ; means for outputting the extracted name by voice ; and means for deciding the name of the telephone partner from the name that is output by voice.
The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone with the above configuration allows the user to find the telephone numberof apartner from the telephone book data simply by se I ect i ng and deciding a name that i s output v i a vo i ce w i thout having to view the display. For this reason, not on I y the user who is walking or driving but also even visually handicapped persons may search for a telephone number easily.
Preferably in the telephone-book equipped telephone there i s prov i ded a means for outputting Japanese KANA sy I I abary rows by voice, one row at a time ; means for deciding the row to which a first character of the name of the telephone partner be I ongs, the row be i ng one of the rows output by voice ; and means for searching in the telephone book data for name or names among the names, stored in the telephone book data, whose first KANA character belongs to the decided row and for extract i ng the same.
When searching for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone with the above configuration searches the row, to which the first character of the name belongs, for the name, thus reducing the search time and, at the same time, making it easier to search the telephone book data for the name of the partner.
It is selfexplanatory that KANA rows can be replaced with rows of a I phabets or rows of I etters or characters spec i f i c for respective language likewise the KANA rows with appropriate modifications.
The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone preferably provides a telephone, wherein the telephone book data contains the names and the telephone numbers therein arranged by group and wherein the control unit comprises means for outputting names of the groups by voice, means for deciding one of the voice-output groups to which the telephone partner belongs, and means for searching in the telephone book data for the name or names belonging to the decided group and extracting the same.
When searching for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone with the above configuration searches one of the groups to which the name of the partner belongs. Therefore, the user can search for the telephone number even if the user does not know the name of the partner correctly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a telephone-book search-function equipped telephone used in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing-the operation of the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone shown in FIG.
1.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will now be descr i bed more i n deta i I by way of an examp I e w i th reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a telephone-book searchfunction equipped telephone according to one embodiment of the present invention.
A telephone-book search-function equipped telephone 10 according to this embodiment comprises a radio (wireless communication) unit 11 which sends or receives radio waves, an operation unit 12 which accepts user's input through a scroll selection key or a decision key, a memory 13, a control unit 14, an ADPCMcode/voice conversion unitl5 whichconverts ADPCM data, received from the control unit l4, to voice, and a voice playback unit 16.
The memory 13 comprises telephone book data M1, KANA ADPCM data M2, and numeric ADPCM data M3.
In addition, the control unit 14 comprises guide voice playback means C1 for informing the user of voiced guidance messages, specified-row name search means C2 for searching the telephone book data M1 for a name and a telephone number in response to an input from the operation unit 12, telephone book sort i ng means C3 for sort i ng the te I ephone book according to the Japanese KANA sy I I abary sequence, and ADPCM data read i ng means C4 for reading KANA ADPCM data from the KANA ADPCM data M2 dur i ng name voice-playback time and, at the same time, for reading numeric ADPCM data from the numeric ADPCM data M3 during telephone number voice-playback time.
The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone 10 according to this embodiment has a configuration described above. Next, operation of the telephone-book search-function equ i pped te I ephone 10 w i I I be described with reference to F I G.
2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone 10 shown in FIG. 1.
First, when the user performs a scrol I key input through the operation unit12, for example, when the user starts the name search (YES in step S1), the guide voice-playback means C1 of the operation unit 12 reads KANA ADPCM data corresponding to the KANA characters, such as"A GYO" (meaning the first row of the Japanese syllabary KANA), from the KANA ADPCM data M2 in the memory 13 as a KANA row. It then sends the KANA ADPCM data to the ADPCM code/voice conversion unit 15 for voice output from the voice playback unit 16 (step S2). When the user performs the scroll key input again (YES in step S3), the guide voice playback means Cl of the operation unit 12 repeats step 2 and the following steps for the KANA characters of the next the Japanese syllabary row, such as"KA GYO" (meaning the second row of the KANA).
When the decision key ispressed in response to the voice output (YES in step S4), the specified-row name search means C2 searches the telephone book data M1 for the names whose first character be I ongs to the selected Japanese syllabary KANA row.
The telephone book sorting means C3 (arranges and) sorts the te I ephone book data accord i ng to the KANA sy I I abary sequence for a name to be searched (step S5). At this time, if the telephone book data M1 does not contain any name be I ong i ng to the se I ected row (NO in step S6), the gu i de vo i ce p I ayback means Cl outputs the gu i de vo i ce say i ng"No te I ephone number found" (step S7) and ends the search of the telephone book.
On the other hand, if the te I ephone book data M1 contains one or more names be I ong i ng to the selected row (YES i n step S6), the specified-row name search means C2 searches the telephone book data M1 for a name whose first character belongs to the selected row (step S8). The name selected through the search is displayed (step S9). The ADPCM data reading means C4 reads KANA ADPCM data, which constitutes the name selected through the search, from the KANA ADPCM data M2 and p I ays i t back, one KANA character at a time (step S10). If no scroll key input is detected when the playback of the name selected through the search is finished (NO in step S11), the specified-row name search means C2 searches the telephone book data M1 for the next candidate name beginning with the KANA character (letter) of the selected row (step S12) and repeats the step S9 and the fo I I ow i ng steps.
On the other hand, i f a scro I I key input is detected when the playback of the name selected through the search i s f i n i shed (YES in step S11) and a decision key input is detected for the name that i s p I ayed back (YES in step S13), the ADPCM data reading means C4 reads the numeric ADPCM data const i tut i ng the telephone number corresponding to the selected name from the numeric ADPCM data M3 and sends the numeric ADPCM data to the ADPCM code/voice conversion unit 15 for voice output from the voice playback unit 16 (step S14). After that, the telephone dials the telephone number of the selected name via the radio unit 11 (step S15).
The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone 10 according to this embodiment allows the user to find the telephone number of a partner from the telephone book data M1 simply by selecting and deciding a name that is output via voice without having to view the display. For this reason, not only the user who is s walking or driving but also even visually handicapped persons may search for a telephone number easily.
In addition, when searching for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone accord ing to this embodiment searches the row, to which the first character of the name belongs, for the name, thusmakingthe search easier and reducingthe search time.
In this embodiment, when searching the telephone book data M1 for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone searches the user-specif ied row to which the first character of the partner's name belongs. The present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, partner's names and telephone numbers may be grouped according to"companies", "relatives","friends", etc., so that the telephone can make the search in accordance with any of these groups. In this case, the user can search for a telephone number even if the user does not know the name of the partner correctly.
It should be noted that term name used herein usually contains at least family name and first name. The sequence of family and first names may be selected by the user. Also as stated ear I i er, the KANA sy I I abary sequence may be rep I aced or further supplemented with alphabet or any linguistic syllabary sequence specific for each of the languages.
The meritorious effect of the present invention are summarized as follows.
As descr i bed above, the te I ephone-book search-funct i on equipped telephone according to the first aspect a I I ows the user to find the name of a telephone partner from the telephone book data simply by selecting and deciding the name that is output via voice.
In addition, when searching for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone according to the second aspect searches the user-specified row to which the first character of the name belongs, thus reduc i ng the search time.
In addition, when searching for the name of a telephone partner, the telephone-book search-function equipped telephone according to the third aspect searches one of the groups to which the name of the partner be I ongs. Therefore, the user can search for the te I ephone number even if the user does not know the name of the partner correctly.
It should be noted that other objects and aspects of the present invention wi I I become apparent in the entire disclosure and that modifications may be done without departing from the scope of the present invention as disclosed herein and claimed as appended herewith.
Also it should be noted that any combination of the disclosed and/orclaimed elements, matters and/or items may fall under the modifications aforementioned.
The foregoing description has been given in terms of the Japanese KANA syllabary, but the principles are applicable to other languages such as character-based Western languages e. g. English. The letters of the alphabet may be appropriately grouped, e. g. with each vowel of the alphabet starting a new group.

Claims (10)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A telephone-book search-function equipped telephone in which telephone book data containing names and telephone numbers is stored therein and search is performed in the telephone book data for a telephone partner to make a call, said telephonebook search-function equipped telephone comprising: an operation unit which accepts from a user at least two types of commands for said names and said telephone numbers contained in said telephone book data, said at least two types of commands being selection and decision ; a voice playback unit which outputs messages to said user; and a control unit, wherein said control unit comprises: means for extracting one of said names from said telephone book data ; means for outputting said extracted name by voice ; and means for deciding the name of said telephone partner from said name that is output by voice.
  2. 2. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises: means for outputting Japanese KANA syllabary rows by voice, one row at a time ; means for deciding the row to which a first character of the name of said telephone partner belongs, said row being one of the rows output by voice : and means for searching in said telephone book data for name or names among said names, stored in said telephone book data, whose first KANA character belongs to said decided row and for extracting the same.
  3. 3. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 1, wherein said telephone book data contains said names and said telephone numbers therein arranged by group, and wherein said control unit comprises: means for outputting names of said groups by voice, means for deciding one of said voice-output groups to which said telephone partner belongs, and means for searching in said telephone book data for said name or names be I ong i ng to said decided group and extract i ng the same.
  4. 4. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises: means for outputting syllabary rows specific for a language by voice, one row at a time ; means for deciding the row to which a first character of the name of said telephone partner belongs, said row being one of the rows output by voice ; and means for searching in said telephone book data for name or names among said names, stored in said telephone book data, whose first KANA character belongs to said decided row and for extracting the same.
  5. 5. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as def i ned by c I a i m 4, wherein said syllabary rows are selected from the group consisting of KANA and alphabet.
  6. 6. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 4, wherein said telephone book data contains said names and said telephone numbers therein arranged by group, and wherein said control unit comprises: means for outputting names of said groups by voice, means for deciding one of said voice-output groups to which said telephone partner belongs, and means for searching in said telephone book data for said name or names be longing to said decided group and ext ract i ng the same.
  7. 7. A telephone-book search-function equipped telephone in which telephone book data containing names and telephone numbers is stored therein and search is performed in the telephone book data for a telephone partner to make a call, said telephonebook search-function equipped telephone comprising: an operation unit which accepts from a user at ieast two types of commands for said names and said telephone numbers contained in said telephone book data, said at least two types of commands being selection and decision ; a voice playback unit which outputs messages to said user; and a control unit, wherein said control unit comprises: means for extracting a group to which a first character of a name of said telephone partner belongs from a group of characters of the language, said group being one of the groups output by voice; means for searching in said telephone book data for name or names among said names, stored in said telephone book data, whose first character belongs to said decided group and for extracting the same.
  8. 8. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 7, wherein said control unit further comprises: means for determining guide voice-playback of a first character of one of the character groups of the language, means for storing the telephone book data according to said character groups, and means for outputting an objective name to be searched if the name is found in the sorted group.
  9. 9. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone as defined by claim 7, in which the character groups are formed by syllabary rows of the language.
  10. 10. The telephone-book search-function equipped telephone, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
GB9928814A 1998-12-04 1999-12-06 Telephone-book search-function equipped telephone Withdrawn GB2346762A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10346197A JP2000174881A (en) 1998-12-04 1998-12-04 Telephone set with telephone directory search function

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9928814D0 GB9928814D0 (en) 2000-02-02
GB2346762A true GB2346762A (en) 2000-08-16

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GB9928814A Withdrawn GB2346762A (en) 1998-12-04 1999-12-06 Telephone-book search-function equipped telephone

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GB (1) GB2346762A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0345057A (en) * 1989-07-13 1991-02-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Vehicle mounted portable telephone set of automatic dial system
US5583919A (en) * 1993-10-21 1996-12-10 Talvard; Jean-Pierre Independent portable appliance constituting a telephone dealer and directory

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0345057A (en) * 1989-07-13 1991-02-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Vehicle mounted portable telephone set of automatic dial system
US5583919A (en) * 1993-10-21 1996-12-10 Talvard; Jean-Pierre Independent portable appliance constituting a telephone dealer and directory

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Publication number Publication date
JP2000174881A (en) 2000-06-23
GB9928814D0 (en) 2000-02-02

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