GB2383498A

GB2383498A - A communication device which incorporates key press recordal (scratchpad) and enables the user to selectively activate key press recordal

Info

Publication number: GB2383498A
Application number: GB0130945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ormson
Original assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-24
Filing date: 2001-12-24
Publication date: 2003-06-25
Also published as: GB0130945D0

Abstract

A communications device includes means for recording sequences of key presses made whilst it is in communication with the network. It also includes means for selectively activating the means for recording key presses. Increasingly, communication devices include interactive response systems where the user is required to navigate a series of menus by pressing keys to select options. If this is done during a call, a drawback is that in many cases, the user will not want numbers to be recorded as they are being used to navigate menus rather than to record a number that the user wishes to record. The current invention improves the scratchpad by enabling the user to selectively activate it.

Description

Communications Device With Key Press Recordal This invention relates to a communication device or mobile telephone which incorporates a feature for key press recordal. This is often known as a scratchpad.

Many communication devices such as mobile telephones, cordless telephones, or regular telephones include a scratchpad feature. This is used to record key presses during a call and to store them for future use. It is often used for taking down a telephone number dictated over the telephone.

Increasingly, communication devices include interactive response systems where the user is required to navigate a series of menus by pressing keys to select options. If this is done whilst in a call, a drawback of the scratchpad feature becomes apparent. This drawback is that in many cases the user will not want numbers to be recorded, because these are being used to navigate menus rather than to record a number of which the user previously had no knowledge. For example, if a user was accessing a telephone banking system, there are usually a series of options which have to be gone through. With a known scratchpad feature, these numbers would be recorded on the scratchpad which would subsequently have to be cleared by the user.

We have appreciated that use of the scratchpad can be improved significantly if a user is able to selectively activate it.

In one embodiment, the scratchpad can be turned on and off by pressing appropriate keys on the handset.

In another embodiment, the scratchpad can be turned off in response to the pressing of a particular key on the user interface.

Preferably, the scratchpad is turned off in response to pressing of the"*"key which most interactive menu

systems require a user to press to indicate that he has the appropriate type of phone.

In another embodiment, an extra field can be included within a stored number in the handset. This field will allow a user to indicate whether he or she wishes the scratchpad to be active for calls to that number.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1, is a flow diagram showing operation of a communication device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2, is a flow diagram showing operation of a communication device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

In figure 1, a call commences on a communication device at step 2 and a user presses a key during a call at step 4. A determination is then made at step 6 as to whether or not the key pressed is one which corresponds to an interactive system log on. This is usually the"*"key which is used to acknowledge to an interactive system that the correct type of DTMF tone phone is in use. Other keys or sequences of keys may be used. If this key press is identified at box 6 then the scratchpad on the device is disabled at step 8 until the call ends at step 10. If the key pressed does not match an interactive system log in.

Then the scratchpad remains active as illustrated at step 12 until the call ends at step 10. Thus, a user who presses a key to indicate to an interactive system that he has the right type of handset will disable the scratchpad.

However, if a user tries to record a number being dictated over the phone, this will not use the"*"key or any other key for identifying a particular type of phone and the scratchpad will remain active. Thus, any numbers dictated and typed in will be stored in the scratchpad.

After the call ends, the scratchpad is reactivated at step 14. This may happen automatically or may require a further user input.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment in a device in which a field is stored with stored numbers indicating whether or not the scratchpad is to activated. In this, a call commences at 2. If the number is flagged as secure, i. e. it includes a field for indicating that the scratchpad should be disabled, then this field is interrogated at step 16. If the number does contain the appropriate flag then the scratchpad is disabled at 18. If there is no such indication on the stored number the scratchpad remains active at step 20 and key presses entered during the call will be recorded in the scratchpad. The call ends at 22 and the scratchpad will be reactivated at 14 either by a further user input or automatically.

In a further embodiment, the communications device can contain either a key specifically for turning on and off the scratchpad or a feature in its menu structure which enables a user to turn the scratchpad on and off.

It will be appreciated that use of the above embodiments enables a user to record in the scratchpad of his communication device, only sequences of key presses that he is interested to record such as telephone numbers dictated whilst in a call. The numbers used for menu selection while using an interactive menu system over the telephones, such as may arise from telephone banking, will not result in key presses being recorded in the scratchpad. Thus there will be no need for subsequent clearing of the scratchpad after such a call has been made.

Claims

Claims 1. A communications device including means for recording sequences of key presses made whilst the communication device is in communication with a network and means for selectively activating the means for recording key presses.
2. A communications device according to claim 1 in which the means for selectively activating the means for recording key presses comprises a user input provided on the communications device.
3. A communications device according to claim 2 in which the user input comprises a switch on the communication device.
4. A communications device according to claim 2 in which the user input comprises a user option selectable by a menu system provided and displayed on a display means on the mobile communications device.
5. A communications device according to claim 1 in which the means for selectively activating the key press recordal means comprises means responsive to pressing of a predetermined key or key sequence whilst the communications device is in communication with the network.
6. A communications device according to claim 5 in which the key for selectively activating the key press recordal device comprises a non-numeric key.
7. A communications device according to claim 1 in which the means for selectively activating the key press recordal means comprises means responsive to a flag stored

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with stored addresses of parties with which the communications device can communicate over the network.
8. A communications device according to claim 7 in which the addresses are telephone numbers.
9. A communications device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

9. A communications device according to any preceding claim including means to reactivate the key press recordal means after the end of a communication session.

10. A communications device according to claim 9 in which the means to reactivate the key press recordal device is automatic.

11. A communications device according to claim 9 in which the means to reactivate the key press recordal mean includes means responsive to a user input to perform the reactivation.

12. A communications device substantially as herein described with reference either figure 1 or figure 2 of the drawings.

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Claims 1. A communications device including means for recording sequences of key presses made whilst the communication device is in communication with a network and means for selectively activating the means for recording key presses in response to pressing of a predetermined key or key sequence whilst the communications device is in communication with the network.

2. A communications device according to claim 1 in which the key for selectively activating the key press recordal device comprises a non-numeric key.

3. A communications device according to any preceding claim including means to reactivate the key press recordal means after the end of a communication session.

4. A communications device according to claim 9 in which the means to reactivate the key press recordal device is automatic.

5. A communications device according to claim 9 in which the means to reactivate the key press recordal mean includes means responsive to a user input to perform the reactivation.

6. A communications device substantially as herein described with reference either figure 1 or figure 2 of the drawings.

7. A communications device including means for recording sequences of key presses made whilst the communication device is in communication with a network and means for selectively activating the means for recording key presses in response to a flag stored with stored addresses of

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parties with which the communications device can communicate over the network.

8. A communications device according to claim 7 in which the addresses are telephone numbers.