KR100851583B1 - Method and device for inputting call number using simultaneous input of characters and numbers - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for inputting a phone number through a simultaneous input of characters and numbers are provided to improve the convenience of users by displaying both characters and numbers according to inputted keys so that a user can search for a phone number through number or character input on the idle screen. A telephone device(100) comprises a key input part(210), an input processing part(264), a storage part(220), a searching part(266), and a call control part(268). The key input part comprises a plurality of keys. When an arbitrary key is manipulated among the keys of the key input part, the input processing part performs input processing for both a character and a number appointed to the manipulated key. The storage part stores a phone book containing one or more phone number information. The searching part obtains phone number information containing the input-processed number and number information containing the input-processed character from the storage part. Using a phone number corresponding to obtained phone number information as a destination number, the call control part attempts a call connection according to a call execution command inputted from the key input part. In case no phone number information is obtained, the call control part uses inputted digits as a destination number to attempt a call connection.

Description

Method and device for inputting call number using simultaneous input of characters and numbers}

1 is a view showing a conventional phone number search method.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a telephone apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 are exemplary views showing a user interface (UI) screen according to a phone number search in a telephone apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a phone number input process using simultaneous input of numbers and letters according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 and 7 are exemplary views showing a user interface screen according to a phone number input process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: phone device

210: key input unit

220: storage unit

230: display unit

240: transceiver

250: control unit

260: transmission and reception control unit

262: display control

264 input processing unit

266: search unit

268: call control

The present invention relates to a telephone number input, and more particularly, to a telephone number input method and apparatus using simultaneous input of numbers and letters.

A user who wants to make a phone call using a telephone apparatus such as a mobile communication terminal first inputs a telephone number corresponding to a receiving terminal by using a numeric button and then selects a call button.

Or, after searching the phone number of the other party to call in the phone book stored in the provided memory, and attempts to call the searched phone number.

In recent years, the phone book has been developed so that the phone number of an acquaintance is stored in the phone book with the name in advance, and the phone book is searched for the other party's phone number using the name in the phone book.

1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional telephone number search method.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the conventional phone number search method, when a signal corresponding to a specific function key such as a phone book button provided on the initial screen (reference number 10) is inputted, a phone number is found or registered. A user interface (UI) screen (reference number 20) that can be performed is displayed, and when a phone number search is selected, a UI screen (reference number 30) for selecting a phone number search method is displayed.

When the user selects one of the search methods such as "Find by name" and "Find by shortcut", and selects "Find by name" as shown in the drawing, for example, the name of the party to be called Search for a phone number by typing characters such as (see reference number 40).

As described above, conventionally, the user has to go through several menu screens in order to retrieve a stored phone number as a phone book.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a phone number input method and apparatus capable of performing a phone number search using a letter immediately on the initial screen, without a multi-step phone book search process will be.

In addition, the present invention provides a phone number input method using the simultaneous input of numbers and letters to display the numbers and letters according to the same key input at the same time so that the user can easily search for the phone number using letters or numbers on the initial screen; It is for providing a device.

Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the preferred embodiments described below.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a method for inputting a telephone number in a telephone apparatus, the method comprising: inputting a character and a number set in the key when an arbitrary key is operated from a user; Retrieving telephone number information corresponding to the text from the telephone book; And when a call execution command is input, when the telephone number information is found, the call number corresponding to the telephone number information is called as the called number, or when the telephone number information is not found, the call number is set as the called number. Provided are a telephone number input method using simultaneous input of numbers and letters and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a key input unit including one or more keys corresponding to letters and numbers; An input processing unit for inputting characters and numbers set in the operated keys when any of the keys of the key input unit is operated by a user; A storage unit for storing a phone book including one or more phone number information; A retrieving unit for retrieving telephone number information corresponding to the input text from the storage unit; And when a call execution command is input from the key input unit, when the telephone number information is found, a telephone number corresponding to the telephone number information as a called number, or when the telephone number information is not found, the entered number as a called number. There is provided a telephone apparatus comprising a call control unit for attempting a call connection.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in describing the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and duplicates thereof. The description will be omitted.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a telephone apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 3 and 4 is a user interface (UI) according to the phone number search in the telephone apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention ) An example diagram showing a screen.

Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the telephone apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is described. The telephone apparatus 100 includes a key input unit 210, a storage unit 220, a display unit 230, a transceiver unit 240, and a controller. 250.

In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, it is assumed that the telephone apparatus 100 is a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, but this is only one embodiment and a phone book function of a general landline telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. It will be further apparent from the following description that all of the added telephone apparatuses can be equally applied.

The key input unit 210 of the telephone apparatus 100 is an input means for receiving a specific key such as a number or a letter from a user, and all input methods such as a button, a wheel, a touch screen, and a switch method may be applied in the same manner. Numbers and one or more characters correspond to one or more specific keys of the key input unit 210. For example, the key according to the numeral 1 may correspond to "A" and "B". Since the key input unit 210 may be obvious to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The storage unit 220 stores information on numbers, letters, and the like corresponding to each key button of the key input unit 210. In addition, the storage unit 220 includes various information (eg, a serial number of the terminal, a communication protocol, etc.) necessary for performing each function (eg, voice / video call, Internet connection, etc.) of the telephone apparatus 100. And the like can be stored.

In particular, the storage unit 220 stores one or more phone number information according to the phone book function. The phone number information may include detailed items such as a phone number, a name, and a speed dial number. The phone number search using a letter is performed by searching phone number information having a name item corresponding to a character input through the key input unit 210 and extracting a phone number of the corresponding phone number information. Alternatively, phone number information using the number input through the key input unit 210 as a phone number may be searched.

 Even now, various methods for searching and extracting phone number information corresponding to an input letter or number are provided in the phone book search function of the phone device 100 such as a mobile phone, and thus, further description thereof will be omitted.

The display unit 230 may be, for example, a liquid crystal as a means for displaying numbers and letters according to a key input from a user. In particular, the display unit 230 according to the present embodiment has numbers and letters corresponding to key input from the user through the key input unit 210 in the initial screen (that is, when the system is on and in a call waiting state). All are displayed.

Referring to FIG. 3, numbers and letters corresponding to keys corresponding to a key input of a user are displayed on divided screens in an initial initial screen. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a numeric string input window in which numbers are input and displayed, and a character string input window in which characters are input and displayed may be displayed on one side of the screen, respectively. That is, both numbers and letters corresponding to one key input may be displayed in each divided area. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, after inputting numbers and letters, telephone connection using any one may be performed according to manipulation of a specific button. For example, when the confirmation button is pressed, a call connection may be attempted by using the input number as a called number and when the call button is pressed using the called number according to the phone number information corresponding to the input character. As shown in the drawing, in general, a phone number has a high probability of not being composed of one letter, and since a letter composed of letters is different from a phone number system, a call using any one of numbers or letters according to the input of one call button A connection can be attempted.

Of course, since there may be a phone number including an input number among the phone numbers stored in the phone book, phone number information corresponding to the input number may be searched, and in this case, a call connection may be attempted to the corresponding phone number. . For example, if the stored telephone number is 011-1234-1212, when "1212" is input, the telephone number may be searched and a call connection may be attempted. If the phone number information corresponding to the input number and the phone number information corresponding to the text are searched together, a list thereof is displayed, and a call connection can be attempted with one phone number information by the user's selection. have. The phone number search process for this will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

3 and 4 illustrate that the character input area is located above and the number input area is located below, the location may be changed or divided into left and right, but is not limited thereto.

Therefore, when the user memorizes the other party's phone number on the initial screen, the user inputs a number according to the corresponding phone number, or if the other party's phone number information is registered in the phonebook in advance, the user inputs a character according to the name. Can be connected.

That is, according to the present exemplary embodiment, both numbers and letters are set in specific key buttons of the key input unit 210. Accordingly, when one key button is input, all corresponding numbers and letters are input. . Accordingly, both the numbers and letters according to the keys operated by the user may be displayed on the display unit 230, and the telephone apparatus 100 searches whether the phone number information corresponding to the letters and numbers is registered in the phone book. If present, the corresponding phone number information (eg, name and phone number) may be displayed on the display unit 230.

According to another embodiment, at first, all numbers and letters corresponding to the input key are displayed in each area, and later only in one area by the user's selection (for example, movement of the cursor by a direction button or the like). Only one of numbers or letters may be input and displayed.

The telephone number input process using simultaneous input of numbers and letters according to the present embodiment as described above will be described later in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the transceiver 240 is a communication means for the telephone apparatus 100 to perform a function such as a call or an internet connection through the communication network 110.

As described above, the controller 250 simultaneously inputs and processes numbers and letters corresponding to a user's key input, thereby performing a telephone call using the input numbers, or searching a phone number using the input letters and numbers, and a telephone call. The key input unit 210, the storage unit 220, the display unit 230, and the transmitter / receiver 240 are controlled so as to be controlled.

As illustrated in the drawing, the controller 250 may include a transmission / reception control unit 260, a screen display control unit 262, an input processing unit 264, a search unit 266, and a call control unit 268. Of course, each component of the controller 250 does not necessarily need to be implemented in hardware, and may be implemented in software.

The transmission / reception control unit 260 of the control unit 250 controls the operation of the transmission / reception unit 240 and may process a communication protocol corresponding to a telephone network (for example, a mobile communication network).

As described above, the screen display controller 262 of the controller 250 controls the display unit 210 to display the numbers and letters input in the areas separated from each other. That is, the screen display control unit 262 is a numeric string for displaying a number corresponding to a plurality of areas (for example, an input key button) of the screen displayed on the display unit 230 as shown in FIG. 3 or 4. Input area, a character input area for displaying a Korean character or an English character corresponding to the input key button). Here, the screen display control unit 262 may further divide the character input area so that the Hangul area and the English letter area are respectively distinguished, but for convenience of description, the screen display control unit 262 will be described as an example.

The input processor 264 recognizes that a specific key button of the key input unit 210 is operated, recognizes a corresponding number and letter according to the corresponding key input signal, and transmits the corresponding number and letter to the screen display control unit 262. For example, when a key button according to "6" is operated, the input processing unit 264 recognizes the number "6", recognizes the letter "c" or "m", and transfers it to the screen display control unit 262. . Accordingly, the screen display control unit 362 processes so that the numbers and letters recognized by the input processing unit 264 are displayed in the respective areas.

The search unit 266 searches the storage unit 220 for phone number information corresponding to the input letter and number. The retrieved telephone number information may be transferred to the screen display controller 362 and displayed on the screen. The search unit 266 searches for phone number information having a name including an input character and searching for phone number information having a phone number including an input number, which has been described above. Omit.

The call control unit 268 uses the number input in the numeric string input area as the called number or the character input in the telephone number or the character string input area searched by the search unit 266 using the number input in the numeric string input area. It connects a call with a called terminal through the communication network 110 using the corresponding telephone number searched as a called number and performs a voice or video call. Since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the telephone apparatus 100 conducts a telephone call, a detailed description of the call controller 268 will be omitted.

Of course, the telephone apparatus 100 may further include an Internet access function as well as a general telephone call. Accordingly, although not shown in the drawing, the telephone apparatus may further include an Internet service controller. According to the present invention, as numbers and letters are simultaneously input to one key input, an internet access function using the input letters may be performed. That is, after a character is input on the initial screen, an Internet function may be performed by using an input character as an Internet address or an input character as a search word by an operation such as an Internet access function key. The Internet function using characters is a technology that is still provided and will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly enter a character in the initial screen without any additional key operation, thereby making it possible to easily perform not only telephone calls but also Internet functions.

In addition, the control unit 250 of the telephone apparatus 100 may further include an input string switching unit (not shown), and the input string telephone unit may include a second area when a preset function button for character string switching is input from a user. Switch the string shown in to another language. For example, when the user sequentially inputs key buttons corresponding to 6, 2, and 3, the Hangul “Do” is displayed in the text input area in the Korean input mode. However, if the character that the user wants to display is an English letter, the user can convert the character mode from Korean to English by inputting a preset function button (for example, a # button, a volume control button, etc.). In the second region, the Korean characters may be converted into English characters and displayed. At this time, an English character of "mad" is displayed in the character string input area.

In addition, when the user inputs an Internet connection request by inputting a function button corresponding to the character string displayed in the character string input area, the input character string convertor determines whether the character string displayed in the character string input part satisfies the grammar rule. In this case, it can be automatically converted to a string of another language. For example, if the input string is "ㅅ ㄷㄱ" ", the input string conversion unit may automatically convert the string to" trip ". Of course, if the string converted by the automatic string conversion of the input string converting unit also does not meet the grammar rules, an error message may be displayed on the display unit 230.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a process in which the telephone apparatus 100 attempts to input a telephone number and connect a telephone using simultaneous input of numbers and letters.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a phone number input process using simultaneous input of numbers and letters according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are user interfaces according to a phone number input process according to an embodiment of the present invention. An illustration of the screen.

The subject performing the telephone number input process according to the present embodiment is, of course, the telephone apparatus 100. Hereinafter, a description will be made on the assumption that only letters are used to search phone number information. However, as described above, searching for phone number information using the input number may be processed according to the same method. Will become more self-evident.

Referring to FIG. 5, the telephone apparatus 100 determines whether there is a key input from a user in a standby state such as an initial screen (step 510), and when a key input occurs, recognizes a corresponding key and applies the recognized key value to the recognized key value. The corresponding numbers and letters are recognized and processed (step 520). Of course, the numbers and letters inputted as shown by reference numeral 610 of FIG. 6 are displayed in respective predetermined areas.

The telephone apparatus 100 searches for whether telephone number information corresponding to the entered text exists in the telephone directory (step 530). As described above, the phone number information may be searched by searching whether a phone number including an input number exists (refer to reference numeral 610, a phone number including the input number “4120” is searched).

If the phone number information exists, it may be displayed together with the input numbers and letters as shown by reference numerals 610 and 630 of FIG. 6. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, even when an input character is a consonant, corresponding phone number information may be searched for and displayed. The phone number information may be displayed together in a part of the character string input area as shown in the figure, or may be displayed in place of a number in the number string input area. Of course, a separate new area is created (for example, a string input area and a string input area may be converted to a smaller area, and the space telephone number information may be displayed in the same area). It may be displayed.

If the call execution command corresponding to the call button input is input while the phone number information corresponding to the input character does not exist (that is, if the call button input exists as a result of the determination in step 540), the telephone apparatus 100 Attempts to connect the call with the entered number as the called number (step 545). If there is an input of a key button other than the call button as a result of the determination in step 540, the process may proceed to step 510. Of course, if the end button is input, it is natural to proceed to the initial standby state.

As a result of the determination in step 530, when the phone number information corresponding to the input processed character is found, the corresponding phone number information is displayed together with the entered letters and numbers (step 560). Of course, since the search for a character has a high probability of not attempting a telephone call using a number, the corresponding number may not be displayed, and likewise, a number according to a key button input later may not be displayed without being input.

Subsequently, it is determined whether there is a call button input (step 565), and if there is no call button input, the process proceeds to step 510. When the call button is operated and a call execution command is input, the phone number corresponding to the corresponding phone number information is called as the called number. A telephone connection is attempted (step 570). If there is a plurality of searched phone number information, as shown at 650, one phone number information is selected, and a call connection using the selected phone number information may be attempted. Of course, the method of selecting any one of the plurality of phone number information is not limited to the list method shown in the drawing.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only the telephone connection using the number in the initial screen but also the phone number search and the telephone connection in the phone book using the characters can be performed, so that the convenience of use can be provided.

The method of the present invention as described above may be implemented in a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a phone number input method and apparatus capable of performing a phone number search using a character immediately on an initial screen without a phone book search process of various steps.

In addition, according to the present invention, by simultaneously displaying the numbers and letters according to the same key input, the user directly enters the phone number using the numbers on the initial screen or enter the letters to search the phone number information using the retrieved phone number Call can be attempted, providing convenience in use.

Although described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below And can be changed.

Claims (15)

In the telephone number input method in the telephone apparatus, Inputting letters and numbers set to the keys when any key is manipulated by the user; Retrieving telephone number information including the input number from the telephone directory and telephone number information corresponding to the text; And When a call execution command is input, when the phone number information is found, a call number corresponding to the phone number information is called as a called number, or when the phone number information is not found, the call number is attempted to make a call connection. Including the steps of:  When the telephone number information is searched, the searched telephone number information is displayed, and when the searched telephone number information is plural, one is selected by the user. . The method of claim 1, And the input processed letters and numbers are displayed in separate display areas, respectively. delete delete delete The method of claim 2, A method for inputting a telephone number using simultaneous input of numbers and letters, characterized in that only one of the input letters or the numbers is displayed according to the operation of a specific function key. The method of claim 1, And inputting a signal according to a predetermined Internet access key, attempting to access the Internet using the input-processed character. A key input unit including one or more keys corresponding to letters and numbers; An input processing unit for inputting characters and numbers set in the operated keys when any of the keys of the key input unit is operated by a user; A storage unit for storing a phone book including one or more phone number information; A retrieving unit for retrieving telephone number information including the input number and the telephone number information corresponding to the input character from the storage unit; And When a call execution command is input from the key input unit, when the telephone number information is searched, a telephone number corresponding to the telephone number information is called as a called number, or when the telephone number information is not found, the entered number is called as a called number. A call control that attempts to connect the call, And a plurality of the retrieved telephone number information, so that one is selected by the user. The method of claim 8, And a display unit for respectively displaying the input processed characters and numbers in a separate display area. delete The method of claim 9, And when the telephone number information is found, the searched telephone number information is displayed on the display unit. delete The method of claim 9, And the display unit displays only one of the input letter or the number according to the operation of a specific function key. The method of claim 8, And an internet service control unit which attempts to connect to the internet using the input characters when a signal corresponding to a predetermined internet access key is input. In a recording medium in which instructions are implemented to be executed by a digital processing apparatus for a phone number input method in a telephone apparatus, and a program readable by the digital processing apparatus is recorded. Inputting letters and numbers set to the keys when any key is manipulated by the user; Retrieving telephone number information including the input number from the telephone directory and telephone number information corresponding to the text; And When a call execution command is input, when the phone number information is found, a call number corresponding to the phone number information is called as a called number, or when the phone number information is not found, the call number is attempted to make a call connection. Including the steps of: When the telephone number information is searched, the searched telephone number information is displayed, and when the searched telephone number information is plural, one is selected by the user. The recording medium on which the program for executing the program is recorded.

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