EP0457077A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Accessing alphanumeric information using a numeric keypad
Assignee: Siemens Business Communication Systems Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for accessing alphanumeric data, such as a person's first name, last name, and telephone number, from a database using information provided by keypads and, in particular, from numeric keypads, which information relates to characters from the person's first name and/or characters from the person's last name. Specifically, the inventive apparatus includes: (a) function keypads which identify the input as to last name or first name; (b) numeric keypads for receiving input related to either the first name or the last name; (c) means for grouping input information which relates to the first name and to the last name; (d) means for searching the database by means of the portions of the first and last name and identifying the part of the database which matches the portions thereof; and (e) means for displaying the identified part of the database. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Tracy Rust
- 👤 Cathy Arledge
- 👤 Gordon Ford
- 👤 Nigel James
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/2748; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/4931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for searching a database in response to input, the database having an access key which is comprised of a multiplicity of data fields, which apparatus comprises: function keypad means, responsive to input, for providing first information to identify the data fields to which second information which is input is associated; data input keypad means, responsive to input, for providing the second information which is associated with the data fields identified by the first information; means for grouping second information which is associated with the multiplicity of data fields into input portions thereof; means for searching the database and identifying the part of the database which matches the input portions of the multiplicity of data fields; and means for displaying the identified part of the database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for displaying the identified part of the database comprises: further function keypad means, responsive to input, for providing third information to signal whether to display a first predetermined section of the identified part of the database or to display a second predetermined section of the identified part of the database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the function keypad means are function keypads on a telephone set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the function keypads are function keys whose functions may be varied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the data input keypad means comprise alphabetic keypad means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the data input keypad means comprise numeric keypad means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the function keypad means comprise a first name function keypad for providing information which identifies a first name data field and a last name function keypad for providing information which identifies to a last name data field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the display means comprises a display on a telephone set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the further function keypad means comprises a scroll-up function keypad and a scroll-down function keypad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 8 which further comprises a still further function keypad means, responsive to input, for providing forth information to cause the apparatus to retrieve a telephone number which is stored in the database for at least one of the displayed parts thereof and to cause the apparatus to dial the telephone number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
Method for searching a database in response to input, the database having an access key which is comprised of a multiplicity of data fields, which method comprises the steps of: receiving input which identifies the data fields to which information which is input is associated; receiving information which is associated with the identified data fields; grouping input information which is associated with the multiplicity of data fields into input portions thereof; searching the database and identifying the part of the database which matches the input portions of the multiplicity of data fields; and displaying the identified part of the database.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
the method of claim 11 which further comprises the step of: receiving input which signals whether to display a first predetermined section of the identified part of the database or to display a second predetermined section of the identified part of the database.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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