EP0624965A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for searching an on-line directory at a telephone station
Assignee: US West Advanced Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are disclosed for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user of a telephone station. The telephone station includes a computer, a display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device. The method includes providing a database and a first index list. The method further includes displaying an array of objects on the display screen. The method also includes receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects; creating a first search string based on the first set of signals; displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list based on the value of the first search string; and receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries, the signal identifying an entry selected by the user. The method finally includes the step of displaying at least one object representing a phone number associated with the selected entry.
Inventors
- 👤 Loren M. Sylvan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2473; H04M1/2478; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/27475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user so that the user can obtain a desired telephone number at a telephone station including a computer, a display device connected to the computer, the display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device for selecting objects displayed on the display screen, the method comprising the steps of: providing the database for storing a multiplicity of information records, the information records including: a telephone number; a first index; and providing a first index list for identifying information records based on the first index; displaying an array of objects on the display screen; receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; creating a first search string having a value to constrain the first index list based on the step of receiving the first set of signals; displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the first search string; receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the first index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device; and displaying at least one object representing the desired telephone number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user so that the user can obtain a desired telephone number at a telephone station including a computer, a display device connected to the computer, the display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device for selecting objects displayed on the display screen, the method comprising the steps of: providing the database for storing a multiplicity of information records, the information records including: a telephone number; a first index; and providing a first index list for identifying information records based on the first index; displaying an array of objects on the display screen; receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; creating a first search string having a value to constrain the first index list based on the step of receiving the first set of signals; displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the first search string; receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the first index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device; and displaying at least one object representing the desired telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the information records further include a second index, the method further comprising the steps of: providing a second index list for identifying information records based on the second index; receiving a second set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; creating a second search string having a value to constrain the second index list based on the step of receiving the second set of signals; displaying a plurality of entries of the second index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the second search string; and receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the second index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the plurality of entries of the first index on the display screen includes the steps of: displaying at least one display control object on the display screen, the at least one display control object for scrolling the displayed plurality of entries of the first index; receiving a selection of the at least one display control object, the at least one display control object identified by the user using the pointing device; and updating the plurality of entries of the first index on the display screen based on the step of receiving the selection of the at least one display control object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen includes the steps of: displaying a plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen; displaying at least one display control object on the display screen, the at least one display control object for scrolling the displayed plurality of entries of the second index; receiving a selection of the at least one display control object, the at least one display control object identified by the user using the pointing device; and updating the plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen based on the step of receiving the selection of the at least one display control object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying an array of objects on the display screen includes displaying an array of alphanumeric characters on the display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first search string has a maximum length of two characters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first search string has a maximum length of three characters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the second search string has a maximum length of two characters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the second search string has a maximum length of three characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first index represents a last name and the second index represents a first name.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first index represents a business category and the second index represents a business name.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
244 words
A system for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user so that the user can obtain a desired telephone number at a telephone station including a computer, a display device connected to the computer, the display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device for selecting objects displayed on the display screen, the system comprising: the database for storing a multiplicity of information records, the information records including: a telephone number; a first index; and a first index list for identifying information records based on the first index; means for displaying an array of objects on the display screen; means for receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; means for creating a first search string having a value to constrain the first index list based on the step of receiving the first set of signals; means for displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the first search string; means for receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the first index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device; and means for displaying at least one object representing the desired telephone number.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
244 words
A system for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user so that the user can obtain a desired telephone number at a telephone station including a computer, a display device connected to the computer, the display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device for selecting objects displayed on the display screen, the system comprising: the database for storing a multiplicity of information records, the information records including: a telephone number; a first index; and a first index list for identifying information records based on the first index; means for displaying an array of objects on the display screen; means for receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; means for creating a first search string having a value to constrain the first index list based on the step of receiving the first set of signals; means for displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the first search string; means for receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the first index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device; and means for displaying at least one object representing the desired telephone number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the information records further include a second index, the system further comprising: a second index list for identifying information records based on the second index; means for receiving a second set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects, the at least one object selected by the user using the pointing device; means for creating a second search string having a value to constrain the second index list based on the step of receiving the second set of signals; means for displaying a plurality of entries of the second index list on the display screen, the displayed entries based on the value of the second search string; and means for receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries of the second index list to identify a selected entry, the selected entry identified by the user using the pointing device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for displaying the plurality of entries of the first index on the display screen includes: means for displaying at least one display control object on the display screen, the at least one display control object for scrolling the displayed plurality of entries of the first index; means for receiving a selection of the at least one display control object, the at least one display control object identified by the user using the pointing device; and means for updating the plurality of entries of the first index on the display screen based on the step of receiving the selection of the at least one display control object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for displaying the plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen includes: means for displaying a plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen; means for displaying at least one display control object on the display screen, the at least one display control object for scrolling the displayed plurality of entries of the second index; means for receiving a selection of the at least one display control object, the at least one display control object identified by the user using the pointing device; and means for updating the plurality of entries of the second index on the display screen based on the step of receiving the selection of the at least one display control object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for displaying an array of objects on the display screen includes means for displaying an array of alphanumeric characters on the display screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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