Abstract:
A repertory dialer for managing commonly used phone numbers. The system manages memorized phone numbers automatically without direct user intervention. It is particularly useful when the phone company changes area codes. The system can make area code changes transparent to phone users.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable. 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates to a method of automatically storing and recalling telephone numbers. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Today most phones have auto-dialers sometimes called repertory dialers. This feature can be used to store numbers that are later recalled using special buttons. The feature can be implemented in the phone itself or can be implemented in the phone system exchange. Either way, the function is similar. 
   One of the oldest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,666 by Jacob Wallace. He recognized that with the new, at the time, direct long distance dialing people would not like dialing the extra digits to complete a long distance call. His solution was a repertory dialer that used an electronic memory. Earlier units had used some mechanical means of storing phone numbers. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,709 Hoff et al. disclose a repertory dialer that automatically remembers the last number dialed. This is commonly implemented on phones today. It is frequently called “redial” on telephone keypads. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,414 by Walter Warren discloses a repertory dialer that uses a processor and memory to perform the dialer function. This eliminates special purpose circuitry. 
   There are a number of problems with the auto-dialers. The first is that the user has to program it. These systems are complicated and require a manual to learn how to use them. Users frequently misplace the manual making the system difficult or impossible to use. Many people find the system too complex and never use it. 
   Some phones assign a dedicated key to each stored phone number. These are quite easy to use once programmed. However most phones use an index number to recall the desired phone number from memory. Many phones can save up to 100 phone numbers. Most people cannot remember the 2-digit index needed to recall the desired phone number. Remembering the 2-digit index is made harder since it is not associated with the stored phone number. Most people require a written note to help them remember. These notes can get lost. 
   In actual use most auto-dialers are less useful than people would like. The present invention solves these problems. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   3. Objects and Advantages 
   The present invention solves the problem with existing auto-dialers. The advantages to the present invention are;
         (a) You do not have to remember an index number.   (b) There are no special buttons necessary to operate the feature.   (c) It is able to recall a number given only a portion of the that number.   (d) The user does not deliberately program the phone dialer.   (e) The feature does not interfere with normal phone operation.   (f) Very simple logic.   (g) Solves the problem of people being forced to dial 10 or 11 digit numbers.   (h) People can continue to dial the original 7-digit number even when the area codes change.   (i) The number that you dial is associated with the number in memory thereby making it easy to remember.   (j) There is no instruction manual.       

   The invention combines these features in a way that provides significant advantages over the current phone dialer schemes. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with the present invention an automatic auto-dialer is both more useful and simpler to manage. It is able to assist the user when needed but does not interfere when it can&#39;t help. It does not require deliberate programming. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     Figures 
       FIG. 1  shows a flow chart of the auto-dialer invention. 
   

   DRAWINGS 
   Reference Numerals 
   
       
       1. Starting point of the flow chart. This is where the user-dialed number is received. 
       2. The number is examined to see if it has 7 digits and a decision is made. 
       3. If the number is not a 7-digit number then dial the received number. In most circumstances the number will be a 10 or 11-digit number that includes the area code. 
       4. Time the call once the connection is made. If the call is short them it is likely to be a wrong number. If it is longer than 10 seconds, for example, it is likely to be a valid phone number. 
       5. This must be a good 10 or 11 digit number that includes the area code. Save this number in one of the memory locations. 
       6. The received number has 7-digits. Compare this 7-digit number with all the numbers saved in the memory. The comparison is made against only the low 7 digits of the saved numbers. 
       7. If the 7-digit number does not match any number in the memory then simply dial the 7-digit number. It is probably a local call. 
       8. If the phone call lasts for only a short time then it is probably a wrong number. We don&#39;t want to save bad numbers in the memory. 
       9. If it matches a number in the memory then dial the full 11-digit number recalled from the memory. 
       10. Done. We have finished the process. 
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   FIG.  1   
     FIG. 1  shows a flowchart describing the operation of the invention. 
   Operation 
   The purpose of the invention is to make the use of telephone dialers easier to use and simpler to manage. For the user that means almost not being aware of the invention&#39;s actions. In most cases, when the phone user dials a 7-digit number it goes through normally. When the user needs to make a long distance call he dials the 10 or 11 digit number that he normally would. The system acts normally as the user expects. 
   A 7-digit number means a local phone call. It is generally of the form XXX-XXXX. Each X representing a digit from 0 to 9. These 7 digits are sufficient to dial a number within the area of the local exchange. An 11 digit number means a long distance phone call. It is of the form 1 (YYY) XXX-XXXX. The first “1” digit indicates a long distance phone call to the phone system. The YYY represents the area code. Each Y represents a digit from 0 to 9. The X portion of the number is the local phone number as described previously. A 10-digit number is the same as the 11 digit number except that the leading “1” is dropped. These numbers are referred to as long numbers and short numbers. Long numbers have 10 or 11 digit numbers. Short numbers have 7 digits. 
   The user is generally unaware of when the invention has aided his call. When a 7-digit call is made the invention takes the 7-digit number and compares it with all of the saved 11 digit numbers. If a match is found then the 11-digit number is dialed. If a match is not found then the original 7-digit number is dialed. The user need not be aware that this has occurred. 
   The process of handling phone numbers disclosed by this invention is illustrated by the flow chart shown in  FIG. 1 . When a person dials a number we are at the start point  1 . Next the number of digits in the dialed number is checked  2 . If it is a 7-digit number then the number is compared  6  with all the numbers stored in the memory. If the 7 digits match the local exchange portion of one of the numbers stored in the memory then dial  9  the number was found in the memory. If there was no match then dial  7  number that the user entered at the start  1  point. At this point we are done  10  and the process starts again  1 . 
   If the number dialed at the start  1  was not 7 digits then simply dial  3  the received number to the phone system. When the call is established measure the length of the phone call. If the length is longer  4  then some set time such as 10 seconds, enter the number into the memory  5 . This is probably a good phone number and the person is likely to want to make the call again. If the phone call is shorter  4  then the set time length the phone call is likely to be a wrong number  8 . At this point we are done  10  and the process starts again  1 . 
   This entire process goes on in the background without the user&#39;s knowledge. The only time that the user might be aware of the process is when the system dials an 11 digit from memory when he only entered a 7-digit number. 
   The method described for determining the validity of a phone call is by timing the length of the call. There are other methods possible such as receiving a signal from the receiving phone. It is intended that this patent cover all methods of determining the validity of a phone call.