Method and computer-readable medium for performing predictive name completion, categorizing call logs and accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database for dispatch dialers

A method and computer-readable medium for performing predictive name completion, categorizing call lists and accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database for dispatch dialers is provided. The method for performing predictive name completion includes recognizing a portion of a dispatch ID input by a user; determining a name associated with a dispatch ID, based on the portion of the dispatch ID input by the user, and displaying the name. The method for categorizing call lists includes determining a type of each of a plurality of the dispatch calls; and placing each of the plurality of dispatch calls in one of a plurality of categorized lists, based on the type of each of the plurality of dispatch calls. The method for accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database includes establishing a mirror database including the dispatch ID numbers; and searching the mirror database for particular dispatch ID numbers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communications systems typically provide interconnect and/or dispatch voice communication services. Interconnect voice communication services are those typically provided by most wireless carriers as circuit-switched communications. Dispatch communication services are commonly known as walkie-talkie or push-to-talk (PTT) types of calls, such as the Nextel Communications, Inc. service identified by the trade name Direct Connect. Interconnect voice communication services provided by most wireless carriers can be provided between sources and destinations of different wireless carriers.

A dispatch user interface, which provides an interface for a user of a dispatch calling device, requires that dispatch ID numbers be stored in a database for quick lookup. An example of a database that is used to store dispatch ID numbers is a Microsoft Outlook database, which is also referred to as an Outlook data store. A Microsoft Outlook data store (e.g., Outlook Contacts) has a “radio” field for storage of the dispatch ID. Although the Microsoft Outlook data store contains a field that can be used for the dispatch ID, when a separate dispatch dialer application program is used, the mechanism for accessing and referencing the data store entries is cumbersome and inefficient.

Also, a dispatch dialer interface requires that incoming and outgoing calls be logged, so that a user can quickly reference them and redial the call. However, recent calls lists for interconnect dialers do not support features required for dispatch devices. For example, the recent calls lists for interconnect dialers do not support call alerts, group calls and private calls.

Additionally, the dispatch dialer interface needs to show the proper name associated with a dispatch ID, as it is typed into the user interface. However, interconnect dialers, such as the Microsoft Dialer, do not support this dispatch operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and computer-readable medium are provided. In accordance with the present invention, a separate “mirror” database that contains only dispatch IDs allows a dispatch dialer application program to quickly look up entries for outgoing calls, caller ID and call completion. Also, the dispatch dialer may add, delete, and change entries, which may then be synchronized with the corresponding entries in another database.

In accordance with the present invention, a dispatch user interface allows a user to select categorized lists of dispatch calls to view, e.g., dispatch calls in and out, group calls out, call alerts in and out, and all calls.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, as a user types in a dispatch ID, a dispatch dialer references a dispatch ID database (phonebook). Once a positive match is made, even though the user has not completed entering the dispatch ID, the phonebook entry name is displayed on the user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database, in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1, in a dispatch dialer application program, the method for accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database, includes the acts of: establishing a mirror database including the dispatch ID numbers (step101); and searching the mirror database for particular dispatch ID numbers (step102). The dispatch ID numbers may be associated with one or more of outgoing calls, caller ID and call completion. The establishing of the mirror database may include extracting the dispatch ID numbers from another database, such as a Microsoft Outlook database, for example. By searching the mirror database for the dispatch ID numbers, rather than searching a larger database, the amount of time needed to search for and locate the desired dispatch ID numbers can be reduced. The mirror database that contains only the dispatch IDs allows the dispatch dialer application program to quickly look up entries for outgoing calls, caller ID and call completion. Thus, the speed and efficiency of the database search is increased.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method further includes modifying the dispatch ID numbers in the mirror database (step103). The modification of the dispatch ID numbers may include adding a new dispatch ID number, changing an existing dispatch ID number, and/or deleting an existing dispatch ID number. After the modifications are completed, the mirror database can be synchronized with another database, such as the Microsoft Outlook database (step104), thereby updating the other database.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for performing predictive name completion in a telecommunications device with a dispatch dialer, in accordance with the present invention. As the user types in a dispatch ID, the dispatch dialer references the dispatch ID database (phonebook). Once a portion of a dispatch ID input by a user is recognized (step201), and the name associated with a dispatch ID is determined (step202), even though the user has not completed entering the dispatch ID, the phonebook entry name is displayed on the user interface (step203). To determine the name associated with the dispatch ID, a dispatch ID uniquely matching the inputted portion of the dispatch ID may be searched for in a dispatch ID database. The searching may be performed after each of the numbers in the portion of the dispatch ID is entered, or after defined groups of numbers are input.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for categorizing dispatch calls, in accordance with the present invention. A dispatch user interface allows a user to select categorized lists of dispatch calls to view, e.g., dispatch calls in and out, group calls out, call alerts in and out, and all calls. According to the method illustrated inFIG. 3, a type of each of the dispatch calls is determined (step301), and each of the dispatch calls is placed in one of a plurality of categorized lists, based upon the type of dispatch call (step302). The types of dispatch calls include, for example, dispatch call in, dispatch call out, group call out, call alert in, and call alert out. By placing the calls in categorized lists, the method for categorizing dispatch calls provides the user with additional information about his dispatch calls.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for selecting and displaying a plurality of categorized lists of dispatch calls, in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, the method includes selecting a list of the dispatch calls from the plurality of categorized lists (step401); and displaying the selected list of the dispatch calls on a user interface (step402). The categorized lists of dispatch calls include dispatch calls in, dispatch calls out, group calls out, call alerts in, call alerts out, and all calls.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for accessing dispatch ID numbers in a database is provided. The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks. Volatile media includes, for example, dynamic memory.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the computer program includes instructions for: establishing a mirror database including dispatch ID numbers (step101); and searching the mirror database for particular dispatch ID numbers (step102). The dispatch ID numbers may be associated with one or more of outgoing calls, caller ID and call completion. In an exemplary embodiment, establishing the mirror database includes extracting the dispatch ID numbers from another database, such as a Microsoft Outlook database. By searching the mirror database for the dispatch ID numbers, rather than searching a larger database, such as the Microsoft Outlook database, the amount of time needed to search for and locate the desired dispatch ID numbers can be reduced. A mirror database, containing only the dispatch ID numbers, allows the dispatch dialer application program to quickly look up entries for outgoing calls, caller ID and call completion. Thus, the speed and efficiency of the database search is increased.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing predictive name completion in a telecommunications device with a dispatch dialer, the computer program including instructions for: recognizing a portion of a dispatch ID input by a user (step201); and determining a name associated with a dispatch ID, based on the portion of the dispatch ID input by the user (step202). The determining of the name may include uniquely matching the inputted portion of the dispatch ID with a dispatch ID in a dispatch ID database. The matching may be performed after each of the numbers in the portion of the dispatch ID is entered or after defined groups of numbers are input. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the computer-readable medium may further include instructions for displaying the name on a user interface (step203).

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is encoded with a computer program for categorizing dispatch calls, the computer program including instructions for: determining a type of each of a plurality of the dispatch calls (step301); and placing each of the plurality of the dispatch calls in one of a plurality of categorized lists, based on the type of each of the plurality of the dispatch calls (step302), as illustrated inFIG. 3. The categorized lists may include dispatch calls in, dispatch calls out, group calls out, call alerts in, call alerts out, and all calls.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is encoded with a computer program for selecting and displaying a plurality of categorized lists of dispatch calls, the computer program including instructions for: selecting a list of the dispatch calls from the plurality of categorized lists (step401); and displaying the selected list of the dispatch calls (step402). These instructions are illustrated inFIG. 4. As described above, the categorized lists may include dispatch calls in, dispatch calls out, group calls out, call alerts in, call alerts out, and all calls.