Personal digital assistant with real time search capability

The present invention is a method and an apparatus for searching a personal digital assistant (PDA) data base utilizing a search criteria and displaying the result so that the user can determine whether the search yielded the intended result, whether the search needs to be refined, or whether the outcome should be used to initiate an electronic communication such as a telephone call. After successfully obtaining the specific name and recipient information, such as a telephone number, telefax number, numbers for an Internet server and related E-mail address, the numbers may be applied to a telephone for establishing a PSTN or telephone connection. Thereafter the PDA, utilizing the telephone unit links the user to a line or employs data transmission capabilities of a wireless network to send telefaxes, short messages, E-mail and to connect with remote computers. Using a keyboard the user can store data in a data base, alter the data base and input search criteria. The directory is similar in appearance to a telephone book listing where the information comprises at least a name and telephone number or address associated with a particular field in a data base record. Because names are primarily what interests the personal digital assistant users, searches based on the name field typically yields related phone numbers and other record data, although the user is not precluded from searching on other types of information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the field of data base searching used in 
connection with personal digital assistants and electronic communications. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Advanced communications systems have brought portable radiotelephony to 
countless subscribers throughout the world by combining many technologies 
such as high frequency semiconductors, computer and communications 
technology. As the technology matures it opens opportunities for expanded 
services such as personal digital assistants. 
The personal digital assistant (PDA) is essentially a portable electronic 
computer having specialized capabilities. The PDA comes in several 
varieties such as message pads, palm top computers and those that combine 
PDA's with communications units. Generally, PDA's do not have self 
contained phone units, however, a user may still send telefaxes, 
electronic mail(E-mail), voice mail and voice telephone calls. Some PDA's 
can be directly connected to a the Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN) 
whereas others may require an adapter such as a PCMCIA card. It is a 
common practice to include features such as calculators, calendars, 
memorandum pads and personal and business directories or calling card file 
information. PDA's that contain such information utilize conventional 
computer storage facilities and retain such information in non-volatile 
memory storage devices such as random access memory, tape storage, and 
magnetic disk storage. 
Regardless of the particular data storage technology, the information is 
accessible to the user of the PDA's through conventional display 
technology, such as a liquid crystal display. The personal and business 
information contained often includes such information as individual names, 
company names, addresses, telephone numbers, telefax numbers, E-mail 
addresses and other wide ranging information. 
Through advances in storage technology, PDA users compile ever increasingly 
more information imposing requirements to retrieve specific information 
rapidly and accurately. However, simply increasing electronic processor 
speed often taxes available power sources, but, because the devices are 
required to be small enough to be portable, large power supplies are not 
feasible. This dual need challenges the designer of this technology to 
strive for innovative methods for producing the required searches 
efficiently which calls for improving computer data base search 
techniques. 
A PDA may contain memory storage devices to permit the creation of data 
bases used in various PDA and telephone applications. For example, the 
data base may hold contact information, similar to a calling card, such as 
telephone numbers and addresses. This contact information may be used by 
the telephone to initiate a telephone call, telefax or E-mail 
transmission. The PDA can then send and receive message content contained 
within mediums such as the telefaxes or E-mail and serve as an adjunct to 
the telephone to provide speakerphone or voice mail capability. As the 
number of contact entries becomes large it becomes necessary, for 
practical reasons, to incorporate methods to search the data bases for 
information the user needs to retrieve. 
To accomplish a search the PDA would have to incorporate software or 
firmware to properly interpret the search commands, carry out a search 
algorithm, and display lists of records that meet the search 
specification. Such methods are generally well known by those person 
skilled in the computer arts. 
For smaller data bases such as are utilized in PDA applications, the 
approach has been to provide a simple search, where the user activates the 
search function and types in the search key or designator. The search is 
performed after the user activates the search by, for example, pressing a 
key such as enter or a specific `search` key. This is referred to as a 
`passive search` and is characterized by the fact that it does not display 
the result of the query as soon as the query search key activates the 
search. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an apparatus and a method for searching a PDA data 
base utilizing a search criteria and displaying the result so that the 
user can determine whether the search yielded the intended result, whether 
the search needs to be refined, or whether the outcome should be used to 
initiate a telephone call. After successfully obtaining a specific name 
and a corresponding calling number, such as a telephone number, a telefax 
number, or numbers for an Internet server and/or an E-mail address, the 
numbers are applied to a telephone for establishing a telephone 
connection. Thereafter, the PDA, utilizing the telephone, links the user 
to a PSTN or employs available data transmission capabilities of the 
wireless network to send telefaxes, short messages, E-mail, or to connect 
with remote computers. 
In carrying out the invention, a search engine or search application 
program resident in the PDA memory or firmware cooperates with the PDA, 
which contains a display for displaying the database information. It also 
includes an input device such as a keypad, touch screen, or keyboard 
(referred to collectively as a keyboard), to allow the user to store data 
and retrieve data in a database, or alter the database, or input various 
search criteria. 
The data base, generally analogized to a telephone book, is referred to as 
a contact data base where data stored in fields comprises at least a name 
associated with a particular field in a data base record. Other fields 
contain addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, E-mail and paging 
addresses, Internet universal resource locator numbers, and any other 
types of calling numbers associated with electronic communications. 
Because names are primarily what interests the PDA users, the user 
generally searches the name field, although the user is not precluded from 
searching other fields such as address fields. The contact data base is 
also used to select addressees for facsimiles and E-mails as well as to 
route telephone calls. 
As the user types in the search key, the PDA virtually instantly displays 
the items matching the search found in the contact data base. The user can 
refine the search by adding additional search criteria until finally 
producing for viewing a minimum number of data base records matching the 
search criteria. For example, if the user types the letter "j" all records 
having names beginning with the letter "j" appear. The user may continue 
to type additional letters defining a name, for example, the pair of 
letters "on" chooses records such as "Jones" but not records such as 
"Jackson". Further typing the letter "a" would eliminate "Jones" as a 
possibility and display any names having as their first four letters 
"jona" such as "Jonathan". This method of searching is referred to as an 
active search, and is distinguished from a passive search where the search 
begins only after the search key has been entered, the search function 
actuated, and a completed compilation produced. 
A PDA capable of carrying out the objects of the invention is comprised of 
a storage device containing a data base with one or more records of names 
and relatable calling numbers; a directory relatable to said records; an 
input device for inputting a search key relatable to a data element in one 
or more of the records; a search engine to search the data base and 
compare the records to the search key; and a display for showing the 
directory of those records that compare to the search key. The input 
device selects a calling record in the directory in accordance with the 
location of an indicator on a display, denoted by a cursor, pointing 
device or physical contact such as touching a touch screen in addition to 
a selection frame in the display. An electronic communications device such 
as a telephone connected to the personal digital assistant may then 
initiate one or more applications relatable to the communication of a 
message content based on a description of the record selected. 
A method of operation of the PDA as disclosed herein employs an input 
device such as a keyboard, telephone keypad, or touch screen, a file 
storage device such a magnetic disk storage or semiconductor memory, a 
data base, a search engine, a display and a telephone connection. 
Thereafter the steps required to implement the method include storing in 
the data base one or more file records containing personal and business 
records containing names and calling numbers; choosing from the stored 
file records a directory to display searchable data contained in the data 
base; inputting a search key relatable to a data element in one or more 
file records; comparing the search key to the data in the file records and 
displaying in the directory one or more file records in which the data 
element matches the search key; selecting a file record in accordance with 
the location of an indicator on a display, denoted by at least one of a 
cursor, a pointing device or a contact and a selection frame in the 
display; and finally utilizing the calling number found in the selected 
file record to initiate an electronic communication to transmit a message 
content contained within mediums such as a facsimile, E-mail, paging 
message or voice telephone call. 
An object of this invention is to provide an efficient method for searching 
a PDA database. 
A second object of this invention is to provide a method whereby a PDA 
searches a data base for pertinent calling numbers and initiates a 
telephone call utilizing the numbers. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a PDA capable of searching a 
database for pertinent calling numbers and initiating a telephone call 
utilizing the numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is a high-level diagram of a PDA 10 that includes a PDA unit 10b 
having one or more data input devices 8a and 8b, a contact data base 
storage unit 11, a contact data base 18, a search engine 14, a display 3 
and a device or interface for electronic communication, such as a 
telephone unit connection 10a. 
FIG. 1, blocks 11, 14 and 18 and associated arrows represent functions of 
the process according to the present invention which may be implemented as 
electrical circuits and associated wires or data busses, which transport 
electrical signals. Alternatively, one or more associated arrows may 
represent communication (e.g., data flow) between software routines, 
particularly when the present method or apparatus of the present invention 
is implemented as a digital process as in the preferred embodiment. 
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in a presently preferred embodiment the PDA 
is comprised of the telephone unit 10a and the PDA unit 10b. The telephone 
unit 10a electrically and mechanically interfaces to the PDA unit 10b on 
an unshown face of PDA hinged cover 12. In one mode of operation the cover 
12 closes the PDA display 3 and keyboard 8b, but the fully integrated 
telephone unit 10a attached to the cover 12 also permits electronic access 
to certain functions of the PDA unit 10b, such as its data base through 
the keypad 8a. The "interface" emphasizes the fact that the telephone unit 
10a and the PDA unit 10b use the same resources and essentially cooperate 
as one device. For example, the telephone unit 10a may use names and phone 
numbers stored in the data base storage unit 11 to initiate voice 
telephone calls, sending or receiving telefaxes, or connecting to remote 
computers. The PDA unit 10b also uses the interface and employs data 
transmission capabilities compatible with existing wireless networks for 
communicating with the outside world 15, i.e. for sending or receiving 
telefaxes and connecting to remote computers. 
Although shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as an integrated phone/PDA unit, in other 
embodiments of the invention the PDA 10 may have a connector for plugging 
into a telephone line, or to connect to a separate wireless communicator, 
such as a cellular telephone. 
The contact data base 18 contains information as illustrated on an 
exemplary contact card 100 in FIG. 3, constituting business and personal 
information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses, and 
telefax calling numbers. Referring to FIG. 3 the structure of the contact 
card 100 is comprised of a field ID 101 and a field ID 102 and values, 
such as a value 103, for illustration. Other items that are typically 
found in the contact card 100 and related cards, to be described 
hereinafter, are a cursor 104, a selection frame 105 and an indicator of 
available options 106. 
The contact data base 18 contains the information retrievable by the PDA 
10b in performing each of its intended functions. For example, the PDA 10b 
will display in display 3 various application directories derived from the 
contact data base 18 such as a telephone directory 200 (FIG. 4A), a 
telefax directory 300 (FIG. 5A), or E-mail directory 400 (FIG. 5B). The 
PDA 10b (also referred to as a control means) will also display the 
results of a contact data base 18 search after utilizing the search engine 
14 to perform a search on the basis of a search key 21 input. Essentially, 
the specific information displayed depends on the information the selected 
user application requires. For example, when making a call via the 
telephone, the name and the phone numbers of the contact are displayed on 
display 3. Other information such as possible telefax numbers, E-mail 
addresses and job titles may not be shown at that time. 
In an alternate mode of operation the user can input through the telephone 
unit 10a keypad 8a a searchable alphanumeric string of characters. By 
appropriate key selection, the PDA 10b will search its data base and 
provide information to the telephone unit 10a for establishing a 
communication link to the outside world 15 through a direct connection to 
a PSTN or the wireless network via antenna 13. 
The contact application is used to create, edit, delete and manage all 
information, such as phone numbers and address data. This contact 
information is used by the telephone 10b in the telephone, telefax, and 
E-mail applications. The contact directory, unshown, is a list of all 
contact cards where each contact card 100 can be created, edited, or 
deleted. In the contact's directory each contact card is listed in 
alphabetical order according to the name in each contact card 100, as 
indicated by the Name field ID 101. 
Referring to FIG. 2B, the user typically chooses the application or 
function to be performed by the PDA 10b by pressing one of several 
application keys 9. In the case where a telephone call is to be made, 
depressing the telephone key of the application keys 9 produces a 
telephone directory display. The display 3 then indicates which selection, 
such as the contact directory, telephone directory 200, telefax directory 
300 or E-mail directory 400, has been chosen. Each directory operates in 
essentially the same manner. 
The PDA 10b contains, in addition to the application keys 9, a QWERTY 
standard keyboard 8b for inputting and editing contact information, and 
navigation keys 2a and 2b for controlling the display selection. In an 
alternate embodiment the keyboard is replaced by a touch screen with all 
the same functions that are hereinafter described for the standard 
keyboard 8b. In another embodiment a voice recognition function can be 
used to replace or supplement the manual data entry device, such as the 
keyboard 8b. In FIG. 4A the display option 106, adjacent to option keys 
106A (FIG. 2) permits each directory to be utilized in carrying out the 
specific function. Each directory will display a different set of options 
106. For example, the telephone directory 200 would depict in its display, 
Call, Enter Number, Recent Calls, and Settings, pertaining to a call to be 
placed, telephone numbers to be entered manually, a display of recent 
calls and special telephone feature settings, respectively. 
Whenever an application directory, such as the telephone directory 200 is 
chosen by the user, the information (also referred to as one or more 
entries) can be highlighted on the display screen 3 by scrolling or moving 
the selection frame 105 with the navigation keys 2a or 2b. 
Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, a search field 4 is used to accept 
keyboard 8b input of a search key 21 based on one of the displayed fields 
such as the name field 5 or the company field 6. To search for an item of 
information, such as a specific name, the name is entered using the 
keyboard 8b into the search field 4. The search engine 14, comprising a 
software or firmware search engine, compares fields for matches in the 
name field 5 or company field 6. The search results can be cleared by 
deleting characters, one by one, from the search field 4 with the 
backspace key located on keyboard 8b. 
The search is performed on the name field 5 or the company field 6 
contained in each contact record 100, although other search fields could 
be implemented by those persons skilled in the art. A contact may have a 
multi-part value, such as `Jones Andrew`, wherein the search will be 
performed on both names (the space character acting as a separator). The 
same applies to `Company` or `Address` or other possible fields. The 
search can be performed on any number of fields keeping in mind the 
resources and processor capability. 
The result of the query is sorted alphabetically and displayed on display 3 
in the following order: sorted, (1) according to the first separate word 
in the `Name` field; (2) according to the second separate word in the 
`Name` field; (3) according to the third separate word in the `Name` 
field; (4) according to the nth separate word in the first `Name` field; 
(5) according to the first separate word in the first `Company` field; (6) 
according to the second separate word in the first `Company` field; or (7) 
according to the nth separate word in the first `Company` field. 
Thereafter depending on the levels of search embodied in the particular PDA 
10b, query results are displayed sorted: (1) according to the first 
separate word in the first `Address` field; (2) according to the second 
separate word in the first `Address` field; (3) according to the third 
separate word in the first `Address` field; or (4) according to the nth 
separate word in the first `Address` field, etc. 
FIG. 4B illustrates a telephone directory 200 where a search character 21 
depicted as "a" is provided. Note that all individual names 22a, such as 
Andrew and the company names 22b, such as AA Companies, Inc., beginning 
with the letter "a" are matched and thereby retrieved in the search and 
displayed at one time. FIG. 4C illustrates a search on the characters 21 
depicted as "an" and FIG. 4D illustrates no matching contacts when the 
characters 21 depicted as "anx" are searched. 
FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are further examples of other applications utilizing 
the same contact data base 18. The telefax directory 300 illustrated does 
not have any telefax numbers at the time of the search, but it will 
nevertheless be displayed to the user because the search key 21 depicted 
as "an" shows a match. However, as shown in FIG. 5B, two of the contacts 
28 do not have an E-mail address, but each will be visible to the user on 
the display 3 at a reduced illumination level, dimmed, or otherwise 
visually distinguished. 
A World Wide Web (WWW) link may also be provided in a contact card 100. By 
example, by providing a WWW field, e.g. 
WWW(Homepage):http://www.myserver.net/myhomepage.htm, a user may initiate 
a data call to an internet access point and automatically retrieve (load, 
fetch) the page stored in that field, 
http://www.myserver.net/myhomepage.htm. A gopher link can be provided as 
well, and/or a FTP (file transfer protocol) link. 
Referring again to FIG. 2B, the user chooses a message content application 
such as the E-mail application or the facsimile application by pressing 
one of the application keys 9. For example, in the case where an E-mail is 
to be sent, depressing the Internet key of the application keys 9 produces 
on display 3 an instruction to the user to type the E-mail information or 
message content. The user will then type the message content using 
keyboard 8b, which content is displayed on the display 3. When the message 
content is ready to be sent, the user selects a recipient from the E-mail 
directory 5B. Recall that the contact data base 11 is also used to select 
addressees for message content such as facsimiles and E-mails as well as 
to route the electronic communications or telephone calls. The user can 
then send the E-mail immediately or can delay the sending to a later time, 
in either case using the same contact data base 11 to acquire the E-mail 
address. If the sending is delayed the PDA 10b creates a temporary file to 
store the E-mail, where it will be later retrieved, when the user desires 
to send the message. 
An alternate method for operating the PDA 1 comprises the steps of: storing 
in the data base 11 one or more records of names and relatable calling 
numbers comprising a directory; choosing an application using the 
application keys 9 to input either a facsimile or E-mail content as 
described above; selecting a record from either the facsimile directory 
300 or E-mail directory 400 and then utilizing the information in the 
selected record to address the facsimile or E-mail. 
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a flowchart detailing the sequence following the 
command to perform a search. This flowchart accepts the user actions and 
forwards user input to the search subroutine. 
The search process begins at Block 701 with the user choosing a name to 
search for purposes of making a call or sending a telefax or E-mail. 
Search variables 702 are set by designating search key 21 symbolically as 
Key$, the alphanumeric string representing the selected name, provided by 
user input, through the keyboard 8b and appearing at the search field 4. 
For illustration purposes, cursor 104 defines variable loc(x), located 
within the search field 4. Alternatively the location of the cursor may be 
replaced by any indicator on a display, so long as it can be denoted by a 
cursor, pointing device or contact such as touch. The selection frame 105 
defines the variable loc(y) in the input field and initially is set to one 
so that the currently active record will be the first record searched. 
A reentrant subroutine 703, FIGS. 7A and 7B, to be described below, is 
called transferring the variable Key$ to the subroutine as a parameter. 
When the process is first called, the variable Key$ is designated as a 
NULL string, indicating that every match should be matched and therefore 
displayed. 
At decision Block 704, the keyboard 8b is tested for whether a key has been 
depressed. If a key has been depressed, control is forwarded, 
conditionally, to decision Blocks 705, 706, 707, 708, 709 and 710 for 
determination of which navigation key 2b or other key on keyboard 8b may 
have been depressed. In the case where no key has been depressed, the PDA 
10b processor continues to test for the depression of a key on the 
keyboard 8b. 
Block 705 tests the condition whether the user has depressed one of the 
group of navigation keys 2b, referred to as the `backspace` key and if the 
condition is satisfied, logical control is forwarded to Block 714. At 
Block 714, unless the cursor 104 is at the beginning of the line, it 
deletes the character left of the cursor 104 in the search key 21 string 
and then moves the cursor 104 left one place. IF the condition has not 
been satisfied then control is passed to Block 706 for further checking. 
Block 706 tests the condition whether the user depressed one of the group 
of navigation keys 2b, referred to as the `left arrow` key, and if the 
condition is satisfied, logical control is forwarded to Block 715. Unless 
the cursor 104 is at the beginning of the line, the cursor 104 is moved 
left one place, otherwise it is left unchanged. If the condition has not 
been satisfied, then control is passed to Block 707 for further checking. 
Block 707 tests the condition whether the user depressed one of the group 
of navigation keys 2b, referred to as the `right arrow` key, and if the 
condition is satisfied, logical control is forwarded to Block 716. Unless 
the location of the cursor 104 is at the right end of the search key 21, 
the cursor 104 is moved one place to the right, otherwise it is left 
unchanged. If the condition had not been satisfied then control is passed 
to Block 708 for further checking. 
Block 708 tests the condition whether the user depressed one of the group 
of navigation keys 2b, referred to as the `up arrow` key, and if the 
condition is satisfied, logical control is forwarded to Block 717. Unless 
the line is already the first line, the selection frame 105 is moved one 
line up, otherwise it is left unchanged. If the condition had not been 
satisfied then control is passed to Block 709 for further checking. 
Block 709 tests the condition whether the user depressed one of the group 
of navigation keys 2b, referred to as the `down arrow` key, and if the 
condition is satisfied, logical control is forwarded to Block 718. Unless 
the selection frame 105 is at the last line, the selection frame 105 is 
moved one line down, otherwise it is left unchanged. If the condition has 
not been satisfied, then control is passed to Block 710 for further 
checking. 
Block 710 tests the condition whether the user has depressed a special key, 
e.g. a key assigned to switch applications. If the condition is satisfied, 
then control is passed to Block 719 to exit the search routine 703 and 
return to the application prior to activation of the search, otherwise 
control is passed to Block 711 where the character depressed is displayed. 
Through Block 712 the character is also added to the search key 21 and 
then placed in front of the cursor. The cursor 104 location and thereby 
loc(x), is advanced and the process of searching the contact data base 18 
begins again. 
FIGS. 7A and 7B are a flowchart detailing how the search engine searches in 
accordance with the present invention. In summary the search process 
comprises the following steps: inputting a search key representing the 
alphanumeric string to be searched; setting a first variable to the number 
of records to be checked; setting a first index to one to keep account of 
the records checked; setting a second variable to the alphanumeric string 
to be searched; setting a third variable to TRUE if the record has been 
checked otherwise setting the third variable to FALSE, and if the third 
variable is FALSE then reading the second variable from the record; 
comparing the condition whether the search key matches the second variable 
stored in the record, and if it is determined that the search key matches 
the second variable, then, the record is displayed; incrementing the first 
index and determining whether the first index equals the first variable 
number of records to be checked, and if the first index does not equal the 
first variable, then the search process repeats until all records matching 
the search key are displayed. 
In describing the search function in detail we begin at Block 801 when the 
subroutine 703 is called from the process described in FIGS. 6A and 6B and 
is passed search key 21 parameter Key$, the alphanumeric string 
representing the selected name, address, or other pertinent data to be 
searched. In Block 802 if the search criteria is determined to be a null 
string, then the search is effectively aborted by setting the variable 
"matched" to the total number of records in the data base, making them 
available at the display 3 and exiting the search routine 703. As no 
search key has been provided, all records will be shown. 
At Block 817 the variable "matched" is set to the number of all records in 
the database 18 which variable value is then passed to Block 718 in FIG. 
6. 
If the string to be compared with records in the database 18 and thereby 
searched is not the null string, then the process is passed to Block 803. 
At Block 803 an index "record" is set to one and the index "matched" is set 
to zero. The variable "field ID" is set to Name and the variable 
"Match(record)" is initially set to FALSE. This causes the condition at 
Block 804 to be satisfied, which in turn reads the field value from the 
active record in Block 805. 
Block 804 determines if a record should be compared based on whether the 
current record has already been checked. If "match(record)=TRUE", then the 
current record is skipped and the process jumps to Block 811 where the 
"record" index is incremented by one, otherwise Block 805 reads the field 
value according to the variable "field ID" from the active record. 
Block 806 effectively places the cursor 104 at the beginning of the field 
value in order to set the start point of the field to be checked. 
Block 807 first calculates the length of the search key 21, symbolically 
Key$, and then selects, starting from the current search position, the 
next character according to the length of search key 21. 
Block 808 tests the condition whether the selected string compares or 
matches the value stored in the search key 21, symbolically Key$, and if 
it is determined that it does compare, then, the process moves to Block 
809, otherwise the process moves to Block 818. 
A separation character is a pre-defined character intended to separate 
words in the field value location. Characters such as quotes or hyphens as 
in "Adolfsen Jack" or "Twinsor-Jockston" are permissible. If a separation 
character is found, then the match comparison is performed on the search 
string following the separation character. If it is determined that the 
character is not a separation character, then the record is determined not 
to be a match and the process advances to the next record. 
If the test in Block 808 determines a match between the search key 21 and a 
field value, then Block 809 increments the index "matched" by one, sets 
the variable "match(record)" to TRUE (preventing the record from being 
searched again), and passes the process to Block 810 where the favorably 
compared record is added to a temporary list labeled "ToBeShownList". 
Depending on limitations imposed by available memory, memory 
configurations, or hardware, several temporary "ToBeShownList" lists can 
co-exist. This has the advantage that several files can be created if the 
data base, which may contain hundreds of matched records, does not fit in 
one temporary list. When more than one ToBeShownList exists, subsequent 
searches can be performed from existing temporary lists instead of the 
contact data base 18. This typically results in efficiencies of search 
speed. For example, consider that a search has previously been processed 
on the letter "A" and a ToBeShownList has compiled all records that have 
an "A" in the `Name` field. Subsequently, if the user types in a search 
key "As", the search only need be conducted on the previously compiled 
ToBeShownList, not the entire contacts data base 18. Although, the 
embodiment illustrating this technique is not shown in the FIG. 7 
flowchart, it will be understood as easily implemented by persons skilled 
in the arts, based on the foregoing description. 
At Block 811 the index "record" is incremented by one so as to point to the 
next record to be checked. However, before another record is retrieved, 
Block 812 tests the index "record" against the number of records in the 
data base represented by the variable "numrecords". If the index "record" 
is less than "numrecords" then the next record in the data base 18 is 
checked. 
After all records have been checked for a match in the first field ID 5, 
then the process determines if another field such as field ID 6 needs to 
be searched, also, Block 813 reads the next field ID to determine if the 
next field, within a record, is to be compared for a match. IF there is no 
other field to be compared to the search string, then the index "record" 
is reset to one, the variable "match(records)" is reset FALSE, and the 
process beginning at Block 804 is repeated on the new field. 
If no additional fields are to be compared against the search key 21, then 
the Block 814 passes control to Block 815 to combine any temporary lists 
created. Thereafter, the sorted lists are displayed as shown by Block 816. 
If no matches were found the system displays the message that no matches 
were found. Block 820 returns the control to the calling routine 703. 
Further, in accordance with this invention, a telephone number obtained 
from the above-described search procedure can be transferred to the 
telephone 12 shown in FIG. 2A, thereby enabling a call to be placed to the 
desired party. The number is transferred to the internal data bus of the 
telephone 12 using a format and protocol that is compatible with the 
internal data bus. 
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described 
herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of 
example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will occur 
to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the 
invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all 
such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.