Abstract:
A method for transmitting a phone number stored in a first mobile communication terminal to a second mobile communication terminal is provided. The method comprises selecting a phone number stored in a database in the first mobile communication terminal, by way of interacting with a user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; creating a short text message to be transmitted to the second mobile communication terminal; inputting the selected phone number in the short text message, as a single entry, by way of interacting with the user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; and transmitting the short text message to the second mobile communication terminal, wherein a user of the second mobile communication terminal upon receipt of the short text message interacts with the second mobile communication terminal to select the phone number in the short text message, as a single entry.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0007711, filed on Jan. 25, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of transmitting a message, and more particularly, to a method of transmitting a message to deliver personal information stored in a first mobile communication terminal to a second mobile communication terminal. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Telephone numbers and other contact or date information can be stored in a mobile communication terminal. That is, a database having several data records may be implemented so that personal information for a contact or calendar item can be stored in the mobile communication terminal. This information can be later recalled by a user. 
         [0004]    Currently, there is no convenient method of sharing the information stored in the database records. For example, typically, a person will have to verbally notify another person about the information or manually handwrite the needed data. The other user will then have to then manually enter the related data into his mobile communication terminal. 
         [0005]    Methods and systems are needed that can provide a more convenient alternative to the manual method of transferring data between mobile communication terminals. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system for transmitting a message that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for easily transmitting personal information stored in a mobile communication terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method to make it easier for a recipient of a text message to store personal information that is received by her mobile communication terminal. 
         [0007]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0008]    To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for transmitting a message according to the present invention comprises selecting a phone number stored in a database in the first mobile communication terminal, by way of interacting with a user interface of the first mobile communication terminal, creating a text message to be transmitted to the second mobile communication terminal, inputting the selected phone number in the text message, as a single entry, by way of interacting with the user interface of the first mobile communication terminal, and transmitting the text message to the second mobile communication terminal. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment, a system for transmitting a message from a first mobile communication terminal comprises a logic unit for selecting first data in a first format from a first database by way of interacting with a first user interface of the first mobile communication terminal, a logic unit for associating the first data to a first message created by a user of the first mobile communication terminal, and a logic unit for transmitting the first data to a second mobile communication terminal in association with the first message, wherein the second mobile communication terminal is used to extract the first data in the first format from the first message, upon receiving the first message. 
         [0010]    In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for transmitting a phone number stored in a first mobile communication terminal to a second mobile communication terminal is provided. The method comprises selecting a phone number stored in a database in the first mobile communication terminal, by way of interacting with a user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; creating a short text message to be transmitted to the second mobile communication terminal; inputting the selected phone number in the short text message, as a single entry, by way of interacting with the user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; and transmitting the short text message to the second mobile communication terminal. 
         [0011]    A user of the second mobile communication terminal upon receipt of the short text message interacts with the second mobile communication terminal to select the phone number in the short text message, as a single entry. Selecting the phone number causes the second mobile communication terminal to generate a reply. 
         [0012]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the components of a mobile communication terminal, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for transmitting a message by displaying a phone number obtained from a digital phonebook according to one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for transmitting a message by displaying a phone number obtained from a digital phonebook according to another embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A to 4D  are exemplary diagrams illustrating the display content and features of the mobile communication terminal of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A to 5D  are exemplary diagrams illustrating the display content and features of mobile communication terminal of  FIG. 11  according to another exemplary embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  are exemplary diagrams of images displayed on a mobile communication terminal receiving a message according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    In the following, certain embodiments of the invention are described by way of example as applicable to various messaging services such as the SMS (short message service), LMS (long message service), MMS (multi-message service). It is noteworthy that the invention in alternative embodiments may be implemented over other messaging services that support delivery of text or audiovisual content in an electronic message. 
         [0022]    In the following the term ‘sender information’ refers to information associated with a person who sends a message from a first mobile communication terminal to a second mobile communication terminal. This information can include an e-mail address, a uniform resource locator (URL), or a phone number. 
         [0023]    The term ‘personal information’ refers to information stored in an electronic or digital database, such as a phonebook, calendar, or other digital database for recording personal data, and comprises at least one of a phone number, an e-mail address, a URL, a date, or other category of data records that can be stored in a personal digital assistant (e.g., tasks, calendar, contacts, notes, etc.) 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mobile communication terminal, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, comprises a memory  102 , an input device  104 , a controller  106 , a display  108 , and a radio circuit unit  110 . A software program for controlling the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal is loaded in the memory  102 . Personal information such as contact phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and URLs are also stored in the memory  102  according to one embodiment. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the memory  102  includes a phonebook storage unit to store personal information. The input device  104  is provided with a plurality of keys to allow a user input data into the mobile communication terminal. The input device  104  can be implemented as a keyboard, keypad, a joystick, a pointer device, a touch-screen or other alternative interactive mechanism available for inputting data to a mobile communication terminal. A user can use the input device  104  to submit search queries to find one or more personal information recorded in the mobile communication terminal&#39;s database. 
         [0026]    The display  108  may comprise a liquid crystal display for displaying various information and content. Various information such as date, time, mode and other user information may be displayed on display  108 , in response to a user request. Personal information matching the user request may be displayed on the display  108  of the mobile communication terminal, according to one embodiment. 
         [0027]    The radio circuit unit  110  is a transceiver for wirelessly communicating voice, data and control information with a base station. The radio circuit unit  110  communicates with an external mobile communication terminal by way of a base station. The controller  106  controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal. The controller  106  may comprise arithmetic and logic units, a register, a program counter, a command decoder, a control circuit and the like. 
         [0028]    The controller  106  according to one embodiment can be used to search and retrieve information from a contacts, calendar or phonebook database stored in the mobile communication terminal (e.g., in memory  102 ). The information may include a person&#39;s name, contact information, a calendar item, etc. The information can be transmitted in a message to the mobile communication network via the radio circuit unit  110 . The search can be performed, for example, by entering a partial keyword for the item being searched. 
         [0029]    For example, if a user attempts to search personal information of “Steve Dean,” a whole name “Steve Dean” or “Steve” can be inputted. In this case, the controller  106  can obtain personal information associated with the name “Steve” from the phonebook database stored in the memory  102 . Alternatively, a reverse search may be performed by entering a phone number as the keyword to retrieve records in the phonebook database associated with the searched phone number. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the controller  106  controls a message to be transmitted by displaying the personal information selected from the obtained personal information by the user as sender information. Moreover, the controller  106  is able to transmit a message by displaying personal information, which is obtained in case that a user selects an item for transmitting personal information from a menu including the item for transmitting personal information, as sender information. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, the controller may transmit a message by representing the obtained personal information as sender information and inputting the obtained sender information as message contents automatically. For example, if a phone number of Steve Dean is selected from the obtained personal information and if the phone number is 019-XXXX-YYYY, “Steve Dean&#39;s phone number, 019-XXXX-YYYY” is inputted as a message content to be transmitted together with sender information. If Steve Dean&#39;s e-mail is selected from the obtained personal information and if an e-mail address sss@hhh.com, is Steve Dean&#39;s e-mail, then “sss@hhh.com” is inputted as a message content to be transmitted together with sender information. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, message contents other than the phone number can be retrieved. In one embodiment, if a user can transmit, for example, a message comprising “It&#39;s me, Steve&#39;s phone number is 0000-00000-0000”, as provided in more detail below, by performing a search for Steve&#39;s number and automatically entering that number into a message, without having to key in the phone number into the message. 
         [0033]    The controller  106  of the mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention can display a sender information input window on the display  108  to provide a menu including a search item. If a user selects one of the search item and inputs a search condition, the controller  106  obtains personal information matched to the search condition from the phonebook and represents it as sender information. 
         [0034]    The controller  106 , in one embodiment, transmits a message to a mobile communication network via the radio circuit unit  110 . In this case, the search condition may include a part of name, a whole name or a part of a phone number. Preferably, the controller  106  can represent the obtained personal information as sender information and input the obtained personal information as message contents automatically. 
         [0035]    A process for transmitting a message including a phone number retrieved from a phonebook according to an embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 4A to 4D . It should be noted that a phone number is used as an example. In alternative embodiments, a message can include an e-mail address, a URL or other sender information. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 4A to 4D , a user selects a phone number search menu (S 202 ). In response, a search window is displayed on the display  108  to enable a user to input a search condition (e.g., a search string including a part of a phone number). In response to the inputted search condition, the phonebook records are searched for a match (S 204 ). A list of phone numbers or names matching the search condition, as shown in  FIG. 4A , are then retrieved and displayed. 
         [0037]    The user can then select from the list (S 206 ). For example, the user can select from the list a phone number, an e-mail address or a URL, depending on the matches displayed for the search condition. In certain embodiment, one or more items may be selected from the list. 
         [0038]    Preferably, after one or more items are selected, a menu for transmitting the selected items is provided (S 208 ). In one embodiment, the menu including the item for transmitting personal information can be provided regardless of whether the user has selected an item from the list. An exemplary menu for transmitting the selected information, is shown in  FIG. 4B , providing a user with options to send a message or transmit a selected item. 
         [0039]    It is then determined if a user has selected a menu option (S 210 ). If the user opts to transmit the selected item (e.g., a phone number), then the selected phone number is displayed on display  108  and is preferably stored in memory  102  (S 212 ). For example, if a phone number “019-XXXX-YYYY” was selected, as shown in  FIG. 4C , that phone number will be placed in a message to be transmitted. In one embodiment, the selected phone number can be included as sender&#39;s information, for example. 
         [0040]    In an exemplary embodiment, the selected item is displayed in a section of the message associated with the sender&#39;s phone number. In other exemplary embodiments, the selected item may be displayed in other sections of the message that are associated with the receiver&#39;s phone number, for example. If the user requests to transmit the message (S 214 ) the message including the selected item is transmitted to a receiving party (S 216 ). An exemplarily SMS message (e.g., “It&#39;s XX, Steve&#39;s number.”) is illustrated in  FIG. 4D . 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the item is first selected from a database and then a message is edited by a user. Alternatively, in other embodiment, first a message may be edited by the user and then the item may be selected from a database. 
         [0042]    In accordance with another embodiment, a method for transmitting a message including a phone number retrieved from a phonebook is provided in with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 5A to 5D . Again, a phone number is used as an example in the following. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that instead of a phone number other personal data such an e-mail address, a URL or the like may be transmitted. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 5A to 5D , a message input window is provided to a user for composing a message (S 302 ). Referring to  FIG. 5A , in an exemplary embodiment, the user inputs a message “It&#39;s XX, Steve&#39;s number.” The user may press a confirm key, an OK key or the like to indicate that composing the message has been completed. Referring to  FIG. 5B , in one embodiment, after the user completes composing the message (S 304 ), the user is provided with a search menu for searching a database for one or more items (e.g., a phone number, an address, an email, etc.) to be included in the message (S 30 ). 
         [0044]    If the user does not select a search option (S 308 ), then in the section of the message associated with the sender information, the sending terminal&#39;s identification number is displayed (S 310 ), otherwise, a search window is provided to the user for entering one or more search keywords or search conditions (S 312 , S 314 ). 
         [0045]    Thereafter, one or more items matching the search condition are retrieved from a respective database (e.g. phonebook) and are displayed on the display  108  (S 316 ). Referring to  FIG. 5C , for example, if a name “Steven Dean” or an associated phone number is retrieved, as the result of the search, the user can interact with a provided menu to select the retrieved item (S 318 ) to be included in the composed message. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, once the user selects the retrieved item, the selected item is displayed and included in the message (S 320 ). In an exemplary embodiment, a phone number “019-XXXX-YYYY,” as shown in  FIG. 5D , is included in a portion of the message associated with the sender&#39;s phone number, As noted earlier, the selected item may be included in other portions of the message (e.g., message body, message header, message sender information, message receiver information, etc.). After having selected the retrieved item, the user presses a “Confirm,” “OK” or other key to transmit the message, including the selected item (S 322 ). The above noted steps may be performed in any order depending on implementation. Thus, the order of steps disclosed above should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to a particular order. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  are exemplary diagrams of images displayed on a display of a mobile communication terminal, according to one embodiment, when a message including a selected is received. 
         [0048]    As shown, once a message is received ( FIG. 6A ), the user can interact with the mobile terminal to open the message. Once the message is opened, the content of the message is displayed along with the transmitted item ( FIG. 6B ). The user will be able to then interact with the mobile terminal to select from a menu of options, wherein a first menu option will allow the user to select the transmitted item and store it in the mobile terminal. For example, if the item is a telephone number, the user can store the telephone number directly into the phonebook database of the mobile terminal (e.g., see  FIG. 6C  option  2 ). 
         [0049]    Alternatively, the user may select a second option, which will allow the user to provide a reply (e.g., see  FIG. 6C  option  1 ). Depending on implementation and on the type of item included in the message the reply may result in a telephone call (e.g., if the item is a phone number), a text message (e.g., if the item is an email address), opening a browser window (e.g., if the item is a URL) or other reply corresponding to the item included in the message. 
         [0050]    Accordingly, if for example, the item is a phone number, a sender can conveniently inform a third party of a specific phone number without memorizing a phone number stored in a phonebook or writing down the phone number to input to a message. Further, the present invention enables the recipient to directly make a phone call to the included phone number or store the phone number without having to key in the phone number. 
         [0051]    Or if the item is an e-mail or a URL, the recipient after receiving the message can send an e-mail directly to the email address or access the URL page in the message without having to key in the URL address or the email address manually. In a similar manner, a SMS may be composed and transmitted in reply to a message that includes a phone number, for example. 
         [0052]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.