Patent Publication Number: US-2006020567-A1

Title: Method for message browsing

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to a browsing method, and in particular to a method for rapid message browsing.  
      With cell phone message storage capacity increasing, manipulation of only directional keys to browse becomes inconvenient.  
      Messages can be searched using a name or phone number of the sender. If there is only one message from the sender, arrow key use can locate the message although much time may be required if numerous messages are stored. In addition, if multiple messages are stored from the sender, individual review of messages is required, costing even more time and effort.  
      In another method, messages can be searched according to a keyword. This method can require as much or more inconvenience as the first.  
     SUMMARY  
      An embodiment of the invention thus provides a method for rapid message browsing, in which an inquiry option is added to a menu list, comprising two functional parameters of “inquiry by username (or phone number)” and “inquiry by keyword”, and a flag i is defined for conditional determination.  
      First, one parameter is determined, using a name, phone number, or keyword to search messages. A searching term (the name, phone number, or keyword) is input using the keyboard and the value of the flag i is set to one. Next, it is determined whether the search term corresponds to the i-th message (the first message, i=1 at present), and, if so, contents of the i-th message are displayed. It is then determined whether the located message is the desired message. If so, the search process concludes, and, if not, the search process continues. If no corresponding message is located, the value of the flag i is increased by one, and the search process proceeds to search the next message.  
      A detailed description is given in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a flowchart showing the method for message browsing according to an embodiment of the invention, in which messages are searched using a name or phone number; and  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the method for message browsing according to an embodiment of the invention, in which messages are searched using a keyword. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      An embodiment of the invention discloses a method for rapid message browsing. An inquiry option is added to a message list, comprising two functional parameters of “inquiry by username (or phone number)” and “inquiry by keyword”. In an example, the message list includes ten messages and a flag i is defined for conditional determination.  
       FIG. 1  is a flowchart showing the method for message browsing according to an embodiment of the invention, in which messages are searched using a name or phone number.  
      In step S 11 , the functional parameter of “inquiry by username (or phone number)” is determined to locate a desired message.  
      In step S 12 , a name or phone number is input. A message, for example, whose content is “This is John, please join my birthday party on May 24” is sought. If data has stored in an address book, the name or phone number can be directly accessed therefrom.  
      In step S 13 , the value of the flag i is set to one, indicating the search process starts at the first stored message.  
      In step S 14 , it is determined whether the input name or phone number corresponds to the name or phone number of the i-th message (the first message at present). If so, the process goes to step S 15 , and, if not, to step S 17 .  
      In step S 15 , if a corresponding message is located and contents thereof are displayed.  
      In step S 16 , it is determined whether the located message is the desired message. If so, the process concludes, and, if not, to step S 17 .  
      In step S 17 , the value of the flag i is added one.  
      In step S 18 , it is determined whether the value of the flag i exceeds a predetermined number, ten in the example. If so, the process goes to step S 19 , and, if not, to step S 14 , executing search term determination for the next message.  
      In step S 19 , if the value of the flag i exceeds the number of stored messages, a failure response is generated, indicating the desired message cannot be located.  
      In step S 20 , it is determined whether the inquiry process is to be executed again. If so, the process goes to step S 12 , and, if not, the process concludes.  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the method for message browsing according to an embodiment of the invention, in which messages are searched using a keyword.  
      In step S 21 , the functional parameter of “inquiry by keyword” is determined to search a desired message.  
      In step S 22 , a keyword is input. The character “party” is token for the keyword  
      In step S 23 , the value of the flag i is set to one, indicating the search process begins at the first stored message.  
      In step S 24 , it is determined whether the keyword is included in the i-th message (the first message at the example). If so, the process goes to step S 15 , and, if not, to step S 17 .  
      In step S 25 , if a corresponding message is located, contents thereof are displayed.  
      In step S 26 , it is determined whether the located message is the desired message. If so, the process concludes, and, if not, to step S 17 .  
      In step S 27 , the value of the flag i is increased by one.  
      In step S 28 , it is determined whether the value of the flag i exceeds a predetermined number, ten in the example. If so, the process goes to step S 19 , and, if not, to step S 14 , executing search term determination for the next message.  
      In step S 29 , if the value of the flag i exceeds the number of stored messages, a failure response is generated, indicating the desired message cannot be located.  
      In step S 30 , it is determined whether the inquiry process is to be executed again. If so, the process goes to step S 12 , and, if not, the process concludes.  
      While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.