Patent Publication Number: US-2006009264-A1

Title: Method for voice dialing of telephone number

Description:
PRIORITY  
      This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of an application entitled “Method for Voice Dialing of Telephone Number” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 21, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-45955, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a method for dialing a telephone number on a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Voice recognition is a technology for recognizing or understanding the human voice via computer analysis. Since the human voice has peculiar frequencies depending on the shape of the mouth and tongue position, which change according to pronunciation, it can be recognized by converting speech into an electrical signal and extracting a frequency characteristic of a speech signal. Voice recognition technology is now used in a wide range of applications, such as toys, language learning or consumer electronic devices and home appliances. Dialing on a mobile terminal by voice recognition can eliminate the need to directly input a telephone number by pressing keys and can thereby the enhance user-friendliness of the mobile terminal.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the problems occurring in the prior art, such as having to press keys to input a telephone number, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal.  
      In order to accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a method for voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal, which comprises the steps of, when voice dialing is selected, entering an initial voice input mode to display a voice dialing section consisting of a plurality of consecutive digit input sections; displaying consecutive digits input by voice on the plurality of input sections in the initial voice input mode; and, when a send key is input, making an outgoing call to a telephone number consisting of the digits displayed on the voice dialing section.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal, which comprises the steps of, when voice dialing is selected, entering an initial voice input mode to display a voice dialing section consisting of a first to a third input sections for voice dialing; displaying consecutive digits input by voice on the input sections in the initial voice input mode; and, when a send key is input, making an outgoing call to a telephone number consisting of the digits displayed on the voice dialing section.  
      In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal, which comprises the steps of, when voice dialing is selected, entering an initial voice input mode to display a voice dialing section consisting of a first to third input sections for voice dialing; displaying consecutive digits input by voice on the first input section in the initial voice input mode; selecting any incorrect one of the digits displayed in the first input section and correcting the selected digit; upon completion of the input of digits in the first input section, moving a cursor to the second input section; displaying consecutive digits inputted by voice on the second input section; moving the cursor to select any incorrect one of the digits displayed on the first and second input sections and correcting the selected digit; upon completion of the input of digits in the second input section, moving the cursor to the third input section; displaying consecutive digits input by voice on the third input section; moving the cursor to select any incorrect one of the digits displayed on the first to third input sections and correcting the selected digit; and upon completion of the input of digits in the third input section, making an outgoing call to a telephone number consisting of the digits displayed on the voice dialing section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing a process of inputting digits in a first input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a process of inputting digits in a second input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a process of inputting digits in a third input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a process of making an outgoing call in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 6A  to  6 D are views for explaining the processes shown in  FIGS. 2 through 5 . 
    
    
      Throughout the drawings, it should be understood that like reference numbers refer to like features, structures and elements.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of well-known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for the sake of clarity and conciseness.  
      A voice dialing section for inputting a telephone number by voice consists of a plurality of input sections. The number of digits in the input sections may vary depending on each country&#39;s telephone numbering system. For example, some European countries have a telephone numbering system using four codes, each code consisting of two digits. For use in those countries, mobile terminals should be configured to display four input sections. In certain areas of the United States, telephone numbers consist of three codes (a first code consisting of three digits, a second code consisting of three digits and a third code consisting of four digits). In the Republic of Korea, telephone numbers consist of three codes with three digits, three or four digits and four digits, respectively.  
      In an embodiment of the present invention, it is supposed that a voice dialing section consists of three input sections to conform to a three-code telephone numbering system as adopted in the Republic of Korea. However, embodiments of the present invention are equally applicable to a voice dialing section with multiple input sections for voice dialing in the European countries, the U.S. and other countries having different telephone numbering systems. The multiple input sections are assigned to display respective codes of a telephone number, such as an area code, a city code, a service provider identification code and a user&#39;s calling code.  
      Also, embodiments of the present invention are equally applicable to all eneral mobile terminals with or without a camera or a TV receiver.  
       FIG. 1  shows the construction of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , an RF section  123  performs a wireless communication function of the mobile terminal. The RF section  123  comprises a RF transmitter for performing upward conversion and amplification of the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for amplifying a received signal with low noise and for performing a downward conversion of the frequency of the signal.  
      A modem  120  comprises a transmitter for coding and modulating a transmitted signal and a receiver for demodulating and decoding a received signal. An audio processor  125  may comprise a codec which comprises a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing an audio signal such as a speech signal. The audio processor  125  converts a digital audio signal outputted from the modem  120  into an analog signal through the audio codec and reproduces the analog signal. Also, the audio processor  125  converts an analog audio signal generated from a microphone into a digital audio signal and transmits the digital audio signal to the modem  120 . The codec can be provided as an independent element or included in a control section  110 .  
      A memory  130  may be composed of a program memory and a data memory. The program memory comprises programs for controlling the general operations of the mobile terminal and the programs for recognizing a telephone number inputted by voice and displaying the recognized telephone number according to embodiments of the present invention. The data memory temporarily stores data generated during the implementation of the above programs. The memory  130  can store a telephone code table with specific code numbers, such as area codes and service provider identification codes. The memory  130  can also store a phonebook with telephone numbers. The control section  110  can search a phonebook stored in a network database, as well as telephone numbers stored in the memory  130 .  
      The control section  110  controls the overall operations of the mobile terminal. The control section  110  can include the modem  120  and the codec. According to embodiments of the present invention, the control section  110  recognizes digits input by voice in the voice dialing mode through a voice recognizer  170  and displays the recognized digits in the first to third input sections of the voice dialing section. Also, the control section  110  controls the correction of any digit incorrectly input and displayed in the voice dialing section. The control section  110  determines which type of correction should be made according to the user&#39;s input. The control section  110  recognizes the input of a specific function key, a specific icon or an user&#39;s voice command as the user&#39;s input. The control section  110  determines the type of correction according to the length of time during which a specific function key or a specific icon is input or to the user&#39;s voice command, and controls the correction of the digit. In addition, the control section  110  controls an outgoing call to the telephone number displayed in the voice dialing section.  
      A display section  160  displays the user data output from the control section  110 . When using an LCD, the display section  160  can comprise an LCD controller, a memory for storing image data and an LCD device. When the LCD is a touch screen, it can also serve as an input section. The display section  160  also displays the voice dialing section consisting of the first to third input sections in the voice dialing mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      A key input section  127  is provided with keys for inputting numbers and characters and function keys for setting up various functions. The key input section  127  can also include a function key for voice dialing according to the present invention.  
      When a sound made by the user is inputted through a microphone, the voice recognizer  170  detects the start and end points of the sound. Upon extracting characteristic data in a speech section excluding mutes preceding and following the speech, the voice recognizer  170  performs vector quantization on the data in realtime. The voice recognizer  170  detects a word most similar to the characteristic data from the words recorded in a database. The voice recognizer  170  converts the detected word into a character signal which is then displayed on the voice dialing section of the display section  160 . The voice dialing operation of the mobile terminal will be explained in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 6 .  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing a process for inputting digits in a first input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a process for inputting digits in a second input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a process of inputting digits in a third input section in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a process of making a telephone call in a voice dialing mode of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6A  to  6 D are views for explaining the processes in FIGS.  2  to  5 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the voice dialing section consists of three blocks, i.e., a first to third input sections. Each block displays a series of digits inputted by voice as a code. More specifically, the first input section displays an area code or a service provider identification code, which is typically composed of three digits. The second input section displays a dialing code which is the former part of a telephone number. Typically, the dialing code is composed of three or four digits. The third input section displays a user calling code which is the latter part of a telephone number. It is supposed that the user calling code is composed of four digits. The number of digits inputted in each input section varies depending on the types of telephone numbers and each country&#39;s own telephone numbering system. In an embodiment of the present invention, digits are inputted by voice sequentially in the voice dialing section from the first input section to the third input section. However, it is also possible to select the second or third input section and input digits in the selected section first.  
      Hereinafter, the voice dialing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the user selects a voice dialing function on the mobile terminal, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  200  and changes the current mode of the mobile terminal to an initial voice input mode at step  201 . In the initial voice input mode, the display section  160  displays the voice dialing section consisting of the first to third input sections.  FIG. 6A  shows the display of the voice dialing section with three input sections in the initial voice input mode.  
      When the user selects the first input section  610  for voice dialing, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  202  and displays consecutive digits input by voice through the voice recognizer  170  in the first input section  610  at step  203 . If the mobile terminal has been set to display digits inputted by voice in the voice dialing section in order from the first input section  610 , the first input series of digits will be displayed automatically in the first input section  610 , without the user&#39;s selection of the first input section. Upon completion of the input of digits representing an area code or a service provider identification code in the first input section, the control section  110  detects the completion at step  204  and checks the number of digits input in the first input section  610 .  
      If four consecutive digits are inputted in the first input section  610 , the control section  110  will determine that the four digits represent a user calling code at step  205  and will proceed with step  206  to display the four digits in the third input section  630 . The control section  110  proceeds with step  207  to determines whether a telephone number with the same digits as displayed in the third input section  610  is present in a phonebook, preferably, within the mobile terminal. When a corresponding telephone number is present in the phonebook, the control section  110  detects the presence at step  208  and proceeds with step  209 . At step  209 , the control section  110  controls the display of an area code or a service provider identification code of the detected telephone number in the first input section  610  and a dialing code of the detected telephone number in the second input section  620 , thereby displaying the complete telephone number in the first to third input section. On the other hand, when a telephone number not having the same digits as displayed in the third input section  630  is present in the phonebook, the control section  110  will detect the absence of the corresponding telephone number at step  208  and returns to the initial voice input mode of step  201  to input an area code or a service provider identification code in the first input section  610 . If three consecutive digits are input in the first input section  610 , the control section  110  will detect the input at step  205  and will determine whether the three digits input represent an area code or a service provider identification code included in a telephone code table stored in the memory  130 . If the control section  110  detects that neither an area code nor a service provider identification code corresponding to the inputted digits is present in the telephone code table at step  211 , it will then proceed with step  212  to display a message indicating an error or requesting re-input of digits. Since area codes and service provider identification codes that can be displayed in the first input section  610  have been predetermined to be used in the telephone numbers of specific areas or specific service users, the telephone code table listing the predetermined area codes and service provider identification codes can prevent any erroneous code inputs. If an area code or a service provider identification code corresponding to the three consecutive digits input is present in the telephone code table, the control section will detect the presence of the corresponding code at step  211  and will then control the correction of any digit erroneously inputted in the first input section or move the cursor to the second input section.  
      If four or more digits have been inputted in the first input section  610 , the control section  110  will detect the number of the inputted digits and will display a message indicating an error or requesting re-input of digits. Upon completion of or during the input of an area code or a service provider identification code in the first input section  610 , the user can select to correct an erroneous digit. The control section  110  detects the user&#39;s selection to correct at step  213  and displays the types of corrections. The control section  110  determines the type of correction according to the length of time during which a specific function key or a specific icon is inputted or to the user&#39;s voice command. When the user selects to move to a specific digit as the type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  214  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor within the first input section  610 . In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in the first input section  610  by a voice command. Alternatively, the user can move the cursor using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 . The control section  110  detects the selection of a digit to be corrected in the first input section  610  at step  215  and proceeds with step  216 . At step  216 , the user can say a new digit while the cursor is placed on the selected digit. The control section  110  then corrects the selected digit by replacing it with the new digit input by voice. Alternatively, the user can directly input the new digit using the corresponding number key on the key input section  127  so that the newly input digit can replace the digit with the cursor placed thereon.  
      When the user selects a cancel as the type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  217  and initiates a mode for canceling the input digits. In the cancel mode, the user can press a cancel key or just say “cancel.” Upon detecting the input of the cancel key or the voice command, the control section  110  deletes all digits input in the first input section  610  and returns to the initial voice input mode of step  201 .  FIG. 6B  shows the display of the voice dialing section with an area code or a service provider identification code input in the first input section.  
      Referring to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 , upon completion of the input of an area code or a service provider identification code in the first input section  610 , the second input section  620  will be selected by the user&#39;s key input or automatically. The control section  110  detects the selection of the second input section at step  301  and proceeds with step  302  to input a dialing code. The control section  110  detects the completion of the input of the dialing code in the second input section  620  at step  303  and determines whether the user selects a correction of the dialing code input in the second input section  620 . The control section  110  detects a selection to correct the dialing code at step  304 . If the user selects a correction during the input of the dialing code at step  302 , the control section  110  will detect the selection to correct at step  305  and displays the types of corrections. The control section  110  determines the type of correction according to the length of time during which a specific function key or a specific icon is input or to the user&#39;s voice command. When the user selects a cancel as the type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  306  and initiates a mode for canceling the inputted digits. In the cancel mode, the user can press a cancel key. The control section  110  then determines whether the cancel key is pressed for a period equal to of longer than a predetermined period of time. If the cancel key is pressed for a period equal to or longer than the predetermined period, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  307  and will proceed with step  310  to delete all the digits input in the first and second input sections  610  and  620  and return to the initial voice input mode as shown in  FIG. 6A . If the cancel key is pressed for a period shorter than the predetermined period, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  307  and will proceed with step  308  to delete the digits input in the second input section  620  and return to step  302 . If the cancel key is pressed again for a period shorter than the predetermined period at step  308 , the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  309  and will delete the digits input in the first input section  610  and return to the initial voice input mode of step  201  as shown in  FIG. 6A . In the cancel mode, the user may cancel the codes input in both the first and second input sections or only the code input in the second input section by pressing the cancel key for a period equal to or longer than or shorter than the predetermined period or by inputting a voice command “cancel.” It is also possible to return to the initial voice input mode by just saying “to the beginning” or other similar phrase. Voice commands can be selectively changed by the user.  
      When the user selects a move to a specific input section as the type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  311  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor at step  312 . In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a specific input section by a key input on the key input section  127  or a voice command. After moving the cursor to the specific input section, the user can select a move to a specific digit in that input section. The control section  110  detects the selection at step  313  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit in the specific input section. In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in the selected input section by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 . When the user selects a digit to be corrected by placing the cursor on the digit, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  314  and proceeds with step  315 . At step  315 , the user can say a new digit while the cursor is placed on the selected digit. The control section  110  then corrects the selected digit by replacing it with the new digit input by voice. Alternatively, the user can directly input the new digit using the corresponding number key on the key input section  127  so that the newly input digit can replace the digit with the cursor placed thereon.  
      The user can directly select a move to a specific digit as the type of correction. The control section  110  detects such a selection at step  313  and initiates the mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit. The control section  110  proceeds with steps  314  and  315 . At this time, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in any of the first to third input sections by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 .  FIG. 6C  shows the display of the voice dialing section with codes input in the first and second input sections  610  and  620 , respectively.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , upon completion of the input of a dialing code in the second input section  620 , the third input section  630  will be selected by the user&#39;s key input or automatically. The control section  110  detects the selection of the third input section at step  401  and proceeds with step  402  to input a user calling code. The control section  110  detects the completion of the input of the user calling code in the third input section  630  at step  403  and proceeds with step  404  to determine whether codes have been input in the first and second input sections  610  and  620 . If no code has been input in the first or second input section  610  or  620 , the control section  110  will recognize that the user has selected the third input section  630  first in the initial voice input mode to input the user calling code first and will then search the phonebook at step  405  in order to determine whether a telephone number including the user calling code input in the third input section  630  is present in the phonebook. If a corresponding telephone number is present in the phonebook, the control section  110  will detect the presence at step  406  and will proceed with step  407 . At step  407 , the control section  110  controls the display of an area code or a service provider identification code of the detected telephone number in the first input section  610  and a dialing code of the detected telephone number in the second input section  620 , thereby displaying the complete telephone number in the first to third input section. On the other hand, when no corresponding telephone number is present in the phonebook, the control section  110  will detect the absence of the corresponding telephone number at step  406  and returns to the initial voice input mode of step  201  to input an area code or a service provider identification code in the first input section  610 .  
      If the user requests for a correction to a specific digit after or during the input of the user calling code in the third input section  630 , the control section  110  will detect the request at step  408  and displays the types of corrections. The control section  110  determines the type of correction according to the input time of a specific function key or a specific icon or to the user&#39;s voice command. When the user selects a cancel as a type of correction, the control section  110  detect the selection at step  409  and initiates a mode for canceling the inputted digits. When the user presses a cancel key in the cancel mode, the control section  110  monitors the input time of the cancel key. If the cancel key is pressed for a period longer than a predetermined period of time, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  410  and will delete all the digits input in the first to third input sections  610  to  630  and return to the initial voice input mode as shown in  FIG. 6   a . If the cancel key is pressed for a period of time shorter than the predetermined period, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  410  and will proceed with step  411  to delete the digits input in the third input section  630  and return to step  402 . If the cancel key is pressed again for a period of time shorter than the predetermined period at step  411 , the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  412  and will proceed with step  413  to delete the digits input in the second input section  620  and return to step  302 . If the cancel key is pressed once again for a period shorter than the predetermined period at step  413 , the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  414  and will proceed with step  415  to delete the digits input in the first input section  610  and return to the initial voice input mode as shown in  FIG. 6A .  
      When the user selects a move to a specific input section as a type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  416  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor at step  417 . In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a specific input section by a key input on the key input section  127  or a voice command. After moving the cursor to the specific input section, the user can select to move the cursor to a specific digit in that input section. The control section  110  detects the selection at step  418  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit in the specific input section. In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in the selected input section by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 . When the user selects a digit to be corrected by placing the cursor on the digit, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  419  and proceeds with step  420 . At step  420 , the user can say a new digit while the cursor is placed on the selected digit. The control section  110  then corrects the selected digit by replacing it with the new digit input by voice. Alternatively, the user can directly input the new digit using the corresponding number key on the key input section  127  so that the newly input digit can replace the digit which has the cursor placed thereon.  
      The user can directly select a move to a specific digit as the type of correction. The control section  110  detects such a selection at step  418  and initiates the mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit. The control section  110  proceeds with steps  419  and  420 . At this time, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in any of the first to third input sections by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 .  FIG. 6D  shows the display of the voice dialing section with codes input in the first to third input sections  610  to  630 .  
      Hereinafter, a process of making a call to a telephone number input in the first to third input sections as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4  will be explained in ore detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the user can press a send key or input a corresponding voice command. The control section  110  detects the input of the send key or the voice command at step  501  and proceeds with step  502  to initiate an outgoing call to the telephone number displayed in the first to third input sections. When the user presses an end key to terminate the call at step  503 , the control section  110  detects the end key input at step  504  and terminates the call function. Then the control section  110  controls the display section  160  to display a message asking whether the telephone number should be displayed again. If the user selects “no,” the control section  110  will detect the selection at step  505  and will proceed with step  506  to enter the initial voice input mode. At this time, the user may cancel the voice dialing mode. Upon detecting the cancellation of the voice dialing mode at step  507 , the control section  110  terminates the voice dialing mode. If the user selects “yes” to display the telephone number, the control section  110  will detect the selection at step  505  and will proceed with step  508  to display the telephone number in the first to third input sections  610  to  630  as shown in  FIG. 6D .  
      At step  508 , the user can select a correction to a specific digit. The control section  110  detects such a selection at step  509  and displays the types of corrections. The control section  110  determines the type of correction according to the input time of a specific function key or a specific icon or to the user&#39;s voice command. When the user selects a cancel as the type of correction, the control section  110  detect the selection at step  510  and initiates a mode for canceling the input digits. When the user presses a cancel key in the cancel mode, the control section  110  monitors the input time of the cancel key. If the cancel key is pressed for a period equal to or longer than a predetermined period of time, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  511  and will delete all the digits input in the first to third input sections  610  to  630  and return to the initial voice input mode as shown in  FIG. 6A . If the cancel key is pressed for a period of time shorter than the predetermined period, the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  511  and will proceed with step  512  to delete the digits input in the third input section  630  and return to step  402 . If the cancel key is pressed again for a period of time shorter than the predetermined period at step  512 , the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  513  and will proceed with step  514  to delete the digits input in the second input section  620  and return to step  302 . If the cancel key is pressed once again for a period shorter than the predetermined period at step  514 , the control section  110  will detect the key input at step  515  and will proceed with step  516  to delete the digits input in the first input section  610  and return to the initial voice input mode as shown in  FIG. 6A .  
      When the user selects a move to a specific input section as the type of correction, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  517  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor. In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a specific input section by a key input on the key input section  127  or a voice command. After moving the cursor to the specific input section at step  518 , the user can select a move to a specific digit in that input section. The control section  110  detects the selection at step  519  and initiates a mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit in the specific input section. In that mode, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in the selected input section by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 . When the user selects a digit to be corrected by placing the cursor on the digit, the control section  110  detects the selection at step  520  and proceeds with step  521 . At step  521 , the user can say a new digit while the cursor is placed on the selected digit. The control section  110  then corrects the selected digit by replacing it with the new digit input by voice. Alternatively, the user can directly input the new digit using the corresponding number key on the key input section  127  so that the newly input digit can replace the digit with the cursor placed thereon.  
      The user can directly select a move to a specific digit as the type of correction. The control section  110  detects such a selection at step  519  and initiates the mode for moving the cursor to a specific digit. The control section  110  proceeds with steps  520  and  521 . At this time, the user can move the cursor to a digit to be corrected in any of the first to third input sections by a voice command or using a direction key provided on the key input section  127 .  
      After making an outgoing call to a telephone number, the user can display the telephone number and correct some digits in the telephone number to make another outgoing call to a similar telephone number having the same area code, service provider identification code or dialing code as included in the previous telephone number, without the need to input all the digits of the next telephone number.  
      The embodiments of the present invention enable voice-activated dialing of a telephone number on a mobile terminal, eliminating the need to directly press number keys.  
      Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims, including the full scope of equivalents thereof.