Method and apparatus for accessing a contacts database and telephone services

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016006853-A1
Application number	US-201514855887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 1999
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a method and technique for operating a computing device. An interface is displayed for enabling the computing device to control a voicemail system. The interface includes one or more display objects, wherein each display object is selectable by a user to enter a command input assigned to that display object. A selection is detected of any one of the one or more display objects, and the command input assigned to the display object is identified. A signal tone is generated corresponding to the command input. The signal input may be transmitted across a network to the voicemail system to communicate a command to the voicemail system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing an interface for enabling a voicemail system to be controlled from the handheld computing device on a contact-sensitive display for the handheld computing device, the interface enabling selection by a user of any one of a plurality of command inputs, the interface including a module enabled to automatically provide a user password stored on the handheld computing device to the voicemail system; assigning the plurality of command inputs to the interface; correlating one or more of the plurality of command inputs with one or more respective keys of the handheld computing device, such that the one or more command inputs may be selected by pressing the respective keys with which they are correlated; detecting selection of one of the plurality of command inputs; and generating a signal tone corresponding to the selected command input, wherein the signal tone is transmitted across a network to the voicemail system to communicate a command to the voicemail system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing an interface includes providing a mechanical interface.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the mechanical interface includes coordinating operation of the mechanical interface with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the mechanical interface includes coordinating an operation of a multi-dimensional input mechanism with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein coordinating the operation of the multi-dimensional input mechanism with the selection of the one or more of the plurality of command inputs includes coordinating a directional input and a selection input made through operation of the multi-dimensional input mechanism.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the interface includes displaying a plurality of objects for aiding use of the mechanical interface to provide the selection.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting selection of one of the plurality of command inputs includes identifying the command input that correlates to a command to the voicemail system for performing an operation selected from a group consisting of: saving a message, playing a message, forwarding a message, deleting a message, and skipping a message.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a signal tone includes transmitting the signal tone across a cellular network.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a signal tone includes transmitting the signal tone across the Internet using a Voice over Internet Protocol connection.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions executable by a processor to:
provide an interface for controlling a voicemail system via a contact-sensitive display of a handheld computing device, the interface enabling selection of any one of a plurality of command inputs, the interface including a module to automatically provide a user password stored on the handheld computing device to the voicemail system; assign the plurality of command inputs to the interface; correlate one or more of the plurality of command inputs with one or more respective keys of the handheld computing device, wherein the one or more command inputs can be selected by pressing the respective keys with which they are correlated; detect selection of one of the plurality of command inputs; and generate a signal tone corresponding to the selected command input, wherein the signal tone is transmitted across a network to the voicemail system to communicate a command to the voicemail system.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate operation of the interface with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate an operation of a multi-dimensional input mechanism with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate a directional input and a selection input made through operation of the multi-dimensional input mechanism.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the instructions further executable to:
transmit the signal tone across a cellular network.

16 . A handheld computing device comprising:
a display screen; a processor; and a storage device including instructions executable by the processor to:
provide an interface for controlling a voicemail system via the display screen, the interface enabling selection of any one of a plurality of command inputs, the interface including a module to automatically provide a user password stored on the storage device to the voicemail system;
assign the plurality of command inputs to the interface;
correlate one or more of the plurality of command inputs with one or more respective keys of the handheld computing device, wherein the one or more command inputs can be selected by pressing the respective keys with which they are correlated;
detect selection of one of the plurality of command inputs; and
generate a signal tone corresponding to the selected command input, wherein the signal tone is transmitted across a network to the voicemail system to communicate a command to the voicemail system.

17 . The handheld computing device of claim 16 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate operation of the interface with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

18 . The handheld computing device of claim 16 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate an operation of a multi-dimensional input mechanism of the handheld computing device with selection of one or more of the plurality of command inputs.

19 . The handheld computing device of claim 18 , the instructions further executable to:
coordinate a directional input and a selection input made through operation of the multi-dimensional input mechanism.

20 . The handheld computing device of claim 16 , the instructions further executable to:
transmit the signal tone across a cellular network.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Hawkins Jeffrey
• Haitani Robert
• Davis Mark

Classifications

• H04M1/2747

  Scrolling on a display · CPC title

• H04L63/083 Primary

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title

• H04W4/12

  Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements · CPC title

• H04M1/2477

  for selecting a function from a menu display (H04M1/2474 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/663

  Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set · CPC title