U.S. patent application number 11/071226 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for destination calling control system and destination calling control method.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Miyata, Akiko.
Application Number | 20050181774 11/071226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11613866 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050181774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyata, Akiko |
August 18, 2005 |
Destination calling control system and destination calling control
method
Abstract
A destination calling control apparatus comprising a database 5,
an image data storage unit 4, a display unit 2 on which image data
stored in the image data storage unit 4 is displayed, area
specification means for allowing the user to specify a desired area
within an image displayed on the display unit 2, an input unit 3
through which the user enters destination data, a data registration
unit 12 which calculates the coordinates of a destination image
area specified by the above-described area specification means as a
destination image area, associates the coordinates with destination
data entered from the display unit 2, and registers the
correspondence data with the database 5, and a destination data
search unit 13 which calculates the coordinates of an area
specified by the area specification means as the destination and,
based on the calculated coordinates, searches the database 5 for
destination data.
Inventors: |
Miyata, Akiko; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK, FABER, GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8403
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC Corporation
|
Family ID: |
11613866 |
Appl. No.: |
11/071226 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11071226 |
Mar 4, 2005 |
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09479564 |
Jan 7, 2000 |
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6879846 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.1 ;
345/173; 348/333.01; 348/333.02; 348/333.05; 455/414.2; 455/456.3;
455/457; 455/564; 455/566; 707/999.104; 707/999.107; 715/700 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/27475
20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414.1 ;
707/104.1; 455/566; 455/564; 455/414.2; 455/457; 455/456.3;
345/173; 715/700; 348/333.01; 348/333.02; 348/333.05 |
International
Class: |
H04B 001/38; H04M
001/00; G09G 005/00; H04N 005/222 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 12, 1999 |
JP |
11-005534 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A destination searching apparatus comprising: display means;
area specification means for specifying a destination image area
within an image displayed on said display, said destination image
area having corresponding destination data; and search means for
retrieving said destination data based on said associated data,
said associated data associating a coordinated data of said
destination image area with said destination data.
2. The destination searching apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: a database for storing said associated data and said
destination data; an image storage means for storing image data;
and input means for entering said destination data corresponding to
said destination image area.
3. The destination searching apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: data registration means for calculating coordinate data
of said destination image area and associating said coordinate data
with said destination data thereby generating associated data.
4. The destination searching apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: contacting means for contacting a destination based on
said destination data.
5. A destination searching apparatus comprising: a display; an area
specifier which specifies a destination image area within an image
displayed on said display, said destination image area having
corresponding destination data; data registration facilities for
calculating coordinate data of said destination image area and
associating said coordinate data with said destination data thereby
generating associated data; a searcher that retrieves destination
data based on said associated data and said specified destination
image area; and a contactor that contacts said destination based on
said destination data.
6. The destination searching apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising: a database; an image store that stores image data; and
an input device for entering said destination data.
7. A destination searching method comprising: displaying an image;
receiving a specified destination image area within said image,
said destination image area having corresponding destination data;
calculating coordinate data of said specified destination image
area and associating said coordinate data with said destination
data thereby generating associated data; and retrieving the
destination data based on said associated data and said specified
destination image area.
8. The destination searching method of claim 7, further comprising:
storing said associated data and said destination data; storing
image data; and receiving said destination data corresponding to
said destination image area.
9. The destination searching method of claim 7, further comprising:
contacting a destination using said destination data.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for
controlling a call to a destination using a database, and more
particularly to a destination calling control system and a
destination calling control method that are applied to a terminal
with the communication function such as a portable data terminal or
a cellular phone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general, a cellular phone has a memory function unit to
allow desired destination telephone numbers to be registered
therein. Telephone numbers registered in this memory function unit
may be displayed on the display panel of a cellular phone. Before
making a call, the user may display telephone numbers on the
display and select one of them to call a desired party.
[0003] However, because the display screen of a cellular phone, as
well as characters displayed on the screen, is small, there is a
problem that, when making a call using the memory function
described above, the user finds it difficult to select and specify
displayed character data (destination telephone number and name,
and so on).
[0004] To solve this problem, a technology allowing a destination
to be selected and specified with image data, not with character
data, is proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Kokai Publication
JP-A-2-159188 discloses a technology that associates destination
images with destination telephone numbers, stores the associated
data in a storage unit, a sequentially displays the stored
destination images on the display panel, and allows the user to
select and specify a desired destination image to call the
associated destination telephone number. This technology enables
the user to determine a destination based on the image data, thus
making it easier to select and specify the destination.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] However, according to the technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-2-159188, because there is a
one-to-one correspondence between destination images and
destination telephone numbers and, in addition, stored destination
images must be read sequentially from the memory, it takes time to
select and specify a desired destination.
[0006] To increase operability, some users request that image data
generated by photographing a plurality of destinations be displayed
so that a desired destination in the displayed image may be
selected and specified to make a call. However, because destination
images and destination telephone numbers are associated on a
one-to-one basis according to the technology disclosed in the above
publication, this request cannot be met.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
destination calling control system and a destination calling
control method which feature superior operability and which allow
the user to select and specify a destination easily and
quickly.
[0008] To achieve the above object, the destination calling control
system in accordance with the present invention comprises database
means; image storage means for storing therein image data; display
means for displaying thereon the image data stored in the image
storage means; area specification means for allowing a user to
specify a desired area within the image displayed on the display
means; input means through which the user enters destination data;
data registration means for calculating coordinate data of the area
specified by the area specification means as a destination image
area, associating the coordinate data with the destination data
entered from the input means, and for registering the associated
data with the database means; destination data search means for
calculating the coordinates of the area specified by the area
specification means as a destination and for searching the database
means for the destination data based on the coordinates; and
calling means for calling the destination based on the destination
data obtained by the destination data search means.
[0009] In the above case, the display means may comprise a touch
screen; and the area specification means may allow the user to
specify the area through the touch screen.
[0010] The data registration means may extract an outline of a
destination object in the destination image area specified by the
area specification means, calculate the coordinate data of an area
encircled by the outline, associate the coordinate data with the
destination data entered from the input means, and store the
associated data into the database means.
[0011] The destination calling control system may further comprise
image capturing means for capturing destination images; title image
creation means for creating a title image; and image pasting means
for pasting the title image created by the title image creation
means and the plurality of destination images captured by the image
capturing means and for storing the pasted images into the image
storage means.
[0012] In the above case, the display means may display the title
image of a paste image stored in the image storage means as a
reference and allow the user to scroll across a whole of the paste
image.
[0013] Each destination image and the title image of the paste
image stored in the image storage means may be each assigned a
number on a numeric key on a ten-key pad, and the display means may
display the destination image or the title image in response to the
number of the numeric key that is pressed.
[0014] The destination image captured by the image capturing means
may be a photograph image.
[0015] At least one of destination images of the paste image may be
a handwritten input image (for example, an image entered by
handwriting characters and pictures) created by the title image
creation means.
[0016] The destination calling control method according to the
present invention comprises a first step of capturing desired image
data and of storing the data; a second step of allowing a user to
specify a desired area within an image displayed based on the image
data stored in the first step and, at the same time, to enter
destination data on the destination image area; a third step of
calculating coordinate data of the destination image area specified
in the second step, associating the coordinate data with the
destination data on the destination image area, the destination
data being entered in the second step, and registering the
associated data with a database; a fourth step of allowing the user
to specify, as a destination, the desired area in the image
displayed based on the image data stored in the first step; and a
fifth step of calculating the coordinate of the area specified in
the fourth step, searching the database for the destination data
based on the coordinate, and calling the destination based on the
destination data.
[0017] In the above case, a paste image, created by pasting a
plurality of destination images and a title image, may be stored as
the image data stored in the first step, the title image of the
stored paste image may be displayed as a reference, and a desired
destination image may be selected by continuously scrolling across
a whole of the paste image on the display screen.
[0018] A paste image, created by pasting a plurality of destination
images and a title image, may be stored as the image data stored in
the first step, each destination image and the title image of the
stored paste image may be each assigned a unique number on a
numeric key on a ten-key pad, and the destination image or the
title image may be displayed in response to the number of the
numeric key that is pressed.
[0019] In addition, a photograph image or a handwritten input image
(for example, an image entered by handwriting characters and
pictures) may be used as the destination images constituting the
paste image.
[0020] Furthermore, the coordinate data of the destination image
area calculated in the third step may be obtained by extracting an
outline of a destination object in the destination image area and
by calculating the coordinates of an area encircled by the
outline.
[0021] In the system in accordance with present invention described
above, the user can specify a desired area within the display image
as a destination image area and therefore specify a plurality of
destination image areas within the display image. The database
contains the coordinates of a destination image area and
destination data associated therewith. When the user makes a call,
the system searches the database for data based on the coordinates
of the area specified in the display image and gives the
destination data. In this way, the system in accordance with the
present invention allows the user to register a destination object
included in the display image, as well as its associated
destination data, with the database and to make a call to a desired
destination object within the display image based on the database.
Therefore, the present invention makes it possible for the user to
make a call by simply specifying a desired destination object in
the display image.
[0022] The system in accordance with the present invention stores
paste images, each created by pasting a plurality of destination
images and a title image, in the storage unit. Because paste images
are classified according to title images, a desired destination
image may be displayed quickly by searching for the title image. In
addition, even when there are many destinations, the system
displays the images of the destinations on the screen to allow the
user to visually register or select a desired destination.
Therefore, as compared with the conventional system in which it
takes long to search for a desired destination image, the system in
accordance with the present invention searches for it more
quickly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration
of a destination calling control system used in an embodiment
according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(e) are diagrams showing an example of a
paste procedure.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of table data
composed of coordinate data and destination data and stored in a
database.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the scrolling of the display
screen toward the top-right corner.
[0027] FIG. 5(a) to FIG. 5(b) are diagrams showing an example of
area specification using handwritten lines.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the paste image of
map image data.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
more in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration
of the embodiment of a destination calling control system according
to the present invention. This destination calling control system
comprises an operation control unit 1, a display unit 2, an input
unit 3, an image data storage unit 4, a database 5 formulated on a
memory device, a communication function unit 6, and an image data
capturing unit 7.
[0031] The image data capturing unit 7 is connected to a camera
such as a digital camera to capture an image photographed by the
camera. In this embodiment, image data which is of a predetermined
size and which contains a plurality of destinations is captured
from the camera. The captured image data is sent to the operation
control unit 1.
[0032] The image data storage unit 4 stores therein paste images
for which pasting and editing have been performed by the operation
control unit 1. In this embodiment, the image data storage unit 4
contains paste images each composed of image data pasted in a
3.times.3 matrix form.
[0033] The display unit 2, which has a touch screen, displays
thereon paste images stored in the image data storage unit 4 and,
at the same time, allows the user to touch a desired area with a
finger to enter desired data (for example, the user can create
handwritten images or add data) or to select data to be displayed.
The input unit 3 provides at least a ten-key pad composed of the 1
key to the 9 key (for example, telephone number keys). With this
ten-key pad, the user can select data to be displayed or add data.
In the description given below, it is assumed that the size of the
touch screen on the display unit 2 equals the size of each paste
image data stored in the image data storage unit 4 described
above.
[0034] The database 5 stores therein a table indicating the
correspondence between the destination telephone numbers of the
destination image areas assigned to the split images constituting
each of the paste images stored in the image data storage unit 4
and the touch screen coordinates of the destination image
areas.
[0035] The communication function unit 6 communicates with an
external terminal. It dials a telephone number searched for by the
operation control unit 1 and receives data (for example, receives
electronic mail or FAX data) from an external terminal.
[0036] The operation control unit 1 pastes image data received via
the image data capturing unit 7 and handwritten images created with
the use of the touch screen, stores the image, created through
pasting, into the image data storage unit 4, registers data with
the database 5, searches for a destination telephone number, and
performs other related operations. The main components of the
operation control unit 1 are an image paste unit 11, a data
registration unit 12, and a destination data search unit 13.
[0037] The image paste unit 11 pastes image data received via the
image data capturing unit 7 and handwritten images created on the
touch screen, according to the instructions entered via the touch
screen or the instructions entered from the ten-key pad on the
input unit 3. An example of the paste procedure executed by the
image paste unit 11 is shown in FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(e). These steps
will be described below.
[0038] The nine images, P1-P9, are pasted during image data pasting
as follows. First, the user creates split image P5, which will be
used as a reference image during pasting, by drawing it on the
touch screen (See FIG. 2(a)). To create this split image P5, also
called a title image, the user executes a program which includes
title image creation means (not shown in the figure) of the
operation control unit 1.
[0039] Then, image data, which will be used as split image P2, is
captured via the image data capturing unit 7 and is pasted above
split image P5 (See FIG. 2(b)). Then, image data, which will be
used as split image P1, is captured via the image data capturing
unit 7 and is pasted to the left of split image P2 (See FIG. 2(c)).
Then, image data, which will be used as split image P4, is captured
via the image data capturing unit 7 and is pasted to the left of
split image P5 (See FIG. 2(d)). Executing these steps paste the
image data, composed of split images P1-P9, in a 3.times.3 matrix
form to produce the paste image shown in FIG. 2(e). This paste
image is assigned a title, such as "tennis circle (page 1)", and is
stored in the image data storage unit 4. For split images P1-P4 and
P6-P9, images taken by a digital camera or images read by a scanner
may be used.
[0040] The data registration unit 12 calculates the coordinates of
a destination image area included in a paste image on the touch
screen. This destination image area is the area specified by the
user via the touch screen or the mouse. Then, the data registration
unit 12 associates destination data (destination telephone number,
destination FAX number, destination mail address, name, and so on),
entered into the destination data area via the touch screen or the
ten-key pad, with the coordinates calculated above and then
registers this association data with the database 5. For example,
coordinate data and destination data are registered with the
database 5 as table data such as the one shown in FIG. 3.
[0041] The destination data search unit 13 calculates the
coordinates of an area of a paste image displayed on the touch
screen when the user specifies it via the touch screen or the mouse
and, at the same time, searches the database 5 for destination
data, such as a telephone number, based on the calculated
coordinates. The destination data searched for by the destination
data search unit 13 is sent to the communication function unit
6.
[0042] Next, the data registration procedure and the destination
data search procedure executed by the destination calling control
system in this embodiment, in conjunction with the actual operation
of the operation control unit 1, will be described in detail.
[0043] (1) Register Data
[0044] The operation control unit 1 displays selection items, such
as "Register Data" and "Search for Destination Data", on the touch
screen according to the program that is prepared in advance, When
the user selects one of displayed items from the touch screen, the
operation control unit 1 displays the selected paste image stored
in the image data storage unit 4. The user may select any paste
image from the image data storage unit 4 by entering, via the touch
screen or the pointing device (such as a mouse or a pen), the title
of a paste image to be displayed. For example, entering the title
"tennis circle" allows the user to display the paste image shown in
FIG 2(e). Also, when a predetermined split image (title screen)
selected from the split images of the paste image, for example,
split image P5 of the paste image shown in FIG. 2(e), is defined as
the default, the title screen is always displayed first when the
paste image is displayed on the touch screen.
[0045] When the desired paste image appears on the touch screen,
the user scrolls the displayed image to display a desired image.
For example, to display split image P3 contained in the paste image
shown in FIG. 2(e), the user must scroll the display screen toward
the top-right corner as shown in FIG. 4. Instead of scrolling the
screen, the numbers 1 to 9 may be assigned to numeric keys 1 to 9
on the ten-key pad so that a desired split image may be displayed
by selecting the corresponding key on the ten-key pad.
[0046] When the desired split image appears, the user specifies a
desired area (destination image area) in the displayed split image
via the touch screen or the pointing device. For example, the user
encircles area A with a handwritten line as shown in FIG. 5(a) and,
in addition, encircles another area, area B, with a handwritten
line as shown in FIG. 5(b). The data registration unit 12
calculates the coordinates of areas A and B encircled by the
handwritten lines. At this time, the data registration unit 12 may
extract the outlines of areas A and B and calculate the coordinates
of the areas encircled by the outlines. Doing so prevents the
coordinates from being overlapped when area A is near area B.
[0047] After specifying areas A and B as destination image areas,
the user enters destination data (destination telephone number,
destination FAX number, destination mail address, name, and so on)
on areas A and B via the touch screen or the pointing device. The
data registration unit 12 associates entered destination data on
areas A and B with the coordinates of areas A and B and registers
the associated data with the database.
[0048] (2) Search for Destination Data
[0049] The "Search for Destination Data" item comprises the "Search
for Destination Telephone Number", "Search for FAX Number", and
"Search for Destination Electronic Mail Address" items. The user
may select any of these selection items displayed on the touch
screen. In the description given below, assume that the user will
select "Search for Destination Telephone Number" from "Search for
Destination Data".
[0050] When the user selects "Search for Destination Telephone
Number" from the selection items displayed on the touch screen, the
operation control unit 1 gets the paste image from the image data
storage unit 4 and displays it on the touch screen. The user
scrolls the displayed image to display the desired split image on
the touch screen and selects the desired address from the displayed
split image.
[0051] When the destination is selected, the destination data
search unit 13 calculates the coordinates of the specified area
and, at the same time, searches the database 5 for the destination
telephone number corresponding to the calculated coordinates. The
destination telephone number searched for by the destination data
search unit 13 is sent to the communication function unit 6. Upon
receiving the destination telephone number from the destination
data search unit 13, the communication function unit 6 starts
dialing the destination telephone number.
[0052] When the database does not contain data corresponding to the
coordinates of the specified area, the destination data search unit
13 displays on the touch screen a message indicating that there is
no such coordinate data and prompts the user to register data on
the specified area.
[0053] The search operation that is performed when the user selects
"Search for Destination Telephone Number" was described above. When
the user selects "Search for FAX Number" or "Search for Destination
Electronic Mail Address", the destination data search unit 13
performs the same search operation and then the communication
function unit 6 dials the FAX number or electronic mail address
that is searched for.
[0054] Although, in this embodiment, the database search operation
is started after the user selects a search mode such as "Search for
Destination Telephone Number" or "Search for FAX Number", this
process may be changed according to the design. For example, the
user may specify a destination image first, search for destination
data (destination telephone number, destination FAX number, and so
on) on the destination image and, from the destination data that
was searched for, specify a desired item (for example, destination
telephone number). In this process, the destination data on the
specified item is sent to the communication function unit 6.
[0055] In this embodiment, a 3.times.3 paste image is stored in the
image data storage unit 4. The paste image size and the number of
split images are not limited to this but may be changed according
to the design.
[0056] In addition, although image data is captured via the image
data capturing unit 7 described above, data may be transferred from
a camera (such as a digital camera) via an infrared light or a
cable. Image data may also be captured via a modem (electronic
mail), a scanner, or a recording medium such as an IC card or a
memory card.
[0057] Furthermore, captured image data may be used with a picture
or a handwritten input image entered from the touch screen.
[0058] Moreover, a paste image composed of nine (that is,
3.times.3) split images (map data), such as the one shown in FIG.
3, may be created as a paste image to be stored in the image data
storage unit 4. In this case, the user can select a desired
destination (hotel, leisure facilities, and so on) from the map
data to call the selected destination. The user may also use the
procedure described above to registrar data with the database.
[0059] The meritorious effects of the present invention are
summarized as follows.
[0060] As described above, the system in accordance with the
present invention allows the user to register a plurality of
destinations with the database using one display image and, when
making a call, to call a destination selected from a plurality of
destinations that are displayed. Therefore, as compared with the
conventional system in which only one destination is called from
one display image, operability is significantly increased.
[0061] In addition, the system in accordance with the present
invention allows the user to attach a title screen to a paste image
and to search for a desired destination image easily based on the
title image. Therefore, the time required for selecting a
destination is much shorter than that required by the conventional
system in which destination images to be displayed are read
sequentially from the memory.
[0062] Furthermore, the system in accordance with the present
invention displays an image on the screen as destination data to
enable the user to register or select a destination visually. This
means that, even when the display screen is small and there are
many destinations, the user can easily register or select
destinations. Therefore, as compared with the conventional system
in which the user selects a destination from character data
(destination telephone number or name), operability is
significantly increased.
[0063] It should be noted that other objects, features and aspects
of the present invention will become apparent in the entire
disclosure and that modifications may be done without departing the
gist and scope of the present invention as disclosed herein and
claimed as appended herewith.
[0064] Also it should be noted that any combination of the
disclosed and/or claimed elements, matters and/or items may fall
under the modifications aforementioned.
* * * * *