U.S. patent application number 16/587137 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-23 for method for creating short message and portable terminal using the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hyun Jung BAEK.
Application Number | 20200026415 16/587137 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42784923 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-23 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200026415 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAEK; Hyun Jung |
January 23, 2020 |
METHOD FOR CREATING SHORT MESSAGE AND PORTABLE TERMINAL USING THE
SAME
Abstract
A method for automatically creating a short message and a
portable terminal using the same includes extracting at least one
word expected to be input from a database provided in the portable
terminal when a message creation menu is selected. At least one
input expected word that has been extracted is then displayed. At
least one word that is recognized is selected from among the
displayed at least one input expected word; and inputting the
selected word to a text message creation window. A user can create
a short message without having to input words one-by-one through a
keyboard.
Inventors: |
BAEK; Hyun Jung; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
42784923 |
Appl. No.: |
16/587137 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14638286 |
Mar 4, 2015 |
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16587137 |
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14464902 |
Aug 21, 2014 |
10430045 |
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14638286 |
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12702462 |
Feb 9, 2010 |
8843164 |
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14464902 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/70 20130101;
H04M 1/72552 20130101; H04W 4/12 20130101; G06F 40/274 20200101;
G06F 3/0237 20130101; H04W 4/14 20130101; H04L 51/046 20130101;
G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; H04M 2250/22
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G06F 3/023 20060101 G06F003/023; G06F 3/0488 20060101
G06F003/0488; G06F 17/27 20060101 G06F017/27; H04M 1/725 20060101
H04M001/725; H04W 4/12 20060101 H04W004/12; H04L 12/58 20060101
H04L012/58; H04W 4/14 20060101 H04W004/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0027414 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: storing information including a plurality
of phone numbers in a memory; in response to a request for creating
a message to be transmitted by a transceiver, controlling a touch
display screen to display an input field, a suggestions pane, and a
keypad separately in different display areas of the touch display
screen; based on one or more words being input to the input field,
obtaining a phone number and a word other than the phone number
from the information stored in the memory; controlling the touch
display screen to display the obtained phone number together with
the obtained word in the suggestions pane while displaying the one
or more words in the input field; and based on an input selecting
the obtained phone number in the suggestions pane, controlling the
touch display screen to display the obtained phone number in the
input field while displaying at least one particular word in the
suggestions pane.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to a
request for creating a reply message to a received message that
includes one or more words received by the transceiver: controlling
the touch display screen to display the input field, the
suggestions pane, and the keypad separately in different display
areas of the touch display screen, and controlling the touch
display screen to display in the suggestions pane at least two
words related to the received message and at least one pre-stored
word before any character is input into the input field using the
keypad, wherein the at least two words related to the received
message and the at least one pre-stored word are selectable to
generate the reply message, and the at least two words related to
the received message include a first word that is identical with a
particular word from among the one or more words of the received
message, and a second word that is a synonym of the particular word
from among the one or more words of the received message and
different from every word in the received message.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtained phone number and the
obtained word are associated with the one or more words in the
input field.
4. The method of claim 1, the displaying the obtained phone number
together with the obtained word further comprising: based on the
obtaining the phone number and the word, displaying the obtained
phone number together with the obtained word in the suggestions
pane while displaying the one or more words in the input field.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining a display
order based on priorities of words to be displayed in the
suggestions pane.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first word precedes the
pre-stored word in the suggestions pane according to the determined
display order.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second word precedes the
pre-stored word in the suggestions pane according to the determined
display order.
8. The method of claim 2, the displaying in the suggestions pane at
least two words related to the received message and at least one
pre-stored word further comprising: displaying in the suggestions
pane the at least two words related to the received message and the
at least one pre-stored word in an order based on priorities of the
at least two words related to the received message and the at least
one pre-stored word.
9. The method of claim 2, the displaying in the suggestions pane at
least two words related to the received message and at least one
pre-stored word further comprising: displaying the at least one
pre-stored word next to the at least two words related to the
received message.
10. A portable terminal comprising: a transceiver; a memory
configured to store information including a plurality of phone
numbers; a touch display screen; and a processor configured to: in
response to a request for creating a message to be transmitted by a
transceiver: control the touch display screen to display an input
field, a suggestions pane, and a keypad separately in different
display areas of the touch display screen, based on one or more
words being input to the input field, obtain a phone number and a
word other than the phone number from the information stored in the
memory, control the touch display screen to display the obtained
phone number together with the obtained word in the suggestions
pane while displaying the one or more words in the input field, and
based on an input selecting the obtained phone number in the
suggestions pane, controlling the touch display screen to display
the obtained phone number in the input field while displaying at
least one particular word in the suggestions pane.
11. The portable terminal of claim 10, wherein the processor is
further configured to: in response to a request for creating a
reply message to a received message that includes one or more words
received by the transceiver: control the touch display screen to
display an input field, a suggestions pane, and a keypad separately
in different display areas of the touch display screen, and control
the touch display screen to display in the suggestions pane at
least two words related to the received message and at least one
pre-stored word before any character is input into the input field
using the keypad, wherein the at least two words related to the
received message and the at least one pre-stored word are
selectable to generate the reply message, and the at least two
words related to the received message include a first word that is
identical with a particular word from among the one or more words
of the received message, and a second word that is a synonym of the
particular word from among the one or more words of the received
message and different from every word in the received message.
12. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the obtained phone
number and the obtained word are associated with the one or more
words in the input field.
13. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor is
configured to display the obtained phone number together with the
obtained word in the suggestions pane while displaying the one or
more words in the input field, based on obtaining the phone number
and the word.
14. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor is
further configured to control the touch display screen to display
in the suggestions pane the at least two words related to the
received message and the at least one pre-stored word in an order
based on priorities of the at least two words related to the
received message and the at least one pre-stored word.
15. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor is
further configured to control the touch display screen to display
the at least one pre-stored word next to the at least two words
related to the received message.
16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage device storing
instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause
the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
storing information including a plurality of phone numbers; in
response to a request for creating a message to be transmitted by a
transceiver: controlling a touch display screen to display an input
field, a suggestions pane, and a keypad separately in different
display areas of the touch display screen, based on one or more
words being input to the input field, obtaining a phone number and
a word other than the phone number from the information stored in a
memory, controlling the touch display screen to display the
obtained phone number together with the obtained word in the
suggestions pane while displaying the one or more words in the
input field, and based on an input selecting the obtained phone
number in the suggestions pane, controlling the touch display
screen to display the obtained phone number in the input field
while displaying at least one particular word in the suggestions
pane.
17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16,
further comprising: in response to a request for creating a reply
message to a received message that includes one or more words
received by a transceiver: controlling a touch display screen to
display an input field, a suggestions pane, and a keypad separately
in different display areas of the touch display screen, and
controlling the touch display screen to display in the suggestions
pane at least two words related to the received message and at
least one pre-stored word before any character is input into the
input field using the keypad, wherein the at least two words
related to the received message and the at least one pre-stored
word are selectable to generate the reply message, and the at least
two words related to the received message include a first word that
is identical with a particular word from among the one or more
words of the received message, and a second word that is a synonym
of the particular word from among the one or more words of the
received message and different from every word in the received
message.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16,
wherein the obtained phone number and the obtained word are
associated with the one or more words in the input field.
19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16,
the displaying the obtained phone number together with the obtained
word further comprising: based on the obtaining the phone number
and the word, displaying the obtained phone number together with
the obtained word in the suggestions pane while displaying the one
or more words in the input field.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/638,286 filed on Mar. 4, 2015 which claims
the benefit of the earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/464,902 filed on Aug. 21, 2014 which claims the benefit of the
earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/702,462 filed on Feb.
9, 2010 and assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,843,164 issued on Sep. 23,
2014 which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119 from Korean patent application No. 10-2009-0027414 filed on
Mar. 31, 2009, the contents of which are herein incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to portable terminals using
short messaging. More particularly, the present invention relates
to a method for creating a short message using short message
service (SMS) by a portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] With the relatively recent advent of portable terminals,
such devices are now considered by many to be an essential part of
modern society. Portable terminals provide various functions for
the convenience of the user, into addition to a voice call
function. A short message service (SMS), now one of the main
functions of a portable terminal, is widely used for communication
between terminal users, and can be referred to as "text messaging".
Occupying communication channels in non-real time, the SMS is
advantageous in that its communication costs are low and channel
occupancy time is brief. Also, while it is preferable to deliver
the message as soon as possible, there is no requirement for a
real-time communication. In addition, the SMS is advantageous in
that accurate content can transferred via a simple sentence and a
message can be recorded and stored so as to be repeatedly read,
forwarded, etc. With such user convenience, the usage rate of the
SMS portable terminal users is increasing.
[0004] In general, a user creates a message by using a keypad or a
touch screen of a portable terminal. The keypad and the touch
screen are configured as a keyboard in a 3.times.4 form or a QWERTY
form. The user creates words one by one by using the keyboard, and
in this case, creating every word one by one with the keyboard is
quite inconvenient and cumbersome. In fact, both the 3.times.4 form
and the QWERTY form have drawbacks in that the 3.times.4 keyboard
sometimes requires multiple pressing of keys to select a single
letter, and the QWERTY keyboard is very small on a portable
terminal.
[0005] In particular, there may be a general phrase (or sentence),
words frequently used by the user, emoticons, etc., in creating a
short message, so newly inputting them each time through the
keyboard wastes time for the user. In fact, many users,
particularly the younger users, try to shorten the time it takes to
create a message by abbreviating the text using single letters for
some words, such as "c" for "see" and "U R" for "You are", etc.
However, sometimes the abbreviated text is not completely
understood at the receiving end.
[0006] Thus, there is a need in the art for a method that improves
the convenience of sending short messages with a portable
terminal.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention provides a method for allowing a user
to create a short message without having to input words one by one
through a keyboard.
[0008] The present invention further provides a portable terminal
adapted to the inventive method for allowing a user to create a
short message without having to input words one by one through a
keyboard.
[0009] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the present invention provides a method for creating a
short message of a portable terminal, the method preferably
includes: extracting at least one word expected to be input from a
database provided in the portable terminal when a message creation
menu is selected; displaying at least one input expected word which
has been extracted; recognizing that at least one word is selected
from among the displayed at least one input expected word; and
inputting the selected word to a text message creation window.
[0010] In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the present invention provides a portable
terminal for automatically creating a short message preferably
includes: a storage unit for storing at least one word; an input
expected word extracting unit for extracting an input expected word
among the at least one word stored in the storage unit; a priority
determining unit for determining a priority level of the extracted
input expected word; and a display unit for displaying the
extracted input expected word according to the determined priority
level in a text message creation window.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art from
the following detailed description in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a portable terminal
for creating a short message according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2a is a schematic block diagram of a storage unit
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2b is a schematic block diagram of a controller
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operation of a
process of creating a short message according to a first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4a illustrates a screen shot of a word list database
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c illustrate a screen shot of a word list
database according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5a illustrates a text message creation screen shot
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 5b illustrates a screen shot with a changed input
expected word list according to the first exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operation of a
process of creating a short message according to the second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7a illustrates a screen shot for selecting a reply
message creation menu by a user according to the second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7b illustrates a text message creation screen on a
display of a portable terminal according to the second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 7c illustrates a screen with a changed input expected
word list according to the second exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
are described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the
drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. Detailed
descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated
herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation of the
subject matter of the present invention by a person of ordinary
skill in the art. In embodiments of the present invention, it is
preferable that a portable terminal is a mobile communication
terminal capable of transmitting and receiving a short message.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a portable terminal
for creating a short message according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, the portable terminal preferably
includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio processing
unit 120, a storage unit 130, an input unit 140, a display unit
150, and a controller 160.
[0027] The wireless communication unit 110 may comprise a
transceiver that transmits and receives corresponding data for
radio communication of the portable terminal. The wireless
communication unit 110 may include an RF transmitter for
up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal
and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and
down-converting the frequency of the amplified signal. Also, the
wireless communication unit 110 may receive data via a radio
channel and output the received data to the controller 180, and
transmit data outputted from the controller 180 via a radio
channel. The wireless communication unit 110 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention serves to transmit
and receive a short message.
[0028] The audio processing unit 120 may be configured as a CODEC,
and the CODEC may include a data CODEC for processing packet data
etc. and an audio CODEC for processing an audio signal. The audio
processing unit 130 converts a digital audio signal into an audio
signal through the audio CODEC and reproduces it through a speaker
SPK, and converts an analog audio signal input from a microphone
MIC into a digital audio signal through the audio CODEC. The audio
processing unit 120 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may output a corresponding sound effect, such as
an audible tone, when a short message is transmitted or received.
Of course, a vibration of the unit, for example, is one possible
variation regarding an audible tone. Also, when the controller 160
displays input expected words on the display unit 150 and one of
the displayed input expected words is selected by a user, the audio
processing unit 120 may output a corresponding sound effect.
[0029] The storage unit 130 serves to store a program and data
required to operate the portable terminal. The storage unit 130
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
preferably includes a word list database 132 and a user information
database 134. FIG. 2a is a schematic block diagram of the storage
unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] The word list database 132 may be configured with words
frequently used by the user in creating a short message or words
stored when the portable terminal is manufactured. The words stored
when the portable terminal manufactured could be in a variety of
languages. The word list database 132 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention may store words repeatedly used
by more than a pre-set number of times among words included in a
text message list (e.g., an origination message list) created by
the user. Also, the word list database 132 may store words starting
from a word with the highest frequency of use to a pre-set rank
among the words included in the origination message list. The word
list database 132 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may store words which are repeatedly used by more
than the pre-set (predetermined) number of times or words with a
higher frequency of use within a certain range. Also, the word list
database 132 may store relevant words (e.g., relevant may be
defined as "words which are frequently used together") by group.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
word list database 132 may store relevant words so that some words
included in a reception message are matched to an input expected
word. Also, the word list database 132 may store input expected
words by classifying them according to each phone number to which a
short message is to be transmitted. The word list database 132
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
also store words that are generally frequently used in response to
a customary phrase (or an idiom) by grouping them.
[0031] The user information database 134 refers to a database that
stores personal information about the user(s) and basic information
such as a phone book, schedule information, date and time
information, and a call log. The words stored in the user
information database 134 may be extracted as input expected
words.
[0032] An input unit 140 receives a key manipulation signal from
the user for controlling the portable terminal, and transfers the
received key manipulation signal to the controller 180. The input
unit 140 may be configured as a keypad including number keys and
direction keys, and may be configured as a touch pad in case of a
touch screen-based portable terminal. It is possible that the user
could write the message by pressing a stylus against the touchpad.
In case of a portable terminal having an image sensor, an
acceleration sensor, etc., the sensors may correspond to the input
unit 140. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the user may, for example, select a text message
creation menu via the input unit 140, input an instruction for
selecting one of the input expected words displayed on the display
unit 150, and input an instruction for deleting some words from
among the displayed input expected words.
[0033] The display unit 150 may be configured as a liquid crystal
display (LCD) or any other type of thin-film-technology type of
screen and visually provides menus of the portable terminal, input
data, function setting information, and other information to the
user. For example, the display unit 150 performs a function of
outputting a booting screen image, a standby screen image (or an
idle screen image), a display screen image, a call screen image,
and other application execution screen images of the portable
terminal. The display unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention serves to display input expected words and
display a word selected by the user in a text message creation
window.
[0034] The controller 160 controls a general operation of each
element of the portable terminal. The controller 160, according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, preferably
includes an input expected word extracting unit 162, a word
priority determining unit 164, a message analyzing unit 166, and a
word list database updating unit 168.
[0035] FIG. 2b is a schematic block diagram of the controller 160
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 2b, the input expected word extracting
unit 162 serves to extract input expected words from the storage
unit 130. The input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract
the input expected words from the words stored in the word list
database 132, or may also extract the input expected words from the
words stored in the user information database 134. According to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the input expected
word extracting unit 162 may extract input expected words directly
from an origination and reception message list.
[0037] The word priority determining unit 164 serves to determine
the priority levels of the input expected words extracted by the
input expected word extracting unit 162. All the extracted input
expected words may have the same priority level, or they may have
different priority levels. The determined priority levels are
related to the display order of the input expected words.
[0038] The message analyzing unit 166 analyzes a reception message
received from the wireless communication unit 110 and transmits the
analysis result to the input expected word extracting unit 162. The
message analyzing unit 166 according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention serves to check a phone number to which a
short message is to be transmitted. Also, the message analyzing
unit 166 serves to discriminate among sentences included in the
reception message by sentence, by phrase, by word-phrase, by word
or by special character, for example. When a sentence included in
the reception message corresponds to a customary phrase stored in
the storage unit 130, the message analyzing unit 166 may transmit
the entire sentence as a key for extracting an input expected word,
rather than discriminating the sentence by the words, to the input
expected word extracting unit 162. The message analyzing unit 166
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
determine whether or not the sentence included in the reception
message corresponds to a declarative sentence or an interrogative
sentence, based not only punctuation, but on words such as where,
how, why, etc. Also, the message analyzing unit 166 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may serve to
discriminate among a particular sentence included in a currently
created message by sentence, by phrase, by word-phrase, by word or
by special character.
[0039] When the creation of the short message is completed, the
word list database updating unit 168 serves to update the word list
database 132 by reflecting the words included in the created short
message.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation
of a process for creating a short message according to a first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] Now referring to FIG. 3, at step (305) the controller 160
recognizes that the user selects the text message creation menu via
the input unit 140.
[0042] At step (310), the input expected word extracting unit 162
extracts a word expected to be input from the storage unit 130. The
input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract the input
expected word from the word list database 132 or from the user
information database 134. The input expected word extracting unit
162 may extract words with a high frequency of use (i.e. as
compared with a threshold) stored in the word list database 132 in
an initial screen state of the text message creation window
(namely, in a state in which the user does not input any
characters).
[0043] FIG. 4a illustrates an example of the word list database 132
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The word list database 132 in FIG. 4a stores words such
as `OK`, `yup`, `got it`, `No`, `Yes`, I got it`, `Nope`, `Call`,
`Thank you`, etc. These words may correspond to the words which are
frequently used by more than the pre-set number of times among the
short messages (i.e., short messages constituting the origination
message list) created by the user, and may correspond to the words
starting from the first ranked word with the highest frequency of
use to the tenth ranked word. The number of words stored in the
word list data base 132 may be changed according to the capacity of
the database, and the setting controlling the number of words in
the word lost data base may be changed by the user. According to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the input expected
word extracting unit 162 may extract, for example, all the words
stored in the word list database 132 or may extract only some of
them. For example, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may
extract only five words with a high frequency of use from ten words
stored in the word list database 132. Also, the input expected word
extracting unit 162 may extract an input expected word from words
originally stored in the portable terminal, in addition to the
frequently used words.
[0044] Also, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may
extract an input expected word directly from the origination and
reception message list, rather than extracting a word from the word
list database 132. For example, if fifty messages are stored in the
origination message list, the input expected word extracting unit
162 may extract words with the frequency of use satisfying pre-set
conditions (e.g., they have been repeatedly used more than a
certain number of times) directly from the fifty stored
messages.
[0045] In addition, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may
extract an input expected word from the words stored in the user
information database 134. The user information database 134
includes, for example, personal information of the user and basic
information such as a phone book, schedule information, date and
time information, and a call log, and the input expected word
extracting unit 162 extracts a word or a sentence constituting the
personal information of the user from the user information database
134. For example, if `Birthday of Thomas` has been recorded in Mar.
25, 2009 in the schedule (or schedule management) menu when the
user creates a short message in Mar. 25, 2009, the input expected
word extracting unit 162 may extract `Mar. 25, 2009` as input
expected word and also extracts `Thomas` and `Birthday`.
[0046] At step (315), the controller 160 controls the display unit
150 to display the extracted input expected words. According to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the word priority
determining unit 164 may determine priority levels of the words
extracted by the input expected word extracting unit 162 and the
controller 160 may control the display unit 150 to display the
extracted input expected words according to the determined priority
levels. For example, when the word priority determining unit 164 to
determines the priority levels of the extracted input expected
words according to their respective frequencies of use, the
controller 160 controls the display unit 150 to display the
extracted words in the order starting from the one with the highest
frequency of use. Also, the word priority determining unit 164 may
determine, for example, the priority levels of the words extracted
from the word list database 132 and the words extracted from the
user information database 134. According to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, the display unit 150 may discriminately
display a text message creation region, an input expected word
display region, and a keyboard display region. Also, the display
unit 150 may discriminately display the words extracted from the
word list database 132 and the words extracted from the user
information database 134. The reference for determining the number
and priority of words displayed in the input expected word display
region may be set by the user. These words will facilitate a faster
and easier response by the user.
[0047] FIG. 5a illustrates a text message creation screen according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5a
displays the text message creation region, the input expected word
display region, and the keyboard display region, and five input
expected words are displayed in the input expected word display
region.
[0048] Still referring to FIG. 3, at step (320), the controller 160
determines whether or not one of the input expected words displayed
on the display unit 150 is selected by the user by controlling the
input unit 140. When the input unit 140 is configured as a touch
screen, the user touches region where a chosen word is selected.
Also, the user may touch (or tap via a stylus) the region where the
chosen word is selected and draw it to the text message creation
region to input the corresponding word to the text message creation
region.
[0049] When the input unit 140 is configured as a keypad, the user
may select a word by using the direction keys etc. provided in the
keypad. Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the user may input an instruction for deleting words
determined to be unnecessary among the input expected words
displayed on the display unit 150 from the input expected word list
through the input unit 1400. The number of words that may be
displayed in the input expected word region is typically limited,
so the words extracted by the input expected word extracting unit
162 may not all be displayed on one screen. When the user inputs
the instruction of deleting some words from the input expected word
list through the input unit 140, the controller 160 controls the
display unit 150 to delete the deletion-requested words from the
input expected word list and display words from the next priority
levels. Also, the controller 160 may control the display unit 150
to delete the deletion-requested words and not display words of the
next priority levels according to a user setting.
[0050] At step (325), when one of the words is selected by the user
at 320, the input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts words
linked to the selected word. The input expected word extracting
unit 162 may also extract the words from the word list database 132
or from the user information database 134 at 325. According to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the word list
database 132 may store relevant words by grouping them.
[0051] For example, if the user frequently inputs `OK` after `yup`,
the word list database 132 groups `yup` and `OK` to store them. In
this case, when `yup` is selected by the user at step 320, the
input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts `OK` from the word
list database 132. Also, when word form transformation words (i.e.,
words formed by transforming a word form) or meaning-related words
(e.g., tense, singular form/plural form, an antonym, synonym, etc.)
are linked and stored in the word list database 132, the input
expected word extracting unit 162 extracts the words.
[0052] For example, if the word `have` is displayed in the input
expected word region and the user selects `have`, the input
expected word extracting unit 162 extracts `has`, `had`, `don't
have`, etc., the word form transformation words of `have` from the
word list database 132. The word form transformation words or
meaning-related words may correspond to, for example, words stored
in the storage unit 130 when the portable terminal is manufactured,
or may correspond to words stored according to user input. Also,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract a word linked
to the selected word from the user information database 134. For
example, when the user selects `home` from among the input expected
words, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract a
phone number related to `home` from the user information database
134.
[0053] At step (330), the controller 160 controls the display unit
150 to display the extracted input expected word. If a word not
previously displayed at step 315 is newly extracted, the controller
160 controls the display unit 150 to display the newly extracted
word at step 330. According to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the word priority determining unit 164 may
determine the overall priority levels of the extracted words, and
the display unit 150 may display the input expected words according
to the determined priority levels. According to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the word priority determining
unit 164 may determine the word newly extracted input expected
words at step 325 as a word with the highest priority level, and
the display unit 150 may display the newly extracted word so that
it is positioned at the top of the list of input expected
words.
[0054] FIG. 5b illustrates a screen of a portable terminal with a
changed input expected word list according to the first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5b, as the user
selects `yup`, `OK` linked to `yup` is displayed to be positioned
first among the input expected words. According to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the word form transformation
words, or the meaning-related words, may be displayed on a separate
menu screen, rather than being displayed together in the input
expected word region.
[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment, when a word linked to
the word selected by the user has been already-extracted at step
310 or already-displayed at step 315, the word priority determining
unit 164 readjusts the priority levels of the input expected words,
and the controller 160 controls the display unit 150 to display the
input expected words according to the adjusted priority levels.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
display unit 150 may display the linked words so that they are
positioned at the top of the input expected word list. However, a
person of ordinary skill understands and appreciates that the
positioning of the linked words may be arranged differently than
shown and described herein.
[0056] Now, at step (335), the controller 160 controls the input
unit 140 to determine whether or not a creation completion key is
input by the user.
[0057] When the creation completion key is input at 335, then at
step (340) the controller 160 terminates the message creation
process. Subsequently, the controller 160 controls the wireless
communication unit 110 to transmit the created message to an
external source according to a user instruction.
[0058] At step (345), the word list database updating unit 168
updates the word list database 132. The transmitted short message
is stored in the origination message list, and the word list
database updating unit 168 analyzes the words of the short messages
included in the origination message list and newly configures the
words stored in the word list database 132. The word list stored in
the word list database 132 may be changed according to the word
configuration included in the transmitted short message, or may
remain the same.
[0059] Returning to step (320), if none of the input expected words
displayed on the display unit 150 is selected at step, then at step
(350) the controller 160 controls the input unit 140 to determine
whether or not the keyboard is pressed. In the present invention,
the term `keyboard` comprises an input unit provided to input
characters, which may be configured as a 3.times.4 pad or QWERTY
pad form. The keyboard may be displayed on a portion of the display
unit 150 based on a touch screen, or may be configured in a keypad
form. When the user wants to input a new word in addition to the
words displayed as the input expected words, he/she directly inputs
characters through the keyboard. The controller 160 recognizes the
characters input by the user via the input unit 140, and at step
(355) the input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts pre-set
input expected words correspondingly according to the characters
input by the user.
[0060] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, at step (350), when a word linked to the character input
by the user is stored in the word list database 132 or in the user
information database 134, the input expected word extracting unit
162 may extract the input expected words from the word list
database 132 or from the user information database 134.
[0061] For example, if the user inputs `Thomas` through the
keyboard at step 350, the input expected word extracting unit 162
may extract the phone number of `Thomas` from the phone book of the
user information database 134. Other information can be extracted
in stead of or in addition the phone number. Also, when the user
inputs `Tomorrow` at step 350, the input expected word extracting
unit 162 may extract `March 26` corresponding to tomorrow's date.
When the input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts the word,
the controller 160 controls the display unit 150 to display the
extracted input expected word at step 330 and performs the
following process.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the process of creating
a short message according to the second exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0063] Referring now to FIG. 6, at step (605), the controller
controls the wireless communication unit 110 to receive a short
message. Subsequently, at step (610), the controller 160 controls
the input unit 140 to determine whether or not a reply message
creation menu is selected by the user. FIG. 7a is a screen shot for
selecting the reply message creation menu by the user according to
the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] At step (615), the message analyzing unit 166 analyzes the
received message. The message analyzing unit 166 may recognize the
received short message by sentence, by phrase, by word-phrase, by
word or by special character. With reference to FIG. 7a, when a
short message of `Where are you now?` is received at step 605, the
message analyzing unit 166 can recognize `Where are you now?` as
one sentence, and also recognizes the short message by
discriminating it by the words such as `You`, `Now`, `Where`,
`Are`, `?`. The sentence or phrase included in the reception
message is customarily or commonly used, so when such customary
sentence or phrase is stored in the word list database 132, the
message analyzing unit 166 may recognize the short message by
sentence or phrase, not by word. According to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the message analyzing unit 166
may determine a sentence form. For example, the message analyzing
unit 166 may determine whether or not the sentences included in the
reception message corresponds to interrogative sentences or
declarative sentences. The message analyzing unit 166 analyzes the
sentence form according to a pre-set algorithm, and determines
whether or not the sentences are interrogative sentences or
declarative sentences based on whether or not a question mark is
included in the sentences, whether or not interrogatives (i.e.,
what, how, etc.) are positioned at the front of the sentences, and
whether or not an auxiliary verb is positioned at the front of the
sentences. Also, for example, if the sentence is an interrogative
sentence, the message analyzing unit 166 may determine whether or
not the sentence starts with an interrogative or with an auxiliary
verb.
[0065] FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c illustrate the word list database
according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 4b illustrates the word list database 132 storing
input expected words corresponding to the words included in the
reception message. In FIG. 4b, `Me`, `You`, and `Mom` are stored as
input expected words corresponding to `Who`, `Tomorrow`, `Today`,
and `12 o'clock` are stored as input expected words corresponding
to `When` and `At what time`, and `Home`, `Office`, and `School`
are stored as input expected words corresponding to `Where`. Words
related to people, words related to time, and words related to an
area are stored in the storage unit 130 when the portable terminal
is manufactured, and the word list database updating unit 168 may
select the words with the high frequency of use from the previously
stored words and store the same in the word list database 132. For
example, `Me`, `You`, `Dad`, `Mom`, etc., are stored as words
meaning people, and when the user frequently uses `Me`, `You`, and
`Mom`, the word list database 132 stores Me', `You`, and `Mom`.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
user may directly register an input expected word. For example,
when the user wants to add the name `Thomas` to the word list
database 132, the user may edit the word list database 132 by using
a word list database update menu provided in the portable terminal.
Key words for extracting the input extracted words from the words
included in the reception message are `Who`, `When`, Where`, etc.
With reference to FIG. 7a, the message analyzing unit 166
determines `Where` among the words included in the reception
message, as a key word.
[0066] In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
the message analyzing unit 166 may determine where messages are
sent. The message analyzing unit 166 may check a phone number that
is to receive a created message, and transmit the same to the input
expected word extracting unit 162. FIG. 4c illustrates the word
list database 132 storing input expected words discriminated
according to phone numbers which are to receive a message.
According to the present exemplary embodiment, the word list
database updating unit 168 primarily discriminates messages
according to phone numbers which are to receive a message and
secondarily discriminates among the messages according to key words
included in the reception message for extracting the input expected
words. In this case, the message analyzing unit 166 transmits the
phone number to which the message is to be transmitted and the
information regarding the key words included in the reception
message to the input expected word extracting unit 162.
[0067] At step (620), the input expected word extracting unit 162
extracts input expected words from the words stored in the storage
unit 130. According to the second exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may
extract the words stored in the word list database 132 or the words
stored in the user information database 134. When the input
expected word extracting unit 162 receives only the information
regarding the key word included in the reception message from the
message analyzing unit 166, it extracts input expected words
previously set to correspond to the key word. Also, the input
expected word extracting unit 162 may extract words with a high
frequency of use in addition to the input expected words previously
set to correspond to the key word included in the reception
message. For example, with reference to FIG. 4b, the input expected
word extracting unit 162 may also extract `OK`, `Yup`, `Got it`,
etc., in addition to `Home`, `Office`, `School` previously set to
correspond to `Where`. Also, the input expected word extracting
unit 162 may extract words included in the reception message. In
many cases, the words included in the reception message are
frequently used in a reply message, so the input expected word
extracting unit 162 extracts the words used in the reception
message.
[0068] If a sentence or a phrase included in the reception message
is stored as a customary sentence or phrase in the word list
database 132, the input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts
stored words that correspond to the customary sentence or phrase.
For example, when `I'm`, `fine`, `thank`, and `you` are stored to
correspond to the customary phrase `How are you?` as shown in FIG.
4, the input expected word extracting unit 162 extracts the stored
words. Also, when a sentence included in the reception message is
analyzed as an interrogative sentence starting with an auxiliary
verb by the message analyzing unit 166, the input expected word
extracting unit 162 extracts a `Yes` or `No` stored to correspond
thereto.
[0069] When the input expected word extracting unit 162 receives
phone number information to which a message is to be transmitted
and information regarding a key word included in the reception
message together from the message analyzing unit 166, the input
expected word extracting unit 162 may extract input expected words
stored to correspond to the phone number information. For example,
as shown in FIG. 4c, when the phone number to which a message is to
be transmitted is `010-8856-7776` and the key word included in the
reception message is `Where`, the input expected word extracting
unit 162 extracts `Home` and may also extract the words `OK`,
`Yup`, and `Got it`. The input expected words stored in the word
list database 132 may be updated according to the frequency of use
(i.e., how frequently the user uses them), or may be changed as the
user can also directly sets the stored words. Also, the input
expected word extracting unit 162 may extract the entire word
stored in the word list database 132 or only some of them.
[0070] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract
the input expected words directly from the origination or reception
message list, not from the word list database 132. Namely, the
input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract words with a
frequency of use satisfying certain conditions from the words
included in the origination message list and may extract words
included in the reception message list. Also, the input expected
word extracting unit 162 may extract input expected words from the
user information database 134. For example, when a particular name
is included in the reception message, the input expected word
extracting unit 162 may extract a phone number corresponding to the
name from the user information database 134.
[0071] At step (625), the controller 160 controls the display unit
150 to display the extracted input expected words. Also, in the
second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the word
priority determining unit 164 may determine the priority levels of
the input expected words extracted from the input expected word
extracting unit 162 and the controller 160 may control the display
unit 150 to display the input expected words according to the
determined priority levels. In an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the display unit 150 may discriminately display
one or more of a text message creation region, an input expected
word display region, and a keyboard display region. Also, the
display unit 150 may discriminately display the words stored in the
word list database 132 and the words stored in the user information
database 134.
[0072] FIG. 7b is a display of a text message creation screen
according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The input expected word display region in FIG. 7b
includes words extracted by the input expected word extracting unit
162. In FIG. 7b, `Home`, `Office`, and `School` indicate the
results obtained by extracting the words stored to correspond to
the key word `Where` of the reception message from the word list
database 132 in FIG. 4b. In FIG. 7b, `You`, `Now`, `Are` are words
extracted from the received short message `Where are you now?`
Also, `OK` is a word extracted from the word list (`OK`, `Yup`,
`Got it`, `No`, `Yes`, `I got it`) with the high frequency of use
in addition to the words previously set to correspond to the key
word of the reception message from the word list database 132 of
FIG. 4b. The word priority determining unit 164 determines the
priority levels of the extracted words, and the reference based on
which the priority levels are determined may be changed according
to a setting. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the number of input expected words displayed on the
display unit 150 may be changed according to a user-changeable
setting. Also, the input expected words displayed on the display
unit 150 may include only the words stored to correspond to the key
word of the reception message or may include words with a high
frequency of user in addition to the words stored to correspond to
the key word of the reception message according to a user setting.
Also, the input expected words may include only the words extracted
from the user information database 134 according to a user
setting.
[0073] The controller 160 controls input unit 140 to determine
whether or not one of the input expected words displayed on the
display unit 150 is selected by the user (630). When one of the
words is selected by the user, the input expected word extracting
unit 162 extracts words linked to the selected word at step 625.
Also, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract the
linked words from the word list database 132 or from the user
information database 134 at step 625. When `Yup` and `OK` are
stored in a group in the word list database 132, if `Yup` is
selected by the user at step 630, the input expected word
extracting unit 162 extracts `OK` from the word list database 132.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract the word set to
correspond to the word selected at step 630 from the user
information database 134. As shown in FIG. 7c, when the user
selects `home`, the input expected word extracting unit 162 may
extract a phone number related to `home` from the user information
database 134. Also, in the second exemplary embodiment, the user
may delete a word determined to be unnecessary among the input
expected words displayed on the display unit 150, and accordingly,
the input expected word extracting unit 162 may extract a new word
as an input expected word and the word priority determining unit
164 may readjust the priority levels of the extracted input
expected words.
[0074] At step (640), the controller 160 may control the display
unit 150 to display the extracted input expected words. If a word
not displayed at step (625) is newly extracted, the controller 160
controls the display unit 150 to display the newly extracted word
at step 640. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the word priority determining unit 164 may determine the
newly extracted word as a word with the highest priority level
compared with the words extracted at step 620, and the controller
160 may control the display unit 150 to display the newly extracted
word so that it is positioned at the top of the list of input
expected words.
[0075] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, if the word linked to the word input by the user has
been already extracted as an input expected word, the controller
160 cause display of the linked word so that the linked word is
positioned at the top of the list of input expected words at step
640. FIG. 7c illustrates a screen with an input expected word list
changed as the user selects `Home` according to the second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The input expected
word extracting unit 162 extracts a phone number stored to
correspond to `Home` from the phone book of the user information
database 134, the word priority determining unit 164 determines the
extracted phone number to have the highest priority level, and the
controller 160 controls the display unit 150 to display the
extracted phone number in the input expected word region of the
display unit 150. In the input expected word region of FIG. 7c,
`02-535-4370` is displayed to be positioned at the top of the
list.
[0076] At step (645), the controller 160 controls the input unit
140 to determine whether or not a creation completion key is input
by the user.
[0077] When the creation completion key is input, at step (650) the
controller 160 terminates the message creation process.
Subsequently, the controller 160 controls the wireless
communication unit 110 to transmit the created message to an
external portable terminal according to a user instruction.
[0078] At step (655), the word list database updating unit 168
updates the word list database 132. The transmitted short message
is stored in the origination message list, and the word list
database updating unit 168 analyzes the words of the short messages
included in the origination message list and newly configures the
words stored in the word list database 132. The word list stored in
the word list database 132 may be changed according to the word
configuration included in the transmitted short message, or may
remain the same.
[0079] If none of the input expected words displayed on the display
unit 150 are selected at 630, at step (660) the controller 160
controls the input unit 140 to determine whether or not the
keyboard is pressed. The controller 160 recognizes characters input
by the user via the input unit 140, and at step (665) the input
expected word extracting unit 162 extracts pre-set input expected
words correspondingly according to the character input by the
user.
[0080] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, when a word linked to the character input by the user is
stored in the word list database 132, or in the user information
database 134 at step 660, the input expected word extracting unit
162 extracts the input expected words from the word list database
132 or from the user information database 134. When the input
expected word extracting unit 162 extracts the word, the controller
160 controls the display unit 150 to display the extracted input
expected word at step 640 and performs the following process.
[0081] According to this exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the user can create a short message without having to
input words one-by-one through a keyboard. Thus, the user can
create a short message through a smaller number of key inputs or
touch inputs, and the time taken for creating the short message can
be shortened. In addition, because a sentence is created upon
receiving a list of words expected to be input, a sensitive
portable terminal using method can be provided to the user.
[0082] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that
many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept
herein described, which may will still fall within the spirit and
scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as
defined in the appended claims.
[0083] The above-described methods according to the present
invention can be realized in hardware or via the execution of
software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium
such as a CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a
magneto-optical disk or downloaded over a network, so that the
methods described herein can be rendered in such software using a
general purpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable
or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be
understood in the art, the computer, the processor or the
programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM,
Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code
that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or
hardware implement the processing methods described herein.
* * * * *