United States Patent 9
`Lin
`
`AACEAERAEAUA
`
`{111 Patent Number:
`
`(45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,455,858
`Oct. 3, 1995
`
`[54] METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY
`COMPOSING A TELEPHONE DIALING
`STRING
`
`Assistant Examiner—Jacques M. Saint-Surin
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Mark A. Aaker
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Lee M. Lin, Cupertino, Calif.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[73] Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino,
`Calif.
`
`{21} Appl. No.: 130,475
`
`{22}
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 1, 1993
`
`TSE]
`[52]
`
`Tinte Cho iccceccccccccccccceccseessssstestssennensssneanneeee H04M 1/27
`
`... 379/355; 379/354; 379/356;
`379/357; 379/216
`(58] Field of Search oo. 379/355, 354,
`379/356, 357, 216
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,342,882
`4,945,557
`$5,268,959
`
`8/1982 Gravenhorst et al. wu... 379/355
`
`.........ecseceeees 379/67
`7/1990 Kaneuchi et al.
`12/1993 Hong ....ecccsssscsssscseseseccssereeenees 379/355
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“Power Book Products User Guide”, by Global Village
`Communication, Inc., Edition 1, (1990-1992), pp. 1-16.
`
`A method for automatically composing a telephone dialing
`string for a telecommunication device having a processor,
`storage, and a connection to an external telephone system,
`by storing configuration informationfor a currentlocation of
`the telecommunication device in fields for local country
`code and local area code; by storing configuration informa-
`tion for dialing prefixes for a current external telephone
`system connected to the telecommunication device in fields
`for a prefix for a local call, prefix for a long distance call, and
`prefix for an international call; and by storing a desired
`telephone number in fields for a desired country code, a
`desired area code, and a desired telephone number. Then,
`forming a telephone dialing string by the processor com-
`paring like fields of the desired telephone number to the
`configuration informationfor a current location to determine
`the need for international, long distance and local access
`prefixes followed by non-redundant country code, area code
`and telephone number information; and sending the tele-
`phone dialing string to the external telephone system.
`
`Primary Examiner—Jeffery A. Hofsass
`
`7 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`eee From phone number
`
`
`i
`4 i:i Modem Telephone:
`42
`
`Fix}, Dialing
`
`Prefixes:
`
`Country Code:
`
`City / Area Code:
`
`Local calls: [ 46
`Long distance cails: fo 47
`Intemational calls: |011 J
`Telephone #:|996-0410
`48
`
`43
`
`44
`
`e@eeTo phone number
`
`Country Code:FF
`City / Area Code: [408 —‘|}_—sg
`
`Telephone #:|996-0913 ~~
`
`52
`
`54
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 1 of 7
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 1 of 7
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,455,858
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`
`IINPUT/OUTPUT
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`EXTERNAL
`TELEPHONE
`SYSTEM
`
`FIG. 1
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Dial what number?
`
`996-0410
`
`408
`
`FIG. 2 (PRIOR ART)
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 2 of 7
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`APPL-1009 / Page 2 of 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`5,455,858
`
`
`
`
`ial
`
`
`Stop Modem
`Shrink Window
`Go Back
`
` JV Macintosh speaker (tone dialing)
`Modem (use modem commands)
`
`
`
`Local area code:
`14
`
`Oustide Line:
`16
`
`Long distance:
`1
`
`
`International code: 011rEer
`
`
`18
`
`
`Modem Options
`!
`Dialing Options
`
`:
`Stack Overview
`Dial Delay
`
`= D
`
`
`
`10
`
`1
`
`12
`
`408
`
`9
`
`FIG. 3 (PRIOR ART)
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 3 of 7
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`APPL-1009 / Page 3 of 7
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`

`

`USS. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,455,858
`
`eee From phone number
`
`
`
`Modem_Telephone: Ere} Dialing Prefixes:
`
`goo
`
`42
`
`
`
`.
`.
`Local cails: {sd
`Country Code:
`Long distancecalls: a 47
`City / Area Code:
`
`Telephone #:|996-0410 Intemational calls: [017 |
`48
`
`—— 46
`
`43
`
`44
`
`@ee7o phone number
`
`County Code: [fF }~
`Oily | Area Code:[408—___]—~s
`
`52
`
`Telephone +
`p
`
`996-0913
`
`~~
`
`54
`
`FIG. 4
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 4 of 7
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`APPL-1009 / Page 4 of 7
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`

`

`5,455,858
`
`1
`METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY
`COMPOSING A TELEPHONE DIALING
`STRING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a method of forming a telephone
`dialing string for a telecommunication device such as a
`computer with a modem.
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains material which is subject to copyright protection.
`The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`reproduction by anyoneof the patent documentorthe patent
`disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and trademark Office
`patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
`rights whatsoever.
`One use of computers is to store name and telephone
`numberinformation, such as an electronic “Address Book”.
`The computer can be used to dial either stored or manually
`entered telephone numbers.
`As an example, FIG. 1 showsa typical prior art personal
`computer having storage, display, processor, and input/
`output devices such as a keyboard and modem. Telephone
`numbers can be stored on the computer, viewed on the
`display, manipulated by the processor and dialed via the
`modem.
`
`FIG. 2 shows how a telephone numbercan beentered in
`a prior art telephone dialing program. The desired numberis
`entered in a single field as a string of digits which may
`include prefixes such as an area code.
`The telephone dialing program examines the entered
`telephone numberstring, and comparesit to stored configu-
`ration information to determine how to form a telephone
`dialing string to be sent to the telephone system.
`For local calls within the same area code, the telephone
`dialing program may need to eliminate the area code from
`the telephone number when forming the telephone dialing
`string. For long distancecalls, the telephone dialing program
`may need to add additional prefixes to the telephone number
`when forming the telephone dialing string. For calis being
`sent through a PBX telephone system,the telephone dialing
`program may need to add an access numberprefix to the
`telephone number when forming the telephone dialing
`string.
`To properly form the telephone dialing string, the com-
`puter needscertain configuration information. FIG. 3 shows
`the configuration information that can be entered into one
`prior art telephone dialing program, the HyperCard™ 2.1
`Phone Dialer by Apple Computer, Inc. The program allows
`the user to select dialing by the computer’s speaker or
`modem output, depending on how connection is madeto the
`external telephone system. (FIG. 3 at L0 and 11.) To connect
`to a telephone line and dial a particular telephone number,
`appropriate dialing prefixes may be necessary. Examples of
`these prefixes are an area code (FIG. 3 at 12), a PBX code
`to get an outside line (FIG. 3 at 14), a long distance access
`code (FIG. 3 at 16) and an international access code (FIG.
`3 at 18). After configuration information such as these
`prefixes have been set, the telephone dialing program can
`generate a telephone dialing string from the prefixes and a
`desired telephone number.
`Selecting the correct set of prefixes for the telephone
`dialing string can be a complicated problem, since the
`correct set of prefixes varies in relation to each telephone
`numberdesiredto becalled, the settings of the configuration
`
`20
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`25
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`2
`information, and the country and telephone system being
`used.
`
`As a simple example, in the United States, telephone
`numbers within the local area code can be dialed without an
`area code prefix. However, when the telephone numberis in
`a different area code, it may be necessary to use a prefix of
`“1”, followed by the area code and the telephone number.
`Many present
`telephone dialing programs such as the
`example HyperCard 2.1 Phone Dialer check the desired
`telephone numberagainst the local area codeto eliminate a
`redundant local area code from the telephone dialing string.
`As a more complicated example, whenit is desired to call
`a telephone number in a foreign country, the prefixes for
`long distance dialing, international access, country codes,
`city codes, area codes and telephone numbers must be
`properly constructed. Many present telephone dialing pro-
`grams fail to correctly form the telephone dialing string if
`the stored telephone number includes international access
`codes, or if the stored foreign telephone numberis shorter
`than a local telephone number, or in other circumstances
`where the program cannot determine whether the desired
`telephone numberis local, long distance or international.
`Where the telephone numberis enteredas a single string,it
`is easy to confuse which digits may be a country code, area
`code, or phone number.
`While errors in forming the telephone dialing string can
`be noticed and corrected by the computer user, it is not
`always easy to correct the problem, since both the configu-
`ration information and the telephone number mayneedto be
`edited to properly “fool” the program into forming a correct
`string according to its “invisible” internal miles. It is desired
`that telephone dialing strings can be automatically con-
`structed for any current configuration information and any
`desired telephone number, especially so that unattended
`operation of the computer can be allowed, for example to
`allow the computer to automatically call an electronic mail
`system and download messages.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A method for automatically composing a telephonedial-
`ing string for a telecommunication device having a proces-
`sor, storage, and a connection to an external
`telephone
`system, comprising:
`storing configuration information for a current location of
`the telecommunication device in fields for local country
`code and local area code;
`storing configuration information for dialing prefixes for
`a current external telephone system connected to the
`telecommunication device in fields for a prefix for a
`local call, prefix for a long distance call and prefix for
`an international call;
`storing a desired telephone numberin fields for a desired
`country code, a desired area code and a desiredtele-
`phone number;
`forming a telephone dialing string by the processor com-
`paring like fields of the desired telephone numberto the
`configuration information for a current
`location to
`determine the need for international, long distance and
`local accessprefixes followed by non-redundant coun-
`try code, area code and telephone numberinformation;
`and
`
`sending the telephone dialing string to the external tele-
`phone system.
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 5 of 7
`
`APPL-1009 / Page 5 of 7
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`

`

`5,455,858
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`3
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`an international call followed by the desired country code,
`followed by the desired area code, followed by the desired
`FIG, 1 showsa typical prior art personal computer.
`telephone number, and if they do match or the desired
`FIG,2 shows howatelephone numbercan be entered in
`country code is blank, forming the telephone dialing string
`-a prior art telephone dialing program.
`by forming a telephone dialing string by the processor
`comparing the stored local area code field to the desired area
`FIG. 3 shows the configuration information that can be
`code field, and if they match forming the telephone dialing
`entered into one prior art telephone dialing program, the
`string by the prefix for a local call followed by the desired
`HyperCard™ 2.1 Phone Dialer by Apple Computer, Inc.
`telephone number, and if they do not match, forming the
`FIG. 4 showsthe setting of configuration information,
`telephone dialing string by the prefix for a long distancecall
`dialing prefixes, and a desired telephone numberfor use in
`followed by the desired area code, followed by the desired
`a method in accordance with the invention.
`telephone number. It should be apparent that the use of
`separated fields providesthe ability to be more specific, and
`that separate fields are useful in the comparison process and
`reduce errors in constructing the telephone dialing string.
`This invention provides a method of automatically com-
`After the telephone dialing string is formed, it is sent to
`posing a telephone dialing string with reduced errors. The
`the external telephone system, for example by use of the
`invention is useful in programs which run on a telecommu-
`telecommunication device’s modem. If desired, the tele-
`nication device having a processor, storage, and a connec-
`phone dialing string can be displayed for verification or
`tion to an external telephone system. One key to the inven-
`change by the user, but fully automatic, unattended opera-
`tion is the storage of configuration information and the
`tion is possible.
`desired telephone number in separate fields. The use of
`Other embodiments and variations of the invention will be
`separate fields improves the ability of the telephonedialing
`apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the
`program to compare fields and properly construct a tele-
`specification drawings, and claims. It is intended that the
`phonedialing string.
`scope of the invention be limited only by the scope of the
`FIG. 4 shows the setting of configuration information,
`following claims.
`I claim:
`dialing prefixes, and a desired telephone numberfor use in
`a method in accordance with the invention. A first set of
`1. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`fields stores local configuration information for a current
`dialing string for a telecommunication device having a
`location of the telecommunication device. Included are a
`processor,storage, and a connectionto an external telephone
`field for storing a local country code (FIG. 4 at 42) and a
`system, comprising:
`field for storing a local area code (FIG.4 at 43). Also shown
`storing configuration information for a current location of
`is a field for storing a telephone number of the current
`the telecommunication device in fields with at least a
`computer location (FIG. 4 at 44).
`field for storing a local area code;
`A secondsetof fields stores configuration information for
`storing configuration information for dialing prefixes for
`dialing prefixes for a current external
`telephone system
`a current external telephone system connected to the
`connected to the telecommunication device. Included are a
`telecommunication device in fields with at least a field
`field for a prefix for a local call (FIG. 4 at 46), a field for a
`for a prefix for a local call, and a field for a prefix for
`prefix for a long distance call (FIG. 4 at 47), and a field for
`a long distance call;
`a prefix for an international call (FIG. 4 at 48). In telephone
`storing a telephone numberdesired to be called in fields
`systemssuch as a PBX,it may be necessary tofirst dial a “9”
`with at least a field for a desired area code, anda field
`to get an outside line. In such case, all three prefix fields
`for a desired telephone number;
`should store an initial “9” along with other prefix numbers.
`forming a telephonedialing string by the processor com-
`Ifa prefix of “9” obtains a local telephoneline, while a prefix
`paring the stored local area code field to the desired
`of “8” obtains a long distance line, then the local and long
`area code field, and
`distance fields would store separate prefixes as appropriate.
`It should be apparentthat the use of separated fields provides
`if they match forming the telephonedialing string includ-
`moreoptionsandthe ability to be more specific in setting the
`ing the prefix for a local call followed by the desired
`prefixes than in prior art systems.
`telephone number, and
`A third set of fields stores the telephone number desired
`if they do not match, forming the telephone dialing string
`to be called, obtained either by interaction with the user of
`includingthe prefix for a long distance call followed by
`the computer, or extracted automatically, for example, from
`the desired area code, followed by the desired tele-
`a stored address book. Included are a field for a desired
`phone number, and
`country code (FIG. 4 at 52), a field for a desired area code
`sending said telephone dialing string to said external
`(FIG. 4 at 53), and a field for a desired telephone number
`telephone system.
`(FIG.4 at 54). If a field is left blank, it can be assumed to
`2. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`be the same as the corresponding local configuration field,
`dialing string as in claim 1 further comprising: storing
`e.g., the same local area code.
`configuration information for a currentlocationin a field for
`The telephone dialing program and computer processor
`a country code; storing configuration information for dialing
`60
`then formatelephonedialing string by comparinglikefields
`prefixes in a field for a prefix for an international call; and
`to determine the need for international, long distance, or
`storing a portion of a telephone numberdesired to be called
`local access prefixes followed by non-redundant country
`in a field for a desired country code.
`code, area code and telephone number information as
`3. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`needed. In detail, this can occur by comparing the stored
`dialing string as in claim 1 further comprising storing the
`local country codefield to the desired country code field, and
`contentsof said fields on the computer, viewing the contents
`if they do not match and the desired country code is not
`of said fields on a display, and editing the contents of said
`blank, forming the telephonedialing string by the prefix for
`fields by the processor and an input device.
`
`25
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`45
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`65
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`APPL-1009 / Page 6 of 7
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`5,455,858
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`6
`4. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`field for storing a local country code andafield for
`dialing string for a telecommunication device having a
`storing a local area code;
`processor, storage, and a connection to an external telephone
`storing configuration information for dialing prefixes for
`system, comprising:
`a current external telephone system connected to the
`telecommunication devicein fields with at least a field
`storing configuration information for a current location of
`for a prefix for a local call,a field for a prefix for a long
`the telecommunication device in fields with at least a
`distance call, and a field for a prefix for an international
`field for storing a local country code andafield for
`call;
`storing a local area code;
`storing a telephone numberdesired to becalled in fields
`storing configuration information for dialing prefixes for
`with at least a field for a desired country code, a field
`a current external telephone system connected to the
`for a desired area code, and a field for a desired
`telecommunication device in fields with at least a field
`telephone number;
`for a prefix for a local call, a field for a prefix for a long
`forming a telephone dialing string by the processor com-
`distance call, and a field for a prefix for an international
`paring the stored local country code field to the desired
`call;
`country code field, and
`storing a telephone numberdesired to be called in fields
`for the condition that they do not match and the desired
`with at least a field for a desired country code,a field
`country code is not blank, forming the telephonedial-
`for a desired area code, and a field for a desired
`ing string by the prefix for an international call fol-
`telephone number;
`lowed by the desired country code, followed by the
`forming a telephone dialing string by
`desired area code, followed by the desired telephone
`number, and
`the processor comparing the stored local country code
`field to the desired country code field, and placing in
`for either one of the two conditions that they do match and
`the telephone dialing string a prefix for an international
`the desired country code is blank, forming the tele-
`call if needed, followed by
`phone dialing string by the processor comparing the
`stored local area code field to the desired area code
`the processor comparing the stored local area codefield to
`field, and
`the desired area code field, and placingin the telephone
`dialing string a prefix for a long distance call and an
`if they match forming the telephone dialing string by the
`area code if needed, followed by the desired telephone
`prefix for a local call followedby the desired telephone
`number, and
`number, and
`sending said telephone dialing string to said external
`if they do not match, forming the telephone dialing string
`telephone system.
`by the prefix for a long distance call followed by the
`5. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`desired area code, followed by the desired telephone
`number, and
`dialing string as in claim 4 further comprising storing the
`contents of said fields on the computer, viewing the contents
`sending said telephone dialing string to said external
`of said fields on a display, and editing the contents of said
`telephone system.
`fields by the processor and an input device.
`7. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`6. A method for automatically composing a telephone
`dialing string as in claim 6 further comprising storing the
`dialing string for a telecommunication device having a
`contents of said fields on the computer, viewing the contents
`processor, storage, and a connection to an external telephone
`of said fields on a display, and editing the contents of said
`system, comprising:
`fields by the processor and an input device.
`storing configuration information for a current location of
`*&
`# *F
`the telecommunication device in fields with at least a
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`APPL-1009 / Page 7 of 7
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`APPL-1009 / Page 7 of 7
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