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Described is a system and method for updating a contact and adding a new contact from a call log in a communications device. The system includes a contact manager that is directed towards creating and updating call contact cards in a contact database with information retrieved from call logs of phone calls made to or from the communications device. In one embodiment, information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, thereby reducing workload to a user. The method includes determining if a request is for updating an existing contact card or for adding a new contact card to the contact database. The update or addition is made with information retrieved from call logs. Call information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, when it is determined that the request is to add a new contact card to the contact database.

Inventors: Susan Elizabeth Pappalardo, Jason William Fuller, Peter G. Chin, Jessica Dale Tenenbaum
Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
Primary Examiner: Nick Corsaro
Secondary Examiner: Alan T. Gantt
Attorney: Merchant & Gould P.C.
Current U.S. Classification: 455/558; 455/414.1; 455/418; 707/999.1; 707/999.101; 707/999.102
International Classification: H04M001/64

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Citations

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Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US7127238Aug 31, 2001Oct 24, 2006Openwave Systems Inc.Method and apparatus for using Caller ID information in a browser of a mobile communication device
US7180987May 15, 2002Feb 20, 2007Microsoft CorporationSystems, methods and apparatus for tracking on-call activity
US7280647Aug 7, 2003Oct 9, 2007Microsoft CorporationDynamic photo caller identification
US7280652Sep 13, 2004Oct 9, 2007Research In Motion LimitedHandheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method
US7340057Jul 11, 2001Mar 4, 2008Openwave Systems Inc.Method and apparatus for distributing authorization to provision mobile devices on a wireless network
US7353016Feb 22, 2005Apr 1, 2008SNAPin Software Inc.Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device
US7539484Feb 7, 2007May 26, 2009SNAPin Software Inc.Method and system for enhancing voice calls, such as enhancing voice calls with data services
US7657271Jul 26, 2004Feb 2, 2010LG Electronics Inc.System and method for synchronizing of information without data duplication
US7676221Jun 19, 2007Mar 9, 2010SNAPin Software Inc.Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device
US7756545Mar 12, 2007Jul 13, 2010SNAPin Software Inc.Method for performing interactive services on a mobile device, such as time or location initiated interactive services
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US7881703Jun 19, 2007Feb 1, 2011SNAPin Software Inc.Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device
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US8036645Mar 9, 2010Oct 11, 2011Nuance Communications, Inc.Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device
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US8126506Feb 14, 2008Feb 28, 2012Nuance Communications, Inc.System and method for securely managing data stored on mobile devices, such as enterprise mobility data
US8140127May 18, 2005Mar 20, 2012Broadcom CorporationSystem and method for controlling notification characteristics of a mobile communication device
US8175259Mar 20, 2007May 8, 2012Research In Motion LimitedHandheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method
US8219811Sep 21, 2005Jul 10, 2012Nuance Communications, Inc.Secure software execution such as for use with a cell phone or mobile device
US8229407Sep 26, 2011Jul 24, 2012Research In Motion LimitedHandheld electronic device having improved phone call log and associated method

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for updating a contact database in a mobile communications device, the instructions comprising:

receiving a request to save call information related to a phone call;

determining if the request to save the call information is an update to existing information in a contact card stored in the contact database or a request to create a new contact card in the contact database;

if the request is to update existing information,
retrieving a contact list of contact cards stored in the contact database;
receiving a selection of a contact card to be updated within the contact list;
updating the selected contact card with the call information related to the phone call;
replacing the existing contact card in the contact database with the updated contact card;
else if the request is to create a new contact card,
pre-populating a data field of the new contact card with call information;
receiving contact data to be associated with the new contact card;
modifying a data field in the new contact card with the received contact data; and
updating the contact database with die modified contact card.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the contact list comprises a list of at least one contact name associated with a contact card stored in the contact database.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a phone number.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a name of a caller.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a date of the phone call.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a time of the phone call.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the call information comprises a duration of the phone call.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the pre-populated data field includes at least one of a home phone number, a work phone number, and a mobile phone number.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the pre-populated data field is determined by evaluating a time associated with the phone call.

10. In a computer device having a graphical user interface and a user selection interface mechanism, a method of activating a selection for changing a contact database, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of call entries in a call log of phone calls;

displaying a context menu in response to a user selection of an entry in the call log; and

displaying a plurality of options in the context menu, one of the options being to update a contact card in the contact database with call information from the selected entry in the call log, wherein an existing contact card is replaced with the updated contact card.

Drawings