Portable Terminal Phone Book Storage Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable terminals face inefficiencies when storing telephone numbers, particularly when users do not know the associated name, leading to incorrect organization and inconvenient re-input processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow users to input a telephone number once, with the system checking if the name exists in the phone book list; if not, a new entry is created, and if it does, the user can select an existing similar name to associate the number, eliminating the need for separate menu operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal requires users to input a name when storing a telephone number, then the phone book can be organized by name, but users cannot store numbers when they do not know the associated name, leading to incorrect organization or storage failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of storing telephone numberVSAvoidaccuracy of phone book organization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by first storing the telephone number without requiring name input, then subsequently matching it with existing phone book entries. This reverses the traditional sequence of first naming then storing, allowing users to store numbers even when they don't know the associated name, while still maintaining organized structure through automatic matching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the terminal stores a telephone number under a new name when the name does not exist in the phone book, then the number can be stored, but it causes inconvenience when users need to correct or update the name later

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of storing telephone numberVSAvoidconvenience of name correction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically matching stored telephone numbers with existing phone book entries and presenting match results to users. This allows users to review and correct name associations after storage, transforming a potentially error-prone one-step process into a verifiable multi-step process that improves both speed and convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the terminal requires multiple menu operations for storing telephone numbers, then the phone book can be accurately organized, but the storage process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of phone book organizationVSAvoidcomplexity of storage process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple separate operations (storing telephone number, searching for matches, displaying results, and updating entries) into a single integrated automated process. This combines the functionality of storage, search, and update operations into one unified flow that maintains accuracy while reducing user burden and perceived complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11477314B2Method and apparatus for storing telephone numbers in a portable terminal

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method and apparatus for storing a telephone number in a portable terminal. The method includes the steps of providing a user with a name input request message; determining whether or not the inputted name exists in a phone book list of the portable terminal; and generating a new entry including the inputted name and its associated telephone number and adding the new entry to the phone book list when the inputted name does not exist in the phone book list.