US Al (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/ A1 Wu (57) A sender is selectively input- S301

Transcription

1 US A (19) United States (12) Patent Appication Pubication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/ A1 Wu (43) Pub. Date: Dec. 21, 2006 (54) ELECTRONIC MAILBOX ADDRESS BOOK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE SAME (76) Inventor: Chao-Hung Wu, Hsintien City (TW) Correspondence Address: ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE 3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101 ELLICOTT CITY, MD (US) (21) App. No.: 11/152,046 (22) Fied: Jun. 15, 2005 Pubication Cassi?cation (51) Int. C. G06F 15/16 ( ) (52) US. C /206 (57) ABSTRACT An eectronic maibox address book management system and a method for the same are proposed. The address book management system has a maiing ist database, a mutime dia recording and an editing. The maiing ist database stores a puraity of maiing ists. The muti media recording makes?es in mutimedia formats. The editing is used to edit the maiing ists stored in the maiing ist database. In the address book management method, the editing edits the maiing ists With text messages, and the mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into the maiing ists. yes S315 W An 01d maiing ist is retrieved for editing S317 1 Text messages are input S319 audio/video fies _ are made and input 1 The od/maiing ist is stored / S321 A sender is seectivey input- S301 The sender is compared with a maiing ist database x3303 Is the sender in the maiing ist database? S r A new maiing ist is buit Text messages are input S307 /S3 audio/video fies are made and [input The new maiing ist is stored S313

2 Patent Appication Pubication Dec. 21, 2006 Sheet 1 of 4 1 K US 2006/ A1 input (11 retrieva maiing ist / 17 database editing ' V mutimedia recording 15 video audio AV 19 making making 1' ) FIG.1

3

4 Patent Appication Pubication Dec. 21, 2006 Sheet 3 0f 4 US 2006/ A1 S315 ( begin ) A sender is seectivey inputa \ S30 The sender is compared x8303 with a maiing ist database Is the sender in the maiing ist database? S305 w, t [ no S307 An od maiing ist is A new maiing ist is buit retrieved for editing S317. -_/S309 g, Text messages are 1nput S311 Text messages are input / audio/video fies are made and input S r _ audio/video fies are made and Input The od maiing ist is stored / S321 ' end The new maiing ist is stored K S313 FIG. 3

5 Patent Appication Pubication Dec. 21, 2006 Sheet 4 0f 4 US 2006/ A maiing ist is opened JF3401 i Text messages are input x8403 i audio/video fies are made and input -' - -S405 i The maiing ist is stored FIG.4

6 US 2006/ A1 Dec. 21, 2006 ELECTRONIC MAILBOX ADDRESS BOOK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE SAME [0001] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fied of the invention [0002] The present invention reates to an address book management system and a method for the same and, more particuary, to an address book management system and a method for the same in eectronic mai. [0003] 2. Description of Reated Art [0004] Aong With the deveopment of the Internet, trans mission of network information is substantiay repacing transmission of conventiona Written documents. Among the transmission techniques of network information, E-mai is the most popuar, and is Widey used by various companies, famiies and individuas. The reason Why E-mai is much appreciated is that it can provide convenient, quick and borderess communication. The contents can incude muti media information and can be transmitted to a arge number of receivers. These advantages make E-mai an indispens abe transmission medium in the information era. [0005] For address books used in existent eectronic mai boxes such as Outook Express of the Microsoft Inc., reevant data of a maiing ist such as name, E-mai address, teephone number, mobie phone number, address, Web page and so on are recorded in text form. Athough a text-form record can sufficienty depict the reevant data of a person in the maiing ist, it cannot show his appearance. When the maiing ists of the address book becomes bigger and bigger, it is especiay hard for the user to associate a face With a name When reviewing a maiing ist With ony the text messages recorded in this maiing ist. [0006] Japan Pat. No. JP discoses a technique capabe of automaticay updating an address book, in Which a user needs not to manuay update data of the address book. The contents of maiing ists stored in the address book, however, are sti mainy text messages. There is no audio/ video data combined therein. Because audio/video data provide more ivey and reevant information of a maiing ist than text data, if a person of the maiing ist can be associated With audio/video data, it Wi be very hepfu to the user for the management of the address book. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an eectronic maibox address book management system and the method for the same, in Which audio/video data are combined in the maiing ists recorded in the address book. A user can thus more convenienty discriminate persons in the maiing ists through the audio/video data. [0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention provide an eectronic maibox address book management system, Which comprises a maiing ist database for storing a puraity of maiing ists, a mutimedia recording for making?es in mutimedia formats, and an editing for editing the maiing ists stored in the maiing ist database. The editing edits the maiing ists With text messages. The mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into the maiing ists. [0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention aso provides an eectronic maibox address book manage ment method, Which comprises the steps of: seectivey inputting a sender, determining Whether the sender is in a maiing ist database for storing a puraity of maiing ists; and using an editing to open a corresponding maiing ist in the maiing ist database for editing if the sender is in the maiing ist database, or using the editing to add a maiing ist in the maiing ist database and then editing the added maiing ist if the sender is not in the maiing ist database. The editing edits the maiing ists With text messages. The mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into the maiing ists. [0010] The present invention provides an eectronic mai box address book management system and the method for the same to record audio/video data in the maiing ists so as to truy show persons represented by the maiing ists. Auser can more easiy manage the address book in the eectronic maibox. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The various objects and advantages of the present invention Wi be more readiy understood from the foow ing detaied description When read in conjunction With the appended drawing, in Which: [0012] FIG. 1 is a system architecture diagram according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a maiing ist of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 3 is a?owchart according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0015] FIG. 4 is a?owchart according to another pre ferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] As shown in FIG. 1, an eectronic maibox address book management system 1 of the present invention aows a user to make address data of E-mai With audio/video?es. In this embodiment, the address data means maiing ists stored in an address book. In addition to combining text messages of the conventiona address book, the present invention is characterized in that audio/video data can aso be recorded in the maiing ists. [0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the address book management system 1 comprises an input 11, a retrieva i, a maiing ist database 15, an editing 17 and a mutimedia recording 19. The input 11 can be used to seect a sender in an E-mai to input directy the sender data. The retrieva 13 is used to?nd out a corresponding maiing ist in the maiing ist database 15 based on the sender data input by the input 11. The maiing ist database 15 stores data of a puraity of maiing ists. In this embodiment, the maiing ists can store text messages and audio/video messages. The editing 17 can be used to edit data in the maiing ist database 15 and text messages or audio/video messages of the maiing ists. The mutimedia recording 19 makes?es in muti media formats during the process When the editing

7 US 2006/ A1 Dec. 21, edits the maiing ists, and combines the made?es in mutimedia formats in the maiing ists. [0018] In this embodiment, the editing 17 can be used to edit the text content of the maiing ists With text messages, and the mutimedia recording 19 can be used to make?es in mutimedia formats into the maiing ists. In this embodiment, the?es in mutimedia formats are attached to the maiing ists to be directy seected for payback in the maiing ists. If the maiing ist to be edited is input by seecting a sender in an E-mai by the input 11, the retrieva 13 Wi compare the sender and the maiing ists stored in the maiing ist database 15. If a corresponding maiing ist matching the sender is found, the retrieva 13 Wi send this maiing ist to the editing 17 for editing. If the retrieva 13?nds no maiing ist matching the sender, the editing 17 Wi add a new maiing ist for editing. After the editing 17?nishes editing the maiing ist, the maiing ist is stored into the maiing ist database 16. [0019] In this embodiment, the mutimedia recording 19 comprises a video making 191 and an audio making 193. The video making 191 makes video?es through a video capture device (e.g., a video camcorder). The audio making 193 makes audio?es through an audio capture device (e.g., a micro phone). The mutimedia recording 19 can make audio/video?es having both video and audio data according to the requirement of the editing 17. The mutimedia recording 19 can aso be used to make audio-ony or video-ony?es. In this embodiment, the mutimedia record ing 19 is used to record reated audio/video data of a subject represented by the maiing ist. [0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a maiing ist of the present invention. In this embodiment, the maiing ist incudes a text data area 21, a mutimedia?e area 23, and a mutimedia making area 25. The text data area 21 can record text messages such as, for exampe, input date, E-mai address, Engish name, Chinese name, mobie phone number, department, professiona tite, company name, Engish company name, district, teephone number, fax number, address, Web site, and saesman. Other text mes sages can aso be recorded. The mutimedia?e area 23 is used to store?es in mutimedia formats made by the mutimedia recording 19. The mutimedia?e area 23 can store severa?es, each incuding important text messages such as, for exampe, item, year, month, day, purpose, socia networking profession, socia networking reated enterprise, introducer joint friend, and audio/video?es. After?nishing making and saving audio/video?es, the recorded content of each?e can be quicky ooked up. The recorded content of each?e can be ooked up by inputting an important text such as, for exampe, the purpose, the socia networking profession, the socia networking reated enterprise, and the introducer/joint friend. The mutimedia making area 25 provides function options such as Save, audio/video Memo, and Cance. The audio/video Memo function option can be used to make an audio/video?e. The Save function option can be used to store the made audio/ video?e in the mutimedia?e area 23. [0021] FIG. 3 is a?owchart according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A user can use the input 11 to seect a sender data of an E-mai in an eectronic maibox (Step S301). The retrieva 13 is used to compare the sender With maiing ists in a maiing ist database 15 based on the seected sender data input by the input 11 (Step S303). The comparison is accom pished by comparing the sender With E-mai account of the maiing ists. Whether the sender has been recorded in the maiing ist database 15 is then determined according to the comparison resut (Step S305). If the answer is no, Step S307 is performed; otherwise, Step S315 is performed. [0022] In Step S307, a new maiing ist is buit according to the seected sender data input by the input 11 (Step S307). Next, text messages are input into this new maiing ist (Step S309). The input text messages are in the text data area 21 shown in FIG. 2. audio/video?es are then made and input (Step S311). The making of audio/video?es is in the mutimedia?e area 23 shown in FIG. 2. After editing is?nished, this new maiing ist is stored into the maiing ist database 15 (Step S313). [0023] In Step S315, an od maiing ist in the maiing ist database 15 corresponding to the sender is retrieved for editing (Step S315). Next, text messages are input into this od maiing ist (Step S317). The input text messages are in the text data area 21 shown in FIG. 2. Audio/video?es are then made and input (Step S319). The making of audio/ video?es is in the mutimedia?e area 23 shown in FIG. 2. After?nishing editing, this od maiing ist is stored into the maiing ist database 15 (Step S321). [0024] FIG. 4 is a?owchart according to another pre ferred embodiment of the present invention. A user can directy open a maiing ist for editing (Step S401). Next, text messages are input into this maiing ist (Step S403). The input text messages are in the text data area 21 shown in FIG. 2. Audio/video?es are then made and input (Step S405). The making of audio/video?es is in the mutimedia?e area 23 shown in FIG. 2. After?nishing editing, this maiing ist is stored into the maiing ist database 15 (Step S407). In Step S401, a maiing ist aready existing in the maiing ist database 15 can be opened, or a new maiing ist not yet stored in the maiing ist database 15 can be opened. In this embodiment, the user can edit data of the maiing ists stored in the maiing ist database 15 at any time. The edited data of the maiing ists can be data of the text data area 21 or data of the mutimedia?e area 23. [0025] To sum up, the present invention provides an eectronic maibox address book management system and a method for the same, in Which reated data can be recorded in audio/video format in a maiing ist (e.g., the appearance of the subject represented by the maiing ist). The user can thus be prompted by the audio/video data to remember the subject represented by the maiing ist. Moreover, reated information of the subject represented by the maiing ist can aso be noted With audio/video data. [0026] Athough the present invention has been described With reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it Wi be understood that the invention is not imited to the detais thereof. Various substitutions and modi?cations have been suggested in the foregoing description, and other Wi occur to those of ordinary ski in the art. Therefore, a such substitutions and modi?cations are intended to be embraced Within the scope of the invention as de?ned in the appended caims.

8 US 2006/ A1 Dec. 21, 2006 What is caimed is: 1. An eectronic maibox address book management sys tem, comprising: a maiing ist database for storing data of a puraity of maiing ists, a mutimedia recording for making?es in mu timedia formats; and an editing for editing said maiing ists stored in said maiing ist database; Whereby said editing edits said maiing ists With text messages, and said mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into said maiing ists. 2. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 1, Wherein a format of said maiing ists comprises: a text data area for storing text data; a mutimedia?e area for storing mutimedia?es; and a mutimedia making area for function seections of making mutimedia. 3. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 1, Wherein said mutimedia recording is a video making. 4. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 1, Wherein said mutimedia recording is an audio making. 5. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 1, Wherein said mutimedia recording comprises a video making and an audio making. 6. An eectronic maibox address book management sys tem, comprising: a maiing ist database for storing data of a puraity of maiing ists; a mutimedia recording for making?es in mu timedia formats; an input for seectivey inputting a sender; a retrieva for determining Whether said sender is in said maiing ists in said maiing ist database; and an editing for editing said maiing ists stored in said maiing ist database based on a retrieva resut, said editing editing a maiing ist correspond ing to said sender if said sender is in said maiing ist database, or said editing adding a newy added maiing ist corresponding to said sender into said maiing ist database if said sender is not in said maiing ist database; Whereby said editing edits said maiing ists With text messages, and said mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into said maiing ists. 7. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 6, Wherein a format of said maiing ists comprises: a text data area for storing text data; a mutimedia?e area for storing mutimedia?es; and a mutimedia making area for function seections of making mutimedia. 8. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 6, Wherein said mutimedia recording is a video making. 9. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 6, Wherein said mutimedia recording is an audio making. 10. The eectronic maibox address book management system as caimed in caim 6, Wherein said mutimedia recording comprises a video making and an audio making. 11. An eectronic maibox address book management method, comprising the steps of: seectivey inputting a sender: determining Whether said sender is in a maiing ist database for storing data of a puraity of maiing ists; and using an editing to open a maiing ist in said maiing ist database corresponding to said sender for editing if said sender is in said maiing ist database, or using said editing to add a maiing ist in said maiing ist database and then editing the added maiing ist if said sender is not in said maiing ist database; Whereby said editing edits said maiing ists With text messages, and said mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into said maiing ists. 12. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 11, Wherein the format of said maiing ists comprises: a text data area for storing text data; a mutimedia?e area for storing mutimedia?es; and a mutimedia making area for function seections of making mutimedia. 13. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 11, Wherein?es in mutimedia audio?es. 14. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 11, Wherein?es in mutimedia video?es. 15. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 11, Wherein?es in mutimedia audio/video?es. 16. An eectronic maibox address book management method, comprising the steps of: opening a maiing ist; and using an editing to edit said maiing ist; Whereby said editing edits said maiing ist With text messages, and a mutimedia recording makes?es in mutimedia formats into said maiing ist. 17. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein a format of said maiing ists comprises: a text data area for storing text data;

9 US 2006/ A1 Dec. 21, 2006 a mutimedia?e area for storing mutimedia?es; and a mutimedia making area for function seections of making mutimedia. 18. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein said opened maiing ist is aready stored in a maiing ist database. 19. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein said opened maiing ist is not stored in a maiing ist database yet, but is added to said maiing ist database. 20. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein?es in mutimedia audio?es. 21. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein?es in mutimedia Video?es. 22. The eectronic maibox address book management method as caimed in caim 16, Wherein?es in mutimedia audio/video?es.