Process and Apparatus for Selecting an Item From a Database

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting items from a collection of items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text, symbols, graphics, etc. An initial display is generated which includes on or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to the selected on or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Accordingly, selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period.

1 . A method of selecting items from a collection of items, said collection of items being indexed by a list of item identifiers, the method comprising:
 generating an initial display including one or more parts of said item identifiers for selection;   enabling selection of said one or more parts;   generating a display of a further one or more parts of said item identifiers for selection in response to selection of said one or more parts, and   enabling selection of said further one or more parts in order to add to said selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of said item identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising iterating said selection steps until said item identifier is completed, and enabling selection of the item identifier to select the item. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein generating said initial display includes selecting said one or more parts of said item identifiers to be displayed based on a prioritization scheme. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said item identifier includes a sequence of one or more alphanumeric characters and said one or more parts or said item identifier is a subsequence of alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said item identifier is a text string. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein, said text string is a word. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, said collection of items are words from at least one language. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, said collection of items are songs. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said item identifier includes a graphical depiction. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, said collection of items are selections from a menu. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, said collection of items are contacts. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method is performed in a computing device and the computing device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method is performed in a computing device and the computing device is a PDA. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein selection of the one or more parts is enabled by way of a joystick. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said joystick is a five-way joystick. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein selection of the one or more parts is enabled by way of a touch screen. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein selection of the one or more parts is enabled by way of programmable keys. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed on a computing device and said collection of items is stored on said computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed on a computing device and said collection of items is stored on a remote device. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein generating said initial display includes selecting said one or more parts of said item identifiers to be displayed based on a dynamic prioritization scheme that adjusts priorities of said item identifiers based on the number of times the item identifier was previously selected. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)