Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a desired record amongst a plurality of records in a telephone directory involves associating a frequency field with each of the records, the frequency field being operable to store a frequency metric. A characteristic field is also associated with each of the records, the characteristic field being operable to store a characteristic representation of at least one identifying characteristic of a rendering associated with the record. An input representation of a rendering purporting to identify the desired record is produced and the input representation is compared with the contents of the characteristic fields of at least some of the records and confidence metrics are assigned to the records respectively, each of the confidence metrics representing a respective probability that a respective record is the desired record. A determination is then made as to which of the records have the first and second highest confidence metrics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining records in a telephone directory involves maintaining a personal directory of at least one record associated with at least one party with which a telephone call is conducted. The record has a field for identifying the party and a frequency of use field for storing a number representing the number of times a call is conducted with the party. In response to a call conducted with a party, the personal directory is searched for a record associated with the party and upon finding such a record, the contents of the frequency of use field of the record are incremented and the records of the personal directory are sorted in an order dependent upon the contents of the frequency of use fields.