METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINING CONTACT LISTS

• US 20110055234A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: MIETTINEN, Timo Kristian
• Application Number:
  US12/552,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/755
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90344 by using string matching techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

An approach is provided for combining contact lists using partial word matching. A first contact list associated with initiating communication over one or more communication networks is retrieved from memory. A second contact list is received. The second contact list is merged with the first contact list. For each entry of the first contact list, an identifier is parsed into one or more words. For each entry of the second contact list, an identifier is parsed into one or more words. Whether the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list partially matches the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list is determined.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving from memory a first contact list associated with initiating communication over one or more communication networks;

receiving a second contact list; and

merging the second contact list with the first contact list by,

parsing, for each entry of the first contact list, an identifier into one or more words,

parsing, for each entry of the second contact list, an identifier into one or more words, and

determining whether the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list partially matches the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list fully matches a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list; and

completing merging, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that partially matches and fully matches.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying another identifier for each entry of the first contact list;

identifying another identifier for each entry of the second contact list;

determining whether the another identifier of the first contact list fully matches the another identifier of the second contact list;

merging, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that fully matches;

removing each entry from the first contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging; and

removing each entry from the second contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a social service communication with a contact identifier, wherein an entry of the second contact list comprises the contact identifier; and

initiating merging upon receiving the communication.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating display of a rendering of the entries of identifiers partially matched;

receiving a confirmation that the identifiers partially matched are associated with a same target; and

completing merging of the identifiers partially matched.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the entry of the second contact list comprises an information detail that is distinct from an information detail of the entry of the first contact list.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list matches to a predetermined tolerance a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the second contact list is received over the one or more communication networks or another communication network separate from the one or more communication networks.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

retrieve from memory a first contact list associated with initiating communication over one or more communication network,

receive a second contact list, and

merge the second contact list with the first contact list by causing the apparatus to;

parse, for each entry of the first contact list, an identifier into one or more words,

parse, for each entry of the second contact list, an identifier into one or more words, and

determine whether the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list partially matches the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list fully matches a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list; and

complete merging, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that partially matches and fully matches.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

identify another identifier for each entry of the first contact list;

identify another identifier for each entry of the second contact list;

determine whether the another identifier of the first contact list fully matches the another identifier of the second contact list;

merge, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that fully matches;

remove each entry from the first contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging; and

remove each entry from the second contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a social service communication with a contact identifier, wherein an entry of the second contact list comprises the contact identifier; and

initiate merging upon receiving the communication.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate display of a rendering of the entries of identifiers partially matched;

receive a confirmation that the identifiers partially matched are associated with a same target; and

complete merging of the identifiers partially matched.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the entry of the second contact list comprises an information detail that is distinct from an information detail of the entry of the first contact list.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list matches to a predetermined tolerance a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list.

16. apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second contact list is received over the one or more communication networks or another communication network separate from the one or more communication networks.

17. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:

retrieve from memory a first contact list associated with initiating communication over one or more communication network;

receive a second contact list; and

merge the second contact list with the first contact list by causing the apparatus to;

parse, for each entry of the first contact list, an identifier into one or more words,

parse, for each entry of the second contact list, an identifier into one or more words, and

determine whether the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list partially matches the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list.

18. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the first contact list fully matches a second word of the one or more words of the identifier of the second contact list; and

complete merging, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that partially matches and fully matches.

19. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

identify another identifier for each entry of the first contact list;

identify another identifier for each entry of the second contact list;

determine whether the another identifier of the first contact list fully matches the another identifier of the second contact list;

merge, for each entry of the first contact list and second contact list that fully matches;

remove each entry from the first contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging; and

remove each entry from the second contact list that is fully matched from consideration for further merging.

20. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a social service communication with a contact identifier, wherein an entry of the second contact list comprises the contact identifier;

initiate merging upon receiving the communication;

initiate display of a rendering of the entries of identifiers partially matched;

receive a confirmation that the identifiers partially matched are associated with a same target; and

complete merging of the identifiers partially matched.