Method and Apparatus for Resolution of Abbreviated Text in an Electronic Communications System

• US 20080059421A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Illg, Jason J., Mysak, John Stephen, Baartman, Randall Paul, Carey, James Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Electronic messaging systems, a machine-accessible medium, and methods for text-based electronic communication. In one embodiment, a plurality of databases are provided. The databases each define shorthand terms with one or more longhand terms. A shorthand term is targeted within a text message, and the databases are searched for corresponding longhand terms. The longhand terms are selected for display according to factors such as user preferences, the identities of participants to the text communication, and the context of the text message. Abbreviations, shorthand, and other jargon sent by one user is thereby interpreted. For example, one of the longhand terms may be substituted in-line with the text message. Alternatively, all matches for the shorthand term found in the databases may be listed in descending order according to relevancy.

Claims

1. A method of electronic communication, comprising:

receiving text communication from a sender;

selecting a target term from the text communication;

searching a plurality of databases for one or more alternative terms for the target term; and

selectively displaying one or more of the alternative terms.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target term is a shorthand term, and the one or more alternative terms include one or more longhand terms defined with respect to the shorthand term.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the one or more alternative terms according to one or more factors selected from the group consisting of a sender identity, a recipient identity, and a context of the text communication.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sorting the one or more alternative terms according to the one or more factors.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the alternative terms in the order sorted.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the text communication with one of the alternative terms substituted for the target term.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the alternative terms along with a name of the database in which each of the alternative terms was found.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases include one or more of a sender database, a recipient database, a service provider database, and a public database.

9. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, comprising:

receiving text communication from a sender;

selecting a target term from the text communication;

searching a plurality of databases for one or more alternative terms for the target term; and

selectively displaying one or more of the alternative terms.

10. The machine-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise selecting the one or more alternative terms according to one or more factors selected from the group consisting of a sender identity, a recipient identity, and a context of the text communication.

11. The machine-accessible medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise displaying the alternative terms along with a name of the database in which each of the alternative terms was found.

12. An electronic messaging system, comprising:

a messaging client configured for text communication over a network;

a plurality of databases each defining one or more terms with one or more alternative terms;

a term selector component included with the messaging client for selecting a target term from the text communication;

a database search component included with the messaging client for searching for the target term within the plurality of databases;

a term selector component for selecting alternative terms defined for the target term from the plurality of databases; and

a display component for displaying the selected alternative terms.

13. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the messaging client selects the alternative terms corresponding to the target term according to factors selected from the group consisting of a sender identity, a recipient identity, and a context of the text communication.

14. The electronic messaging system of claim 13, further comprising a context analyzer for analyzing context of the electronic communication.

15. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the messaging client selectively displays all alternative terms defined in the plurality of databases for the target term.

16. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the messaging client displays the text communication with one of the alternative terms substituted for the target term.

17. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of databases comprises one or both of a first user-specified database and a second user-specified database.

18. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, further comprising a bot for transmitting data between the plurality of databases and the messaging client.

19. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the messaging client comprises one of an instant messaging client, a short message service client, and an e-mail client.

20. The electronic messaging system of claim 12, wherein the network comprises one of the Internet and a wireless telephone network.