INSTANTANEOUS SYMBOL LOOKUP

• US 20110209054A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Arav, Gal
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/261
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A computer program assists in the completion of text input provided by a user. For example, the computer program may maintain a list of n-tuples (where n>1), each of which includes n text strings. For example, each n-tuple may include a stock ticker symbol and the name of a company having that stock ticker symbol. As the user types each character, the program determines whether the text typed by the user so far matches any of the text strings in the n-tuples. The program provides the user with an indication of whether any matches have been found, such as by displaying a list of the n-tuples having text matching the text typed by the user so far. The program then allows the user to select one of the matching n-tuples. The program uses text (such as a stock ticker symbol) from the user'"'"'s selection to complete the text input.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a plurality of n-tuples, each of the plurality of n-tuples including n>

1 text strings, a computer-implemented method comprising;

(1) receiving a plurality of characters of text from a user as the user is typing the text;

(2) after the user types each character in the received text, determining whether the 10 characters typed so far match any of the n text strings in a first one of the plurality of n-tuples; and

(3) if it is determined that the characters typed so far match any of the n text strings in the first tuple, indicating to the user that a match has been found.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein n=2, and wherein each of the plurality of n-tuples includes first text representing a stock ticker symbol and second text representing a company name corresponding to the stock ticker symbol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (2) comprises determining whether the characters typed so far match leading text in any of the n text strings in the first one of the plurality of n-tuples.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (3) comprises displaying to the user the n text strings in the first one of the plurality of n-tuples.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein (3) further comprises visually emphasizing a subset of text in at least one of the n text strings, wherein the subset of text match the characters typed so far by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (2) comprises determining whether the characters typed so far match any of the n text strings in any of the plurality of n-tuples, and wherein (3) comprises indicating to the user that at least one match has been found if it is determined that the characters typed so far match any of the n text strings in any of the plurality of n-tuples.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein (3) comprises displaying to the user the n text strings of the matching ones of the plurality of n-tuples.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (2) comprises determining that the characters typed so far match a first one of the n text strings in the first one of the plurality of n-tuples, and that the characters typed so far do not match a second one of the n text strings in the first one of the plurality of n-tuples.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(4) receiving input from the user selecting one of the n-tuples; and

(5) using text from the selected one of the n-tuples to complete input of the text to the system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein (5) comprises replacing the characters typed so far by the user with text from the selected one of the n-tuples.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein (5) comprises appending text from the selected one of the n-tuples to the characters typed so far by the user.