Methods and systems for processing contact information

• US 7,333,976 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Stephen R., Auerbach, David Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Application Number:
  US10/813,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.R, 707 1- 10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing contact information are described. In one embodiment, an entity name is identified from an event associated with an article, wherein the entity name is associated with an entity and the event is associated with a user, contact information associated with the entity name is identified, the entity name and at least some of the contact information is indexed, and the entity name and at least some of the contact information is stored.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying an entity name from an event associated with an article, wherein the entity name is associated with an entity and the event is associated with a user;

identifying contact information from multiple events, the contact information related to the entity name;

associating the contact information from multiple events with the entity name;

determining a probability that the contact information is correctly associated with the entity name;

associating an entity ID with the entity name;

indexing the entity name and at least some of the contact information based on the entity ID;

storing the entity name, the probability that the contact information is correctly associated, and at least some of the contact information;

receiving a search query relating to the entity name;

identifying at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name as relevant to the query; and

outputting at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing an output of at least one selected from the group consisting of possible alternative contact information and a probability that the contact information is correctly associated.

3. A method, comprising:

identifying an entity name from an event associated with an article;

identifying contact information from multiple events, the contact information related to the entity name;

associating the contact information from multiple events with the entity name;

determining a probability that the contact information is correctly associated with the entity name; and

storing the entity name, the probability that the contact information is correctly associated, and at least some of the contact information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising associating an entity ID with the entity name.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the entity ID is the same as the entity name.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the entity ID is a preexisting entity ID if the entity name has previously been identified.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the article is associated with a client application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the article comprises one selected from the group consisting of an email, a word processing document, a spreadsheet document, a drawing, a programming application document, a presentation application document, a web page, an mp3, an image, and a media file document.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact information comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of one or more names, one or more addresses, one or more telephone numbers, one or more facsimile numbers, one or more email addresses, and one or more website addresses.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a search query relating to the entity name;

identifying at least some of the contact information as relevant to the query; and

outputting at least some of the contact information.

11. The method of claim 3,

wherein the probability is determined based at least in part on a frequency of the contact information within the multiple events.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining at least one common identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein less than all of the multiple events share a same common identifier.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining patterns.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining redundant identifiers.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein the probability is determined based at least in part on a proximity of contact information within the multiple events to the entity name.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the entity name comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

determining a list, determining a capital letter, determining a field, determining formatting, determining a typical value, and parsing encoded information.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying contact information further comprises determining one or more selected from the group consisting of a field, header tag, context in which text appears, matching entries, and parsed article content.

19. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing an output of at least some of the contact information in connection with one or more selected from the group consisting of an article, a link, a search result, and an event.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

causing an output of at least one selected from the group consisting of possible alternative contact information and the probability that the contact information is correctly associated.

21. The method of claim 3, wherein storing the entity name and at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name comprises indexing the entity name and at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the contact information is indexed if the entity name is associated with a user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the entity name is identified as being associated with the user based at least in part on user activity.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the contact information is indexed if the user provides authorization.

25. A computer-readable medium containing program code comprising:

program code for identifying an entity name from an event associated with an article;

program code for identifying contact information from multiple events, the contact information related to the entity name;

program code for associating the contact information from multiple events with the entity name;

program code for determining a probability that the contact information is correctly associated with the entity name; and

program code for storing the entity name, the probability that the contact information is correctly associated, and at least some of the contact information.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising associating an entity ID with the entity name.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the entity ID is the same as the entity name.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the entity ID is a preexisting entity ID if the entity name has previously been identified.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the article is associated with a client application.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the article comprises one selected from the group consisting of an email, a word processing document, a spreadsheet document, a drawing, a programming application document, a presentation application document, a web page, an mp3, an image, and a media file document.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the contact information comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of one or more names, one or more addresses, one or more telephone numbers, one or more facsimile numbers, one or more email addresses, and one or more website addresses.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

program code for receiving a search query relating to the entity name;

program code for identifying at least some of the contact information as relevant to the query; and

program code for outputting at least some of the contact information.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 25,

wherein the probability is determined based at least in part on a frequency of the contact information within the multiple events.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining at least one common identifier.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein less than all of the multiple events share a same common identifier.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining patterns.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 wherein associating contact information from multiple events with the entity name comprises determining redundant identifiers.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 25,

wherein the probability is determined based at least in part on a proximity of contact information within the multiple events to the entity name.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein identifying the entity name comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

determining a list, determining a capital letter, determining a field, determining formatting, determining a typical value, and parsing encoded information.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein identifying contact information further comprises determining one or more selected from the group consisting of a field, header tag, context in which text appears, matching entries, and parsed article content.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

program code for causing an output of at least some of the contact information in connection with one or more selected from the group consisting of an article, a link, a search result, and an event.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising:

program code for causing an output of at least one selected from the group consisting of possible alternative contact information and the probability that the contact information is correctly associated.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein storing the entity name and at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name comprises indexing the entity name and at least some of the contact information associated with the entity name.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the contact information is indexed if the entity name is associated with a user.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the entity name is identified as being associated with the user based at least in part on user activity.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the contact information is indexed if the user provides authorization.