Method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from an operating system

• US 8,306,993 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arendi S.A.R.L. (Arendi Holding LTD.)
• Original Assignee: Arendi S.A.R.L. (Arendi Holding LTD.)
• Inventors: Hedloy, Atle
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, KHANH B
• Application Number:
  US11/745,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 707/767, 707/769
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method, system and computer readable medium for information handling within an operating system, including providing a record retrieval program; providing an input device within a window or screen of the operating system and configured to enter an execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remote information sources using the record retrieval program; using the record retrieval program to enter first information into search fields provided in the record retrieval program; entering the execute command using the input device after the step of entering the first information; searching, using the record retrieval program, the local and remote information sources for second information associated with the first information; and displaying the second information in the record retrieval program, when one of the local and remote information sources includes second information associated with the first information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for information handling, the method comprising:

providing access to a contact database that can also be separately accessed and edited by a user and wherein the contact database includes at least three fields for storing contact information associated with each of one or more contacts, each of the at least three fields within the contact database being specific to a particular type of contact information selected from the group consisting of name, title, address, telephone number, and email address;

analyzing in a computer process textual information in a document configured to be stored for later retrieval to identify a portion of the document as first contact information, without user designation of a specific part of the textual information to be subject to the analyzing, wherein the first contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

after identifying the first contact information, performing at least one action from a set of potential actions, using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing, wherein the set of potential actions includes;

(i) initiating an electronic search in the contact database for the first contact information while it is electronically displayed in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the contact database; and

when a contact in the contact database includes the first contact information, if second contact information in the contact database is associated with that contact, electronically displaying at least a portion of the second contact information, wherein the second contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

(ii) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and

(iii) allowing the user to make a decision whether to store at least part of the first contact information in the contact database as a new contact or to update an existing contact in the contact database;

wherein the computer implemented method is configured to perform each one of action (i), action (ii), and action (iii) using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing; and

providing for the user an input device configured so that a single execute command from the input device is sufficient to cause the performing.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computer implemented method is embodied in a client and the client is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a cell phone, a palm top device, and a personal organizer.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first contact information is a name, the second contact information is an address, and the client is a computer.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number, the second contact information is a name, and the client is a cell phone.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user'"'"'s selection of a menu choice from the menu.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a button within a window.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the first contact information is an e-mail address, initiating electronic communication using the first contact information comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address.

9. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which when loaded on at least one computer, establish processes for information handling, the processes comprising:

providing access to a contact database that can also be separately accessed and edited by a user and wherein the contact database includes at least three fields for storing contact information associated with each of one or more contacts, each of the at least three fields within the contact database being specific to a particular type of contact information selected from the group consisting of name, title, address, telephone number, and email address;

analyzing in a computer process textual information in a document configured to be stored for later retrieval to identify a portion of the document as first contact information, without user designation of a specific part of the textual information to be subject to the analyzing, wherein the first contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

after identifying the first contact information, performing at least one action from a set of potential actions, using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing, wherein the set of potential actions includes;

(i) initiating an electronic search the contact database for the first contact information while it is electronically displayed in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the contact database; and

when a contact in the contact database includes the first contact information, if second contact information in the contact database is associated with that contact, electronically displaying at least a portion of the second contact information, wherein the second contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

(ii) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and

(iii) allowing the user to make a decision whether to store at least part of the first contact information in the contact database as a new contact or to update an existing contact in the contact database;

wherein the computer implemented method is configured to perform each one of action (i), action (ii), and action (iii) using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing; and

providing for the user an input device configured so that a single execute command from the input device is sufficient to cause the performing.

10. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium is embodied in a client and the client selected from a group consisting of a computer, a cell phone, a palm top device, and a personal organizer.

11. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the first contact information is a name, the second contact information is an address, and the client is a computer.

12. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number.

13. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number, the second contact information is a name, and the client is a cell phone.

14. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user'"'"'s selection of a menu choice from the menu.

15. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the input device is a button within a window.

16. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein when the first contact information is an e-mail address, initiating electronic communication using the first contact information comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address.

17. An apparatus for information handling, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform processes that include;

providing access to a contact database that can also be separately accessed and edited by a user and wherein the contact database includes at least three fields for storing contact information associated with each of one or more contacts, each of the at least three fields within the contact database being specific to a particular type of contact information selected from the group consisting of name, title, address, telephone number, and email address;

analyzing in a computer process textual information in a document configured to be stored for later retrieval to identify a portion of the document as first contact information, without user designation of a specific part of the textual information to be subject to the analyzing, wherein the first contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

after identifying the first contact information, performing at least one action from a set of potential actions, using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing, wherein the set of potential actions includes;

(i) initiating an electronic search in the contact database for the first contact information while it is electronically displayed in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the contact database; and

when a contact in the contact database includes the first contact information, if second contact information in the contact database is associated with that contact, electronically displaying at least a portion of the second contact information, wherein the second contact information is at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an email address;

(ii) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and

(iii) allowing the user to make a decision whether to store at least part of the first contact information in the contact database as a new contact or to update an existing contact in the contact database;

wherein the computer implemented method is configured to perform each one of action (i), action (ii), and action (iii) using the first contact information previously identified as a result of the analyzing; and

providing for the user an input device configured so that a single execute command from the input device is sufficient to cause the performing.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a cell phone, a palm top device, and a personal organizer.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first contact information is a name, the second contact information is an address, and the apparatus is a computer.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first contact information is a telephone number, the second contact information is a name, and the apparatus is a cell phone.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user'"'"'s selection of a menu choice from the menu.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the input device is a button within a window.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein when the first contact information is an e-mail address, initiating electronic communication using the first contact information comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address.

25. A computerized method for information handling, the method comprising:

displaying information in a document electronically using a computer program;

electronically analyzing the information to identify a portion of that information as contact information including at least one of a name without an address and a name with an address;

providing an input device configured to allow a user to use the input device to command the program to perform at least one of;

(i) inserting address information from an information source and associated with the name into the document, and

(ii) storing at least part of the contact information in the information source;

wherein the program is configured to perform both actions (i) and action (ii);

during the displaying, receiving an execute command from the input device, wherein accessing and manipulating the input device are the only user actions required to cause initiation and completion of the analyzing;

when the contact information is identified as including a name without an address, electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes the name, if address information in the information source is associated with the name, causing insertion of the address information into the document; and

when the contact information is identified as including a name with an address, (a) electronically prompting the user with an option to save electronically in the information source at least some of the contact information, and (b) electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes at least one contact with the name, prompting the user to make a decision whether to store the name and address as a new contact or to update one of the at least one contact.

26. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which when loaded on at least one computer, establish processes for information handling, comprising:

displaying information in a document electronically using a computer program;

electronically analyzing the information to identify a portion of that information as contact information including at least one of a name without an address and a name with an address;

providing an input device configured to allow a user to use the input device to command the program to perform at least one of;

(i) inserting address information from an information source and associated with the name into the document, and

(ii) storing at least part of the contact information in the information source;

wherein the program is configured to perform both action (i) and action (ii);

during the displaying, receiving an execute command from the input device, wherein accessing and manipulating the input device are the only user actions required to cause initiation and completion of the analyzing;

when the contact information is identified as including a name without an address, electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes the name, if address information in the information source is associated with the name, causing insertion of the address information into the document; and

when the contact information is identified as including a name with an address, (a) electronically prompting the user with an option to save electronically in the information source at least some of the contact information, and (b) electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes at least one contact with the name, prompting the user to make a decision whether to store the name and address as a new contact or to update one of the at least one contact.

27. A computerized method for information handling, the method comprising:

displaying information in a document electronically using a computer program;

electronically analyzing the information to identify a portion of that information as contact information including at least a name;

providing an input device configured to allow a user to use the input device to command the program to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

(i) inserting address information from an information source and associated with the name into the document, and

(ii) storing at least part of the contact information in the information source;

wherein the program is configured to perform both action (i) and action (ii);

during the displaying, receiving an execute command from the input device, wherein accessing and manipulating the input device are the only user actions required to cause initiation and completion of the analyzing;

when the program performs action (i), electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes the name, if address information in the information source is associated with the name, causing insertion of the address information into the document; and

when the program performs action (ii), electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes at least one contact with the name, prompting the user to make a decision whether to store the name as a new contact or to update one of the at least one contact.

28. A computerized method for information handling according to claim 27, further comprising:

when the program performs action (i) and the information source includes more than one address associated with the name, prompting the user to choose one of the addresses to use for insertion into the document.

29. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which when loaded on at least one computer, establish processes for information handling, comprising:

displaying information in a document electronically using a computer program;

electronically analyzing the information to identify a portion of that information as contact information including at least a name;

providing an input device configured to allow a user to use the input device to command the program to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

(i) inserting address information from an information source and associated with the name into the document, and

(ii) storing at least part of the contact information in the information source;

wherein the program is configured to perform both action (i) and action (ii);

during the displaying, receiving an execute command from the input device, wherein accessing and manipulating the input device are the only user actions required to cause initiation and completion of the analyzing;

when the program performs action (i), electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes the name, if address information in the information source is associated with the name, causing insertion of the address information into the document; and

when the program performs action (ii), electronically searching for the name in the information source, in order to find whether the name is included in the information source; and

when the information source includes at least one contact with the name, prompting the user to make a decision whether to store the name as a new contact or to update one of the at least one contact.

30. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to 29, wherein the instructions further establish processes wherein:

when the program performs action (i) and the information source includes more than one address associated with the name, prompting the user to choose one of the addresses to use for insertion into the document.