Method, System and Computer Readable Medium for Addressing Handling from a Computer Program

Abstract

A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g., the name of the person, company, or the traditional or electronic address, or other person, or company, or address related data, and alternatively the persons, companies, or addresses, are displayed and possibly entered into the word processor, if such related data exists.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which establish processes for information handling, the processes comprising:
 analyzing, in a computer process, textual information to identify therein first information that is a type of information, among a plurality of information types, including determining which type of information the first information is;   providing an input device configured to allow the user to initiate at least one operation from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is; and   after determining the type of information the first information is, and in consequence of receipt of an execute command from the input device, performing the at least one operation using the first information, from the set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 causing an electronic search in an information source, distinct from the textual information, for the first information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first information is included in the information source and to find second information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first information, wherein (i) the processes are configured to handle a plurality of types of second contact information and (ii) the specific type or types of second information varies based at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and 
 when the first information is included in the information source and the information source also includes associated second information, causing display of at least part of the associated second information. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 initiating electronic communication using the first information.   
     
     
         4 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as new information for an existing contact.   
     
     
         5 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as a new contact.   
     
     
         6 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein receipt of the execute command precedes the process of analyzing. 
     
     
         7 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the process of analyzing is completed after the receipt of the execute command. 
     
     
         8 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the process of causing display of at least part of the associated second information comprises causing insertion of at least part of the associated second information into the textual information. 
     
     
         9 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation comprises:
 if searching results in a plurality of distinct instances of second information, displaying such instances and enabling user selection of one of them for use in performing an action.   
     
     
         10 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a menu and the execute command includes the user's selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         11 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information types includes at least one of a name, an address, an e-mail address, and a telephone number. 
     
     
         12 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 3 , wherein when the first information is a telephone number, the operation comprises initiating electronic communication using the telephone number. 
     
     
         13 . At least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 3 , wherein when the first information is an e-mail address, the operation comprises creating an email using the e-mail address. 
     
     
         14 . A computerized method for information handling, the method comprising:
 analyzing, in a computer process, textual information to identify therein first information that is a type of information, among a plurality of information types, including determining which type of information the first information is;   providing an input device configured to allow the user to initiate at least one operation from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is; and   after determining the type of information the first information is, and in consequence of receipt of an execute command from the input device, performing the at least one operation using the first information, from the set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 causing an electronic search in an information source, distinct from the textual information, for the first information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first information is included in the information source and to find second information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first information, wherein (i) the processes are configured to handle a plurality of types of second contact information and (ii) the specific type or types of second information varies based at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and 
 when the first information is included in the information source and the information source also includes associated second information, causing display of at least part of the associated second information. 
   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 initiating electronic communication using the first information.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as new information for an existing contact.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as a new contact.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein receipt of the execute command precedes the process of analyzing. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the process of analyzing is completed after the receipt of the execute command. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the process of causing display of at least part of the associated second information comprises causing insertion of at least part of the associated second information into the textual information. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the operation comprises:
 if searching results in a plurality of distinct instances of second information, displaying such instances and enabling user selection of one of them for use in performing an action.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the input device is a menu and the execute command includes the user's selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of information types includes at least one of a name, an address, an e-mail address, and a telephone number. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein when the first information is a telephone number, the operation comprises initiating electronic communication using the telephone number. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein when the first information is an e-mail address, the operation comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for information handling, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform one or more processes that include:   analyzing, in a computer process, textual information to identify therein first information that is a type of information, among a plurality of information types, including determining which type of information the first information is;   providing an input device configured to allow the user to initiate at least one operation from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is; and   after determining the type of information the first information is, and in consequence of receipt of an execute command from the input device, performing the at least one operation using the first information, from the set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 causing an electronic search in an information source, distinct from the textual information, for the first information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first information is included in the information source and to find second information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first information, wherein (i) the processes are configured to handle a plurality of types of second contact information and (ii) the specific type or types of second information varies based at least in part on the type of information the first information is, and 
 when the first information is included in the information source and the information source also includes associated second information, causing display of at least part of the associated second information. 
   
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 initiating electronic communication using the first information.   
     
     
         30 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as new information for an existing contact.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the set of potential operations includes:
 allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first information into the information source as a new contact.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein receipt of the execute command precedes the process of analyzing. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the process of analyzing is completed after the receipt of the execute command. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the process of causing display of at least part of the associated second information comprises causing insertion of at least part of the associated second information into the textual information. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the operation comprises:
 if searching results in a plurality of distinct instances of second information, displaying such instances and enabling user selection of one of them for use in performing an action.   
     
     
         36 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the input device is a menu and the execute command includes the user's selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of information types includes at least one of a name, an address, an e-mail address, and a telephone number. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein when the first information is a telephone number, the operation comprises initiating electronic communication using the telephone number. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein when the first information is an e-mail address, the operation comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address.