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, displayed textual information to identify first contact information from the textual information as a type of contact information, from a plurality of contact information types, wherein the analyzing is performed without user designation of a specific part of the displayed textual information to be subject to the analyzing;   after determining the type of contact information the first contact information is, performing at least one operation using the first contact information, from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 (A) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and 
 (B) causing an electronic search, in an information source that contains contact information and is distinct from the displayed textual information, for the first contact information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the information source and to find second contact information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first contact 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 contact information varies based at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and
 when the first contact information is included in the information source and the information source also includes associated second contact information, causing display of at least part of the associated second contact information; 
 
   wherein the processes are established by program code configured to cause performing each of the potential operations (A) and (B), and   providing for a user an input device configured so that, while the textual information is displayed, a single execute command from the input device is the only user action necessary to accomplish the analyzing and the performing   
     
     
         2 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of potential operations further includes:
 (C) allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first contact information into the information source as new information for an existing contact.   
     
     
         3 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of potential operations further includes:
 (C) allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first contact information into the information source as a new contact.   
     
     
         4 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the analyzing is completed after the receipt of the execute command. 
     
     
         5 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user's accessing of the menu and selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         6 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contact information types includes at least one of a name, an address, an e-mail address, and a telephone number. 
     
     
         7 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first contact information is a telephone number, the at least one operation comprises initiating electronic communication using the telephone number. 
     
     
         8 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first contact information is an e-mail address, the at least one operation comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address. 
     
     
         9 . A computerized method for information handling, the method comprising:
 analyzing, in a computer process, displayed textual information to identify first contact information from the textual information as a type of contact information, from a plurality of contact information types, wherein the analyzing is performed without user designation of a specific part of the displayed textual information to be subject to the analyzing;   after determining the type of contact information the first contact information is, performing at least one operation using the first contact information, from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 (A) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and 
 (B) causing an electronic search, in an information source that contains contact information and is distinct from the displayed textual information, for the first contact information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the information source and to find second contact information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first contact 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 contact information varies based at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and
 when the first contact information is included in the information source and the information source also includes associated second contact information, causing display of at least part of the associated second contact information; 
 
   wherein the processes are established by program code configured to cause performing each of the potential operations (A) and (B); and   providing for a user an input device configured so that, while the textual information is displayed, a single execute command from the input device is the only user action necessary to accomplish the analyzing and the performing   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the set of potential operations further includes:
 (C) allowing the user to cause addition of at least some of the first contact information into the information source.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user's accessing of the menu and selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of contact information types includes at least one of a name, an address, an e-mail address, and a telephone number. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein when the first contact information is a telephone number, the at least one operation comprises initiating electronic communication using the telephone number. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein when the first contact information is an email address, the at least one operation comprises creating an e-mail using the e-mail address. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for information handling, the apparatus comprising:
 a display device;   a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform one or more processes that include:
 analyzing, in a computer process, displayed textual information to identify first contact information from the textual information as a type of contact information, from a plurality of contact information types, wherein the analyzing is performed without user designation of a specific part of the displayed textual information to be subject to the analyzing; 
 after determining the type of contact information the first contact information is, performing at least one operation using the first contact information, from a set of potential operations, wherein the at least one operation depends at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and the set of potential operations includes:
 (A) initiating electronic communication using the first contact information; and 
 (B) causing an electronic search, in an information source that contains contact information and is distinct from the displayed textual information, for the first contact information previously identified by analyzing in order to find whether the first contact information is included in the information source and to find second contact information, of a specific type or types, therein associated with the first contact 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 contact information varies based at least in part on the type of contact information the first contact information is, and
 when the first contact 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; 
 
 
   wherein the processes are established by program code configured to cause performing each of the potential operations (A) and (B); and   providing for a user an input device configured so that, while the textual information is displayed, a single execute command from the input device is the only user action necessary to accomplish the analyzing and the performing   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the input device is a menu and the single execute command includes the user's accessing of the menu and selection of a menu choice from the menu. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the display device is a touch-screen interface.