Method, device and software product for filling an address field of an electronic message

Abstract

A content, context or the like as entered by a user may be used to automatically evaluate a recipient or recipients to whom the message is directed. A method for filling a recipient address field of an electronic message in a messaging application executable on a communication terminal begins by selecting a content chunk from a content area of said message and deciding whether said content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern. If the content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern then the a name portion is extracted from the content chunk. The name portion is compared with entries in a predefined directory. It the name portion matches an entry then a recipient address proposal is created based on an address stored in the directory. That recipient address proposal is filled into said recipient address field of said message.

1 . A method for filling a recipient address field of an electronic message in a messaging application using a communication terminal connected to a network over which electronic messages are sent, said method comprising the steps:
 selecting a content chunk from a content area of said message;   deciding whether said content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern; and   if said content chunk is decided to match said predefined addressee identifier pattern:
 extracting a name portion from said content chunk, 
 comparing said name portion with an entry of entries of a predefined directory, and 
   if said name portion matches said entry:
 creating a recipient address proposal based on an address stored in said entry and suitable for a format of the electronic message, and 
 filling said recipient address proposal into said recipient address field of said message. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said predefined addressee identifier pattern is taken from a pattern catalogue, wherein the deciding and further steps are repeatedly executed, regarding said content chunk, for any addressee identifier pattern provided in said pattern catalogue, wherein said pattern catalogue preferably is sorted and/or scanned in the order of decreasing chunk length, and wherein said pattern catalogue preferably is editable by a user of said application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said recipient address proposal is a recipient address list, wherein said creating step includes adding said address stored in said entry, to said recipient address list; and said filling step includes filling all or selected addresses from said recipient address list into said recipient address field, wherein selection is made by user interaction and/or automatically applying a predefined selection pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , including the further steps to be executed prior to executing said filling step:
 offering said recipient address list to a user of said application for selection and/or verification; and   discarding addresses not selected and/or verified by said user, from said recipient address list.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 said recipient address field includes a plurality of recipient address sub-fields; and   said recipient address list includes a plurality of recipient address sub-lists corresponding to said plurality of recipient address sub-fields, and   said predefined pattern is assigned to at least one of said recipient address sub-lists,   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the selection by the user includes a shifting of an address from one recipient address sub-list to another. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said recipient address proposal is offered to a user of said application upon explicit command by said user, or automatically during writing of said message by said user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is executed at predefined points of time, during which said message is being written by a user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is an email or an SMS, and wherein the method is executed in a form of an email application plug-in, a browser add-on or a mobile messaging application. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method is repeatedly executed for a plurality of content chunks, said content chunks being generated from a whole content area or selected parts thereof, wherein said content chunk preferably is a first line altogether or a first line having characters of said message. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said communications terminal is a server, client, desktop computer, portable computer, tablet, telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, or PDA. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further steps:
 breaking said name portion into name fractions corresponding to respective data fields in said directory, said name fractions for example including at least one of a prename, surname, title, and/or salutation; and   comparing said name portion with said entries of said directory by name fractions.   
     
     
         13 . A method for filling a sender address field of an electronic message in a messaging application executable on a communication terminal, said messaging application providing a plurality of sender addresses of a user of said application, said method comprising the steps:
 selecting a content chunk from a content field of said message;   deciding whether said content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern; and   if said content chunk is decided to match said predefined addressee identifier pattern:
 extracting a name portion from said content chunk, 
 comparing said name portion with at least one entry of entries of a predefined directory, and 
   if said name portion matches one entry of said at least one entry of entries of said directory:
 creating a sender address proposal suitable for a format of the electronic message, based on information stored in said one entry of said directory, and 
 filling said sender address proposal into said sender address field of said message. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method for filling a sender address field of an electronic message in a messaging application executable on a communication terminal, said messaging application providing a plurality of sender addresses of a user of said application, said method comprising the steps:
 selecting a content chunk from a content field of said message;   deciding whether said content chunk matches a predefined contextual pattern; and   if said content chunk is decided to match said predefined contextual pattern:
 creating a sender address proposal suitable for a format of the electronic message, by selecting a sender address fitting said contextual pattern, out of said sender addresses of said user, and 
 filling said sender address proposal into said sender address field of said message. 
   
     
     
         15 . A communication terminal connected to a network over which messages are sent, the communication terminal containing a messaging application, said messaging application being adapted to execute a method in which the communication terminal:
 selects a content chunk from a content area of said message;
 decides whether said content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern; and 
 if said content chunk is decided to match said predefined addressee identifier pattern:
 extracts a name portion from said content chunk, 
 compares said name portion with an entry of entries of a predefined directory, and 
 if said name portion matches said entry:
 creates a recipient address proposal based on an address stored in said entry and suitable for a format of the electronic message, and 
 fills said recipient address proposal into said recipient address field of said message. 
 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The communication terminal of  claim 15  wherein the communication terminal comprises a server, a client, a desktop computer, a portable computer, a tablet, a telephone, a mobile phone, a smart phone or a, PDA. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a computer program stored thereon, the computer program defining a method that is performed by a communication terminal that executes the program, the method comprising:
 selecting a content chunk from a content area of a message;   deciding whether said content chunk matches a predefined addressee identifier pattern; and   if said content chunk is decided to match said predefined addressee identifier pattern:
 extracting a name portion from said content chunk, 
 comparing said name portion with an entry of entries of a predefined directory, and 
 if said name portion matches said entry:
 creating a recipient address proposal based on an address stored in said entry and suitable for a format of the electronic message, and 
 filling said recipient address proposal into said recipient address field of said message.