`Pandit
`
`USOO5859636A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,859,636
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`[54] RECOGNITION OF AND OPERATION ON
`TEXT DATA
`
`[75] Inventor: Milind S. Pandit, Beaverton, Oreg.
`
`[73] Assignee: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 579,568
`[22]
`Filed:
`Dec. 27, 1995
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 ...................................................... .. G06F 3/00
`[52]
`345/335; 707/501
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 345/339, 349,
`345/352, 353, 335; 707/501
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`PUBLICATIONS
`
`“TAPI—The Biggest Roundup Ever Published,” Computer
`Technology, May 1995, p. 55.
`“Apple Introduces Internet Address Detectors,” NeWsbytes,
`29 Sep. 1997.
`“E—Mail ’Net Differences—. .
`Jan. 1997 p. 12.
`
`. ,” CommunicationWeek, 6
`
`“Internet Update,” NeWbytes, 10 Sep. 1997.
`“McWorld—Apple, Partners Launch Live Objects,” NeWs
`bytes, 8 Aug. 1996.
`Primary Examiner—A. Katbab
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`Text of a predetermined class is recognized in a body of text.
`After recognition, operations relevant to the recognized text
`may be performed. For example, text such as telephone
`numbers, telefax numbers, and dates can be recognized in a
`body of text. Options are provided for selecting and running
`operations and programs relevant to the recognized text,
`such as, telephone dialers, telefaxing programs, Writable
`databases etc. Libraries of subroutines are provided for each
`class of text to be recognized. Each library typically includes
`a plurality of operations Which may be run on the particular
`class of text. The libraries are recognized at run time of an
`application, so that additional libraries and operations may
`be added Without a need for recompiling. A single class of
`text is recognizable in a number of formats Without limits as
`to the origin of the body of text.
`
`40 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`27
`
`PROVIDE MENU
`BAR OF MENU
`NAMES OF J
`DEFAULT
`OPERATIONS
`
`28
`
`PULL DOWN
`MENU OF
`DEFAULT
`OPERATIONS
`
`YES
`
`23
`PROVIDE MENU BAR
`HAVING MENU NAME I
`OF OPERATIONS
`RELATING To
`ACCENTED TEXT
`HIGHLIGHTED
`
`I
`
`24
`
`PULL DOWN MENU
`OF OPERATIONS
`CORRESPONDING
`TO ACCENT TEXT
`
`‘ SELECT AND RUN
`ONE OR MORE f25
`
`OPERATIONS
`
`26
`RETURN To
`TEXT f
`
`GOOGLE INC. 1009
`
`1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`5,859,636
`
`12
`
`K
`13f File Help Dllte EMail PhoneirlL
`
`phone: +1 202-707-4386; fax +1 202
`internet: golclberg@mai1. loc .gov
`****************
`
`III.B.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Inforrna
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDA , 6/8/1995.
`
`L11
`
`FIG. 121
`
`2
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of9
`
`5,859,636
`
`12
`
`l
`13f File Help Ddte EMail Phone#
`
`phone; +1 20 Display calendar...
`intemet; 01d Create appointment...
`g
`***********
`
`2
`k18
`
`III.B.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Inforrna
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDA , 6/8/1995.
`
`L11
`
`FIG. lb
`
`3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`5,859,636
`
`K
`13f Pile Help Date ENiail Phone#
`
`15
`
`phone: +1 202-707-4386; fax +1 202
`
`internet:!g0ldberg@mail.loc.gov
`
`*****>|=*
`
`‘
`
`14
`
`III.B.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Informa
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDAY , 6/8/1995.
`
`FIG. 10
`
`4
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 0f 9
`
`5,859,636
`
`K
`13f File Help Date ENlail Phone#
`
`15
`
`\- 19
`
`phone: +1 202-707 Send mail...
`internet; oldber ‘ Add to address book...
`
`*****A€AFA
`
`14
`
`[11.8.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Informa
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDAY , 6/8/1995.
`
`FIG. 1d
`
`5
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of9
`
`5,859,636
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`17
`
`l
`13f File Help Date EMail Phdne #
`m 16
`phone: +1 202-707-4386; fax +1 202
`internet: goldberg@mail.loc.gov
`****************
`
`III.B.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Inforrna
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDAY , 6/8/1995.
`
`FIG. 1e
`
`6
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of9
`
`5,859,636
`
`17
`
`l
`13f File Help Date EMail PhAne #
`16~
`
`phone: +1 202-707-4386; Dial...
`internet: goldberg@mail.l Add t0 address book. .
`********=|<*******
`Send faxm
`
`\f
`20
`
`lll.B.2
`Fr: 1995 CAIS Conference<CAIS@
`Re: CAIS '95 Conference Registratio
`CAIS/ACSI 95
`Annual Conference of
`the Canadian Assiciation for Informa
`CONNECTEDNESS: INFORMATIO
`7-10 June 1995
`To be held at the School of Library an
`University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb
`
`ABBREVIATED CONFERENCE PR
`THURSDAY , 6/8/1995.
`
`FIG. 1f
`
`7
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 9
`
`5,859,636
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`START
`
`21
`ACCENT
`TEXT ‘’/T
`
`22
`
`NO
`
`RECOGNQED
`
`23
`PRovmE MENU BAR
`HAWNG MENU NAME //’
`OF oPERAnoNs
`RELAHNG TO
`ACCENTED TEXT
`THGHUGHTED
`
`T
`24
`PULL DOWN MENU ///
`0F oPERAnoNs
`CORRESPONWNG
`TO ACCENT TEXT
`
`.1
`
`25
`SELECT AND RUN
`ONE OR MORE E/T
`oPERAUoNs
`
`V
`
`RETURN TO
`TEXT
`
`26
`T//_
`
`T
`
`PROWDE MENU
`BAR OF MENU
`NAMES OF
`DEFAULT
`oPERAnoNs
`
`27
`
`._J/
`
`PULL DOWN
`MENU OF
`DEFAULT
`oPERAnoNs
`
`28
`_///
`
`PIC}. 12
`
`8
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 of9
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`5,859,636
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`U |_|_Q %
`
`
`
`0 Law \/\E
`
`Q Q3 2%
`
`“NWT/mm
`
`U Q3 2%
`
`
`
`m 26 mw
`
`9
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 0f 9
`
`5,859,636
`
`41
`CHECK FOR
`LIBRARY J
`
`ANY
`LIBRARY
`?
`
`42
`
`43x OBTAIN NAME
`OF LIBRARY
`
`II
`
`OBTAIN
`44
`’\ NUMBER OF
`OPERATIONS
`
`II
`OBTAIN NAMES OF
`FIRST THROUGH N’rh
`45 f OPERATION
`
`FIG. 4
`
`10
`
`
`
`1
`RECOGNITION OF AND OPERATION ON
`TEXT DATA
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the ?eld of text data processing.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Word recognition involves an ability to recognize selected
`Words in a document or the like. One example of Word
`recognition is the searching of large volumes of text, such as
`encyclopedias or legal case books, using key Words or
`search terms. A user typically locates relevant segments of
`information from Within large volumes by specifying a Word
`or Words Which must appear in the segment in order for it to
`be retrieved. Generally, other limiters are used, such as
`commands Which require that the searched for Words appear
`in a same sentence or paragraph, or Within a predetermined
`number of Words from one another. Boolean connectors also
`?gure prominently in this type of searching. Generally,
`therefore, this type of Word recognition involves searching
`a large body of text for the presence of one or more Words,
`Which possibly are arranged in a prede?ned order. No
`operations are performed other than retrieval of a portion of
`text Which includes the selected Words and the Words are not
`recogniZed as part of a general class.
`Other Word recognition and operation features are knoWn.
`Generally, programs Which provide for Word recognition
`and for operations using or on the recogniZed Words require
`the Words to have been created by the program. For example,
`conventional applications that alloW users to perform Word
`recognition and operations on the Words typically require
`that the Words be created using the application. Words
`created using any other application are not recogniZable and
`may not be operated on. Consequently, Words created using
`a particular Word processing or database program can be
`recogniZed and operated on only by the Word processing or
`database program responsible for their creation. Examples
`of the conventional operations Which can be performed on
`Words by conventional Word processing or database pro
`grams include spell checking, ?nding and replacing, etc.
`The present invention Will bene?t any application Which
`displays text to a user, regardless of the origin of the text.
`The invention expands the operations Which may be per
`formed using recogniZed text by alloWing a user to intu
`itively exploit the presence of certain classes or types of text
`in any document by transforming the text into an interface
`to other functions or operations.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention pertains to recognition of text in a body of
`text as belonging to a predetermined class and performing an
`operation relevant to the recogniZed text.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The folloWing detailed description Will be more fully
`understood With reference to the accompanying draWings in
`Which:
`FIGS. 1a—1f are graphic representations of recogniZed
`text on video monitors in accordance With the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a How chart diagram of the operation of the test
`recognition and operation features of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the libraries of the invention;
`and
`FIG. 4 is a How chart diagram of the menu building
`features of the invention.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`The invention selectively recogniZes text and performs
`relevant operations based on the recognition. Referring to
`FIG. 1a and FIG. 2, for example, a date 11 in text appearing
`on a video monitor is accented (step 21 of FIG. 2) for
`example by shading, underlining or pointing to and clicking
`on the text. The invention recogniZes the accented text (step
`22), and provides a menu bar 13 in Which the name of menu
`12 corresponding to the class of text accented is highlighted
`or shoWn in bold type, thereby shoWing that the menu is
`enabled (step 23). In the example of FIG. 1a, the Date menu
`12 is shoWn in bold type, signifying that the invention
`includes a menu of operations and/or programs Which are
`relevant to dates. Auser can “click” on the Date menu name
`12 or otherWise call the menu by one or more keystrokes on
`a keyboard associated With the video monitor to display or
`pull doWn the contents of the menu (step 24). A vieW of an
`embodiment of a pulled-doWn Date menu 18 is shoWn in
`FIG. 1b. Auser may directly call a calender or appointment
`database program from pulled-doWn menu 18. Other pro
`grams may be included in pulled-doWn date menu 18 as
`discussed beloW.
`As shoWn in FIGS. 1c—1f, the invention is not limited to
`the recognition of dates in text and preferred embodiments
`of the invention can recogniZe e-mail addresses and tele
`phone numbers. In fact, there is no limit on the type of text
`Which can be recogniZed by the invention and additional
`embodiments can recogniZe such classes of text as Uniform
`Resource Locators, nouns, verbs, names, street addresses,
`etc.
`The pull-doWn menus provided by the invention identify
`the operations and/or programs Which relate to the class of
`text accented, highlighted or otherWise indicated. For
`example, referring again to FIG. 1a Where date 11 has been
`accented and recogniZed by the invention, the pulled-doWn
`menu 18 can identify operations and/or programs relevant to
`dates, such as the calendar program and appointment pro
`grams shoWn as Well as a To-Do list program, an anniversary
`database, a scheduling program etc. .
`. .Auser is able to run
`one or more of the programs relevant to dates Which are
`identi?ed in the pulled-doWn menu in a knoWn manner, such
`as by clicking on the name of the program as it appears in
`the pulled-doWn menu (step 25) or through the execution of
`one or more keyboard key strokes. In the example shoWn,
`therefore, a user is able to record in, for example, a calendar
`program, an upcoming event mentioned in a body of text in
`Which a date has been recogniZed. The user may then
`quickly return to the body of text (step 26).
`Referring to FIG. 1c, an e-mail address 14 is accented. In
`this example, a user may click on the highlighted menu
`name EMail 15 to pull-doWn the menu. The EMail menu
`preferably includes, for example, an identi?cation of pro
`grams and operations related to EMail and EMail addresses.
`An embodiment of pulled-doWn EMail menu 19 is shoWn
`in FIG. 1d. Included in pulled-doWn Email menu 19 are such
`programs as a Writable Email or general address book
`database and an EMail template and transmitting program,
`preferably automatically addressed With the accented
`address recogniZed in the text, etc. Any other program
`related to EMail sending or address storage may be included
`as Within the scope of this invention.
`Referring noW to FIG. 16, a telephone number 16 is
`accented. The pull doWn menu named Phone #17 is high
`lighted and preferably identi?es the executable operations
`and/or programs Which are relevant to telephone and telefax
`
`11
`
`
`
`3
`numbers. As shown in FIG. 1f on pulled-doWn menu 20,
`possible programs include a writable computer database of
`telephone and telefax numbers, a program Which instructs a
`properly equipped computer to dial the number accented, a
`program Which generates a template for the preparation of a
`fax message and Which subsequently causes a properly
`equipped computer to transmit the message to the accented
`number, etc. Again, any program related to telephone or
`telefax numbers can be included in pulled-doWn menu 20 for
`direct accessing in accordance With the teachings of this
`disclosure.
`Where the invention is capable of recogniZing nouns or
`verbs, pull-doWn menus can, for example, identify execut
`able programs Which provide the meaning of the highlighted
`Word, appropriate synonyms and the singular or plural
`version of the noun or conjugation of the verb.
`As noted above the invention preferably includes a library
`enabling recognition of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
`in text. Consequently, preferred programs Which appear on
`and can be run from the pull-doWn menu in response to the
`accenting and subsequent recognition of a URL include
`World-Wide Web broWser programs, such as “NETSCAPE”
`or “NCSA MOSAIC.”
`In a preferred embodiment, in the event the accented text
`is not recogniZed, i.e., the text is not of the speci?c type or
`class recogniZable by any of the libraries provided, a menu
`bar having a list of one or more menu names of default
`operations can be made to appear (step 27). The invention
`preferably includes as default operations such programs as
`spell-checkers, grammar-checkers, a thesaurus, a dictionary,
`execution of an EMail program to transmit the text, pro
`grams to store the text and any other programs relating to
`Words in general. Of course, the names of the default
`programs appear on one or more pull-doWn menus (step 28)
`corresponding to the one or more menu names.
`Referring noW to FIG. 3, the invention is implemented in
`one or more modular libraries of subroutines. The libraries
`can be Dynamically Linked Libraries as understood by those
`skilled in the art With “MICROSOFT” operating systems.
`Every subroutine performs a distinct task. In FIG. 3, three
`libraries 30, 50 and 60 are shoWn, although the number of
`libraries Which are possible is limited only by the number of
`possible operations Which may be performed. Each library
`preferably holds ?ve sets of subroutines. For example,
`Libraries A, B and C each include subroutines a, b, c, d and
`e. Subroutines a and c are concerned With the class or type
`of text data recogniZed by the Library. Subroutines b, d and
`e are concerned With the operations performed by the
`Library on the recogniZed text.
`Library A concerns, for example, recogniZing and per
`forming operations on dates in text as described above in
`reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b. Subroutine a (31) of Library
`Apreferably detects a class or type of text data, in this case,
`dates. Generally, subroutine a is a parser capable of recog
`niZing a class or type of text data in a number of formats. In
`the case of Library A, the parser subroutine a is able to
`recogniZe, for example, date text Written in a number of
`variations, for example 1/1/99, 1/1/1999, 1-1-99, January 1,
`1999 etc.
`Subroutine c (33) of Library A provides the menu name
`corresponding to Library A and its text recognition and
`operating functions. For example, subroutine c provides the
`name Date or Dates 12. This name appears in menu bar 13,
`as shoWn in FIG. 1a and can be displayed in bold-face type
`or emphasiZed in some other Way Whenever date text has
`been recogniZed to signify that a number of operations are
`available for running on the date text.
`
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`Subroutine d (34) of Library A identi?es the particular
`number of operations Which can be performed on the date
`text and correlates to the number of operations implemented
`by subroutine b. Each operation is identi?ed by a number
`betWeen and including 1 and the value returned by subrou
`tine d.
`Given a number identifying an operation, subroutine e
`(35) of Library A identi?es the name of the operation.
`Examples of the names of the operations Which can be run
`on date text include Schedule, To-Do List, Anniversary, etc.
`Subroutine e provides the names of the operations as they
`appear in pull-doWn menu 18.
`Given a number identifying an operation, subroutine b
`(32) of Library A performs the identi?ed operation on the
`recogniZed text data. For example, subroutine b can call
`scheduling programs, Writable calendar databases, Writable
`to-do list databases, anniversary book databases and any
`other number of programs or operations relevant to dates.
`A person of ordinary skill Will understand that any addi
`tional libraries, such as Libraries B and C shoWn in FIG. 3
`Will have subroutines generally related in function to the
`subroutines of Library A for implementing the invention
`With respect to other classes of text. For example, the
`subroutines of Library B preferably are directed to imple
`menting the invention With respect to EMail addresses in a
`document and the subroutines of Library C are directed to
`implementing the invention With respect to telephone and
`telefax numbers, as shoWn in FIGS. 1b—1f. Other libraries
`may be added to, for example, operate on URLs, nouns,
`verbs, names street addresses, etc.
`Conventionally, a softWare program must be entirely
`recompiled for its functionality to be increased or its opera
`tions changed in any manner. The present invention,
`hoWever, is highly modular and alloWs libraries to be added
`at Will and additional features to be added to libraries
`Without recompiling. For example, by implementing librar
`ies as “MICROSOFT” Component Object Model Servers or
`by using equivalent standards knoWn to those skilled in the
`art, each library is recogniZed and utiliZed using the same
`programming interface, i.e., though the function and results
`of the subroutines a—e differ from library to library, every
`library has subroutines a—e. Consequently, an application
`Which is Written to recogniZe and utiliZe one library can
`automatically recogniZe and utiliZe any other library.
`Furthermore, an application Which is Written to recogniZe
`and utiliZe more than one library can automatically recog
`niZe and utiliZe any number of other libraries. Additional
`libraries can be added at any time, Without recompiling, and
`an application using standards knoWn to those skilled in the
`art Will recogniZe the addition of one or more libraries at
`run-time. For example, an application 29 using the invention
`Will use standards knoWn to those skilled in the art to check
`for the presence of any libraries. Once recogniZed, the
`application 29 Will be able to use any or all of the libraries.
`The invention also alloWs additional features to be added
`to a library Without recompiling. For example, additional
`operations can be installed in a library at any time, and
`recogniZed by application 29 at run-time. For example, at
`run-time, application 29 Will build the appropriate menus
`relating to the one or more types of data Which are recog
`niZable. At run-time, application 29 Will identify, for
`example, the presence of LibraryA (steps 41 and 42 of FIG.
`4). Subroutine c of Library A informs application 29 of the
`name of the Library (step 43), Which of course Will be used
`as one of the names of the menu of operations of appearing
`in the menu bar. Application 29 subsequently queries sub
`
`12
`
`
`
`15
`
`5
`routine d of Library A for the number of operations Library
`Ais capable of performing on the recognized data (step 44).
`Subroutine e provides to application 29 the names for each
`of the number of operations identi?ed, e.g. Schedule,
`Calendar, To-Do, Anniversary, etc. (step 45). Application 29
`Will repeat the process outlined above to build menus
`relating to every library Which is part of the invention (Step
`46). This menu-building procedure at run time alloWs librar
`ies to be added and to be upgraded at any time, for example
`to add additional operations performable on a piece of 10
`recogniZed text, Without a need for recompiling the program.
`Conventional programs that provide any text recognition
`and operation capabilities, i.e., ?nd and replace, etc. require
`the text to be embedded in, for example, a document created
`by the program. This invention does not require that the text
`be embedded in any document created on or by a particular
`application program. Any text appearing on a video monitor
`can be operated on by the invention, Whether the text is
`Within an EMail message, World-Wide Web site, created by
`a Word processing or database program, etc. Furthermore, by
`using parsers as the subroutines for detecting certain types of
`data, the invention is able to recogniZe data appearing in a
`number of formats, rather than a single de?ned format.
`The present invention can be embodied in the form of
`computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for prac
`ticing those processes. The present invention also can be
`embodied in the form of computer program code embodied
`in tangible media, such as ?oppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard
`drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium,
`Wherein, When the computer program code is loaded into
`and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an
`apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention
`can also be embodied in the form of computer program code,
`for example, Whether stored in a storage medium, loaded
`into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over
`some transmission medium, such as over electrical Wiring or
`cabling, through ?ber optics, or via electromagnetic
`radiation, Wherein, When the computer program code is
`loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer
`becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention.
`When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor,
`the computer program code segments con?gure the micro
`processor to create speci?c logic circuits.
`Furthermore, it should be understood that various changes
`in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts Which
`have been described and illustrated in order to explain the
`nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the
`art Without departing from the principle and scope of the
`invention as expressed in the folloWing claims.
`What I claim is:
`1. A computer-implemented method for processing a
`selected text, comprising the steps of:
`(a) recogniZing the selected text as belonging to a prede
`termined class, a computer performing the step of
`recogniZing, including:
`(1) comparing a format of the selected text to a prede
`termined format associated With the predetermined
`class,
`(3) recogniZing the selected text as belonging to the
`predetermined class if the format of the selected text
`matches the predetermined format; and
`(b) performing an operation associated With the predeter
`mined class using the recogniZed text as a parameter.
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`2. The method of claim 1, Wherein step (a) comprises the
`step of:
`(i) displaying a plurality of menu names, and
`(ii) emphasiZing, relative to any other displayed menu
`name, a menu name of a menu identifying one or more
`operations associated With the predetermined class,
`Which may be performed on the recogniZed text.
`3. The method of claim 2, Wherein step (b) comprises the
`steps of:
`(i) displaying the menu; and
`(ii) starting one or more operations from the one or more
`operations identi?ed on the menu.
`4. The method of claim 2, Wherein:
`step
`comprises the steps of:
`(1) checking for a library of the one or more operations;
`and
`(2) obtaining the name of the library; and
`step (ii) comprises the steps of:
`(1) obtaining a number of the one or more operations in
`the library; and
`(2) obtaining names for each of the number of opera
`tions.
`5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:
`(3) repeating steps (i)1, (i)2, (ii)1 and (ii)2 for each library
`present.
`6. The method of claim 1, Wherein the text appears in a
`body of text, further comprising the step of:
`(c) returning to the body of text.
`7. The method of claim 1, Wherein the text is one of a date,
`name, telephone number, telefax number, e-mail address,
`and Uniform Resource Locator.
`8. The method of claim 7, Wherein the operation is the
`starting of a Writable, computer database application.
`9. The method of claim 7, Wherein the text is a Uniform
`Resource Locator and the operation is the starting of a
`World-Wide Web broWser application.
`10. The method of claim 7, Wherein the text is an EMail
`address and the operation is the starting of an EMail message
`preparing and transmitting application.
`11. The method of claim 7, Wherein the text is a telephone
`number and the operation is the starting of an application
`causing a modem to dial the telephone number.
`12. The method of claim 7, Wherein the text is a telefax
`number and the operation is the starting of telefax message
`preparing and transmitting application.
`13. A method according to claim 1, Wherein step (a)
`includes:
`(1) comparing the format of the selected text to a plurality
`of predetermined formats associated With the predeter
`mined class, and
`(2) recogniZing the selected text as belonging to the
`predetermined class if the format of the selected text
`matches any one of the plurality of predetermined
`formats.
`14. A method according to claim 1, Wherein step (a) is
`performed a plurality of times, for a plurality of predeter
`mined classes, respectively, and the selected text is recog
`niZed as belonging to one of the plurality of predetermined
`classes, further comprising the step of:
`displaying a plurality of menu names, each associated
`With a respectively different one of the plurality of
`predetermined classes;
`emphasiZing the respective menu name associated With
`the one of the plurality of predetermined classes to
`Which the selected text belongs, relative to menu names
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`that are not associated With the plurality of predeter
`mined classes.
`15. An apparatus for teXt processing, comprising:
`(a) means for recognizing a selected teXt as belonging to
`a predetermined class, including:
`(1) means for comparing a format of the selected teXt
`to a predetermined format associated With the pre
`determined class,
`(2) means for recogniZing the selected teXt as belonging
`to the predetermined class if the format of the
`selected teXt matches the predetermined format; and
`(b) means for performing an operation associated With the
`predetermined class using the recogniZed selected teXt
`as a parameter.
`16. The apparatus of claim 15, Wherein means (a):
`(i) displays a plurality of menu names, and
`(ii) emphasiZes, relative to any other displayed menu
`name, a menu name of a menu identifying one or more
`operations associated With the predetermined class,
`Which may be performed on the recogniZed teXt.
`17. The apparatus of claim 16, Wherein means (a):
`generates a menu name of a menu of one or more
`operations by:
`(1) checking for a library of the one or more operations;
`and
`(2) obtaining the name of the library; and
`generates a menu for listing the one or more operations
`by:
`(1) obtaining a number of the one or more operations in
`the library; and
`(2) obtaining names for each of the number of opera
`tions.
`18. The apparatus of claim 16, Wherein means (b):
`(i) displays the menu; and
`(ii) starts one or more operations to be run from the one
`or more operations identi?ed on the menu.
`19. The apparatus of claim 15, Wherein the teXt appears in
`a body of teXt, further comprising:
`(c) means for returning to the body of teXt.
`20. The apparatus of claim 15, Wherein the teXt is one of
`a date, name, telephone number, telefaX number, e-mail
`address and Uniform Resource Locator.
`21. The apparatus of claim 20, Wherein the operation is
`the starting of a Writable, computer database application.
`22. The apparatus of claim 20, Wherein the teXt is a
`Uniform Resource Locator and the operation is the starting
`of a World-Wide Web broWser application.
`23. The apparatus of claim 20, Wherein the teXt is an
`EMail address and the operation is the starting of an EMail
`message preparing and transmitting application.
`24. The apparatus of claim 20, Wherein the teXt is a
`telephone number and the operation is the starting of an
`application causing a modem to dial the telephone number.
`25. The apparatus of claim 20, Wherein the teXt is a telefaX
`number and the operation is the starting of telefaX message
`preparing and transmitting application.
`26. Apparatus according to claim 15, Wherein the recog
`niZing means includes:
`(1) means for comparing the format of the selected teXt to
`a plurality of predetermined formats associated With the
`predetermined class, and
`(2) means for recogniZing the selected teXt as belonging
`to the predetermined class if the format of the selected
`teXt matches any one of the plurality of predetermined
`formats.
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`27. Apparatus according to claim 15, Wherein the recog
`niZing means performs recognition a plurality of times, for
`a plurality of predetermined classes, respectively, and rec
`ogniZes the selected teXt as belonging to one of the plurality
`of predetermined classes, further comprising:
`means for displaying a plurality of menu names, each
`associated With a respectively different one of the
`plurality of predetermined classes;
`means for emphasiZing the respective menu name asso
`ciated With the one of the plurality of predetermined
`classes to Which the selected teXt belongs, relative to
`menu names that are not associated With the plurality of
`predetermined classes.
`28. A storage medium encoded With machine-readable
`computer program code for teXt processing, comprising:
`(a) means for causing a computer to recogniZe a selected
`teXt as belonging to a predetermined class, including:
`(1) means for comparing a format of the selected teXt
`to a predetermined format associated With the pre
`determined class,
`(2) means for recogniZing the selected teXt as belonging
`to the predetermined class if the format of the
`selected teXt matches the predetermined format; and
`(b) means for causing the computer to perform an opera
`tion associated With the predetermined class using the
`recogniZed selected teXt as a parameter.
`29. The storage medium of claim 28, Wherein means (a)
`causes the computer to:
`(i) display a plurality of menu names, and
`(ii) emphasiZe, relative to any other displayed menu
`name, a menu name of a menu identifying one or more
`operations associated With the predetermined class,
`Which may be performed on the recogniZed teXt.
`30. The storage medium of claim 29, Wherein means (b)
`causes the computer to:
`(i) display the menu; and
`(ii) start one or more operations to be run from the one or
`more operations identi?ed on the menu.
`31. The storage medium of claim 28, Wherein the teXt
`appears in a body of teXt, further comprising:
`(c) means for causing the computer to return to the body
`of teXt.
`32. The storage medium of claim 28, Wherein the teXt is
`one o