O
`(12) Umted States Patent
`Hedloy
`
`U8006323853Bl
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,323,853 B1
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`(75)
`
`(54) METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER
`READABLE MEDIUM FOR ADDRESSING
`HANDLING FROM A COMPUTER
`~
`PROGRAM
`,
`,
`Invent“ Atle Hedwy’ Stabel‘k (NO)
`.
`.
`(73) ASS‘gnee‘ Am‘d' As, Stabel‘k (No)
`,
`*
`_
`,
`,
`_
`) Notlccr
`51111166310 any disclalmcrt the term 0f1hl§
`patent 18 extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/189,626
`.
`Filed:
`
`NOV. 10, 1998
`
`(22)
`
`5,724,597 *
`5,732,229 *
`5,761,656
`5,799,302 *
`5,805,886
`5,826,257
`5,835,089
`5,859,636
`5,873,107 *
`6,026,398 *
`6,085,201 *
`
`31'1998 Cuthbertson et al.
`............... 7071531
`.. 3457334
`311998 Dickinson
`
`.. 707/4
`671998 Ben-Shachal'
`
`..
`.. 707/7
`8/1998 Johnson ct all
`709,318
`91'1998 Skarbo et al.
`
`.
`.. 707/4
`1071098 Snellling, Jr.
`.. 3451335
`1111998 Skarbo et al.
`
`.. 3451335
`171999 Pandit
`
`211999 Borovoy et a1.
`.. 707,501
`
`.. 707/5
`272000 Brown ct al.
`.
`
`712000 T50 ....................................... 7077505
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Crescent: N. dela Torre
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maicr & Ncustadt, RC.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Sep.3, 1998
`(NO) .................................................... 984066
`7
`5
`t.
`......................................................
`7
`(- 1)
`[[1 Cl.
`G06F l /00
`(52) US. Cl.
`.............
`345/339; 345/968; 707/530
`
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 345/326 333
`345/335 336 339 347 348 968, 354’
`356' 707,11 3’ 500’ 503’ 505’ 507’ 530’
`'
`’
`’
`’
`’ 501' 513: 515'
`’
`’
`
`(56)
`
`~
`.
`References Cited
`
`5 226 “7
`5,331,555
`5,416,901
`5 491783
`7
`,
`5.491.784
`5,500,859
`5,530,853
`2,3322%:
`-,
`,
`5,640,565
`5,666,502
`5,708,804
`
`U-S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7,1993 Miklos
`7/1904 Hashimoto ct a1.
`5/1995 Torres
`2/1996 Dou las ct al.
`g
`2/1996 Douglas el al.
`3/1906 Shanna et a1.
`6/1996 Schell et al.
`3133?] 3‘33": 3‘ “1'
`w
`1
`6/1907 Dickinson
`9/1997 Capps
`171998 Goodwin et a].
`
`345/356
`707/531
`345/348
`345/335
`
`.. 345/352
`3701468
`701/1
`'
`372112112
`
`7077103
`345/352
`........................ 707/3
`
`A method, System and computer readable medium for pm
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`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`US 6,323,853 B1
`
`FIG. 7a,
`
` START
`
`USER HITS BUTTON IN
`
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`8
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`
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`
`APPROPRIATE ACTION
`
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`(NOT DISPLAYED HERE)
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`12
`
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`23
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`34
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`
`0003
`
`0003
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`US 6,323,853 B1
`
` START
`
`USER HITS BUTTON IN
`
`
`WORD PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`
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`USER HAS TYPED
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`T0 FIC.2b
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`NAME AND
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 17
`
`US 6,323,853 B1
`
`FIG. 8
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`Sheet 14 0f 17
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`US 6,323,853 B1
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`F167. 73
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 27, 2001
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`Sheet 17 0f 17
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`US 6,323,853 B1
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`US 6,323,853 B1
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`METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER
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`READABLE MEDIUM FOR ADDRESSING
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`HANDLING FROM A COMPUTER
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`PROGRAM
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`1
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Field of the Invention
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`This invention relates to a method, system and computer
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`readable medium for name and address handling (hereinafter
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`called “address handling”), and more particularly to a touch
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`screen, keyboard button,
`icon, menu, voice command
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`device, etc.
`(hereinafter called “button”) provided in a
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`computer program, such as a word processing program,
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`spreadsheet program, etc., and coupled to an information
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`management source for providing address handling within a
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`document created by the computer program.
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`2. Discussion of the Background
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`In recent years, with the advent of programs, such as word
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`processors, spreadsheets, etc.
`(hereinafter called “word
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`processors”) users may require retrieval of information, such
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`as name and address information, etc., for insertion into a
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`document, such a letter, fax, etc., created with the word
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`processor. Typically, the information is retrieved by the user
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`from an information management source external to the
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`word processor, such as a database program, contact man-
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`agement program, etc., or from the word processor itself, for
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`insertion into the document. Examples of such word pro-
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`cessors are WORDTM, NOTEPAD TM, EXCELTM,
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`WORDPADTM, WORDPERFECTTM, QUATROPROTM,
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`AMIPROTM, etc., and examples of such information man-
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`agement sources are ACCESSTM, OUTLOOKTM,
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`ORACLETM, DBASETM, RBASETM, CARDFILETM, etc.
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`However, the information in the database must constantly
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`be updated by the user. This requires the user to learn how
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`to use and have access to the database. In this case, a change
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`in the information, such as change in an address or a name,
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`etc., requires the user of the word processor to implement
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`this change in the database, or alternatively, the change is
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`made to the database centrally by a database administrator.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`invention is to
`Accordingly, an object of the present
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`provide a method, system and computer readable medium
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`for address handling within a computer program.
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`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
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`method, system and computer readable medium for address
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`handling within a computer program, such as a word pro-
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`cessing program, spreadsheet program, etc.
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`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
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`method, system and computer readable medium for address
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`handling within a computer program, such as a word pro-
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`cessing program, spreadsheet program, etc., using an input
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`device provided in the computer program.
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`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
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`method, system and computer readable medium for address
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`handling within a computer program, such as a word pro-
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`cessing program, spreadsheet program, etc., using an input
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`device, such as a touch screen, keyboard button, icon, menu,
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`voice command device, etc., provided in the computer
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`program and coupled to an information management source.
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`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
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`method, system and computer readable medium for address
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`handling within a computer program, such as a word pro-
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`cessing program, spreadsheet program, etc., using an input
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`device, such as a touch screen, keyboard button, icon, menu,
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`2
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`voice command device, etc., provided in the computer
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`program and coupled to an information management source,
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`such as a database program, contact management program,
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`etc.
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`The above and other objects are achieved according to the
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`present invention by providing a novel method, system and
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`computer readable medium for providing a function item,
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`such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation
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`in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item
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`in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single
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`selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name
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`and addresses and/or other person or company related
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`information, while the user works simultaneously in another
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`program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function
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`item initiates a program connected to the button to search a
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`database or
`file available on or through the computer,
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`containing the person, company or address related data, in
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`order to look up data corresponding to what the user types,
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`or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word
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`processor, the correct data from the database, data related to
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`the typed data, e.g., the name of the person, company, or the
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`traditional or electronic address, or other person, or
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`company, or address related data, and alternatively the
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`persons, companies, or addresses, are displayed and possibly
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`entered into the word processor, if such related data exists.
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`The present invention also includes a computer readable
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`medium storing program instructions by which the method
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`of the invention can be performed when the stored program
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`instructions are appropriately loaded into a computer, and a
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`system for implementing the method of the invention.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`A more complete appreciation of the invention and many
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`of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained
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`as the same becomes better understood by reference to the
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`following detailed description when considered in connec-
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`tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:
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`FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for address
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`handling within a computer program, according to an exem-
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`plary embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for address
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`handling within a computer program, according to another
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`exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 3 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name
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`to be searched and an address handling button within a word
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`processor, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 4 is a screen shot illustrating a retrieved address in
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`a word processor, according to an exemplary embodiment of
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`the present invention;
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`FIG. 5 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name
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`and address to be searched and an address handling button
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`within a word processor, according to an exemplary embodi-
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`ment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating an add new contact
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`message window, according to an exemplary embodiment of
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`the present invention;
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`illustrating a contact register
`FIG. 7 is a screen shot
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`message window, according to an exemplary embodiment of
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`the present invention;
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`FIG. 8 is a screen shot illustrating an address missing
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`message window, according to an exemplary embodiment of
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`the present invention;
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`FIG. 9 is a screen shot illustrating a modify contact’s
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`address message window, according to an exemplary
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`embodiment of the present invention;
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`US 6,323,853 B1
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`3
`FIG. 10 is a screen shot illustrating a select a contact
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`address register message window, according to an exem-
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`plary embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 11 is a screen shot illustrating a more detailed mode
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`of registering an additional address for the contact register of
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`FIG. 9, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 12 is a screen shot illustrating a contact management
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`program window in a full detailed mode, according to an
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`exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 13 is a screen shot illustrating an address already in
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`use message window, according to an exemplary embodi-
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`ment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 14 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name
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`to be searched and an address handling button within a
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`spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 15 is a screen shot illustrating a retrieved address in
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`a spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention; and
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`FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of a general purpose
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`computer for performing the processes of the present
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`invention, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
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`EMBODIMENTS
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`In an embodiment of the present invention, single button
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`addressing is achieved by providing an input device, such as
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`a touch screen, keyboard,
`icon, menu, voice command
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`device etc. (hereinafter called “button”),
`in a computer
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`program, such as a word processing program, spreadsheet
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`program, etc. (hereinafter called “word processor”),
`for
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`executing address handling therein.
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`Accordingly, in a word processor, the button is added and
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`a user types information, such as an addressee’s name, or a
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`part of the name, etc. in a document created with the word
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`processor, such as a letter, fax, etc., and then clicks, selects,
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`commands, etc. the button via the appropriate input device,
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`such as a touch screen button, keyboard button, icon, menu
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`choice, voice command device, etc. A program then
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`executes and retrieves the typed information from the
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`document, and searches an information management source,
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`such as a database, file, database program, contact manage-
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`ment program, etc. (hereinafter called “database”) to deter-
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`mine if the information, such as the name or part of the name
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`typed and searched by the program exists in the database. If
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`the program does not find stored information, such as a
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`name, corresponding to the name or part of the name typed,
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`the user is asked by the program whether the information,
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`such as the name that was not found, should be added to the
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`database. In addition, the user may enter any other infor-
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`mation besides the name, such as addresses, businesses,
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`telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail address, etc., so
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`that this other information can be stored in the database for
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`later use.
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`If the program finds name(s) and address(es)
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`corresponding to the part of the addressee’s name typed, this
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`additional
`information is automatically entered into the
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`user’s word processor, optionally with a confirmation from
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`the user that this is the correct data. If the typed address
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`information does not correspond to data already stored in the
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`database, after clicking on the button,
`the program, for
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`example, lets the user decide: (1) if this is new data (e.g., a
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`new address) for an existing contact; (2) if the stored data
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`4
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`should be changed to what the user just typed; (3) if this is
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`a new contact with the same name as one already entered
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`into the database; or (4) if the typed address is only to be
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`used once, and therefore not to be stored in the database at
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`all. If, later, for example, a name with several address stored
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`in the database is recalled, all addresses for this contact will
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`be displayed, so that the correct address can be selected by
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`the user.
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`The program may be extended to also store and retrieve
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`other information, such as telephone numbers, fax numbers,
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`e-mail addresses, etc. Once the program recalls the tele-
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`phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc., the user
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`can command the program to send e-mails, faxes, etc.
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`Similarly, if the user types in the name of a mailing list, the
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`program create merge letters, group e-mails, etc.
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`Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
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`numerals designate identical or corresponding parts
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`throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGS.
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`1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated flow charts of single
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`button addressing, according to exemplary embodiments of
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`the present invention.
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`In FIG. 1, after the user has inserted the address in the
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`word processor, the user commands the button at step 2 and
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`the program analyzes what the user has typed in the docu-
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`ment at step 4. At step 6, the program decides what was
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`found in the document and if the program found nothing in
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`the document or what it found was un-interpretable the
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`program goes to step 8 and outputs an appropriate message
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`to the user and then quits at step 16. The program analyzes
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`what the user has typed in the document at step 4, for
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`example, by analyzing (i) paragraph/line separations/
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`formatting, etc.; (ii) street, avenue, drive, lane, boulevard,
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`city, state, zip code, country designators and abbreviations,
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`etc.; (iii) Mr., Mrs., Sir, Madam, Jr., Sr. designators and
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`abbreviations, etc.; (iv) Inc., Ltd., PO, L.L.C, designators
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`and abbreviations, etc.; and (v) a database of common
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`male/female names, etc.
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`If the program finds an e-mail address mailing list/
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`category name telephone number or other information, at
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`step 10 an appropriate action is performed by the program
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`and then the program execution quits at step 16. If the
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`the
`program only finds a name or initials, or the like,
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`program looks up the name in the database at step 12 and at
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`step 18 the program determines what was found. If the
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`program finds more than one possible contact/address
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`match, at step 20 the program displays menu choices to the
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`user to let him choose an appropriate answer. Then at step 22
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`the program inserts a correct address and name in the
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`document and then at step 16 the program quits execution.
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`If the program finds one match exactly, i.e., one contact with
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`one address,
`the program inserts the correct address and
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`name in the document at step 22 and then quits execution at
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`step 16. If the program does not find a name in the database,
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`at step 24 the program prompts the user to specify an address
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`and then quits execution at step 16. If the program at step 6
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`finds a name and an address, at step 14 the name is looked
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`up in the database. Then, at step 26, if no match is found, at
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`step 28 the program inserts an address and a name which are
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`possibly corrected by the user into the database and then
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`quits execution at step 16. If at step 26, the name and address
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`is found, at step 32 the program either takes no action or
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`displays the data for the user to edit. If at step 26, the name
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`is found but not the address, the program prompts the user
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`for a decision at step 30. If the user decides that this another
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`contact with a same name, the program goes to step 28. If the
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`user decides that this is a one time occurrence, no action is
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`taken and the program quits at step 16. If the user decides
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`10
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`0020
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`0020
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`

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`US 6,323,853 B1
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`5
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`that the contact has, for example, moved and that this is a
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`new address, at step 34 one of the old addresses for the
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`contact is replaced with the new one and the program quits
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`at step 16. If the user decides that this is an additional
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`address for the contact, at step 36 the additional address is
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`inserted into the database for that contact and execution
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`quits at step 16.
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`The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the flowchart
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`in FIG. 1, except for some additional steps which will now
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`be discussed. At step 6, if the program only finds a name or
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`a similar name then the name is looked up in the database at
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`step 12, then at step 18 if the program found more than one
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`possible contact/address match,
`the program displays
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`choices to the user to let him choose an address at step 20.
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`Then at step 21 the user decides whether to insert
`the
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`selected address into the document. If the user does not
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`decide to select the address into the document the program
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`quits execution at step 16. If the user decides to insert the
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