Email Address Book Auto-Update via Pattern Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless and other devices lack an effective means to update address books with new or updated address information received via email, requiring users to manually copy and paste information, which is time-consuming and frustrating.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically detect address information in email messages, present users with options to add or update contact records, and facilitate the importation of this information into the address book, using underlining or alternate text coloring to identify address fields and providing menu items or buttons for users to add or update contact information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual copy-paste method is used to add address information to address book, then address book can be updated, but user time and effort are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects address information in email messages and performs the update operation without requiring user intervention. The email client scans incoming emails, identifies address fields using pattern recognition, and automatically adds or updates contacts in the address book, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user input
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and extraction of address information from email messages before the user needs to add contacts. By pre-identifying and preparing address data in incoming emails, the system eliminates the need for users to manually copy and paste information later, thus saving time and improving productivity
2Ease of operation
If automatic detection of address information is implemented, then user effort is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (copy-paste actions) with an automated detection system using pattern recognition algorithms. The system scans email content for address patterns using predefined formats and regular expressions, automatically extracting contact information without requiring users to manually navigate through menus or copy data, thus improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary detection mechanism between email reception and address book storage. This intermediary layer automatically processes incoming emails, identifies address information using pattern matching, and interfaces with the address book system, thereby shielding users from complexity while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for updating an electronic mail (“email”) address book comprising: determining whether an email message presented to a user on a display screen of a data processing system contains address information; and, if the email message contains address information: identifying the address information in the email message; determining whether the address information is contained in one or more contact records in the email address book; and, if the address information is not contained in one or more contact records, presenting first means to the user on the display screen for generating a command to add a new contact record to the address book for the address information.