System and method for automatically populating a dynamic resolution list

Abstract

The system and method of the present invention automatically provides dynamically generated completion information for facilitating user input of email addresses or contact information. This completion information is developed from a “data store” comprised of multiple data sources such as previously sent or received email, and other types of electronic files such as word processor or spreadsheet files. The present invention monitors and uses the information in the data store to automatically store, track, maintain, and organize data entries in a dynamic “resolution list”. As a user begins to input an email address or contact, the present invention can either automatically complete the entry using a most probable result from the resolution list, or can display a list of likely matches from which the user may select the desired email address or contact.

1 . An electronic contact resolution method, comprising: 
 automatically extracting contact information from any of a plurality of file types included in a data store, said data store including at least one of word processor files, spreadsheet files, and presentation files;    wherein extracting the contact information includes automatically examining the complete contents of one or more of the files in the data store and extracting any contact information located within those contents;    maintaining a list of at least one contact entry derived from the contact information extracted from the data store;    automatically computing a weight for each entry in the list;    tracking contact information associated with the contact entry; and    automatically resolving contact entries in real time by dynamically providing specific contact entries from the maintained list based on the weight of each entry in the list.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data store includes sent and received email.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data store includes database files.  
   
   
       4 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the weight of an entry is updated dynamically as new information enters the data store.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically resolving contact entries comprises providing a most probable match to an input.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically resolving contact entries comprises providing a most recently used match to an input.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically resolving contact entries comprises providing the entry having the greatest weight where one or more entries match an input.  
   
   
       13 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contact information of the entries includes a plurality of information elements including: 
 an email address;    a friendly name;    a number of times that the entry has been used;    a date the email address was last sent to;    a date the email address was last received from; and    a weight.    
   
   
       32 . A system for automatically generating a dynamic list of entries containing contact information comprising: 
 a data store comprising electronic files, said electronic files including at least one of word processor files, spreadsheet files, and presentation files;    a scan module that fully scans the contents of any of the electronic files included in the data store;    an extract module that extracts all contact information contained within any of the scanned files;    a populate module that populates the list with the information extracted from the scanned files; and    a weight module that dynamically computes a weight for each entry in the dynamic list.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the data store further includes a plurality of types of electronic files, including: 
 at least one of previously sent and received email;    email addresses and contacts that exist within previous systems;    email stores located on public servers;    current and previous contact databases; and    data embedded within database files.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the contact information of the entries includes at least one of: 
 an email address;    a friendly name;    a number of times that the entry has been used;    a date the email address was last sent to; and    a date the email address was last received from.    
   
   
       35 - 39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the size of the list is variable.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 32  wherein new entries are added to the list as new information enters the data store.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the list is capable of being browsed via a user interface.  
   
   
       43 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising automatically providing completion information via a user interface from an entry in the list based on a partial match to user input.  
   
   
       46 - 47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . A method for automatically generating a dynamic list of entries containing contact information comprising: 
 fully scanning the entire contents of at least one of a plurality of file types in a data store containing electronic files including at least one of word processor files, spreadsheet files, and presentation files;    extracting any contact information contained within any of the scanned files; and    populating entries of the list with the information extracted from the scanned files.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the data store further includes a plurality of types of electronic files, including: 
 at least one of previously sent and received email;    email addresses and contacts that exist within previous systems;    email stores located on public servers;    at least one of current and previous contact databases and address books; and    data embedded within other application electronic files.    
   
   
       50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 48  further comprising automatically providing completion information via a user interface from an entry in the list based on a partial match to user input.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 48  wherein particular electronic files within the data store are excluded from scanning.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 48  wherein email received from at least one of specific email addresses and Internet domains are excluded from scanning.