Patent · US Active

Facilitating retrieval of information within a messaging environment

US7925716B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
1References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2005
Grant dateApr 12, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/9535
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms are provided that allow participants in an electronic messaging conversation (e.g. email or instant message) to retrieve information related to words and phrases in the electronic messaging conversation without leaving the electronic messaging environment. An electronic messaging environment is provided that includes user interface tools that allow a user to (1) select text within the EM conversation, (2) submit the text to an information retrieval service, such as a search engine, and (3) display the results generated by the information retrieval service. To facilitate the selection of relevant text, certain “suggested words” within the conversation may automatically be highlighted by the instant messaging client. Various techniques are provided for customizing which words are suggested, which sources are searched, and which search terms are used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.