Methods and apparatuses for modifying a search term utilized to identify an electronic mail message
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect a message; detect an original search term; search for a match between the original search term and a term within the message; and selectively modify the original search term based on a number of matches.
1 . A method comprising:
detecting a message;
detecting an original search term;
searching for a match between the original search term and a term within the message; and
selectively modifying the original search term based on a number of matches.
2 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying the match between the original search term and the term within the message.
3 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting an upper threshold limit wherein modifying the original search term occurs when the number of matches exceeds the upper limit threshold.
4 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a lower threshold limit wherein modifying the original search term occurs when the number of matches falls below the lower limit threshold.
5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein selectively modifying the original search term Comprises narrowing the search term and forming a narrowed search term.
6 . The method according to claim 5 further comprising adding an additional term to limit the original search term.
7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein selectively modifying the original search term comprises broadening the original search term and forming a broadened search term.
8 . The method according to claim 7 further comprising providing an alternative search term in addition to the original search term for forming the broadened search term.
9 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the alternative search term is a synonym of the original search term.
10 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the alternative search term is pronounced like of the original search term with a different spelling.
11 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the alternative search term is a misspelling of the original search term.
12 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the alternative search term is an abbreviation of the original search term.
13 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the alternative search term is an equivalent of the original search term.
14 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the message is a textual representation.
15 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the message is a graphical representation.
16 . A method comprising:
detecting a message;
detecting an original search term;
searching for a match between the original search term and a term within the message; and
selectively adding an alternative search term to the original search term based on a number of matches;
17 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the alternative search term is a synonym of the original search term.
18 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the alternative search term is pronounced like of the original search term with a different spelling.
19 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the alternative search term is a misspelling of the original search term.
20 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the alternative search term is an abbreviation of the original search term.
21 . The method according to claim 16 wherein the alternative search term is an equivalent of the original search term.
22 . A system, comprising:
a message detection module configured to detect a message;
a search function module configured to detect an original search term within the message; and
a suggestion module configured to suggest an alternative search term based on the original search term wherein the alternative search term is utilized within a modified search term.
23 . The system according to claim 22 further comprising a storage module configured to store the original search term and the alternative search term.
24 . The system according to claim 22 wherein the modified search term is broader than the original search term.
25 . The system according to claim 22 wherein the modified search term is narrower than the original search term.