Abstract:
Checker software may be utilized to automatically check data intended to be stored in association with personal information management software. A variety of independent databases may be checked including databases resident on a particular processor-based system that also stores the personal information management software. In addition, databases resident on connected networks may be checked, as may databases accessible through web sites on the Internet. As a result, the integrity of data stored in association with personal information management software may be improved.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to information management software, which has geographical context, including software providing addresses, phone numbers, schedules, and the like.  
           [0002]    For example, many people maintain personal information management software on their computers to improve their personal efficiency. This software may be useful in scheduling meetings and finding addresses and phone numbers in order to make contact with people.  
           [0003]    Of course, any database is only as good as the information contained in the database. Thus, a user may copy information off a letter, for example, and mis-enter the data in the personal information software database. Then, if the user can no longer find the letter, the personal information management software is rendered largely useless. Additionally, information may change over time, for instance an area code or ZIP code may sub-divide.  
           [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a way to continually validate the integrity of the data entered in association with personal information management software.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a processor-based system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for software in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]    Referring to FIG. 1, a processor-based system  10  may be a personal computer, a wireless telephone, a handheld appliance or any of the large variety of processor-based systems. The system  10  may be utilized to maintain information management software  12 , such as personal information management (PIM) software, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The personal information management software  12  may manage calendars, schedules, and databases of addresses and phone numbers, as a few examples.  
         [0009]    A checker software  14  may be provided to screen any data being entered through the information management software  12 . In particular, the checker software  14  automatically checks address data to determine its integrity. The checker software  14  may check the data integrity by checking a database  16  on the system  10  in one embodiment.  
         [0010]    The database  16  may have information that correlates certain address-type information with other address-type information. In one embodiment, the database  16  may be a relational database. For example, the database  16  can correlate cities to their zip codes, cities to their area codes, cities with their states, area codes with their zip codes, streets with cities, and zip codes with area codes.  
         [0011]    Thus, with this relational information, the checker software  14  can determine whether address information being entered into the personal information management software  12  is information that is at least possibly correct. If the information is not possibly correct, the user may be notified. For example, if a zip code 77024 is no where existent in Los Angeles, the software can determine that the address “Los Angeles, California 77024” can not possibly be correct, and may even provide a possible solution.  
         [0012]    The processor-based system  10  may be coupled through a local area network  22  to a network-wide database  26 . A server  24  may serve data from the database  26  over the network  22  to networked systems, including the system  10 . The database  26  may include the same kind of information as the database  16  but may include more information of the same type in one embodiment.  
         [0013]    Similarly, the system  10  may couple, through the local area network  22 , to the Internet  28 . The Internet  28  may include a number of web sites that may include the same type of information as the database  16 , but may include a greater quantity of information. For example, web sites  38  that have map information may be able to correlate addresses with cities. Similarly, web sites  36  with phone books may correlate names with cities and streets. Similarly, web sites  34  with a correlation between area codes, cities and zip codes may be utilized to check address information. Likewise, web sites  32  that have zip code information may provide checking functions as well. As a final example, reverse phone book web sites  40  may be utilized to determine whether a phone number actually correlates to a given address.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 2, the system  10  may include a processor  50  coupled to an interface  52 . The interface  52  in turn may be coupled to system memory  54  and a display  56 . Similarly, the interface  52  may be coupled to a bus  58 . In one example, the bus  58  may couple a network interface card  64  that couples to the network  22  and ultimately to the Internet  28 .  
         [0015]    A hard disk drive  60  or other storage device may also be coupled to the bus  58  in one embodiment. The checker software  14  and the PIM software  12  may be stored on the hard disk drive  60  in one embodiment. A basic input/output system (BIOS)  62  storage may also be provided on the bus  58  in one embodiment. Of course, a variety of other hardware architectures may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0016]    Turning finally to FIG. 3, the checker software  14  initially determines whether new contact data is destined for the storage associated with the PIM software, or any other software including a “checked” typed field.  12 , as determined in diamond  70 . If so, the new contact data may be received, as indicated in block  74 . That contact data may include address information, a phone number or an e-mail information as a few examples. A check at diamond  76  determines whether any of the received data can be checked on the system  10 , for example, using the database  16 . If not, resources on the network  22 , such as the database  26 , may be consulted, as indicated in diamond  82 . If the data is not available on the network  82 , then the data can be checked on the Internet, as indicated at diamond  84 . If comparison data is not available on any of these sources, the flow ends.  
         [0017]    If comparison data is available on one or more of the system  10 , network  22 , or Internet  28 , the comparison data may be compared to the received data, as indicated in block  78 . Any inconsistencies between the data in the relevant database and the received data may be reported, as indicated in block  80 . As a result, an automated process that automatically attempts to check the data using other sources may improve the integrity of data stored in association with PIM software  12 .  
         [0018]    Thus, the field within the software may indicate via an attribute that the field is of a particular type of information and relates to specified other fields should they exist (area code or ZIP may relate to a city/State/Country, etc.) and thus subject to checking of that type as it may be available. For instance, checks upon data entry may be limited to local data but later subject to a more up-to-date Internet database check (or subject to a more complete database that incurs charges). The checks may be subject to periodic review. For example, what is correct today may not be when geographies are rezoned.  
         [0019]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.