private Object lookupItem(String pattern) {
        Object selectedItem = model.getSelectedItem();
        // only search for a different item if the currently selected does not match
        if (selectedItem != null && startsWithIgnoreCase(selectedItem.toString(), pattern)) {
            return selectedItem;
        } else {
            // iterate over all items
            for (int i=0, n=model.getSize(); i < n; i++) {
                Object currentItem = model.getElementAt(i);
                // current item starts with the pattern?
                if (currentItem != null && startsWithIgnoreCase(currentItem.toString(), pattern)) {
                    return currentItem;
                }
            }
        }
        // no item starts with the pattern => return null
        return null;
    }