Patent ID: 7139751

Claim:
A method for inputting a word or parameter value of a control instruction for a data forwarding device, the method comprising: a) accepting user input, the user input including a first part, a second part comprising a search string, and a third part; b) determining, with the data forwarding device, whether a reverse-expand is requested based on the third part of the user input accepted; and c) if it is determined that a reverse-expand is requested, then i) searching, with the data forwarding device, back through previously entered and stored data forwarding device control instructions for a data forwarding device control instruction having a word or parameter value, at least a part of which matches the search string of the second part of the user input, ii) retrieving, with the data forwarding device, a first matching word or parameter value, and iii) rendering a command line including the first part of the user input and the first matching word or parameter value, wherein the data forwarding device is one of (A) a network switch and (B) a network router, and wherein the command line rendered includes the first part of the user input followed by the first matching word or parameter value.