How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers
Apple's 1999 patent describing how software can automatically recognize patterns like phone numbers or dates in text and offer relevant actions like calling or scheduling.
Original patent title: “System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data”
Apple's 1999 patent describing how software can automatically recognize patterns like phone numbers or dates in text and offer relevant actions like calling or scheduling. Granted to Apple Computer Inc in 1999 with 29 claims and 297 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system that scans text in real-time to identify specific structures, such as email addresses, dates, or phone numbers. Once identified, the system highlights these items and provides a menu of relevant actions, like opening a calendar or dialing a number. It uses an analyzer server that works alongside other applications to parse data and link it to specific functional tasks. For example, if you receive an email containing a date, the system recognizes the date structure and lets you click it to immediately create a calendar event.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover manual selection of text where the computer performs no automated pattern recognition.
- Does not cover data structures that are not defined by grammars or string libraries within the system.
- Does not cover actions that are not explicitly linked to a detected structure by the analyzer server.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the 'analyzer server' architecture that runs concurrently with other apps, allowing the system to bridge the gap between passive text display and active, context-aware software functionality.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
iOS Data Detectors
macOS Data Detectors
Android Smart Text Selection
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is the foundation for the 'data detectors' found in almost every modern operating system. It transformed static text into interactive objects, significantly improving user productivity by removing the need to copy-paste information between different applications.
Filed
February 1, 1996
Granted
August 31, 1999
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple continues to refine this technology within iOS and macOS. Other major operating system developers like Google have implemented similar functionality in Android to provide context-aware suggestions for text.
Market impact
This patent became a cornerstone of user interface design, effectively creating the standard for how we interact with information on mobile and desktop devices today. It was a subject of significant interest in high-profile patent litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more → regarding smartphone functionality in the early 2010s.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system that scans text in real-time to identify specific structures, such as email addresses, dates, or phone numbers. Once identified, the system highlights these items and provides a menu of relevant actions, like opening a calendar or dialing a number. It uses an analyzer server that works alongside other applications to parse data and link it to specific functional tasks. For example, if you receive an email containing a date, the system recognizes the date structure and lets you click it to immediately create a calendar event.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the 'analyzer server' architecture that runs concurrently with other apps, allowing the system to bridge the gap between passive text display and active, context-aware software functionality.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover manual selection of text where the computer performs no automated pattern recognition.
- Does not cover data structures that are not defined by grammars or string libraries within the system.
- Does not cover actions that are not explicitly linked to a detected structure by the analyzer server.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$94K – $300K
Midpoint $187K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
29 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Miller, J. R., Nardi, B., Wright, D., & Bonura, T. (1999). How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers (U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5946647/system-and-method-for-performing-an-action-on-a-structure-in-computer-generated-data
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers cover?
Apple's 1999 patent describing how software can automatically recognize patterns like phone numbers or dates in text and offer relevant actions like calling or scheduling.
Who owns patent US 5946647?
Apple Computer Inc owns this patent, granted in 1999.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5946647 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 297 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is the foundation for the 'data detectors' found in almost every modern operating system. It transformed static text into interactive objects, significantly improving user productivity by removing the need to copy-paste information between different applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover manual selection of text where the computer performs no automated pattern recognition.
Same assignee
More from Apple Computer Inc
Patent monitoring