| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention enables users to access shipping information pertaining to the shipment of parcels by merely selecting an action from a tool bar or menu associated with a text string in a document or spreadsheet either recognized by a Microsoft Office smart tag or highlighted by user. The actions from which to select include but are not limited to tracking, time in transit, shipping history, label generation, address validation, proof of delivery and rate and service selection. The present invention automatically cuts the necessary text from the document or spreadsheet in which the user is working, opens or accesses databases, files, applications, websites, etc., as required to obtain the desired shipping information from a database (22) accessible by the user, such as over a LAN or Internet connection. The present invention processes the data retrieved (including cutting, pasting, inserting or manipulating data and initiating actions such as dialing a phone number, generating a label or sending an e-mail) and preferably presents the results to the user in a message box (64) or as an insert (62) into the document or spreadsheet in which the user is working.</p> |
