Automatic local search triggered by selection of search terms from displayed text

摘要

Receiving text 211 for display on apparatus (e.g. vehicle telematics system 100, Fig.1); allowing a user to select at least a portion thereof 214; and thereby triggering a local search function 217 such that the apparatus automatically submits at least a portion of the selected text to a search engine which searches for one or more entities corresponding to the text that are located in a geographical area associated with a reference geographical location (e.g. the users location or destination). The search function may display a list (219, Fig.2c), map (221, Fig.2c) or navigation data. The displayed text may be email, SMS or URL content (e.g. from external mobile device 145, Fig.1) and may be automatically parsed to identify and highlight text corresponding to classes such as telephone numbers; URL, geographical or email addresses; or names. Selection of a telephone number may prompt a call (213, Fig.2a).