Processing, browsing and extracting information from an electronic document

An information extracting method for an original electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• extracting from said original electronic document, while said electronic document is being written by an author, one or more information segments according to a predetermined extraction pattern, said one or more information segments relating to a specific domain to which the electronic document relates being written by said author;
• storing the one or more domain specific information segments with the electronic document;
• extracting said stored one or more domain specific information segments to facilitate a subsequent user's use of the electronic document based on the one or more domain specific information segments, while an author is writing the original electronic document;
• searching a list of the extracted domain specific information segments corresponding to a query entered by a subsequent user;
• and
• previewing, by said subsequent user, said one or more domain specific information segments to determine his or her interest in said electronic document;
• and
• retrieving, by said subsequent user, said electronic document if said subsequent user is interested in said electronic document,
• wherein a processor coupled to a memory device is configured to perform:
• the extracting from the original document, the storing, the extracting the stored one or more domain specific information segments, the searching, the previewing, and the retrieving.

An information extracting system for an original electronic document, comprising:

• a memory device;
• a processor coupled to the memory device,
• wherein the processor is configured to perform:
• editing an electronic document;
• selecting an information extraction pattern for said electronic document from various information extraction patterns;
• acquiring domain specific information segments according to said information extraction patterns selected, while an author is writing the original electronic document;
• selecting a list of information segments most relevant to said electronic document from said one or more domain specific information segments;
• storing said list of information segments with said electronic document while the author is writing the original electronic document;
• searching one or more extracted domain specific information segments which are identical or most similar to user's query;
• and
• presenting the user with the searched one or more extracted domain specific information segments;
• and
• providing the user with said electronic document based on said user's interest in said electronic document.