Calendar-enhanced directory searches including dynamic contact information

• US 20020188620A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Doss, J. Smith, Kovales, Renee Marie, Pozefsky, Diane Phylis, Sundstrom, Robert Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method, system, and product are disclosed for displaying directory information and dynamically updated contact information for one or more people in response to a directory search. A user submits a query criteria when the directory search is requested. A search of the directory information is first executed utilizing the query criteria to return a first result set. A search of dynamically updated contact information is then executed using the first result set to produce a second result set. A final result of the directory search request is then produced by coalescing the first and second result sets. This final result includes both directory information and dynamically updated contact information for each person whose name was included in the final result.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for providing both directory information and dynamically updated contact information for at least one of a plurality of entities in response to a directory search, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a query criteria;

executing a search of a directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce a first result;

invoking a dynamic contact information service utilizing said first result to produce a second result containing dynamic contact information, said dynamic contact information being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information;

coalescing said first and second results to produce a coalesced result; and

providing said coalesced result.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

executing said search of said directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce said first result which is a null set; and

invoking said dynamic contact information service utilizing said query criteria to produce said second result.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

establishing said directory database including directory records for a first plurality of said plurality of entities, said directory records including directory information for each of said first plurality of said plurality of entities; and

establishing a dynamic contact information service that provides a dynamic-content record for a second plurality of said plurality of entities, each said dynamic-content record being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information for said each of said second plurality of said plurality of entities.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of specifying filtering preferences for filtering said coalesced result to produce a filtered result.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of formatting and displaying said filtered result.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available by a requester specified means and within a particular period of time.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to receive a telephone call within a particular period of time.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for an in-person meeting within a particular period of time.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for communication via instant messaging within a particular period of time.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for receiving a page within a particular period of time.

11. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to check an e-mail account for each of said plurality of people within a particular period of time.

12. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only fields specified by a requester.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of specifying sorting preferences for sorting said coalesced result.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of sorting said records so that said records are displayed in a particular order.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result a telephone number for each of said plurality of people, said telephone number being a telephone number at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by telephone during a particular period of time.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result a physical location for each of said plurality of people, said physical location being a location where said each of said plurality of people can be found during a particular period of time.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result a pager address for each of said plurality of people, said pager address being a pager address at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by paging during a particular period of time.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an instant message user name for each of said plurality of people, said instant message user name being an instant message user name at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached via an instant message service during a particular period of time.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an email address for each of said plurality of people, said e-mail address being an e-mail address which said each of said plurality of people is expected to check during a particular period of time.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an indication of whether said one or more of said plurality of people is currently utilizing a telephone.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an indication of a best current means for contacting each of said plurality of people.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an indication of an alternate contact person for each of said plurality of people.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of including within said coalesced result an indication of whether said one or more of said plurality of people is available in a particular period of time to be contacted by any means and one or more means for contacting said one or more of said plurality of people.

25. The product according to claim 24, further comprising:

instruction means for executing said search of said directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce said first result which is a null set; and

instruction means for invoking said dynamic contact information service utilizing said query criteria to produce said second result.

26. The product according to claim 24, further comprising:

instruction means for establishing said directory database including directory records for a first plurality of said plurality of entities, said directory records including directory information for each of said first plurality of said plurality of entities; and

instruction means for establishing a dynamic contact information service that provides a dynamic-content record for a second plurality of said plurality of entities, each said dynamic-content record being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information for said each of said second plurality of said plurality of entities.

27. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for specifying filtering preferences for filtering said coalesced result to produce a filtered result.

28. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for formatting and displaying said filtered result.

29. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available by a requester specified means and within a particular period of time.

30. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to receive a telephone call within a particular period of time.

31. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for an in-person meeting within a particular period of time.

32. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for communication via instant messaging within a particular period of time.

33. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for receiving a page within a particular period of time.

34. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to check an e-mail account for each of said plurality of people within a particular period of time.

35. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only fields specified by a requestor.

36. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for specifying sorting preferences for sorting said coalesced result.

37. The product according to claim 36, further comprising instruction means for sorting said records so that said records are displayed in a particular order.

38. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result a telephone number for each of said plurality of people, said telephone number being a telephone number at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by telephone during a particular period of time.

39. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result a physical location for each of said plurality of people, said physical location being a location where said each of said plurality of people can be found during a particular period of time.

40. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result a pager address for each of said plurality of people, said pager address being a pager address at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by paging during a particular period of time.

41. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an instant message user name for each of said plurality of people, said instant message user name being an instant message user name at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached via an instant message service during a particular period of time.

42. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an e-mail address for each of said plurality of people, said e-mail address being an e-mail address which said each of said plurality of people is expected to check during a particular period of time.

43. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an indication of whether said one or more of said plurality of people is currently utilizing a telephone.

44. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an indication of a best current means for contacting each of said plurality of people.

45. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an indication of an alternate contact person for each of said plurality of people.

46. The product according to claim 24, further comprising instruction means for including within said coalesced result an indication of whether said one or me ore of said plurality of people is available in a particular period of time to be contacted by any means and one or more means for contacting said one or more of said plurality of people.

48. The system according to claim 47, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for executing said search of said directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce said first result which is a null set; and

said CPU executing code for invoking said dynamic contact information service utilizing said query criteria to produce said second result.

49. The system according to claim 47, further comprising:

said directory database including directory records for a first plurality of said plurality of entities, said directory records including directory information for each of said first plurality of said plurality of entities; and

a dynamic contact information service that provides a dynamic-content record for a second plurality of said plurality of entities, each said dynamic-content record being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information for said each of said second plurality of said plurality of entities.

50. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said computer system for receiving specified filtering preferences for filtering said coalesced result to produce a filtered result.

51. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for formatting and displaying said filtered result.

52. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available by a requestor specified means and within a particular period of time.

53. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to receive a telephone call within a particular period of time.

54. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for an in-person meeting within a particular period of time.

55. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for communication via instant messaging within a particular period of time.

56. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available for receiving a page within a particular period of time.

57. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only records of a plurality of people whose contact information indicates that said plurality of people are available to check an e-mail account for each of said plurality of people within a particular period of time.

58. The system according to claim 50, further comprising said CPU executing code for filtering said coalesced result to include within said filtered result only fields specified by a requester.

59. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said computer system for receiving specifyied sorting preferences for sorting said coalesced result.

60. The system according to claim 59, further comprising said CPU executing code for sorting said records so that said records are displayed in a particular order.

61. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including a telephone number for each of said plurality of people, said telephone number being a telephone number at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by telephone during a particular period of time.

62. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including a physical location for each of said plurality of people, said physical location being a location where said each of said plurality of people can be found during a particular period of time.

63. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including a pager address for each of said plurality of people, said pager address being a pager address at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached by paging during a particular period of time.

64. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an instant message user name for each of said plurality of people, said instant message user name being an instant message user name at which said each of said plurality of people can be reached via an instant message service during a particular period of time.

65. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an e-mail address for each of said plurality of people, said e-mail address being an e-mail address which said each of said plurality of people is expected to check during a particular period of time.

66. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an indication of whether said one or more of said plurality of people is currently utilizing a telephone.

67. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an indication of a best current means for contacting each of said plurality of people.

68. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an indication of an alternate contact person for each of said plurality of people.

69. The system according to claim 47, further comprising said coalesced result including an indication of whether said one or more of said plurality of people is available in a particular period of time to be contacted by any means and one or more means for contacting said one or more of said plurality of people.

24. A computer program product in a computer system for providing both directory information and dynamically updated contact information for at least one of a plurality of entities in response to a directory search, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for receiving a query criteria;

instruction means for executing a search of a directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce a first result;

instruction means for invoking a dynamic contact information service utilizing said first result to produce a second result containing dynamic contact information, said dynamic contact information being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information;

instruction means for coalescing said first and second results to produce a coalesced result; and

instruction means for providing said coalesced result.

47. A computer system for providing both directory information and dynamically updated contact information for at least one of a plurality of entities in response to a directory search, comprising:

said computer system for receiving a query criteria;

said computer system including a CPU executing code for executing a search of a directory database utilizing said query criteria to produce a first result;

said CPU executing code for invoking a dynamic contact information service utilizing said first result to produce a second result containing dynamic contact information, said dynamic contact information being dynamically updated to indicate current contact information;

said CPU executing code for coalescing said first and second results to produce a coalesced result; and

said computer system for providing said coalesced result.