Virtual calling card system and method
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having thereon a computer-readable data structure corresponding to a virtual calling card comprising:
- a first side having thereon a first display comprising an identification of an owner of the calling card and a contact control, the contact control being user-selectable to automatically send a message to the owner of the calling card; and
a second side accessible via a user-actuatable flip control on the first side, the second side having thereon a second display.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner'"'"'s social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. The exchange of the card, although server-based, appears to users to simply be a transfer of the card from the owner, or other party, to the recipient, much as a card changes hands in the physical world.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having thereon a computer-readable data structure corresponding to a virtual calling card comprising:
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a first side having thereon a first display comprising an identification of an owner of the calling card and a contact control, the contact control being user-selectable to automatically send a message to the owner of the calling card; and
a second side accessible via a user-actuatable flip control on the first side, the second side having thereon a second display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of transferring a virtual business card to a recipient machine from a sender machine comprising:
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receiving at the recipient machine from the sender machine a virtual business card locator associated with the virtual business card;
utilizing the locator without user intervention to determine identity and location information of a most recent version of the virtual business card;
retrieving the most recent version of the virtual business card using the identity and location information without user intervention; and
automatically displaying the retrieved most recent version of the virtual business card on a display of the recipient machine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of transferring a virtual business card to a recipient machine from a sender machine comprising:
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receiving at the sender machine a user input indicating a desire of a first user of the sender machine to send a virtual business card to a second user of the recipient machine; and
automatically sending from the sender machine to the recipient machine a business card locator associated with the virtual business card, whereby the business card locator is automatically utilized by the recipient machine to retrieve and display the most recent version of the virtual business card. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-readable instructions for generating a graphical user interface for allowing a first user to access information regarding virtual calling cards comprising:
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a personal interface for viewing and manipulating at least one virtual calling card generated by the first user;
a library interface for viewing and manipulating at least one virtual calling card generated by at least one other user; and
a social network interface for displaying an indication of other users that have received the at least one virtual calling card generated by the first user.
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Specification