Automated on-line information service and directory, particularly for the world wide web

• US 20050114343A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher D. Coley, Ralph E. Wesinger Jr
• Original Assignee: Christopher D. Coley, Ralph E. Wesinger Jr
• Inventors: Coley, Christopher D., Wesinger, Ralph E. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/816,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114343A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for updating personalized user information on a home page. Preferred embodiments include a web site configured for receiving a request from a user to update personalized information on the home page, verifying the identity of the user utilizing a password, and allowing the personalized information to be updated if a proper password is received by the website.

Claims

1. A method for updating personalized user information on a home page comprising:

receiving a request from a user to update the personalized information on the home page;

retrieving a password corresponding to said user;

querying said user for said password;

receiving a user response to said query; and

allowing said personalized information to be updated on said home page if said user response contains said password.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized information includes non-textual content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said non-textual content is uploaded to said website using a file transfer protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said uploading of said non-textual content is performed using a password and user ID associated with said user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized information includes a link to the user'"'"'s e-mail address.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized information includes a URL provided by said user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized information includes a URL to the user'"'"'s organization homepage.

8. An apparatus for updating personalized user information on a home page comprising:

a web site configured for;

receiving a request from a user to update the personalized information on a home page hosted by said web site;

retrieving a password corresponding to said user;

querying said user for said password;

receiving a user response to said query; and

allowing said personalized information to be updated on said home page if said user response contains said password.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said personalized information includes non-textual content.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said non-textual content is uploaded to said website using a file transfer protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said uploading of said non-textual content is performed using a password and user ID associated with said user.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said personalized information includes a link to the user'"'"'s e-mail address.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said personalized information includes a URL provided by said user.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said personalized information includes a URL to the user'"'"'s organization homepage.

15. An apparatus for updating personalized user information on a home page comprising:

means for receiving a request from a user to update the personalized information on the home page;

means for retrieving a password corresponding to said user;

means for querying said user for said password;

means for receiving a user response to said query; and

means for allowing said personalized information to be updated on said home page if said user response contains said password.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said personalized information includes non-textual content.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said non-textual content is uploaded to said website using a file transfer protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said uploading of said non-textual content is performed using a password and user ID associated with said user.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said personalized information includes a link to the user'"'"'s e-mail address.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said personalized information includes a URL provided by said user.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said personalized information includes a URL to the user'"'"'s organization homepage.