Network-based crossing paths notification service
First Claim
1. A network-based contact management system, comprising:
- a user interface that provides functionality for users to specify personal travel plans data, and to specify permissions data that identifies other users that are authorized to be notified of travel events specified within the personal travel plans data;
a database that stores the personal travel plans data and permissions data specified by the users via the user interface; and
a program module which analyzes the travel plans data in accordance with the permissions data to detect, and notify users of, crossing paths events in which two users are scheduled to be in a common location during travel by at least one of the two users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network-based contact management system provides various features for assisting users in locating, and sharing information with, other users. The system provides a web-based user interface through which each may user create a personal data record, establish contact relationships with other users, and specify permissions for allowing such other users to view the user'"'"'s own personal data. Users can preferably view the personal data records of their respective contacts via personal address books in accordance with the permissions granted by such contacts. A search feature enables each user to search for contacts of that user'"'"'s own contacts to locate other users of interest. A crossing paths notification feature notifies users when their travel plans coincide with those of their contacts.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A network-based contact management system, comprising:
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a user interface that provides functionality for users to specify personal travel plans data, and to specify permissions data that identifies other users that are authorized to be notified of travel events specified within the personal travel plans data;
a database that stores the personal travel plans data and permissions data specified by the users via the user interface; and
a program module which analyzes the travel plans data in accordance with the permissions data to detect, and notify users of, crossing paths events in which two users are scheduled to be in a common location during travel by at least one of the two users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method of facilitating the scheduling of meetings between remote individuals, comprising:
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receiving travel event data that specifies a travel event of a first user;
identifying a plurality of additional users in an address book data of the first user;
comparing the travel event data with data reflective of travel schedules of the plurality of additional users to determine whether any of the additional users are scheduled to be within a selected distance of the first user during said travel event; and
in response to detecting a crossing paths event in which an additional user is scheduled to be within said selected distance of the first user during said travel event, notifying the first user of the crossing paths event. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification