Contact list for accessing a computing application

• US 20050182837A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Checkfree Services Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Checkfree Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dreyer, Hans D., Harris, Mark T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A technique for accessing an electronic commerce function (ECF) is provided. A first signal identifying an entity and an ECF associated with the entity is transmitted to a user from a contact list service. The user selects the ECF, causing a second signal indicating the selection to be transmitted to the contact list service. In response to receipt of the second signal, the contact list service transmits a third signal. The third signal identifies a network address associated with an electronic commerce service provider for providing and/or facilitating the ECF. The third signal also identifies information associated with the entity. The third signal, either directly or indirectly, is operable to cause a fourth signal to be transmitted to the user from the service provider. The fourth signal includes information associated with invoking the ECF and is based upon the information associated with the entity included in the third signal.

Claims

1. A method for accessing an electronic commerce function, comprising:

transmitting, from a first network location, a first signal including information identifying an entity and information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity;

receiving responsive to the transmitted first signal, at the first network location and from a second network location, a second signal including information indicating a selection of the electronic commerce function identified in the first signal; and

transmitting, from the first network location and responsive to the received second signal, a third signal including information identifying a network address associated with an electronic commerce application and information associated with the entity;

wherein the transmitted third signal is operable to cause transmission of a fourth signal to the second network location from a third network location, the fourth signal including information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function based upon the information associated with the entity included in the third signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal includes at least a portion of the information identifying the entity included in the transmitted first signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third signal is transmitted to the second network location, and further comprising:

further transmitting the third signal from the second network location to the third network location;

wherein the fourth signal is transmitted responsive to the further transmitted third signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the third network location and responsive to the transmitted third signal, a fifth signal including a request for other information associated with the entity; and

receiving, at the third network location, a sixth signal transmitted responsive to the fifth signal and including the requested other information associated with the entity;

wherein the fourth signal is transmitted subsequent to the receipt of the sixth signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the information identifying the entity and identifying the electronic commerce function included in the transmitted first signal at the second network location via a contact list user interface;

wherein the information identifying the entity is presented in association with the information identifying the electronic commerce function; and

wherein the selection of the electronic commerce function is based upon the presented information identifying the electronic commerce function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity included in the transmitted first signal is first information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity;

the first signal includes second information identifying another function associated with the entity;

the other function is one of an electronic commerce function, or another function other than an electronic commerce function; and

the second information identifying the other function included in the transmitted first signal is presented in association with the information identifying the entity via the contact list user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third signal does not include information identifying a network address associated with the entity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function included in the transmitted fourth signal at the second network location via an electronic commerce user interface;

wherein the electronic commerce function is associated with at least one of electronic bill presentment and electronic payment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the second network location is associated with a user;

the electronic commerce function is associated with electronic bill presentment;

the presented information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function includes at least one of i) billing information associated with a bill from the entity for the user, ii) billing information associated with one or more past bills from the entity for the user, iii) billing information associated with a bill from the user for the entity, and iv) billing information associated with one or more past bills from the user for the entity; and

billing information includes one of i) summary billing information, and ii) bill detail information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the second network location is associated with a user;

if the electronic commerce function is associated with electronic bill presentment, the electronic commerce user interface is one of i) a biller activation user interface pre-populated with at least a portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal, and ii) an invoicing activation user interface pre-populated with at least a portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal; and

if the electronic commerce function is associated with electronic payment, the electronic commerce user interface is one of i) a payment request user interface pre-populated with at least a portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal, the pre-populated information identifying the entity as a payee, ii) a pending payment request user interface associated with a pending payment to the entity on behalf of the user, iii) a payment history user interface associated with one or more prior payments to the entity on behalf of the user, iv) a payee setup user interface pre-populated with at least of portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal, and (v) a request confirmation screen for presentation after submission of a payment request.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network location is associated with a user, and further comprising:

storing contact information associated with the entity in a contact list associated with the user; and

retrieving the stored contact information;

wherein the stored contact information includes the information identifying the entity and information identifying the electronic commerce function;

wherein the information identifying the entity and information identifying the electronic commerce function included in the transmitted first signal is at least a portion of the retrieved contact information; and

wherein the contact list is stored at one of the first network location or another network location other than the second network location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the user is one of a plurality of users;

the stored contact information includes at least one of i) private contact information designated by the one user as information not available for access by at least a portion of the plurality of users other than the one user, ii) public contact information designated by the one user as information available for access by the plurality of users, and iii) hidden contact information not received from the one user and not available for access by any of the plurality of users;

the information identifying the entity included in the transmitted first signal excludes hidden contact information; and

the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal includes hidden contact information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, at the first network location, a fifth signal including hidden contact information associated with the entity, the fifth signal transmitted from a network location associated with the electronic commerce application; and

storing the hidden contact information included in the received fifth signal in the contact list.

14. A database on a storage medium for storing contact list information, comprising:

first information identifying an entity; and

second information, stored in association with the first information, identifying a network address of an electronic commerce service provider different than the identified entity.

15. The database of claim 14, wherein the first information is other than information identifying a network address associated with the entity.

16. A system for accessing an electronic commerce function, comprising:

a communications interface configured to (i) transmit to a remote network location a first signal including information identifying an entity and information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity, (ii) receive a second signal, transmitted responsive to the first signal and from the remote network location, including information indicating a user selection of the electronic commerce function identified in the first signal, and (iii) transmit a third signal including information identifying a network address associated with an electronic commerce application and information associated with the entity; and

a processor configured to cause the communications interface to transmit the first signal, and to cause the communications interface to transmit the third signal responsive to the receipt of the second signal;

wherein the transmitted third signal is operable to cause transmission of a fourth signal to the remote network location from another network location, the fourth signal including information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function based upon the information associated with the entity included in the third signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the third signal is transmitted to the remote network location;

the remote network location further transmits the third signal to the other network location; and

the fourth signal is transmitted responsive to the further transmitted third signal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the third signal is transmitted to the other network location;

the other network location transmits, responsive to receipt of the third signal, a fifth signal including a request for other information associated with the entity, and receives a sixth signal including the requested other information associated with the entity; and

the fourth signal is transmitted by the other network location responsive to receipt of the sixth signal.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote network location is associated ith one of a plurality of users, and further comprising:

a memory configured to store contact information associated with the entity in a contact list associated with the one user;

wherein the information identifying the entity and information identifying the electronic commerce function included in the transmitted first signal is presented to the one user at the remote location, the information identifying the entity presented in association with the information identifying the electronic commerce function via a contact list user interface;

wherein the selection of the electronic commerce function is based upon the presented information identifying the electronic commerce function;

wherein the stored contact information includes the information identifying the entity and information identifying the electronic commerce function;

wherein the stored contact information includes at least one of i) private contact information designated by the one user as information not available for access by at least a portion of the plurality of users other than the one user, ii) public contact information designated by the one user as information available for access by the plurality of users, and iii) hidden contact information not received from the one user and not available for access by any of the plurality of users;

wherein the information identifying the entity included in the transmitted first signal excludes hidden contact information; and

wherein the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal includes hidden contact information.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the transmitted information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function is presented to a user at the remote network location via an electronic commerce user interface pre-populated with at least a portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal; and

the electronic commerce function is associated with at least one of electronic bill presentment and electronic payment.

21. A method for accessing an electronic commerce function, comprising:

receiving a first signal at a first network location, the first signal transmitted from a second network location and including information associated with an entity, information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity, and information identifying a network address associated with an electronic commerce application;

transmitting, from the first network location and responsive to the received first signal, a second signal to the received network address, the second signal requesting access to the electronic commerce function and including at least a portion of the received information associated with the entity; and

receiving a third signal at the first network location, the third signal transmitted from a third network location responsive to the transmitted second signal and including information, based upon the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted second signal, associated with invoking the electronic commerce function.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

displaying, at the first network location and based upon the received first signal, information identifying the entity, information identifying the electronic commerce function, and a link to access the electronic commerce function;

wherein the second signal is transmitted responsive to an activation of the displayed link.

23. A system for accessing an electronic commerce function, comprising:

a memory configured to store information associated with an entity, information identifying an electronic commerce function associated with the entity, and information identifying a network address associated with an electronic commerce application;

a communications interface configured to (i) receive a first signal requesting access to at least a portion of the stored information, and (ii) transmit a second signal; and

a processor configured to (i) retrieve, responsive to the receipt of the first signal, the stored information, information identifying the electronic commerce function, the stored information identifying the network address, and at least a portion of the stored information associated with the entity, and (ii) cause the communications interface to transmit the second signal;

wherein the transmitted second signal includes the retrieved information and is operable at a network location to cause transmission of a third signal, the third signal requesting access to the electronic commerce function and including at least a portion of the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted second signal; and

wherein the transmitted third signal is operable to cause transmission of a fourth signal to the network location, the fourth signal including information associated with invoking the electronic commerce function based upon the information associated with the entity included in the transmitted third signal.