Apparatus and method for computerized information management
First Claim
1. An information exchange system comprising:
- at least one processor;
at least one memory coupled to said at least one processor;
a profile database residing in said at least one memory; and
a data access application residing in said at least one memory;
at least a first custom profile contained in said profile database containing information entered by a first user;
at least a second custom profile contained in said profile database containing information entered by a second user; and
a link established between said first custom profile and said second custom profile by said data access application, said link being established at the direction of said first user and said second user, said link providing at least one information update to said information entered by said first user or said second user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An effective and efficient process for providing access to, customizing, and updating various types of information provided via a computer network such as the Internet is disclosed. In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, an individual or organization provides specific information to create a master information profile. Additionally, the owner of the information can then provide selectively tailored “views” of the information contained in the master information profile to selected individuals or groups. This allows selectively tailored information, formatted and presented on a web page, to be quickly and easily made available to selected groups, individuals and public Internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo.
223 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An information exchange system comprising:
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at least one processor;
at least one memory coupled to said at least one processor;
a profile database residing in said at least one memory; and
a data access application residing in said at least one memory;
at least a first custom profile contained in said profile database containing information entered by a first user;
at least a second custom profile contained in said profile database containing information entered by a second user; and
a link established between said first custom profile and said second custom profile by said data access application, said link being established at the direction of said first user and said second user, said link providing at least one information update to said information entered by said first user or said second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising the steps of:
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setting up a first user account for a first user in an information exchange system;
providing at least one identifying piece of information associated with said first user to said information exchange system;
providing said at least one identifying piece of information to at least one search engine via said information exchange system;
searching for said first user using said at least one search engine; and
locating said at least one identifying piece of information using said at least one search engine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing updates to contact information comprising the steps of:
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a. performing an information update on at least one information field in an information profile, thereby creating updated information;
b. setting a countdown timer at the completion of said information update, said countdown timer defining a waiting duration;
c. measuring the amount of time elapsed since the most recent information update, thereby creating an update time;
d. transmitting said updated information only when said update time exceeds said waiting duration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a source of information;
contacting said source of information using a globally unique identifier via a first communication medium and initiating a first request for at least one item of information contained within said source of information, said globally unique identifier being used to uniquely identify said at least one item of information, said globally unique identifier being incorporated into said request for said at least one item of information;
receiving an automated answer from said source of information via said first form of communication in response to said contact, said automated message identifying a second form of communication, said automated message including said globally unique identifier;
initiating a second request to receive said at least one item of information, using said second form of communication and incorporating globally unique identifier to identify said at least one item of information. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of automatically forming groups in a contact management system comprising the steps of:
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allowing a plurality of users in said contact management system to voluntarily create a plurality of groups;
allowing at least some of said plurality of users to associate themselves with at least one of said plurality of groups, thereby creating a plurality of group affiliations, observing the group affiliations created by said plurality of users; and
creating at least one groups based on said plurality of group affiliations.
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35. A program product comprising:
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a profile database configured to store a plurality of information profiles;
a data access application, said data access application being configured to establish a link between a first information profile and a second information profile at the request of a first user and a second user, said link being configured to update said first information profile and said second information profile, and;
signal bearing media bearing said program product. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of directing a person to a desired contact information related website for a first individual, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a globally unique identifier to identify said first individual;
using said globally unique identifier as a telephone extension for a telephone number identifying said first individual;
providing a prerecorded message to at least one caller of said telephone number directing said at least one caller to use a web browser to navigate to a web page, said globally unique identifier being incorporated into a URL for said contact information related website, thereby directing said at least one caller to said contact information related website for said first individual. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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Specification