System and method for facilitating cross-compatibility of address books

• US 20070022095A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Vincent, Daos, Brenda
• Application Number:
  US11/186,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices. First address data is first received in a first format and tested to determine the compatibility of the first address data relative to the second format. The first address data is then selectively converted, according to the output from the compatibility testing, into the second format. The converted address data is then stored in a common address book storage area. Next, the common address book is searched in response to a received address query. The result data communicatively output representing the result of the search of the common address book in response to the received address query.

Claims

1. A cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices comprising:

input means adapted for receiving first address data in a first format;

compatibility testing means for testing compatibility of the first address data relative to a second format;

conversion means adapted for selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing means, address data in the first format to address data in the second format;

common address book storage adapted for storing converted address data in a common address book storage area;

search means adapted for searching the common address book for address data responsive to a received address query; and

output means adapted for communicating result data representative of a result of a search of the common address book responsive to the received address query.

2. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input means and the output means are adapted for data communication via an associated data network.

3. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 2, wherein the common address book storage is disposed on a controller of an associated document processing device.

4. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 2, wherein the common address book is disposed on a memory of a networked workstation.

5. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 2, wherein:

the input means includes means for receiving third address data in a third format;

the compatibility means includes means for testing compatibility of the third address data relative to the second format; and

the conversion means includes means adapted for selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing means, address data in the format to address data in the second format.

6. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 5, wherein address data in the first format is native to a first document processing device and address data in the third format is native to second document processing device, and wherein the first format and third format are mutually incompatible.

7. The cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 6, wherein the first document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device, and wherein the second document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device.

8. A method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices comprising the steps of:

receiving first address data in a first format;

testing compatibility of the first address data relative to a second format;

selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing step, address data in the first format to address data in the second format;

storing converted address data in a common address book storage area;

searching the common address book for address data responsive to a received address query; and

communicating result data representative of a result of a search of the common address book responsive to the received address query.

9. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first address data in the first format and the result data are communicated via an associated data network.

10. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 9, wherein the common address book storage is disposed on a controller of an associated document processing device.

11. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 9, wherein the common address book is disposed on a memory of a networked workstation.

12. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving third address data in a third format;

testing compatibility of the third address data relative to the second format; and

selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing step, address data in the format to address data in the second format.

13. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 12, wherein address data in the first format is native to a first document processing device and address data in the third format is native to second document processing device, and wherein the first format and third format are mutually incompatible.

14. The method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 13, wherein the first document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device, and wherein the second document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device.

15. A computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices comprising:

instructions for receiving first address data in a first format;

instructions for testing compatibility of the first address data relative to a second format;

instructions for selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing, address data in the first format to address data in the second format;

instructions for storing converted address data in a common address book storage area;

instructions for searching the common address book for address data responsive to a received address query; and

instructions for communicating result data representative of a result of a search of the common address book responsive to the received address query.

16. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first address data in the first format and the result data are communicated via an associated data network.

17. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 16, wherein the common address book storage is disposed on a controller of an associated document processing device.

18. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 16, wherein the common address book is disposed on a memory of a networked workstation.

19. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 16, further comprising:

instructions for receiving third address data in a third format;

instructions for testing compatibility of the third address data relative to the second format; and

instructions for selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing, address data in the format to address data in the second format.

20. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 19, wherein address data in the first format is native to a first document processing device and address data in the third format is native to second document processing device, and wherein the first format and third format are mutually incompatible.

21. The computer-readable medium of instructions with computer-readable instructions stored thereon for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 20, wherein the first document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device, and wherein the second document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device.

22. A computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices comprising the steps of:

receiving first address data in a first format;

testing compatibility of the first address data relative to a second format;

selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing step, address data in the first format to address data in the second format;

storing converted address data in a common address book storage area;

searching the common address book for address data responsive to a received address query; and

communicating result data representative of a result of a search of the common address book responsive to the received address query.

23. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 22 wherein at least one of the first address data in the first format and the result data are communicated via an associated data network.

24. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 23, wherein the common address book storage is disposed on a controller of an associated document processing device.

25. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 23, wherein the common address book is disposed on a memory of a networked workstation.

26. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

receiving third address data in a third format;

testing compatibility of the third address data relative to the second format; and

selectively converting, in accordance with an output of the compatibility testing step, address data in the format to address data in the second format.

27. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 26, wherein address data in the first format is native to a first document processing device and address data in the third format is native to second document processing device, and wherein the first format and third format are mutually incompatible.

28. The computer-implemented method for enabling a cross-compatible address book for multiple document processing devices of claim 27, wherein the first document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device, and wherein the second document processing device is at least one of the group consisting of a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral device.