INTERACTIVE FACSIMILE DIRECTORY

• US 20080005080A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whatsthefax LLC
• Original Assignee: Whatsthefax LLC
• Inventors: Lamas, Jose E., Xiques, Albert E.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An interactive electronic facsimile directory consists of four primary components: (a) a registration module for permitting businesses and individuals to register to list their fax numbers and other contact information in the directory; (b) a login module for permitting registered businesses and individuals to access and modify their fax numbers and other information; (c) a search module for permitting users to search the directory; and, (d) a database for storing data used by the three preceding modules. The registration module, the login module, the search module and the database are interactively coupled and reside on a web server computer, and the registration module, login module, and search module utilize structured query language (“SQL”) to communicate with the database and to store, retrieve and modify data from database as needed. Unlike prior art printed and online databases, the interactive electronic facsimile directory of the present invention provides a centralized directory of fax numbers that are otherwise unavailable from a single source and allows business and individuals to instantaneously update the contact information available in the directory without the typical publication delay associated with prior art directories.

Claims

1. An interactive facsimile directory comprising:

a registration module;

a login module;

a search module; and

a database;

wherein the registration module is designed to permit at least one member to add contact information to the directory;

wherein the login module is design to permit the at least one member to access and modify the contact information;

wherein the search module is designed to permit at least one searcher to search the directory for the contact information of the at least one member; and

wherein the database is designed to receive, transmit, and store data used by the registration module, the login module and the search module, the database being interactively coupled to the registration module, the login module and the search module.

2. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the contact information comprises at least a name and a facsimile number of the at least one member.

3. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the contact information comprises at least a name, an address and a facsimile number of the at least one member.

4. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the contact information comprises at least a name, an address, a telephone number and a facsimile number of the at least one member.

5. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the contact information comprises a name, an address, a telephone number, a facsimile number, a cellular phone number and an email address of the at least one member.

6. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 5 wherein the contact information further comprises a profession or a business category of the at least one member.

7. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the registration module is further designed to permit the at least one member to store payment information for adding the contact information to the directory.

8. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the login module is further designed to authenticate the at least one member prior to the at least one member accessing or modifying the contact information.

9. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 1 wherein the search module is further designed to permit the at least one searcher to search for the contact information using at least a portion of a name or a telephone number.

10. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 4 wherein the search module is further designed to permit the at least one searcher to search for the contact information of the at least one member using at least a portion of the name or the telephone number of the at least one member.

11. The interactive facsimile directory of claim 5 wherein the search module is further designed to permit the at least one searcher to search for the contact information of the at least one member using at least a portion of the name, the address, the telephone number, the cellular phone number or the email address of the at least one member.