DIRECTORY SERVICE FOR LOCATING STALE ACQUAINTANCES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- storing directory information that includes out-of-date contact data obtained from subscribers to a directory service;
receiving a request from a searcher to contact a possible subscriber;
comparing, in response to the request, information associated with the request to the directory information; and
transmitting, when the comparing indicates that the directory information includes the subscriber, a message to the subscriber informing the subscriber of the request to contact the subscriber.
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Abstract
A directory service encourages subscribers to store old or out-of-date contact information. When someone wishes to get in touch with another person with whom they no longer have current or complete contact information, they may query the online directory service with one or more out-of-date or incomplete contact fields (e.g., an old phone number and a name).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing directory information that includes out-of-date contact data obtained from subscribers to a directory service; receiving a request from a searcher to contact a possible subscriber; comparing, in response to the request, information associated with the request to the directory information; and transmitting, when the comparing indicates that the directory information includes the subscriber, a message to the subscriber informing the subscriber of the request to contact the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device comprising:
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means for storing directory information that includes out-of-date contact data obtained from subscribers; means for receiving a request to contact a subscriber; means for comparing information associated with the request to the directory information; and means for transmitting, when the comparing means indicates that the directory information includes the subscriber, a message to the subscriber informing the subscriber of the request to contact the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving out-of-date contact information about an acquaintance; matching the out-of-date contact information to a storage mechanism that includes a plurality of fields configured to store, for each of a plurality of subscribers, out-of-date contact data; and transmitting a message to one or more of the plurality of subscribers based on the matching of the out-of-date contact information about the acquaintance to the storage mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a storage mechanism to store directory information defined by a plurality of fields configured to store out-of-date contact data obtained from a plurality of subscribers; a processor; and a memory to store instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive out-of-date contact information about one of the plurality of subscribers from a searcher interested in making contact with the subscriber; match the received out-of-date contact information to the directory information stored in the storage mechanism; and transmit a message to one or more of the plurality of subscribers when the received out-of-date contact information matches the directory information stored in the storage mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification