Method of Distributing Contact and Calendar Records

• US 20080177744A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chartoleaux KG LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tepa Datasolutions Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Eldering, Charles A., Fuller, Benjamin E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method of distributing contact and calendar information in a multi-component environment includes maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records and the records contain a plurality of fields and directives. The records are designated and distributed to at least one component based on the directives.

Claims

1. A method of distributing contact or calendar information in a multi-component environment, the method comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records, each of the contact or calendar records containing a plurality of fields and a plurality of directives;

(b) for each contact or calendar record, designating at least one component of the multi-component system to which the on or more of the fields are to be distributed, wherein the designation is based on the directives corresponding to the respective record; and

(c) automatically distributing one or more fields of the records to the at least one component designated for that record in step (b).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact or calendar records contains group information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group information is based on geographical information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the group information is based on time of day information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

(d) buffering the contact or calendar data for pre-distribution processing prior to initiating distribution.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pre-distribution processing includes virus scanning.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pre-distribution processing includes message integrity checking.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component in the multi-component environment uses an operating system, file format or other technical standard different than that used by at least one of the other components.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the contact or calendar record is formatted to be readable by the at least one component prior to the distributing of step (c).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the contact or calendar record is formatted to be readable by the at least one component after being received by the component.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the directives include rules pertaining to group information used for distribution.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) providing a user with the option to accept or reject local storage of the contact or calendar record at the at least one component.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more fields of the records are distributed via the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more fields of the records are distributed via a wireless network.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more fields of the records are distributed via a wireless network.

17. A contact or calendar information system comprising:

a storage device containing a plurality of contact or calendar records, each of the contact or calendar records containing a plurality of fields and a plurality of directives;

a communication system for transmitting at least one of the plurality of records based on the directives; and

at least one device for receiving the at least one of the plurality of records.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the directives contain rules pertaining to group information used for distribution.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the directives contain transmission information.

20. A method of distributing contact or calendar information in a multi-component environment, the method comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records, each of the contact or calendar records containing a plurality of directives;

(b) for each contact or calendar record, designating at least one component of the multi-component system to which the record is to be distributed, wherein the designation is based on directives corresponding to the respective record; and

(c) automatically distributing one or more fields of the records to the at least one component designated for that record in step (b).

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one component in the multi-component environment uses an operating system, file format or other technical standard different than that used by at least one of the other components.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the contact or calendar record is formatted to be readable by the at least one component prior to the distributing of step (c).

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the contact or calendar record is formatted to be readable by the at least one component after being received by the component.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the directives include rules pertaining to group information used for distribution.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

(d) providing a user with the option to accept or reject local storage of the contact or calendar record at the at least one component.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the one or more fields of the records are distributed via the Internet.