Systems and Methods for Management of Contact Information

• US 20080222127A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James P. Bergin
• Original Assignee: James P. Bergin
• Inventors: Bergin, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9017 using directory or table look-up use of a directory or look-up table in file systems G06F16/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods for the management of contact information, which may include automatic transfer processes (102,103), automatic update processes, automatic customization processes, automatic delivery processes (1061,1062,1063), automatic storage processes (101), automatic portability processes (106), and/or automatic radial mining processes.

Claims

1. A contact information profile, comprising:

a user identification code; and

,

a contact information profile identification code.

2. The contact information profile of claim 1, further comprising:

a contact information profile version code;

a contact information profile type code;

contact information data;

related information, said related information related to said contact information data;

appearance-defining software; and

,

software for communicating with software on a device.

3. A system for the management of contact information, comprising:

a plurality of devices for use by users of the system, each said device having a specialized software module and certain of said devices equipped with a reader for downloading to said device a contact information profile in machine-readable form;

a database having, for each user of the system, a first storage space for storing said user'"'"'s outgoing contact information profiles and a second storage space for storing said user'"'"'s incoming contact information profiles, said database also storing each said user'"'"'s preferences;

an Internet interface linked to said database and enabling interactions between said database and certain of said devices via the Internet;

a communications gateway linked to said database for sending to and receiving from certain of said devices communications via the Internet or other public communications networks; and

,

a plurality of conveyors, each said conveyor having present on it a contact information profile in machine-readable form.

4. In the system of claim 3, a method of transferring contact information, wherein one said user includes a said contact information profile in an interaction or communication with another said user via the Internet.

5. In the system of claim 3, a method of transferring contact information, wherein one said user includes a said contact information profile in a communication with another said user via other public communications networks.

6. In the system of claim 3, a method of transferring contact information, wherein one said user uploads a said contact information profile from his device in use for transmission using close-proximity data transmission technologies to another said user'"'"'s device in use.

7. In the system of claim 3, a method of transferring contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) a sending user'"'"'s presenting a said conveyor to a receiving user; and

,

(b) using a said device equipped with a said reader, said receiving user'"'"'s presenting said conveyor to said reader.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said database includes a directory, said directory comprising all contact information profiles stored in said first storage spaces of said users for which said users have set preferences permitting their compilation in said directory.

9. In the system of claim 8, a method of transferring contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a said user'"'"'s submitting a search request to said database through said Internet interface;

(b) said database'"'"'s searching said directory;

(c) said database'"'"'s presenting search results to said user through said Internet interface; and

,

(d) downloading of a selected contact information profile in said search results to said user'"'"'s device in use.

10. In the system of claim 8, a method of transferring contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a said user'"'"'s submitting a search request to said database through said communications gateway;

(b) said database'"'"'s searching said directory;

(c) said database'"'"'s presenting search results to said user through said communications gateway; and

,

(d) downloading of a selected contact information profile in said search results to said user'"'"'s device in use.

11. In the system of claim 8, a method of transferring contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a said user'"'"'s submitting a search request to said database;

(b) said database'"'"'s searching said directory;

(c) said database'"'"'s presenting search results to said user; and

,

(d) storing of a selected contact information profile in said search results in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database.

12. In the system of claim 8, a method of transferring contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a said user'"'"'s submitting a search request to said database;

(b) said database'"'"'s searching said directory;

(c) said database'"'"'s presenting search results to said user; and

,

(d) distributing of a selected contact information profile in said search results to said user'"'"'s registered devices, according to said user'"'"'s preferences, including, where said user'"'"'s device in use is a registered device and where said contact information profile is not otherwise downloaded to said device in use, to said device in use.

13. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for automatically constructing a search request, for searching said directory, from contact information data not contained in a said contact information profile.

14. In the system of claim 3, a method of saving contact information on a said device or in a said user'"'"'s said first or second storage space in said database, wherein a said contact information profile overwrites any corresponding contact information profile having a lesser contact information profile version code.

15. In the system of claim 3, a method of saving contact information on a said device or in a said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database, wherein a said incoming contact information profile is merged in a single address book entry with all contact information profiles having common user identification codes.

16. In the system of claim 3, a method of erasing contact information from a said device or from said database, wherein a said contact information profile containing in said related information a single expiration date is erased on said expiration date.

17. In the system of claim 3, a method of displaying information related to contact information on a said device or in a said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database, wherein said information is displayed in an address book in accordance with certain said related information contained in a said incoming contact information profile.

18. In the system of claim 3, a method of updating contact information, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s modifying and saving a selected outgoing contact information profile, where the now-updated contact information profile contains a stepped-up contact information profile version code and overwrites the now-outdated corresponding contact information profile in said user'"'"'s said first storage space in said database;

(c) said first user'"'"'s selecting recipients of said updated contact information profile;

(d) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of recipients of said updated contact information profile, said final list including, for each listed recipient, preferences defining how said recipient is to receive said contact information profile;

(e) said database'"'"'s delivering said final list and said updated contact information profile to said communications gateway;

(f) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said updated contact information profile for downloading to one or more registered devices of each said recipient on said final list, in a manner defined by each said recipient'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(g) said recipients'"'"' saving of said updated contact information profile on their said devices, where on each said device said contact information profile overwrites any corresponding contact information profile having a lesser contact information profile version code.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, in Step (d), for each said recipient whose preferences indicate he is to receive said updated contact information profile through said Internet interface, either instead of or in addition to through said communications gateway, said database presents said contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said recipient'"'"'s registered devices through said Internet interface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein, said updated contact information profile is a promotional update and, in Step (d), said database does not include on said final list would-be recipients whose promotional update preferences indicate that they are not to receive said updated contact information profile.

21. In the system of claim 3, a method of customizing contact information for special purposes, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s creating and saving a special-purpose outgoing contact information profile, where said contact information profile contains a special-purpose contact information profile type code and is stored in said user'"'"'s said first storage space in said database;

(c) said first user'"'"'s selecting recipients of said special-purpose contact information profile;

(d) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of recipients of said special-purpose contact information profile, said final list including, for each listed recipient, preferences defining how said recipient is to receive said contact information profile;

(e) said database'"'"'s delivering said final list and said special-purpose contact information profile to said communications gateway;

(f) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said special-purpose contact information profile for downloading to one or more registered devices of each said recipient on said final list, in a manner defined by each said recipient'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(g) said recipients'"'"' saving of said special-purpose contact information profile on their said devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, in Step (d), for each said recipient whose preferences indicate he is to receive said special-purpose contact information profile through said Internet interface, either instead of or in addition to through said communications gateway, said database presents said contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said recipient'"'"'s registered devices through said Internet interface.

23. In the system of claim 3, a method of delivering contact information to targeted users, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s creating and saving an outgoing contact information profile, where said contact information profile is stored in said user'"'"'s said first storage space in said database;

(c) said first user'"'"'s selecting recipients of said outgoing contact information profile, wherein said first user selects segmentation parameters to define a recipient profile;

(d) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of first-phase recipients of said outgoing contact information profile, wherein said database searches for recipient profile matches, said final list including, for each listed recipient, preferences defining how said recipient is to receive said contact information profile;

(1) where said final list includes on it one or more said recipients, said database'"'"'s delivering said final list and said contact information profile to said communications gateway;

(2) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said contact information profile for downloading to one or more registered devices of each said recipient on said final list, in a manner defined by each said recipient'"'"'s preferences; and

(3) said recipients'"'"' saving of said contact information profile on their said devices; and

,

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of next-phase recipients of said outgoing contact information profile, wherein said database searches for recipient profile matches, said final list including, for each listed recipient, preferences defining how said recipient is to receive said contact information profile;

(1) where said final list includes on it one or more said recipients, said database'"'"'s delivering said final list and said contact information profile to said communications gateway;

(2) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said contact information profile for downloading to one or more registered devices of each said recipient on said final list, in a manner defined by each said recipient'"'"'s preferences;

(3) said recipients'"'"' saving of said contact information profile on their said devices; and

,

(4) repeating of this Step (e).

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, in Steps (d) and (e), for each said recipient whose preferences indicate he is to receive said outgoing contact information profile through said Internet interface, either instead of or in addition to through said communications gateway, said database presents said contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said recipient'"'"'s registered devices through said Internet interface.

27. In the system of claim 3, a method of storing incoming contact information in said database, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s saving a said incoming contact information profile on a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a said return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the storage of said corresponding incoming contact information profile in his said second storage space in said database; and

,

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that said corresponding incoming contact information profile is to be stored in said storage space, said database'"'"'s retrieving said contact information profile and storing it in said storage space, wherein said contact information profile overwrites any corresponding contact information profile having a lesser contact information profile version code.

28. In the system of claim 3, a method of clearing incoming contact information from said database, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s deleting a said incoming contact information profile from a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a said return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile, said return contact information profile including a rejected indicator;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the storage of said corresponding incoming contact information profile in his said second storage space in said database; and

,

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that said corresponding incoming contact information profile is not to be stored in said storage space, said database'"'"'s searching in said storage space for said contact information profile and, if stored therein, erasing it from said storage space.

29. In the system of claim 3, a method of distributing incoming contact information to said devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s saving a said incoming contact information profile on a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the distribution of said corresponding incoming contact information profile to said user'"'"'s registered devices;

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that said corresponding incoming contact information profile is to be distributed to said devices, said database'"'"'s retrieving said contact information profile and delivering it to said communications gateway, together with said user'"'"'s preferences defining how he is to receive said contact information profile;

(g) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said corresponding incoming contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said user'"'"'s said devices, in a manner defined by said user'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(h) said user'"'"'s saving of said corresponding incoming contact information profile on his said devices, where on each said device said contact information profile overwrites any corresponding contact information profile having a lesser contact information profile version code.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein, in Step (f), where said user'"'"'s preferences indicate he is to receive said corresponding incoming contact information profile through said Internet interface, either instead of or in addition to through said communications gateway, said database presents said contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said user'"'"'s registered devices through said Internet interface.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein, where said incoming contact information profile does not contain all information contained in its corresponding master contact information profile and said device is capable of saving more of said information than is contained in said incoming contact information profile, in Step (b), said corresponding return contact information profile includes an indicator of those facts, and, in Step (f), said database presents said corresponding incoming contact information profile for downloading to said user'"'"'s said device in use through said Internet interface via the Internet.

33. In the system of claim 3, a method of clearing incoming contact information from said devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s deleting a said incoming contact information profile from a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the distribution of a corresponding clearing contact information profile to said user'"'"'s registered devices;

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that a said corresponding clearing contact information profile is to be distributed to said devices, said database'"'"'s creating said corresponding clearing contact information profile;

(g) said database'"'"'s delivering said corresponding clearing contact information profile to said communications gateway, together with said user'"'"'s preferences defining how he is to receive said clearing contact information profile;

(h) said communications gateway'"'"'s presenting said clearing contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said user'"'"'s said devices, in a manner defined by said user'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(i) said user'"'"'s downloading of said clearing contact information profile to said devices, where on each said device said clearing contact information profile erases any corresponding contact information profile.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, in Step (g), where said user'"'"'s preferences indicate he is to receive said corresponding clearing contact information profile through said Internet interface, either instead of or in addition to through said communications gateway, said database presents said clearing contact information profile for downloading to one or more of said user'"'"'s registered devices through said Internet interface.

35. In the system of claim 3, a method of accessing incoming contact information, wherein a said user accesses a said incoming contact information profile stored in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database through said Internet interface.

36. In the system of claim 3, a method of accessing incoming contact information, wherein a said user accesses a said incoming contact information profile stored in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database through said communications gateway.

37. In the system of claim 3, a method of sharing incoming contact information, wherein a said user arranges for group access to one or more of said user'"'"'s incoming contact information profiles.

38. In the system of claim 3, a method of yielding for a first user intelligence concerning his relations to other users, wherein said database mines said contact information profiles stored in said second storage spaces in said database of users radially connected to said first user.

39. In the system of claim 3, a method of identifying for a first user links to another user whose identity is known, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s selecting one or more target contact information profiles;

(c) said first user'"'"'s selecting first-degree users;

(d) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of said first-degree users and, for each said first-degree user on said list, searching for a contact information profile match in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database;

(1) where said database determines there is a said contact information profile match with respect to one or more of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of positive results;

(2) where said database determines there is no said contact information profile match with respect to any of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s determining whether it has searched with respect to the Nth-degree users, and where said database determines that it has, said database'"'"'s generating a report of negative results;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of next-degree users and, for each said next-degree user on said list, searching for a said contact information profile match in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database;

(1) where said database determines there is a said contact information profile match with respect to one or more of said next-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of positive results;

(2) where said database determines there is no said contact information profile match with respect to any of said next-degree users, said database'"'"'s determining whether it has searched with respect to said Nth-degree users, and where said database determines that it has, said database'"'"'s generating a report of negative results; and

,

(3) where said database determines that is has not, said database'"'"'s repeating of this Step (e) with respect to still next-degree users.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said database makes assumptions about relationships between users.

41. In the system of claim 3, a method of identifying for a first user links to another user whose identity is not known, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s selecting a search function;

(c) said first user'"'"'s selecting first-degree users;

(d) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of first-degree users and, for each said first-degree user on said list, searching for a contact information profile match in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database;

(1) where said database determines there is a said contact information profile match with respect to one or more of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of positive results;

(2) where said database determines there is no said contact information profile match with respect to any of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s determining whether it has searched with respect to the Nth-degree users, and where said database determines that it has, said database'"'"'s generating a report of negative results;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of next-degree users and, for each said next-degree user on said list, searching for a contact information profile match in said user'"'"'s said second storage space in said database;

(1) where said database determines there is a said contact information profile match with respect to one or more of said next-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of positive results;

(2) where said database determines there is no said contact information profile match with respect to any of said next-degree users, said database'"'"'s determining whether it has searched with respect to said Nth-degree users, and where said database determines that it has, said database'"'"'s generating a report of negative results; and

,

(3) where said database determines that is has not, said database'"'"'s repeating of this Step (e) with respect to still next-degree users.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said database makes assumptions about relationships between users.

43. In the system of claim 3, a method of yielding for a first user intelligence concerning his relations to other users, wherein said database mines said contact information profiles stored in said first storage spaces in said database of users radially connected to said first user.

44. In the system of claim 3, a method of identifying for a first user another user having like special purposes, comprising the steps of:

(a) using a said device, a first user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(b) said first user'"'"'s selecting a search function;

(c) said database'"'"'s compiling a final list of first-degree users and, for each said first-degree user on said list, searching for a special-purpose contact information profile match in said user'"'"'s said first storage space in said database;

(1) where said database determines there is a said special-purpose contact information profile match with respect to one or more of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of positive results; and

,

(2) where said database determines there is no said special-purpose contact information profile match with respect to any of said first-degree users, said database'"'"'s generating a report of negative results.

45. The system of claim 3, further comprising, one or more connected contact information profile distributors.

46. In the system of claim 45, a method of distributing incoming contact information to said connected contact information profile distributors, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s saving a said incoming contact information profile on a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the distribution of said corresponding incoming contact information profile to said connected contact information profile distributors;

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that said corresponding incoming contact information profile is to be distributed to one or more of said distributors, said database'"'"'s retrieving said contact information profile and distributing it to said one or more of said distributors via the connection between them, in a manner defined by said user'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(g) storing of said incoming contact information profile at said distributors, where at each said distributor said contact information profile overwrites any corresponding contact information profile stored at said distributor for said user having a lesser contact information profile version code.

47. In the system of claim 45, a method of clearing incoming contact information from said connected contact information profile distributors, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user'"'"'s deleting a said incoming contact information profile from a said device;

(b) creating and temporarily storing on said device a return contact information profile corresponding to said incoming contact information profile, said return contact information profile including a rejected indicator;

(c) using said device, said user'"'"'s interacting with said database through said Internet interface via the Internet;

(d) uploading said return contact information profile from said device to said database;

(e) said database'"'"'s compiling said user'"'"'s preferences to determine the prevailing preference concerning the distribution of a corresponding clearing contact information profile to said connected contact information profile distributors;

(f) where said prevailing preference indicates that a said corresponding incoming contact information profile is to be distributed to one or more of said distributors, said database'"'"'s creating said corresponding clearing contact information profile;

(g) said database'"'"'s distributing said clearing contact information profile to said one or more said distributors via the connection between them, in a manner defined by said user'"'"'s preferences; and

,

(h) downloading of said clearing contact information profile to said distributors, where at each said distributor said clearing contact information profile erases any corresponding contact information profile stored for said user at said distributor.

48. In the system of claim 45, a method of storing incoming contact information at a said connected contact information profile distributor, wherein, upon a said user'"'"'s storing of a said incoming contact information profile at said distributor, a corresponding return contact information profile is created and thereafter distributed by said distributor to said database via the connection between them.

49. In the system of claim 45, a method of deleting incoming contact information profile at a said connected contact information profile distributor, wherein, upon a said user'"'"'s deleting of a said incoming contact information profile at said distributor, a corresponding return contact information profile is created and thereafter distributed by said distributor to said database via the connection between them, said return contact information profile including a rejected indicator.

50. In the system of claim 45, a method of distributing outgoing contact information, wherein, in accordance with a said user'"'"'s preferences, said database distributes one or more of said user'"'"'s said outgoing contact information profiles to a said connected contact information profile distributor, via the connection between them, for searching by others or in response to a search request

25. A return contact information profile, comprising:

a user identification code; and

,

a contact information profile identification code.

26. The return contact information profile of claim 25, further comprising:

a contact information profile version code;

a contact information profile type code;

specific preferences; and

,

supplementary information.

32. A clearing contact information profile, comprising:

a user identification code;

a contact information profile identification code; and

,

software instructions directing that a contact information profile having a common user identification code and a common contact information profile identification code be erased.