Advanced Contact Management in Communications Networks
First Claim
1. A system for providing contact information to a plurality of subscribers in a communications network via communications devices, the system comprising:
- a global contact database (GCD), said GCD being configured to store basic contact information for a plurality of subscribers;
an auxiliary contact database (ACD) in communication with said GCD, said ACD being configured to receive advanced contact information for at least one of said plurality of subscribers from at least one data source and provide said advanced contact information to said GCD upon receipt of a request from said GCD;
a first communications device in communication with said GCD and associated with a first subscriber, said first communications device comprising a first local contact database (LCD) configured to store said basic contact information and said advanced contact information, received from said GCD, for a first subset of said plurality of subscribers; and
a second communications device in communication with said GCD and associated with a second subscriber, said second communications device comprising a second LCD configured to store said basic contact information and said advanced contact information, received from said GCD, for a second subset of said plurality of subscribers;
wherein said first subset comprises said basic contact information and said advanced contact information for said second subscriber and said second subset comprises said basic contact information and said advanced contact information for said first subscriber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system provided herein permits a communications network subscriber to establish a local contact database on at least one communications device. The local contact database can communicate with a global contact database to receive contact information updates for a group of subscribers stored within the local contact database. The contact information can include basic contact information, such as name, address, email address, and telephone number. The contact information can also include advanced contact information, such as registration and activity information for each communications device associated with the group of subscribers, location information, hotspot information, points of interest information, and social networking information. Methods are provided herein that permit subscribers to introduce each other and obtain contact information securely. Methods are also provided herein that permit subscribers to request further contact information after a communication session is terminated.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for providing contact information to a plurality of subscribers in a communications network via communications devices, the system comprising:
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a global contact database (GCD), said GCD being configured to store basic contact information for a plurality of subscribers; an auxiliary contact database (ACD) in communication with said GCD, said ACD being configured to receive advanced contact information for at least one of said plurality of subscribers from at least one data source and provide said advanced contact information to said GCD upon receipt of a request from said GCD; a first communications device in communication with said GCD and associated with a first subscriber, said first communications device comprising a first local contact database (LCD) configured to store said basic contact information and said advanced contact information, received from said GCD, for a first subset of said plurality of subscribers; and a second communications device in communication with said GCD and associated with a second subscriber, said second communications device comprising a second LCD configured to store said basic contact information and said advanced contact information, received from said GCD, for a second subset of said plurality of subscribers; wherein said first subset comprises said basic contact information and said advanced contact information for said second subscriber and said second subset comprises said basic contact information and said advanced contact information for said first subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for providing contact information in a communications network via communications devices, the system comprising:
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a global contact database (GCD), said GCD being configured to store contact information for a plurality of subscribers; a first communications device associated with a first subscriber and configured to store a first local contact database (LCD), said first communications device in communication with said GCD, and said first LCD comprising contact information, acquired from said GCD, associated with each subscriber of a first subset of said plurality of subscribers; a second communications device associated with a second subscriber and configured to store a second LCD, said second communications device in communication with said GCD, and said second LCD comprising contact information, acquired from said GCD, associated with each subscriber of a second subset of said plurality of subscribers; a third communications device associated with a third subscriber and configured to store a third LCD, said third communications device in communication with said GCD, and said third LCD comprising contact information, acquired from said GCD, associated with each subscriber of a third subset of said plurality of subscribers; wherein said first subset comprises contact information for said second subscriber and said second subset comprises contact information for said first subscriber and said third subscriber; and wherein said second communications device establishes a data session with said first communications device, said data session providing said first subscriber temporary access to said contact information for said third subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing contact information in a communications network via communications devices, the method comprising:
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establishing a data session between a first communications device and a second communications device; said first communications device being associated with a first subscriber and said second communications device being associated with a second subscriber; said first communications device comprising a first local contact database (LCD) and said second communications device comprising a second LCD, wherein said first LCD comprises contact information for a first group of subscribers and said second LCD comprises contact information for a second group of subscribers; and
wherein said first group of subscribers comprises said second subscriber and said second group of subscriber comprises said first subscriber;said data session providing said first communications device temporary access to contact information associated with at least one subscriber stored in said second LCD that is not stored in said first LCD.
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15. A method for providing contact information in a communications network via communications devices, comprising:
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establishing a communication session between a first communications device and a second communications device; said first communications device being associated with a first subscriber and said second communications device being associated with a second subscriber; said first communications device comprising a first local contact database (LCD) and said second communications device comprising a second LCD, wherein said first LCD comprises contact information for a first group of subscribers not including said second subscriber and said second LCD comprises contact information for a second group of subscribers not including said first subscriber; terminating said communication session; providing a first option to said first subscriber on said first communications device in response to said step of terminating, wherein said first option permits said first subscriber to request contact information for said second subscriber; receiving a request for said second subscriber'"'"'s contact information; and providing said second subscriber'"'"'s contact information to said first communication device for storage in said first LCD. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for providing contact database search functions in a communications network via communications devices, the method comprising:
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receiving a search request from a communications device at a global contact database (GCD), said GCD being configured to store contact information for a plurality of subscribers; searching said GCD for contact information that corresponds to said search request; compiling search results from said step of searching; determining a policy setting for each subscriber associated with said search results, wherein said policy setting is one of a public setting and a private setting; sending said search results with said policy setting for each subscriber to said communications device; if said policy setting is public, permitting said communications device to store available contact information for the corresponding subscriber; and if said policy setting is private, permitting said communications device to generate and send a request for further contact information for the corresponding subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification