VIRTUAL CONTACT GROUPS

• US 20090160876A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Slatnick, Martin F., King, Steven A., Allen, James D.
• Application Number:
  US11/962,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/676
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-implementable method, system and computer-usable medium includes a virtual contact group that can be dynamically created, in response to a particular user input such as, for example, registration by the user with a particular organization and/or facility. The virtual contact group generally includes a plurality of key or designated personnel. The virtual contact group is associated with the user. The designated personnel are then allowed to communicate electronically with one another within the virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to the user. The virtual contact group is defined based on a user profile associated with the user. The virtual contact group can be stored within one or more memory locations of a computing device associated with one or more designated personnel among the virtual contact group. Such a computing device can be, for example, a wireless communication device capable communicating with the network and/or a server associated with the network.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method, comprising:

dynamically creating a virtual contact group, in response to a particular user input by said user, wherein said virtual contact group includes a plurality of designated personnel;

associating said virtual contact group with said user; and

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user.

2. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises:

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing instant messaging.

3. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises:

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing e-mail.

4. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining said virtual contact group based on a user profile associated with said user.

5. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing said virtual contact group within at least one memory location of a computing device associated with at least one designated personnel among said virtual contact group.

6. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 wherein said computing device comprises a wireless communication device that is capable of communicating with said network.

7. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 wherein said computing device comprises a server associated with said network.

8. The computer-implementable method of claim 1 further comprising associating a virtual file cabinet with said user wherein said virtual file cabinet is accessible by a user via said computing device in communication with said network.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

dynamically creating a virtual contact group, in response to a particular user input by said user, wherein said virtual contact group includes a plurality of designated personnel;

associating said virtual contact group with said user; and

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises:

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing instant messaging.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises,

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing e-mail.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

defining said virtual contact group based on a user profile associated with said user.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

storing said virtual contact group within at least one memory location of a computing device associated with at least one designated personnel among said virtual contact group.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

associating a virtual file cabinet with said user wherein said virtual file cabinet is accessible by a user via said computing device in communication with said network.

15. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

dynamically creating a virtual contact group, in response to a particular user input by said user, wherein said virtual contact group includes a plurality of designated personnel;

associating said virtual contact group with said user; and

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises:

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing instant messaging.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another within said virtual contact group to provide a coordinate service to said user, further comprises:

allowing said designated personnel to communicate electronically with one another utilizing e-mail.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said embodied computer program code further comprises computer executable instructions configured for:

defining said virtual contact group based on a user profile associated with said user.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said embodied computer program code further comprises computer executable instructions configured for:

storing said virtual contact group within at least one memory location of a computing device associated with at least one designated personnel among said virtual contact group.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said embodied computer program code further comprises computer executable instructions configured for:

associating a virtual file cabinet with said user wherein said virtual file cabinet is accessible by a user via said computing device in communication with said network.