SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC OPPORTUNISTIC DATA AND IMAGE SHARING

• US 20090177748A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Serlet, Bertrand Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72

Abstract

A system for requesting data from another includes means for automatically appending a request for certain information to an outgoing message. In one embodiment, an e-mail editor includes an on-screen “radio button” for causing a request for missing contact information to be appended to the message being composed. The system may automatically parse incoming messages for the requested information which may be extracted and stored automatically. Information may be associated with a date which triggers an automatic request for updated information. Certain embodiments of the invention may be one-sided—implemented on a single programmed system. Other embodiments are implemented on multiple systems such that the process may be automated on both the requesting and replying systems. In yet other embodiments, a website or file server is employed to upload and download requested information.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

identifying an email recipient during the composition of a first email message;

searching a local data store for personal information relating to the email recipient, the searching yielding a search result; and

automatically sending a request for personal information to the email recipient wherein the content of the request is based, at least in part, upon the search result.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the search result comprises an indication that there is no information regarding the email recipient in the local data store.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the search result comprises an indication of specific items of information regarding the email recipient, and wherein the request for personal information comprises a request for one or more of specific items.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein indication of specific items is an indication of a photo.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for personal information is sent as part of the first email message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the request for personal information is sent as part of an electronic communication not including the first email message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the local data store is associated with an application program for personal information management.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

identifying a recipient during the composition of a first electronic communication;

searching a local data store for information about the recipient, the searching yielding a search result; and

sending a request for information to the recipient wherein the content of the request is based, at least in part, upon the search result.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the request for information is sent as part of the first electronic communication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first electronic communication is an email.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the local data store comprises PIM information.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the local data store is associated with an application program for personal information management.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the search result comprises an indication of specific items of information regarding the email recipient, such specific items being absent from the local data store, and wherein the request for personal information comprises a request for one or more of specific items.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first email addressed to a recipient;

identifying a sender of the first email;

examining a local data store to determine if there is an indication regarding the transfer of personal information between parties to the first email, the indication pre-existing the receipt of the first email; and

if there is an indication, then automatically engaging in a transfer of personal information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of automatically engaging in a transfer of personal information comprises sending personal information regarding the first email recipient to the first email sender.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of automatically engaging in a transfer of personal information comprises automatically sending a second email to the first email sender, the second email requesting personal information from the sender.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of automatically engaging in a transfer of personal information comprises extracting personal information of the sender from the first email and adding the personal information of the sender to a local data store.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of examining a local data store comprises determining whether personal information is expected from the first email sender.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of examining a local data store comprises determining whether personal information is desired from the first email sender.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the indication comprises a list.

21. A method comprising the steps of

receiving a first electronic communication sent by a sender and addressed to a recipient;

parsing the first electronic communication to determine an indication regarding items of the sender'"'"'s personal information, such items indicated in a manner to accommodate the parsing;

extracting one or more of the indicated items; and

storing one or more of the indicated items in a local data store.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication is an email.