AUTOMATIC UPDATE OF CONTACT INFORMATION IN MESSAGING

• US 20100106781A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Gupta, Prakash
• Application Number:
  US12/257,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Methods and systems for automatically updating contact information or executing other commands via a messaging system can automatically associate a command tag with a message. The command tag can, for example, have a value indicating that the message contains contact information, or have another value corresponding to a command. Based on the value of the command tag, the message receiving component can automatically extract the contact information and apply it to a contact database, or can execute the command.

Claims

1. A method for automatically updating contact information in a messaging system, comprising:

creating a message; and

automatically associating an indicator with the message to indicate that the message contains contact information;

wherein, based on the indicator, a receiving component automatically applies the contact information to a contact database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting a user to provide the contact information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the prompting includes presenting a display including fields for entry of the contact information.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising including the contact information in a body of the message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the message to a recipient.

6. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

7. A method for automatically updating contact information in a messaging system, comprising:

receiving a message;

detecting an indicator associated with the message, the indicator indicating that the message contains contact information; and

based on the detecting, automatically applying the contact information to a contact database.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising parsing a body of the message to extract the contact information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising applying a validation test to the message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the validation test comprises prompting a user to indicate whether to accept the message.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the validation test comprises applying a trust-level criterion to a sender of the message.

12. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the method of claim 7.

13. A system for automatically updating contact information, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor to generate a command tag in a message, the command tag being detectable by a receiving application and indicating whether the message contains contact information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the command tag is binary-valued.

15. A communication device configured with a system according to claim 13.

16. A system for automatically updating contact information, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a value of a command tag in a received message, the command tag to indicate whether the message contains contact information.

17. The system of claim 16, the instructions to further, if the command tag indicates that the message contains contact information, extract the contact information and apply it to a contact database.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the message is an email message.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the message is a short message service (SMS) message.

20. A communication device configured with a system according to claim 16.

21. A method for sending a command via a messaging system, comprising:

creating a message; and

automatically associating a command tag with the message, wherein a value of the command tag indicates a command to be automatically performed by a receiving component.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising sending the message to a recipient.

24. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the method of claim 21.

29. A communication device configured with instructions for performing a method according to claim 21.

22. The method of claim 22, further comprising prompting a user to select the command.

26. A method for automatically executing a command received via a messaging system, comprising:

receiving a message;

determined a value of a command tag associated with the message; and

executing a command corresponding to the value of the command tag.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising applying a validation test to the message.

28. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing the method of claim 26.

30. A communication device configured with instructions for performing a method according to claim 26.