Footprint Tracking of Contacts

• US 20110142225A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carraway, Precia, Glasgow, Jay Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/355.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A footprints device includes an input module and an output module. The input module receives a request for footprint data. The footprint data relates to names of users. The output module sends the footprint data to an address book. The footprint data is marked to indicate when at least one of the names of the users is a contact of the address book.

Claims

1. A footprints device, comprising:

an input module receiving a request for footprint data, the footprint data relating to names of users; and

an output module sending the footprint data to an address book,

wherein the footprint data is marked to indicate when at least one of the names of the users is a contact of the address book.

2. The footprints device of claim 1, wherein the request is at least partially incorporated with a search performed on the address book.

3. The footprints device of claim 2, wherein the search is for business entities.

4. The footprints device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the names of the users is displayed on the address book.

5. The footprints device of claim 1, wherein the output module sends a request to update the footprint data to track a user of the address book.

6. The footprints device of claim 1, wherein the input module receives a command to update the footprint data to track a user of the address book.

7. The footprints device of claim 6, wherein the command indicates one of an enabled tracking and a disabled tracking.

8. The footprints device of claim 6, wherein the command indicates a type of footprint to be associated with the user of the address book.

9. The footprints device of claim 8, wherein the type includes one of an implicit footprint, an explicit footprint, and an invisible footprint.

10. The footprints device of claim 6, wherein, when the command indicates a disabled tracking, the footprint data is statistically updated.

11. A computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions operable to:

receive a request for footprint data, the footprint data relating to names of users; and

send the footprint data to an address book,

wherein the footprint data is marked to indicate when at least one of the names of the users is a contact of the address book.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the request is at least partially incorporated with a search performed on the address book.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the names of the users is displayed on the address book.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions are further operable to:

send a request to update the footprint data to track a user of the address book.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions are further operable to:

receive a command to update the footprint data to track a user of the address book.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the command indicates one of an enabled tracking and a disabled tracking.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the command indicates a type of footprint to be associated with the user of the address book.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the type includes one of an implicit footprint, an explicit footprint, and an invisible footprint.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein, when the command indicates a disabled tracking, the footprint data is statistically updated.

20. A footprints device, comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a request for footprint data, the footprint data relating to names of users; and

a sending means for sending the footprint data to an address book,

wherein the footprint data is marked to indicate when at least one of the names of the users is a contact of the address book.