System, apparatus and method for automatic address updating of outgoing and incoming user messages in a communications network

• US 6,564,264 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Perry, Brian J., Ramage, John Gerow, Creswell, Carroll W., Sherman, Ronald, Huber, Kenneth Mervin
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/456,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/245, 709/246, 709/3, 709/93.01, 709/93.24
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method automatically update address information of a user'"'"'s outgoing and incoming messages to/from a communication network thereby relieving the user of the burden of manually entering address changes into a user address book. A plurality of users are coupled through terminals to a server in the communication network for exchanging telephone, CATV, Internet, intranet for messaging, facsimile, etc purposes. The server includes a message store; stored message profile; and is coupled to a change server linked to a network. The change server includes search rules and change options provided by the users in directing the change server in finding correct and alternative address information when erroneous or unknown information is detected in the outgoing and incoming messages. Each user address book includes a series of contacts for each user. Each contact is identified by an identification number, ID, including a name and address. The server detects message headers where a “Send To Address” is not in the address book. The change server is activated and accesses external databases for correct or alternative addresses in accordance with search rules provided by the user. The alternative or correct address books address information is installed in the users address book and the “Send To Message” process is executed. For returned messages incorporating erroneous information, the search server is again activated to access the databases for correct address information, after which the user'"'"'s address book is updated thereby eliminating the time-consuming, irritating manual process of updating the user address book for outgoing and incoming messages.

Claims

1. A system for automatically updating address information for outgoing messages from a user, and incoming messages to a user, in a communication network, comprising:

network means for exchanging messages including address information between or among the users;

a message server coupled to the network for detecting erroneous or unknown address information in outgoing messages from the user and incoming messages to the user;

search means for providing correct/alternative or new address information in both the outgoing and incoming messages in response to the message server, the search means comprising databases in the network accessible for search purposes to provide the correct/alternative or new address information for both outgoing messages from the user and incoming messages to the user; and

a search server coupled to the message server for accessing the databases to correct erroneous or provide new address information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for automatically updating address information in a user address book for outgoing messages and incoming messages in accordance with search results provided by the search server.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the databases further comprise an internal database containing contact information for comparison with header information in incoming messages and outgoing messages in determining correct or unknown addresses in the header information.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the databases further comprise public directories for access by the search means to obtain address information for populating a user address book.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means coupling the message server to the search means; and

search rules in the search means for searching the databases to obtain address information in response to the message server detection of erroneous or unknown address information in a message.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a message store coupled to the message server; and

a message profile database for users coupled to the message server.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the network carries voice and/or data messages.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a distributed information system.

9. An apparatus for automatic address updating of outgoing user messages to a communication network and incoming user messages from a communication network, comprising:

a terminal for sending and receiving messages, the terminal coupled to the communication network;

a message server coupled to the network for receiving and processing the messages;

message storage device means coupled to the message server for storing the messages;

a database containing user message preference profiles coupled to the server; and

a change server responsive to the message server and coupled to the network, the change server including user search rules and change options for searching the network to locate address information for updating a user address database when erroneous or unknown address information contained in a message is detected by the message server; and

a user address database coupled to the network for access by the message server.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the user address database further comprises:

contact information for each user, the contact information including a contact ID, name and address for updating when messages are returned for incorrect address or the contact is not listed in the user address book.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

other user and reference databases coupled to the network for access by the change server in locating address information for the user address database.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the network carries voice and/or data messages.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the network is a distributed information system.