System and method for identifying alternate contact information in a database related to entity, query by identifying contact information of a different type than was in query which is related to the same entity

• US 7,254,573 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atdata LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US10/605,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 7, 707/9, 707/10, 707100-102, 707200-201, 709218-219, 709/206, 709/225, 709/238, 705/76, 705 26- 27, 379/93.24, 379/93.25, 379/93.03, 379/88.22, 382101-102, 715744-746, 715/741, 358402-403
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and system for identifying alternate contact information of a specific type; particularly, by providing an inputted Email address in a query, one or more alternate Email addresses can be returned to the query, using an automated database. The system is queried using an entity'"'"'s known Email address, which, in turn, is associated with other contact information for the entity, such as name and postal address, and the other contact information is then used to identify alternative Email addresses for the targeted entity either at the time of the query or in preparation of the database, and the alternative Email address(es) are then outputted to the requestor from the system. The method uses knowledge of contact points of different types for the same entity to identify alternate contact points of a single type, within a database of contact information.

Claims

1. A computer-based system for providing alternate contact information for an entity, comprising:

a) a data storage means for storing data;

b) a computer database of contact information consisting of a plurality of different types of contact information for a plurality of entities, which resides in said data storage means;

c) a first means for receiving, from a query originator comprising a person or computer program, one or more queries, each comprising at least one type of contact information for an entity, said first means being capable of communicating with said computer database;

d) a second means for accessing and searching said computer database for different contact information, said second means being capable of communicating with said first means and with said computer database, wherein said second means;

(d1) compares said contact information in said query to the contents of said database, and

(d2) identifies contact information in said database related to said entity in said query by identifying contact information of a different type than was in said a query which is related to the same entity as in said query, and

(d3) searches through said database, comparing the contents of said database with said identified contact information of a different type, and

(d4) identifies and stores alternative contact information of the same type as said query, which is related to said entity; and

e) a third means for returning a response to said query originator, said response comprising alternate contact information of the same type as in said query, corresponding to the same entity as in said query, and said response comprising alternate contact information which has been identified by said second means.

2. A computer-based system, as in claim 1, wherein said second means further comprises a means for repeating said searching and said identifying means, until all related alternate contact information of the type in said query for said entity is identified in said database.

3. A computer-based system, as in claim 1, wherein the contact information type of said query and the alternate contact information returned is an Email address, and said different type is a name and postal address.

4. A computer-based system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a means for obtaining permission from the entity in said query, prior to the response to said query.

5. A method for obtaining alternate contact information for an entity, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a query consisting of entity contact information, said query having been originated by a person or computer program; and

b) accessing a computer database of contact information of a plurality of types corresponding to a plurality of entities, said entities consisting of persons or businesses or both; and

c) comparing said contact information in said query with the contents of said computer database; and

d) if said contact information in said query is included in said computer database then;

d1) identifying contact information of a different type in said computer database, which is related to said contact information in said query,

d2) searching said contents of said computer database, using said related contact information and comparing said related contact information with said contents of said computer database, and,

d3) identifying, in said computer database, alternative contact information which is of the same type as the contact information in said query and which is related to the entity in said query; and

,

d4) generating, storing, and returning a response to said originator of said query which includes said identified alternate contact information related to said entity in said query; and

e) alternatively, if said contact information in said query is not included in said computer database then;

generating, storing, and returning a response to said originator of said query indicating that alternate contact information for said entity is not included in said computer database.

6. A method, as in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

d3.1) repeatedly searching said computer database and identifying all related contact information of the same type as in said query, using said related contact information of a different type and related alternate contact information which is of the same type as in said query, until no further related contact information for said entity of the same type as in said query can be found in said database.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of obtaining permission from said entity, prior to said response to said query, said step comprising:

1) generating and transmitting a permission request to said entity;

2) obtaining Permission from said entity; and

3) discarding contact information from said response, if said permission is not obtained.

8. The method, according to claim 5, wherein said contact information in said query and said alternate contact information in said response is an Email address and said different type is a name and postal address.