Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving business contact information in a computer system
First Claim
1. A computer implemented contact information management method comprising steps of:
- storing contact information related to a first user in a first database operatively coupled to a remote first computer, the first user being identified by a user identifier; and
providing an interface for a second user to access the first database over a network using a second computer to retrieve the contact information related to the first user using the user identifier of the first user;
creating a second database of user contact information in the second computer;
inserting contact information related to the first user into the second database of the second computer;
providing an interface for the first user to edit the contact information related to the first user stored in the first database;
changing contact information related to the first user in the second database of the second computer by accessing contact information in the first database; and
providing an interface for the second user to access the updated contact information related to the first user, the second user is enabled to access the updated information related to the first user by way of receiving the user identifier of the first user,synchronizing contact information in the second database with contact information contained in the first database.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for storing information in a computer system, and for retrieving the information from the computer system. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving business contact information, including dynamic business cards in an internet-accessible database of a computer system. In one general aspect, the invention features an information management method. The information management method includes steps of assigning a first user a unique user identification number, storing information related to the first user in a remote database operatively coupled to a remote computer, and enabling a second user to access the remote database over a network using a second computer to retrieve the information related to the first user by entering the unique user identification number.
73 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer implemented contact information management method comprising steps of:
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storing contact information related to a first user in a first database operatively coupled to a remote first computer, the first user being identified by a user identifier; and providing an interface for a second user to access the first database over a network using a second computer to retrieve the contact information related to the first user using the user identifier of the first user; creating a second database of user contact information in the second computer; inserting contact information related to the first user into the second database of the second computer; providing an interface for the first user to edit the contact information related to the first user stored in the first database; changing contact information related to the first user in the second database of the second computer by accessing contact information in the first database; and providing an interface for the second user to access the updated contact information related to the first user, the second user is enabled to access the updated information related to the first user by way of receiving the user identifier of the first user, synchronizing contact information in the second database with contact information contained in the first database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer implemented contact information management system comprising:
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a first computer; a first database operatively coupled to the first computer, the first database containing contact information for each of a plurality of users of the contact information management system, wherein each of the users is identified by a user identifier, and the contact information for each user is stored along with the user identifier of the user in the first database; wherein the first computer includes; a network interface that interfaces with a network and provides users of the contact information management system access to the first computer; a database interface that controls transfer of data between the first database and a remote second network computer via the network; an application containing instructions that, when executed by the first computer, provides an interface i) for a network user to access the first database over the network using the second network computer to retrieve contact information in the first database related to a first user, the network user is enabled to access the first database by way of receiving a user identifier associated with the first user, ii) for the first user to edit the contact information related to the first user stored in the first database, iii) for access to the edited contact information in the first database to update the contact information related to the first user in second database of the second network computer, and iv) to synchronize the contact information in the second database with contact information contained in the first database. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computer implemented contact information management system comprising:
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means for storing contact information related to a first user in first database operatively coupled to a remote first computer, the first user being identified by a user identifier; means for providing an interface for a second user to access the first database over a network using a second network computer to retrieve the contact information related to the first user using the user identifier of the first user; means for creating a second database of user contact information in the second computer; means for inserting contact information related to the first user into the second database of the second computer; means for providing an interface for the first user to edit the contact information related to the first user stored in the first database; means for changing contact information related to the first user in the second database of the second computer by accessing contact information in the first database; and means for providing an interface for the second user to access the updated contact information related to the first user, the second user is enabled to access the updated information related to the first user by way of receiving the user identifier of the first user, means for synchronizing contact information in the second database with contact information contained in the first database. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification