Network-based crossing paths notification service
First Claim
1. A network-based contact management system, comprising:
- a user interface represented in a server, said user interface providing functionality for users to specify personal travel plans data, and to specify permissions data that identifies other users that are authorized to be notified of travel events specified by the personal travel plans data;
a database that stores the personal travel plans data and permissions data specified by the users via the user interface; and
a program module executed by at least one computer, wherein the program module analyzes the travel plans data in accordance with the permissions data to detect, and notify users of, crossing paths events in which two users are scheduled to be in a common location during travel by at least one of the two users, wherein the program module detects crossing paths events for a first user that is scheduled to travel to a destination location, at least in part, by doing at least one of the following;
(a) searching for contacts of the first user that are scheduled to travel to within a selected distance of the destination location;
(b) searching for contacts of the first user that live within a selected distance of the destination location.
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Abstract
A network-based contact management system provides various features for assisting users in locating, and sharing information with, other users. The system provides a web-based user interface through which each may user create a personal data record, establish contact relationships with other users, and specify permissions for allowing such other users to view the user'"'"'s own personal data. Users can preferably view the personal data records of their respective contacts via personal address books in accordance with the permissions granted by such contacts. A search feature enables each user to search for contacts of that user'"'"'s own contacts to locate other users of interest. A crossing paths notification feature notifies users when their travel plans coincide with those of their contacts.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A network-based contact management system, comprising:
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a user interface represented in a server, said user interface providing functionality for users to specify personal travel plans data, and to specify permissions data that identifies other users that are authorized to be notified of travel events specified by the personal travel plans data; a database that stores the personal travel plans data and permissions data specified by the users via the user interface; and a program module executed by at least one computer, wherein the program module analyzes the travel plans data in accordance with the permissions data to detect, and notify users of, crossing paths events in which two users are scheduled to be in a common location during travel by at least one of the two users, wherein the program module detects crossing paths events for a first user that is scheduled to travel to a destination location, at least in part, by doing at least one of the following;
(a) searching for contacts of the first user that are scheduled to travel to within a selected distance of the destination location;
(b) searching for contacts of the first user that live within a selected distance of the destination location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method of facilitating the scheduling of meetings between remote individuals, comprising:
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receiving travel event data that specifies a travel event of a first user; identifying a plurality of additional users in address book data of the first user; comparing the travel event data with data reflective of travel schedules of the plurality of additional users to determine whether any of the additional users are scheduled to be within a selected distance of the first user during said travel event; and in response to detecting a crossing paths event in which an additional user is scheduled to be within said selected distance of the first user during said travel event, notifying the first user of the crossing paths event. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A networked sewer system programmed to perform a method comprising:
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receiving travel event data that specifies a travel event of a first user; identifying a plurality of additional users in address book data of the first user; comparing the travel event data with data reflective of travel schedules of the plurality of additional users to determine whether any of the additional users are scheduled to be within a selected distance of the first user during said travel event; and in response to detecting a crossing paths event in which an additional user is scheduled to be within said selected distance of the first user during said travel event, notifying the first user of the crossing paths event.
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16. A computer-readable medium which stores an executable computer program that embodies a method, said method comprising:
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accessing travel event data that specifies a travel event of a first user, said travel event including a destination location; identifying a plurality of contacts of the first user; comparing the travel event data with data reflective of travel schedules of the plurality of contacts to assess whether any of the contacts will be in the destination location during said travel event, wherein comparing the travel event data comprises detecting a crossing paths event in which;
(a) the first user is scheduled to travel to a base location of a contact, or (b) the first user and a contact are both scheduled to travel to said destination location; andin response to detecting the crossing paths event, causing the first user to be notified. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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accessing travel event data that specifies a travel event of a user, said travel event including a destination location; identifying a plurality of contacts of the user; comparing the travel event data with data reflective of schedules of the plurality of contacts to assess whether any of the contacts will be in the destination location during said travel event; and based on said comparison, detecting, and causing the user to be notified, that a contact is scheduled to be in the destination location during the travel event; wherein the method comprises at least one of the following;
(a) determining whether the user is scheduled to travel to a base location of the contact;
(b) determining whether the user and the contact are scheduled to travel to said destination location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification