Broadcast messaging system, apparatus and method for maintaining call list currency

• US 8,131,678 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smessenger Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: GroupCast LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Joe Harley, Lindemann, John William III, Hadzisabic, Aida
• Primary Examiner(s): LU, KUEN S
• Application Number:
  US12/627,845
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 707/638, 707/802
• US Class Current: 707/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

In a broadcast messaging system, a synchronization and update apparatus updates the content of a call list stored in a first database in a first format and a first configuration without upload instructions by a user of a user processor and without accessing said first database by the user of the second processor. The first database is in operative communication with a broadcast server. The broadcast server is programmed to broadcast a message through a communications network to a plurality of message receivers on the call list. The user processor is in operative communication with broadcast server, the user processor is programmed to update the call list in said first database from updated call list content in a second database at the user processor. The call list in said second database may be in a second configuration and either in the first format or a second format. The updating is executable automatically and repeatedly after only entry of at least one configuration instruction for at least one call list column. After said configuration instruction, changes made to the content of the call list in the second database are made in the call list in the first database at the broadcast server.

Claims

1. In a broadcast messaging system, a synchronization and update apparatus comprising:

a first database storing a call list in a first format and a first configuration;

said first database being in operative communication with a processor, said processor being programmed to broadcast a message through a communications network to a plurality of message receivers on the call list;

a second processor, said second processor being in operative communication with said first processor, said second processor being programmed as a synchronization apparatus to synchronize the call list in said first database from updated call list content in a second database, the call list in said second database being in a second configuration and either in said first format or a second format;

said synchronization being executable after only entry of at least one configuration instruction for at least one call list column;

whereby, after said configuration instruction, changes made to the content of the call list in the second database are made in the call list in said first database without upload instructions by a user of said second processor and without accessing said first database by a user of said second processor.

2. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a webpage on the Internet, said configuration instruction being entered on said web page.

3. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a configuration tool, said configuration tool being programmed to receive and apply said configuration instruction.

4. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a configured file, said configured file being created upon entry of said configuration instruction, said synchronization being by uploading said configuration file to said first database.

5. The synchronization apparatus of claim 4 further comprising said configured file being created by said configuration tool.

6. The synchronization apparatus of claim 4 further comprising said configured file being be accessible through said webpage.

7. The synchronization apparatus of claim 4 further comprising said configured file having a field including at least one of a first name, a last name, a first phone number, a second phone number, a the telecommunications company, an email address and an optional field.

8. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said first format being comprised of at least one of a .csv, a .txt and an .exl application.

9. The synchronization apparatus of claim 3 further comprising said configuration tool delimiting columns.

10. The synchronization apparatus of claim 9 further comprising said configuration tool delimiting columns in any width and in any order regardless of a column width or a column order in said first configuration of said call list.

11. The synchronization apparatus of claim 3 further comprising said configuration tool delimiting columns by entering said first format of the call list application.

12. The synchronization apparatus of claim 3 further comprising said configuration tool displaying a drop-down menu for each column of the call list being configured from said first database, said drop down menu'"'"'s options comprising a list of column headings that may be selected by a user organization.

13. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said at least one configuration instruction including at least one of an instruction to clear all list data at said synchronization, an instruction to look-up a cellular telephone service carrier and an instruction to look-up a voice mail short code.

14. The synchronization apparatus of claim 12 further comprising said drop down menu having a skip option, said skip option for a particular column being an instruction to the configuration tool that the skipped column and a content thereof will not appear on the synchronized version of that call list forwarded to said first database.

15. The synchronization apparatus of claim 3 further comprising said configuration tool not requiring an organization user to enter each row of call list content into a required column configuration for said synchronization with said first database.

16. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said first database being a relational database recallable for executing a broadcast message by an SQL query.

17. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a launch facilitator application, said launch facilitator application entering a configured launch file into an organization memory with a configured message and a configured launch schedule, said configured message and said configured launch schedule along with a previously configured call list enabling a launch of a broadcast message.

18. The synchronization apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an upload records tab and a browse button.

19. In a broadcast messaging system, a synchronization system comprising:

a first database storing a call list in a first format and a first configuration;

said first database being in operative communication with a processor, said processor being programmed to broadcast a message through a communications network to a plurality of message receivers on the call list;

a second processor, said second processor being in operative communication with said first processor, said second processor being programmed as a synchronization apparatus to synchronize the call list in said first database from updated call list content in a second database, the call list in said second database being in a second configuration and either in said first format or a second format;

a configuration tool, said configuration tool being programmed to receive and apply said configuration instruction;

said configuration tool displaying a drop-down menu for each column of the call list being configured from said first database, said drop down menu'"'"'s options comprising a list of column headings that may be selected by a user organization;

said drop down menu having a skip option, said skip option for a particular column being an instruction to the configuration tool that the skipped column and a content thereof will not appear on the synchronized version of that call list forwarded to said first database;

a configured file, said configured file being created by said configuration tool upon entry of said configuration instruction, said synchronization being by uploading said configuration file to said first database;

a webpage on the Internet, said configuration instruction being entered on said web page through operative communication between said web page and said first and second processors;

said synchronization being executable after only entry of at least one configuration instruction for at least one call list column;

whereby, after said configuration instruction, changes made to the content of the call list in the second database are made in the call list in said first database without upload instructions by a user of said second processor and without accessing said first database by a user of said second processor.