Personal directory services with directed communication

• US 8,332,474 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glasgow, Jay O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Kenny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taha, Shaq
• Application Number:
  US11/464,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Included are systems and methods for directing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a listing for a data provider, the listing including a plurality of criteria related to the data provider and receiving an indication to add at least a portion of the listing to a personal directory. Other embodiments include adding at least a portion of the listing to the personal directory and receiving an indication from the data provider to send data to the personal directory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a computing device, a listing from a directory listing subscriber, the listing comprising business contact information related to the directory listing subscriber;

receiving a request from a user for the listing;

providing the listing to the user;

receiving from the user, a selection of portions of the business contact information to add to a personal directory associated with the user, wherein the selection further comprises user modifications to the business contact information, and wherein the personal directory is stored on a device associated with a directory listing service provider;

adding the selected business contact information and the user modifications to the business contact information to the personal directory;

receiving a first indication from the directory listing subscriber to send data associated with the directory listing subscriber to the personal directory, the data comprising an advertisement related to the directory listing subscriber;

providing the advertisement to a device associated with the user; and

sending billing data related to the advertisement to a billing system, wherein the billing data related to the advertisement comprises charges to the directory listing subscriber, wherein the charges are associated with providing the advertisement to the device associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating display of a second indication related to the data on the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second indication comprises a link configured to display the data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is further associated with a messaging address.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data further comprises a message sent to the messaging address.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the messaging address comprises an instant messaging address.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional information relating to the listing from the user;

adding the additional information to the personal directory in association with the business contact information.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions configured to instruct a computer to perform a method, comprising:

receiving a listing for a personal directory from a directory listing subscriber, the listing comprising business contact information related to the directory listing subscriber;

receiving a request from a user for the listing;

providing the listing to the user;

receiving from the user, a selection of portions of the business contact information to add to a personal directory associated with the user, wherein the selection further comprises user modifications to the business contact information, and wherein the personal directory is stored on a device associated with a directory listing service provider;

adding the selected business contact information and the user modifications to the business contact information to the personal directory; and

receiving a first indication from the directory listing subscriber to send data associated with the directory listing subscriber to the personal directory, the data comprising an advertisement related to the directory listing subscriber;

providing the advertisement to a device associated with the user; and

sending billing data related to the advertisement to a billing system, wherein the billing data related to the advertisement comprises charges to the directory listing subscriber, wherein the charges are associated with providing the advertisement to the device associated with the user.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, the method further comprising displaying a second indication related to the data on the device.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second indication comprises a link configured to display the data.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the data is further associated with a messaging address.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the data further comprises a message sent to the messaging address.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the messaging address comprises an instant messaging address.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 further comprising additional instructions which when executed further perform a method comprising:

receiving additional information relating to the listing from the user;

adding the additional information to the personal directory in association with the business contact information.

13. A computer system comprising:

at least one storage area storing program code and data; and

a processor for executing the program code, wherein the program code directs the processor to;

receive a listing for a personal directory from a directory listing subscriber, the listing comprising business contact information related to the directory listing subscriber;

receive a request from a user for the listing;

provide the listing to the user;

receive from the user, a selection of portions of the business contact information to add to a personal directory associated with the user, wherein the selection further comprises user modifications to the business contact information, and wherein the personal directory is stored on a device associated with a directory listing service provider;

add the portions of the business contact information the user modifications to the business contact information to the personal directory based on the received selection; and

receive a first indication from the directory listing subscriber to send data associated with the directory listing subscriber to the personal directory, the data comprising an advertisement related to the directory listing subscriber;

provide the advertisement to a device associated with the user; and

send billing data related to the advertisement to a billing system, wherein the billing data related to the advertisement comprises charges to the directory listing subscriber, wherein the charges are associated with providing the advertisement to the device associated with the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the program code further directs the system to display a second indication related to the data on the device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second indication comprises a link configured to display the data.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the data is further associated with a messaging address.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data further comprises a message sent to the messaging address.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the messaging address comprises an instant messaging address.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the program code further directs the system to:

receive additional information relating to the listing from the user;

add the additional information to the personal directory in association with the business contact information.