Customizable personal directory services

• US 8,375,088 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• 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): Ferris, Derrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taha, Shaq
• Application Number:
  US11/464,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,377 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/206, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Included are systems and methods for providing a personalized directory. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a request to view at least one listing, the at least one listing including information related to a plurality of criteria. Other embodiments include providing a display that includes at least a portion of the information, the display further including a user option to store at least a portion of the information in a personal directory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a first user an unsolicited request to view an advertiser directory listing, the advertiser directory listing comprising advertiser information related to search criteria, wherein the advertiser directory listing is associated with an advertiser data provider;

displaying to the first user the advertiser directory listing;

querying the first user whether to store the advertiser information in the advertiser directory listing in a personalized directory listing in a personalized directory of the first user of the first user;

creating a plurality of user-defined categories in a personal directory in response to input from the first user;

receiving an indication from the first user to store the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing in each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

receiving a selection from the first user of a subset of the advertiser information to be stored in the personalized directory listing, the selection of the subset of the advertiser information further comprising a pointer at the personalized directory listing to display additional information related to the advertiser; and

storing the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing, such that the personalized directory listing and the pointer at the personalized directory listing are stored in the personalized directory of the first user in association with each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

wherein the storing comprises providing an option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information; and

wherein the option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the directory listing comprises providing an ability to include additional information related to the advertiser directory listing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the subset of the advertiser information comprises one of:

a name, an address, a telephone number, an email address, and an instant messaging address.

3. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to be executed by a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving from a first user an unsolicited request to view an advertiser directory listing, the advertiser directory listing comprising advertiser information related to search criteria, wherein the advertiser directory listing is associated with an advertiser data provider;

displaying to the first user the advertiser directory listing;

querying the first user whether to store the advertiser information in the advertiser directory listing in a personalized directory listing in a personalized directory of the first user of the first user;

creating a plurality of user-defined categories in a personal directory in response to input from the first user;

receiving an indication from the first user to store the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing in each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

receiving a selection from the first user of a subset of the advertiser information to be stored in the personalized directory listing, the selection of the subset of the advertiser information further comprising a pointer at the personalized directory listing to display additional information related to the advertiser; and

storing the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing, such that the personalized directory listing and the pointer at the personalized directory listing are stored in the personalized directory of the first user in association with each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

wherein the storing comprises providing an option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information; and

wherein the option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the directory listing comprises providing an ability to include additional information related to the advertiser directory listing.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 3, wherein the selection of the subset of the advertiser information comprises one of:

a name, an address, a telephone number, an email address, and an instant messaging address.

5. A computing device 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 from a first user an unsolicited request to view an advertiser directory listing, the advertiser directory listing comprising advertiser information related to search criteria, wherein the advertiser directory listing is associated with an advertiser data provider;

display to the first user the advertiser directory listing;

query the first user whether to store the advertiser information in the advertiser directory listing in a personalized directory listing in a personalized directory of the first user of the first user;

create a plurality of user-defined categories in a personal directory in response to input from the first user;

receive an indication from the first user to store the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing in each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

receive a selection from the first user of a subset of the advertiser information to be stored in the personalized directory listing, the selection of the subset of the advertiser information further comprising a pointer at the personalized director listing to display additional information related to the advertiser; and

store the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the personalized directory listing, such that the personalized directory listing and the pointer at the personalized directory listing are stored in the personalized directory of the first user in association with each of the plurality of user-defined categories;

wherein the storing comprises providing an option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information; and

wherein the option to edit the selection of the subset of the advertiser information in the directory listing comprises providing an ability to include additional information related to the advertiser directory listing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the selection of the subset of the advertiser information comprises one of:

a name, an address, a telephone number, an email address, and an instant messaging address.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the device comprises one of:

a personal computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, and a handheld computer.