Systems, methods and computer program products for aggregating contact information
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communications system having a plurality of personal communication devices that communicate with the communications system, respective ones of the personal communication devices managing respective contact databases that are provided within the respective personal communication devices, the method comprising:
- providing a server that communicates with the personal communication devices over the communications system;
detecting by the server new contact information for a contact entered in a first contact database within a first one of the personal communication devices;
in response to detecting entry of the new contact information into the first contact database, obtaining by the server a confirmation of the new contact information independent of the first personal communication device to confirm accuracy of the new contact information; and
responsive to obtaining the confirmation, storing the new contact information in an aggregate contact database comprising contact data from multiple ones of the plurality of personal communication devices;
wherein obtaining the confirmation comprises;
transmitting a confirmation query from the server to the contact to confirm the new contact information that was entered in the first contact database; and
detecting the confirmation in response to the query;
wherein obtaining a confirmation comprises;
grouping the new contact information with new contact information previously received from at least one other personal communication device that matches the new contact information to generate grouped contact information; and
detecting the confirmations responsive to a number of occurrences of matching new contact information in the grouped contact information exceeding a predetermined threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A service provider for a communications system may detect new contact information for a contact in the contact database of a first one of the subscribers. The service provider obtains a confirmation of the new contact information by a party other than the first subscriber to confirm accuracy of the new contact information. Responsive to detection of the confirmation event, the service provider stores the confirmed contact information in an aggregate contact database including contact data from multiple ones of the plurality of subscribers. The new contact information may include a communications identifier, such as a telephone number, physical address or network address. The new contact information may further include personal information for the contact, such as a photograph, a profile, a weblog, a buddy list, a bookmark and/or a tag, or commercial information associated with the contact, such as a user rating, an advertisement and/or a coupon.
60 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communications system having a plurality of personal communication devices that communicate with the communications system, respective ones of the personal communication devices managing respective contact databases that are provided within the respective personal communication devices, the method comprising:
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providing a server that communicates with the personal communication devices over the communications system; detecting by the server new contact information for a contact entered in a first contact database within a first one of the personal communication devices; in response to detecting entry of the new contact information into the first contact database, obtaining by the server a confirmation of the new contact information independent of the first personal communication device to confirm accuracy of the new contact information; and responsive to obtaining the confirmation, storing the new contact information in an aggregate contact database comprising contact data from multiple ones of the plurality of personal communication devices; wherein obtaining the confirmation comprises; transmitting a confirmation query from the server to the contact to confirm the new contact information that was entered in the first contact database; and detecting the confirmation in response to the query; wherein obtaining a confirmation comprises; grouping the new contact information with new contact information previously received from at least one other personal communication device that matches the new contact information to generate grouped contact information; and detecting the confirmations responsive to a number of occurrences of matching new contact information in the grouped contact information exceeding a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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2. A method of operating a communications system having a plurality of personal communication devices that communicate with the communications system, respective ones of the personal communication devices managing respective contact databases that are provided within the respective personal communication devices, the method comprising:
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providing a server that communicates with the personal communication devices over the communications system; detecting by the server new contact information for a contact entered in a first contact database within a first one of the personal communication devices; in response to detecting entry of the new contact information into the first contact database, obtaining by the server a confirmation of the new contact information independent of the first personal communication device to confirm accuracy of the new contact information; and responsive to obtaining the confirmation, storing the new contact information in an aggregate contact database comprising contact data from multiple ones of the plurality of personal communication devices; wherein obtaining the confirmation comprises; transmitting a confirmation query from the server to the contact to confirm the new contact information that was entered in the first contact database; and detecting the confirmation in response to the query; wherein obtaining a confirmation comprises detecting a successful communication by one of the plurality of personal communication devices using the new contact information.
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- 3. The method of claim l, wherein the new contact information comprises a communications identifier.
Specification