Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information

• US 20020049828A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MMG IP Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Peter Pekarek-Kostka
• Inventors: Pekarek-Kostka, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information. Users submit their personal contact information or a collection of third party contact information or both to a storage location, where records are being searched for identical or similar entries. In case of a match the third party contact information is replaced with a link or pointer to the personal contact information entry of the owner of the information. As long as the owner of the information updates his records in the storage location, all third party contact information collections are also kept up to date and users will benefit from the most accurate and current contact information available.

Claims

1. A method for effectuating access to always current and accurate contact information, comprising:

providing an entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically, and which is connectable electronically to users;

wherein upon submission of contact information from multiple users, some or all contact information elements are searched and analyzed for similarity based upon predetermined criteria, and links or pointers to identified entries are established, which enable users to update or change contact information electronically, and have those updates or changes be reflected substantially immediately to users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed substantially immediately upon submission of contact information from a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed periodically independent of any user action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein users are notified of results of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers substantially immediately upon completion of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein users are provided an option to review existing links or pointers and to remove unwanted links or pointers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein links or pointers are established upon entry of an alpha-numeric code defined and provided by users or the entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically and which is connectable electronically to users.

7. A system for effectuating access to always current and accurate contact information, comprising:

an entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically, and which is connectable electronically to users;

wherein upon submission of contact information from multiple users, some or all contact information elements are searched and analyzed for similarity based upon predetermined criteria, and links or pointers to identified entries are established, which enable users to update or change contact information electronically, and have those updates or changes be reflected substantially immediately to users.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed substantially immediately upon submission of contact information from a user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed periodically independent of any user action.

10. The method and system of claim 7, wherein users are notified of results of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers substantially immediately upon completion of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers.

11. The method and system of claim 7, wherein users are provided an option to review existing links or pointers and to remove unwanted links or pointers.

12. The method and system of claim 7, wherein links or pointers are established upon entry of an alpha-numeric code defined and provided by users or the entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically and which is connectable electronically to users.