Method and apparatus for publishing a community based directory and of offering associated community based services

• US 20060184534A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VillageProfile.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VillageProfile.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Martinez, Jeffrey Vito, Nugara, Daniel Michael Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/056,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

This invention relates to a method or apparatus for publishing a community based directory and profile using a tangible and an intangible publication. The intangible publication consists of using at least two different digital communication protocols or using a fixed and a mobile device. Selected members listed in the community based directory are also able to access a list of digital services such as file storage, file transfer, electronic communications, management of information, marketing tools, etc. from the digital communication locations.

Claims

1. A method for providing information services about a community, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting items of interest within a community;

collecting information regarding said items of interest, the information including, for each item of interest, at least a name, a category, and contact coordinates;

storing the information as a computer database;

organizing the computer database into a community based directory;

publishing a tangible edition of the community based directory; and

publishing at least one intangible edition of the community based directory using at least two different technology protocols.

2. The method of claims 1, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a community business organization.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a chamber of commerce.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said items of interest is the name of a business entity, the type of business entity, and the address of the business entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said information further includes a community profile.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the technology protocols is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

7. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the technology protocols is the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a second technology protocol is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

9. A method for providing information services about a community, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting items of interest within a community;

collecting information regarding said items of interest, the information including, for each item of interest, at least a name, a category, and contact coordinates;

selecting a community profile information;

storing the information as a computer database;

organizing the computer database into a community based community and profile;

publishing a tangible edition of the community based directory and profile; and

publishing at least one intangible edition of the community based directory and profile using at least two different technology protocols.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a community business organization.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a chamber of commerce.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said information regarding said items of interest is the name of a business entity, the type of business entity, and the address of the business entity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said information further includes a Community Profile.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the technology protocols is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the technology protocols is the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a second technology protocol is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

17. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the intangible editions is an electronic book (E-Book).

18. A method for providing information services about a community, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting items of interest within a community;

collecting information regarding said items of interest, the information including, for each item of interest, at least a name, a category, and contact coordinates;

storing the information as a computer database;

organizing the computer database into a community based directory and profile;

publishing a tangible edition of the community based directory and profile;

displaying on a fixed device a first intangible edition of the community based directory and profile; and

displaying on a mobile device a second intangible edition of the community based directory and profile.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a community business organization, and said tangible edition is a paper based business directory and profile catalog.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a chamber of commerce, and said tangible edition is a paper based business directory and profile catalog.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said mobile device is a wireless telephone.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said mobile device is a personal data assistant.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said fixed device is a personal computer.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one intangible edition of the device is an electronic book (E-Book).

25. An apparatus for providing information services about a community, the apparatus comprising:

a means for selecting and collecting information of items of interest, the information including, for each item of interest, at least a name, a category, and address;

a software able to store and organize the said collected information into a community based directory;

a means for publishing a tangible edition of the community based directory as stored in a computer where the information was stored and collected;

an indexing means able to access at a minimum a selected item of interest of the community based directory from at least a fixed personal computer and at least a mobile device;

a means for displaying on said fixed personal computer the indexed information of said item of interest; and

a means for displaying on said mobile device at least said information of an item of interest.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said means for selecting said items of interest within a community is a selection of members of a community business organization, and said means for publishing a tangible edition is the printing of a paper based business directory and profile catalog.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said means for selecting said items of interest within a community is a selection of members of a chamber of commerce, and said means for publishing a tangible edition is the printing of a paper based business directory and profile catalog.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said mobile device is a personal data assistant.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said mobile device is an electronic book device.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said mobile device is a wireless telephone.

31. A method for offering community based services, associated to a community based directory and profile, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting items of interest within a community;

collecting information regarding said items of interest, the information including, for each item of interest, at least a name, a category, and contact coordinates;

storing the information as a computer database;

organizing the computer database into a community based directory and profile;

giving access to the community based directory and profile to a plurality of users;

granting to items of interest forming the community based directory and profile additional access to group related services.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said selection of said items of interest within a community is determined by a membership to a community business organization, and said tangible edition is a paper based business directory and profile catalog.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said selecting items of interest within a community is a selection of members of a chamber of commerce.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of users is defined as subscribers of the directory services of said community business organization.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said group related services may include any combination of the following:

file sharing, server web hosting, internet web page display, e-mail management and storage, alert, customer information sharing, file transfer, bulletin board.