Computer-implemented personal information manager method and system

• US 20070038483A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personal Estate Manager
• Original Assignee: Personal Estate Manager
• Inventors: Wood, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for managing personal information. The method includes (a) electronically receiving personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual; (b) electronically receiving mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more records; and (c) electronically searching the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual to obtain a mortality search result.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing personal information, the method comprising:

(a) electronically receiving personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual;

(b) electronically receiving mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more records; and

(c) electronically searching the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual to obtain a mortality search result.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein each mortality database record includes the unique identifier of a deceased individual.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein each mortality database record includes the unique identifier of an individual and a designator signifying whether the individual is deceased or living.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the mortality search result is a positive result if the monitored individual is deceased and a negative result if the monitored individual is living.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 further comprising automatically repeating step (c) until a positive result is obtained.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising (d) automatically and electronically transmitting a notification after the positive result is obtained.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein step (d) includes transmitting the notification to at least one access individual.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 further comprising (e) electronically receiving contact information relating to the at least one access individual, wherein the monitored individual selects the at least one access individual.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the monitored individual is a benefactor and the at least one access individual is a beneficiary.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the mortality database is a governmental mortality database or a database derived from a governmental database.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising (d) electronically transmitting the unique identifier to a tracking computer having access to the mortality database.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

driver'"'"'s license number coupled with an identifier for the issuing state, national identity number, social security number, dental identifier, fingerprint identifier, retinal identifier, and DNA profile.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the notification is an e-mail.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the notification includes the personal information of the monitored individual.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising (d) initiating step (c) based on a triggering event.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 wherein the triggering event is inactivity of an account held by the monitored individual.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 wherein the triggering event is a lack of response from the monitored individual upon transmission of an e-mail to the monitored individual requesting response.

18. A computer system for managing personal information, the system comprising one or more computers configured to:

(a) receive personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual;

(b) receive mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more data records; and

(c) search the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual to obtain a mortality search result.

19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein each mortality database record includes the unique identifier of a deceased individual.

20. The computer system of claim 18 wherein each mortality database record includes the unique identifier of an individual and a designator signifying whether the individual is deceased or living.

21. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the one or more computers are interconnected by a computer network.

22. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the one or more computers are not interconnected by a computer network.

23. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the mortality search result is a positive result if the monitored individual is deceased and a negative result if the monitored individual is living.

24. The computer system of claim 23 wherein the computer is further configured to automatically repeat step (c) until a positive result is obtained.

25. The computer system of claim 24 wherein the computer is further configured to (d) automatically and electronically transmit a notification after the positive result is obtained.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the computer is further configured to (e) transmit the notification to at least one access individual.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the computer is further configured to (f) electronically receive contact information relating to the at least one access individual, wherein the monitored individual selects the at least one access individual.

28. A computer system for securely managing personal information, the computer system comprising:

a user computer configured to receive personal information of a monitored individual and to transmit the personal information; and

a dedicated computer for receiving and storing the personal information transmitted by the user computer, the dedicated computer having an output device for storing the personal information to an offline storage device.

29. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising a stand-alone computer for receiving the personal information from the offline storage device.

30. The computer system of claim 29 wherein the stand-alone computer is a mortality tracking computer.

31. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the dedicated computer does not store one or more identity theft indicators related to the monitored individual.

32. The computer system of claim 31 wherein the one or more identity theft indicators is selected from the group consisting of:

social security number, driver'"'"'s license number, account number, monitored individual'"'"'s name, monitored individual'"'"'s address, and monitored individual'"'"'s phone number.

33. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the user computer is further configured to display the personal information.

34. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the user computer is further configured to not display identity theft indicators.

35. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the offline storage device is a compact disc, an external hard drive, or a stand-alone computer.

36. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the user computer is capable of receiving and transmitting 128-bit encrypted information.

37. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the dedicated computer is capable of receiving and transmitting 128-bit encrypted information.

38. A set of instructions written to a computer readable medium for managing personal information, the instructions comprising steps to:

(a) electronically receive personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual;

(b) electronically receive mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more records; and

(c) electronically receive a mortality search result based on a search of the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual.

39. A computer system for managing personal information, the computer system comprising:

a personal information manager module for receiving personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual; and

a mortality tracking module for receiving the mortality search result of the monitored individual based on the unique identifier and a mortality database, and, in response to a positive search result, for transmitting a notification to at least one access individual identified by the monitored individual to receive such notification.

40. The computer system of claim 39 further comprising a maturity notification module for notifying the monitored individual of at least one important date.