Method of Updating Contact Information on Merchant Websites

• US 20080177797A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tepa Datasolutions Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tepa Datasolutions Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fuller, Benjamin E., Eldering, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US11/624,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method of updating contact information on merchant websites includes maintaining a plurality of contact records containing a plurality of fields. The contact records and corresponding fields are distributed to a merchant website. The information located at the merchant website is automatically updated when an updated contact record becomes available.

Claims

1. A method of updating contact information on merchant websites, the method comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of contact records, wherein the records contain a plurality of fields;

(b) distributing the contact records to at least one merchant website; and

(c) automatically updating the contact record at the merchant website when an update becomes available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact records contain directives.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the directives contain rules pertaining to the distribution of the contact records.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution of step (b) occurs when a contact record is created.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution of step (b) occurs when a contact record is altered.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fields includes a credit card number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fields includes bank account information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant website is used for online shopping.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a storage device utilized by the merchant website stores the contact record for future use.

12. A method of maintaining updated contact information for use on merchant websites comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of contact records, wherein the contact records contain a plurality of fields;

(b) storing the contact record in a file associated with the merchant website; and

(c) automatically updating the file whenever an update to the corresponding contact record is available.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the file is an Internet cookie.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.

16. A merchant website updating system comprising:

a storage device capable of storing a plurality of contact records, the contact records having a plurality of fields;

a merchant website server capable of receiving one or more contact records; and

a communication system configured to distribute one or more contact records from the storage device to the merchant website, wherein the communication system distributes the one or more contact records when a contact record is created or altered.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contact records contain directives.