Method and system for automatically updating contact information within a contact database

• US 6,701,348 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MyLifecom Incorporated (MyLife.com)
• Original Assignee: GoodContacts.com
• Inventors: Sommerer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/741,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/313, 709/329, 358/400, 358/402, 358/474
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data

Abstract

A method is proposed for automatically updating and maintaining contact information for various contacts stored in a contact database without requiring an individual to manually update their contacts by using an automated reply process for the maintaining of contact information, as well as only requiring one individual to be a member of the service. Updating of the contacts with the automated reply process installed is more frequent.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

updating an electronic contact information database, the contact information comprising address data, phone data, and electronic mail data of an individual including;

a) sending at least one message requesting updated contact information comprising address data, phone data, and electronic mail data of an individual for at least one contact of a plurality of contacts stored within the electronic contact information database of a user;

the at least one contact relating to other than the user; and

b) upon receiving a return message with updated contact information for the individual and comprising at least one of address data, phone data, and electronic mail data of the individual from the at least one contact, automatically updating the contact information database with the updated contact information.

2. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 1 wherein the message is a facsimile message and comprising:

analysing an electronic image of the received return facsimile message to automatically determine the updated contact information in an electronic form.

3. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 2 wherein analysing an electronic image of the received return facsimile message includes performing optical character recognition on the received return facsimile message.

4. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 3 comprising generating an electronic image of the received return facsimile message.

5. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 4 wherein upon receiving a transmission error when contacting the at least one contact, automatically storing an indication of a transmission error on association with the contact information in the contact information database.

6. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 5 comprising determining a success of sending and when sending fails, providing an indication of the contact and of the transmission failure.

7. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 6 wherein the contact request update transmission is resent to verify that the return message was not received due to a temporary communication failure.

8. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 1 wherein the message is an electronic message and comprising:

automatically extracting from the received return electronic message updated contact information there.

9. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 8 wherein the user is a subscriber to a contact list update service and wherein the at least a contact is other than a user to the contact list update service.

10. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 9 comprising:

verifying the authenticity of each electronic contact information message received at the contact system.

11. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 8 wherein the electronic message comprises:

message body text containing contact information for at least one contact information field for verification.

12. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 8 wherein the electronic message comprises data for, when activated within a system, providing an automated reply process for automatically intercepting update request electronic messages and for automatically replying thereto.

13. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 12 wherein the automated reply process is electronic message platform independent.

14. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 12 wherein the automated reply process includes processes for entering and storing of contact data.

15. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 14 comprising:

entering contact information of the contact; and

storing the contact information of the contact within memory accessible to the automated reply process.

16. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 14 wherein an electronic flag associated with the at least one contact is stored indicative of one of the automated reply process being installed on the contact system of the at least one contact.

17. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 16 where update request messages are sent more frequently to contacts with the electronic flag enabled.

18. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 17 where the information is only updated when the user initiates an update request.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a user request to update an electronic contact information database;

updating the electronic contact information database, the contact information comprising address data, phone data, and electronic mail data including;

a) sending at least one message requesting updated contact information to a contact destination of at least one contact from a plurality of contacts stored within the electronic contact information database of a user;

the at least one contact relating to other than the user; and

b) upon receiving a return message with updated contact information from the at least one contact, automatically updating the contact information database with the updated contact information.

20. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 19 wherein the message is a facsimile message and comprising:

analysing an electronic image of the received return facsimile message to automatically determine the updated contact information in an electronic form.

21. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 20 wherein analysing an electronic image of the received return facsimile message includes performing optical character recognition on the received return facsimile message.

22. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 21 comprising generating an electronic image of the received return facsimile message.

23. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 22 wherein upon receiving a transmission error when contacting the at least one contact, automatically storing an indication of a transmission error on association with the contact information in the contact information database.

24. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 23 comprising determining a success of sending and when sending fails, providing an indication of the contact and of the transmission failure.

25. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 24 wherein the contact request update transmission is resent to verify that the return message was not received due to a temporary communication failure.

26. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 19 wherein the message is an electronic message and comprising:

automatically extracting from the received return electronic message updated contact information therein.

27. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 26 wherein the user is a subscriber to a contact list update service and wherein the at least a contact is other than a user to the contact list update service.

28. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 27 comprising:

verifying the authenticity of each electronic contact information message received at the contact system.

29. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 26 wherein the electronic message comprises:

message body text containing contact information for at least one contact information field for verification.

30. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 26 wherein the electronic message comprises data for, when activated within a system, providing an automated reply process for automatically intercepting update request electronic messages and for automatically replying thereto.

31. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 30 wherein the automated reply process is electronic message platform independent.

32. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 30 wherein the automated reply process includes processes for entering and storing of contact data.

33. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 32 comprising:

entering contact information of the contact; and

storing the contact information of the contact within memory accessible to the automated reply process.

34. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 32 wherein an electronic flag associated with the at least one contact is stored indicative of one of the automated reply process being installed on the contact system of the at least one contact.

35. A method for updating an electronic contact information database as defined in claim 34 where update request messages are sent more frequently to contacts with the electronic flag enabled.