Real-time process for defining, processing and delivering a highly customized contact list over a network

• US 8,565,404 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NeuStar Information Services, Inc. (Neustar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NeuStar Information Services, Inc. (Neustar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shaffer, James D., Moore, George G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US13/302,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20120136873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 709/223
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

A system and method of generating a contact list based on a geographic definition and, in certain embodiments, other screening criteria. In an embodiment, a geographic definition, specifying a geographic area, is received. The geographic definition is translated into at least one linkage key. A contact list, comprising a plurality of records associated with the geographic area, is then generated from one or more databases using the at least one linkage key as an index into the one or more databases.

Claims

1. A method of generating a contact list, the method comprising, by one or more hardware processors:

receiving a geographic definition and one or more screening criteria, wherein the geographic definition specifies a geographic area;

translating the geographic definition into at least one linkage key; and

generating an electronic contact list from one or more databases using the at least one linkage key as an index into the one or more databases, wherein the electronic contact list comprises a plurality of records associated with the geographic area, and wherein generating the electronic contact list comprises

retrieving records which are associated with the at least one linkage key from the one or more databases, and,

for each retrieved record, determining whether the retrieved record passes the one or more screening criteria, and, if the retrieved record passes the one or more screening criteria, adding the retrieved record to the electronic contact list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the geographic definition from a user interaction with a map interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic definition comprises one or more of the following:

a polygon definition comprising vertex coordinates of a polygon;

a radial distance around a point, wherein the point comprises either an address, intersection, or coordinate;

one or more zip codes;

one or more dominant marketing areas;

one or more cities;

one or more counties;

one or more states;

one or more area codes;

one or more minor civil divisions;

one or more metropolitan statistical areas;

one or more congressional districts;

one or more voting precincts; and

one or more school districts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the geographic definition into at least one linkage key comprises translating a spatial definition into one or more common geography codes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the spatial definition comprises at least one of a polygon definition comprising vertex coordinates of a polygon and a radial distance around a point, and wherein the one or more common geography codes comprise one or more of a zip code, city, and county.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one linkage key comprises the one or more common geography codes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the screening criteria comprise one or more of the following:

a consumption value or score;

one or more demographic characteristics;

an address type; and

a data quality.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a count of the plurality of records;

providing the count to a user;

receiving an approval from the user;

based on the received approval, generating a final electronic contact list comprising a plurality of formatted contact records; and

providing the final electronic contact list to the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more databases comprise two or more databases.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more databases comprise two or more databases.

10. A system for generating a contact list, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor; and

at least one executable module that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor,

receives a geographic definition and one or more screening criteria, wherein the geographic definition specifies a geographic area;

translates the geographic definition into at least one linkage key; and

generates an electronic contact list from one or more databases using the at least one linkage key as an index into the one or more databases, wherein the electronic contact list comprises a plurality of records associated with the geographic area, and wherein generating the electronic contact list comprises

retrieving records which are associated with the at least one linkage key from the one or more databases, and,

for each retrieved record, determining whether the retrieved record passes the one or more screening criteria, and, if the retrieved record passes the one or more screening criteria, adding the retrieved record to the electronic contact list.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one executable module also generates the geographic definition from a user interaction with a map interface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the geographic definition comprises one or more of the following:

a polygon definition comprising vertex coordinates of a polygon;

a radial distance around a point, wherein the point comprises either an address, intersection, or coordinate;

one or more zip codes;

one or more dominant marketing areas;

one or more cities;

one or more counties;

one or more states;

one or more area codes;

one or more minor civil divisions;

one or more metropolitan statistical areas;

one or more congressional districts;

one or more voting precincts; and

one or more school districts.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one executable module translates the geographic definition into the at least one linkage key by translating a spatial definition into one or more common geography codes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the spatial definition comprises at least one of a polygon definition comprising vertex coordinates of a polygon and a radial distance around a point, and wherein the one or more common geography codes comprise one or more of a zip code, city, and county.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one linkage key comprises the one or more common geography codes.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the screening criteria comprises one or more of the following:

a consumption value or score;

one or more demographic characteristics;

an address type; and

a data quality.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one executable module also:

generates a count of the plurality of records;

provides the count to a user;

receives an approval from the user;

based on the received approval, generates a final electronic contact list comprising a plurality of formatted contact records; and

provides the final electronic contact list to the user.