Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information

US 8,321,459 B2
Filed: 10/10/2001
Issued: 11/27/2012
Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
Status: Active Grant

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1. A method for effectuating access to always current and accurate personal identifying contact information including the information elements of name and address, comprising:

providing a data processing entity for electronically storing, retrieving, searching, analyzing, and rearranging personal identifying contact information elements including name and address for a multiplicity of contact information records corresponding to a respective multiplicity of users, and which is connectable electronically to users;

wherein upon submission of said personal identifying contact information from multiple users, some or all personal identifying contact information elements are searched by the data processing entity and analyzed for similarity based upon predetermined criteria, and links or pointers between the submitted information about a user and the corresponding record of the user are established, which enable any one user to update or change personal identifying contact information electronically, and have those updates or changes available to other users.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information. Users submit their personal contact information or a collection of third party contact information or both to a storage location, where records are being searched for identical or similar entries. In case of a match the third party contact information is replaced with a link or pointer to the personal contact information entry of the owner of the information. As long as the owner of the information updates his records in the storage location, all third party contact information collections are also kept up to date and users will benefit from the most accurate and current contact information available.

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20 Claims

1. A method for effectuating access to always current and accurate personal identifying contact information including the information elements of name and address, comprising:
- providing a data processing entity for electronically storing, retrieving, searching, analyzing, and rearranging personal identifying contact information elements including name and address for a multiplicity of contact information records corresponding to a respective multiplicity of users, and which is connectable electronically to users;
  
  wherein upon submission of said personal identifying contact information from multiple users, some or all personal identifying contact information elements are searched by the data processing entity and analyzed for similarity based upon predetermined criteria, and links or pointers between the submitted information about a user and the corresponding record of the user are established, which enable any one user to update or change personal identifying contact information electronically, and have those updates or changes available to other users.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed immediately upon submission of contact information from a user.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed periodically independent of any user action.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, wherein users are notified of results of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers immediately upon completion of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers.
  - 5. The method of claim 1, wherein users are provided an option to review existing links or pointers and to remove unwanted links or pointers.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, wherein links or pointers are established upon entry of an alpha-numeric code defined and provided by users or the entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically and which is connectable electronically to users.

7. A system for effectuating access to always current and accurate personal identifying contact information including name and address, comprising:
- a data processing entity for electronically storing, retrieving, searching, analyzing, and rearranging said personal identifying contact information for a multiplicity of contact information records corresponding to a respective multiplicity of users, and which is connectable electronically to users;
  
  wherein upon submission of said personal identifying contact information from multiple users, some or all personal identifying contact information elements are searched and analyzed by the data processing entity for similarity based upon predetermined criteria, and links or pointers between the submitted information about a user and the corresponding record of the user are established, which enable any one user to update or change personal identifying contact information electronically, and have those updates or changes available to other users.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- - 8. The system of claim 7, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed upon submission of contact information from a user.
  - 9. The system of claim 7, wherein search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed periodically independent of any user action.
  - 10. The system of claim 7, wherein users are notified of results of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers upon completion of search and analysis of contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers.
  - 11. The system of claim 7, wherein users are provided an option to review existing links or pointers and to remove unwanted links or pointers.
  - 12. The system of claim 7, wherein links or pointers are established upon entry of an alpha-numeric code defined and provided by users or the entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, analyzing, and rearranging contact information electronically and which is connectable electronically to users.

13. A method for each of a multiplicity of primary users having respective primary personal identifying contact information elements about themselves including name and address to access always current and accurate personal identifying contact information about a plurality of other, secondary users having their own respective primary personal identifying contact information elements which is secondary personal identifying contact information to each primary user, comprising:
- providing a data processing entity for storing, retrieving, searching, analyzing, and rearranging said personal identifying contact information, connected to data communication network of users;
  
  wherein upon submission of revised primary personal identifying contact information from multiple primary users the personal identifying contact information associated with such primary users is updated;
  
  upon a primary user'"'"'s request for personal identifying contact information about a secondary user, some or all contact information elements are searched and analyzed for similarity based upon predetermined criteria; and
  
  links or pointers to the primary personal identifying contact information of the requested entries are established in the data processing entity which enable primary users to update or change personal identifying contact information electronically and have those updates or changes be accessed by secondary users.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 14. The method of claim 13, wherein search and analysis of personal identifying contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed upon submission of contact information from a user.
  - 15. The method of claim 13, wherein search and analysis of personal identifying contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers are performed periodically independent of any user action.
  - 16. The method of claim 13, wherein users are notified of results of search and analysis of personal identifying contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers upon completion of search and analysis of personal identifying contact information elements and establishment of links or pointers.
  - 17. The method of claim 13, wherein users are provided an option to review existing links or pointers and to remove unwanted links or pointers.
  - 18. The method of claim 13, wherein links or pointers are established upon entry of an alpha-numeric code defined and provided by users or the entity which is capable of storing, retrieving, searching, analyzing, and rearranging personal identifying contact information.
  - 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the address personal contact information element is an e-mail or a postal address or a web address (URL).
  - 20. The method of claim 19, wherein another personal contact information element is a telephone number.

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Current Assignee
MMG IP Management LLC
Original Assignee
Peter Pekarek-Kostka
Inventors
Pekarek-Kostka, Peter
Primary Examiner(s)
AL HASHEMI, SANA A

Application Number

US09/974,100
Publication Number

US 20020049828A1
Time in Patent Office

4,066 Days
Field of Search

707/102, 707/104.1, 707/100, 707/781, 707/782, 707/783, 707/787, 707/789, 709/203, 705/1
US Class Current

707/781
CPC Class Codes

H04L 67/01   Protocols

H04L 67/12   specially adapted for propr...

H04L 9/40   Network security protocols

Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information

First Claim

1 Assignment

Litigations

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

7 Citations

20 Claims

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Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

7 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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