Patent ID: 6108691
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method including:maintaining a database of directory information in a directory service with records of individuals, including maintaining records of users who are registered with the directory service and records of users who are not registered with the directory service, wherein the records of registered users may include an electronic mail (email) address and the records of non-registered users do not including an email address;providing to the registered user options for displaying an email address including options (i) to display the email address, (ii) to not display the email address and not forward messages, and (iii) to not display the email address but to forward messages;when a searching user accesses information associated with a registered user who has elected option (iii), receiving from the searching user a message to be sent to the registered user, and sending the message to the registered user without providing the recipient's email address to the searching user.