Abstract:
A system for automatically updating personal consumer and business contact information is disclosed. A server located “in the cloud” automatically controls a database of contact data elements, some of which have preferred privacy protocol. These protocols may restrict some data elements from being shared unless a data-owner&#39;s explicit permission is obtained. When the server receives a request for such a restricted data element, the server issues an email or text message in order to obtain the necessary permissions. If permission is granted, the server then supplies the requested data.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/766,390 filed on Feb. 19, 2013, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to systems and methods for automatically updating personal contact information accessible via an electronic communications device, and more particularly, to systems and methods of updating information while respecting user privacy protocols and stipulations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electronic personal communications devices such as, but not limited to, smart phones and tablet computers, frequently have, or have access to, databases of contact information typically tailored to the user of the device. Such databases are very useful, but often contain incomplete or inaccurate records as some, or all, of a contact&#39;s information may change over time. Updating such databases may need to be an ongoing task, and may be tedious and time consuming when done manually. Automated contact information updating apps and services are therefore desirable. Users of such services may, however, be concerned about their privacy. They may, for instance, not want their wireless phone numbers or email addresses known to other people without their permission. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses these issues and concerns by providing a system and method for automatically updating a database of personal contact information, while providing privacy and security protocols so that a subscriber&#39;s privacy choices are respected related to highly sensitive information like wireless phone numbers and email addresses. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    The relevant prior art wiring includes: 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,940,910 issued to Chatterjee, et al. on May 10, 2011 entitled “Directory integration in mobile systems” that describes embodiments for generating a sorted integrated directory. The sorted integrated directory integrates contacts from disparate directories into a common directory. The formation of the integrated directory includes receiving contacts from multiple directories. The contacts represent or are formed under multiple data structures, with one data structure corresponding to one of the directories. The received contacts are converted into contact objects. The contact objects, each of which represents a contact, all include or are formed under a common data structure. An integrated directory is generated or formed from the contact objects. The integrated directory thus includes a set of contacts of the disparate source directories. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,660,857 issued to Smith, et al. on Feb. 9, 2010 entitled “Systems and methods for automatically updating electronic mail access lists” that describes a system and method for accepting a recipient identifier, wherein the recipient identifier can be used to identify an electronic mail (email) recipient; generating a petition based on the recipient identifier and at least one petition rule, wherein the at least one petition rule includes at least one of: 1) a sender identification method; and 2) a recipient; and wherein the petition can be used by a email provider to allow a recipient to receive email from a sender. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,131,569 issued to Maresh, et al. on Mar. 6, 2012 entitled “Methods, systems, and devices for modifying medical files” that describes methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,822,189 issued to Rana, et al. on Oct. 26, 2010 entitled “Searching multiple directories and generating a sorted integrated directory” that describes embodiments for searching multiple directories. The searching includes remote searching and local searching. Local searching is performed against the local integrated phonebook on a client device. In contrast, remote searching is performed against one or more directories or directory types of an enterprise server (e.g. corporate directory, etc.). The local directory on the client device therefore effectively functions like a cache of information of one or more of the directories of the enterprise server, where the cache is stored locally on the client device. 
         [0010]    Various implements are known in the art, but fail to address all of the problems solved by the invention described herein. Various embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically updating databases of personal contact information such as, but not limited to, the databases commonly associated with electronic communications devices, including mobile communications devices. 
         [0012]    A method for automatically updating a database of personal contact information on an end-user electronic communications device having the steps of providing a manager server having programmed instructions for automatically controlling a server database, said database comprising a plurality of contact data elements, one or more of said contact data elements being obtained from a data-owner programmed app operative on a contact data-owner electronic communications device via said manager server and wherein one or more of said contact data elements comprises a preferred privacy protocol selected via said contact data-owner electronic communications device; receiving a request, from an end-user programmed app operative on said end-user electronic communications device, for one or more of said contact data elements stored on said server database, said contact data element being identified by a known data element of said data-owner contact data elements; automatically applying, by said manager server, said preferred privacy protocol of said requested communications data element; and if said preferred privacy protocol allows, automatically supplying, by said server manager, a requested contact data element to said programmed app operative on said end-user electronic communications device. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, a server that may be located “in the cloud” may automatically control or contain a database of contacts. The database may, for instance, contain contact or locator data elements such as, but not limited to, people and/or company names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, company or private URLs, or some combination thereof. 
         [0014]    Some or all of these database elements may have been obtained from an owner of the data via a programmed app that may be operative on an electronic communications device. In such an instance, the data element may also contain, or be associated with, a preferred privacy protocol. Such a preferred privacy protocol may, for instance, include instructions such as, but not limited to, never share my wireless phone number, only share my email address with my permission, or some combination thereof. Where the data owner&#39;s permission may be required for sharing, the server may automatically request that permission via an electronic means such as, but not limited to, an email, a voicemail, an SMS message, or some combination thereof. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, when the manager server receives a request from an end-user, or from a programmed app operative on their electronic communications device, the server may automatically apply any such privacy protocol associated with the requested data element. Such a request may, for instance, take the form of a contact&#39;s known email address and be a request for their wireless phone number. Only if the protocol allows will the requested data be supplied. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated service for end-users to update their contact databases while maintaining the privacy of data owners. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a contact update service that automatically maintains correct information. 
         [0018]    Still another object of the present invention is to automate the task of updating contact information while allowing the end-user to maintain control of which contact information is updated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic overview of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic flow diagram indicating various steps that may be used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, and are not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic overview of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which in may be a system  100  for automatically updating a database of personal contact information that may be part of, or accessible to an end-user. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment, the end-user may have an end-user electronic communications device  110  that may be running an end-user programmed app  145 . The end-user app  145  may, for instance, be programmed so as to automatically examine one or more personal contact information records  175 . Where the app locates an element that may be missing or outdated, on the end-users personal contact information database  105 , the app may then automatically establish contact with a manager server  115  that may have access to a more comprehensive and/or up-to-date database  120  of contact data elements  125 . 
         [0025]    A contact record may, for instance, contain locator data elements such as, but not limited to, a record identifier, a contact&#39;s first name, a contact&#39;s last name, a company name, a contact&#39;s mobile phone number, work phone number, home phone number, email address, street or mailing address, city and state of residence, zip or postal code, country of residence or some combination thereof. 
         [0026]    A request for further data may, for instance, require sufficient data elements to identify a person such as, but not limited to, data elements such as, but not limited to, a record identifier, a contact&#39;s first and last name, a last name and company name, a contact&#39;s mobile phone number, work phone number, home phone number, email address, a contact&#39;s street or mailing address including city, state or some combination thereof. 
         [0027]    The known data elements  150  may be transmitted as part of a request  140  for further data elements. The request may, for instance, be made via an electronic communications network  195  such as, but not limited to, the Internet. On receiving the request, the manager server  115  may then query the server database  120  for a matching record containing the data elements specified in the request  140  and further contact data elements  125 . The server database  120  may also find that the contact data elements  125  include, or are associated with, one or more preferred privacy protocols  135 . 
         [0028]    These preferred privacy protocol  135  may have been supplied by the data owner using a data-owner programmed app  155  running on a contact data-owner electronic communications device  130 . The data-owner personal contact information  180  may, for instance, also reside on a data-owner database  170 . 
         [0029]    A preferred privacy protocol  135  that may have been selected, or specified, by the data-owner when subscribing to automatic updating service may take a number of forms that may depend on specific scenarios. 
         [0030]    When requesting information, subscribing to a service or simply updating preferences, a data requester may for instance specify preferences, or limits, on how any requests may be made by the end-user programmed app  145  operative on their end-user electronic communications device  110 . These request preferences may include instructions such as, but not limited to, allowing text messages to be sent from the end user, or data requester, phone, allowing emails to be sent from the phone, to never ask how or what to send, or to ask how or what to send on a record by record basis, i.e., for each request, or some combination thereof. 
         [0031]    When an end-user, or an end-user programmed app  145  running on the end-user electronic communications device  110  decides to request information, an existing contact may be selected as the one for which more, or more current, information is desired. The end-user may, for instance, already have the contacts email address, but would also like to have their wireless phone number. The end-user programmed app  145  may then send an email or SMS from the end-user electronic communications device  110  to the manager server  115  device requesting the wireless phone number of the contact identified by the known data element  150  that may, for instance, be the known email address, or other known data sufficient to identify the contact. The manager server  115  may then send a permission request email  165  to the data-owner programmed app  155  running on the contact data-owner electronic communications device  130 . If the request is allowed, or approved, the data-owner programmed app  155  may then return the requested information or an approval for the manager server  115  to supply the requested information, to the manager server  115 . The manager server  115  may then send the requested and approved requested contact data element  160  on to the end-user programmed app  145 . 
         [0032]    In a second scenario, the end-user may know the contact&#39;s wireless phone number and may want to obtain their email address. 
         [0033]    The end-user programmed app  145 , or the manager server  115 , may then send a permission request SMS or text message  185  message to the data-owner programmed app  155  on the contact data-owner electronic communications device  130 . The data-owner programmed app  155  may then obtain the requested data-owner personal contact information  180  from the data-owner database  170  either directly to the end-user programmed app  145  or to the manager server  115  for storing on the contact data elements  125  and for forwarding on to the end-user programmed app  145 . The data-owner programmed app  155  may instead send authorization to the data-owner programmed app  155  to obtain and send the requested data. The data-owner programmed app  155  may then obtain the requested data from the server database  120  or from a third party database  190 , and then send the data to the end-user programmed app  145  on the end-user electronic communications device  110 . 
         [0034]    When the data-owner programmed app  155  receives a request for data, it may first have the data-owner select or update privacy protocols. The privacy protocols may include instructions such as, but not limited to, to always ask permission to provide a requested email address, to always ask permission to provide a wireless phone number, to always provide a requested email, to always provide a wireless phone number, to never provide a requested email, to never provide a requested wireless phone number or some combination thereof. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, the default privacy protocol may be to always ask permission to provide a requested email address and to always ask permission to provide a wireless phone number. 
         [0036]    If no response is received, the request may be repeated a number of times at a later time or date. In a preferred embodiment, if no response is received to a first request, the request is re-sent 48 hours later. No response to the second request is taken as a “NO” for this particular request only. 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment, the recipient of the request, i.e., the data owner, may verify the requested information by entering the requested email and/or wireless phone number into an input box and explicitly clicking a button or icon to share the data. 
         [0038]    The end-user programmed app  145  may inform the end-user when a responses has been received and may automatically update the contact record or personal contact information  175  on the database  105  of personal contact information. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic flow diagram indicating various steps that may be used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    In step  1001 , the manager server  115  may first obtain data to populate the server database  120  with contact data elements  125 . This data may be obtained from one or more third party databases  190 , or may be obtained from end-users or subscribers when they join the service, or at periodic time intervals while the end-user is a subscriber to, or a member of, the automatic updating of personal contact information service. When obtaining contact data from an end-user, the manager server  115  may also obtain privacy preferences and/or on how requests emanating from their end-user electronic communications device  110  may be made, as detailed above. 
         [0041]    In step  1002 , the manager server  115  may receive a request for a contact data element. The request may contain sufficient data to identify the data-owner of the requested data element. The request may be made because the personal contact information  175  on the end-users database  105  of personal contact information may have incomplete data, or data that may be outdated. The end-user programmed app  145  may, for instance, select to automatically check or confirm any data elements that may have been obtained prior to a certain date. In a preferred embodiment, any data that is deemed to be more than 12 months old may be automatically checked for accuracy. 
         [0042]    In step  1003 , the manager server  115  may comply with any relevant privacy protocol associated with the requested data element. In a preferred embodiment, the default privacy protocol may be to always ask permission to provide a requested email address and to always ask permission to provide a wireless phone number. This default protocol may be changed at any time by the data-owner. 
         [0043]    In step  1004 , the manager server  115  may after having complied with any applicable protocols, received any required permissions, and obtained any required data, respond to the request by either supplying the requested data to the end-user programmed app  145  or informing the end-user programmed app  145  that the requested data cannot be supplied. 
         [0044]    In obtaining requested data, the manager server  115  may consult one or more third party databases  190 . These third party databases  190  may be broadly classified as business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) databases. In a preferred embodiment, in the event that non-identical responses to the request are found in both a B2C and a B2B database, preference may be given to the data obtained from the B2C database. If non-identical responses are found in similarly classified databases, preference may be given to the most recent data. 
         [0045]    In a preferred embodiment, when the end-user programmed app  145  has sent more than one request at any one time, the manager server  115  may first respond by providing the end-user programmed app  145  with data such as, but not limited to, a number of records checked, a number of records matched, a number of possible changes available to be made, or some combination thereof. 
         [0046]    The end-user may then use the end-user programmed app  145  to decide which of the available updates to make. This selection may be significant in that the end-user may be charged based on the number of change requests made, or may be limited to making only a certain number of change requests within a certain time period, or some combination thereof. 
         [0047]    Once the manager server  115  receives a further request to make one or more of the possible changes, the manager server  115  may then supply the necessary information to make the requested possible changes. 
         [0048]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.