Patent ID: 7478127

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of permitting a user to remain in contact with at least one other entity while the user is unavailable or unable to communicate directly with the at least one other entity, the method comprising: subscribing a service by the user; establishing by the user a contact list comprising the at least one other entity; establishing by the user at least one service rule used for the service to contact the at least one other entity, wherein the at least one service rule defines when and how the at least one other entity in the contact list is to be contacted, wherein the at least one service rule is user-customizable and is followed when attempting to reach the at least one other entity; establishing by the user at least one contact rule used for the service to contact the user after the at least one other entity has been contacted, wherein the at least one contact rule defines if, when, and how the user should be contacted; when the user is unavailable to initiate contact or upon being activated by the user, the service a utomatically contacting each entity on the contact list and eliciting specified information according to the at least one service rule; obtaining the specified information from the at least one other entity; and subsequently conveying the obtained information to the user if the at least one contact rule is satisfied.