US6883000B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Business card and contact management system
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1999-02-12
•
Granted: 2005-04-19
•
Expires: 2019-02-12
Abstract
Abstract An Internet (or World-Wide-Web or other such public or private network) based business card and contact management system capable of conveying and managing advertising as well as traditional and other non-traditional business contact information. The invention is a system that: (1) accepts a Universal Contact Locator (UCL) as encoded on a business card in man and/or machine readable format and, when the Universal Contact Locator (UCL) is entered into a client program running on a client computer, (2) causes a web browser (or like program) and associated communications software to establish a communications session with a remote server computer which (3) accesses the stored contact and advertisement and news information of the card issuer associated with the Universal Contact Locator and (4) downloads the business contact and/or personal contact information and targeted advertisements and news items associated with the Universal Contact Locator to a client program running on a client computer which (5) loads the contact data into the Contact Management or Personal Information Management (PIM) system of the users choosing running on the users client computer and (6) stores the advertisements and news items downloaded from the server computer on the client computer's secondary storage device (i.e. hard disk) and (7) causes the advertisements and news items stored on the client computer's secondary storage device to be displayed to the user on a predetermined schedule in a portion of the client computer's output device (i.e. CRT or LCD panel).
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Gropper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109; G06Q10/1093; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0264; G06Q30/0269; G06Q30/0271; G06Q30/0272; G06Q30/0273; G06Q30/0277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving on a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator from the client computer to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information for the party associated with the universal contact locator and downloading the contact information to the client computer; and (c) when the server downloads the contact information to the client computer, the server computer gathers an identification of the client computer and automatically transmits to the party identified by the universal contact locator said identification.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving on a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator from the client computer to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information for the party associated with the universal contact locator and downloading the contact information to the client computer; and (c) when the server downloads the contact information to the client computer, the server computer gathers an identification of the client computer and automatically transmits to the party identified by the universal contact locator said identification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the contact information includes information about a person identified by the universal contact locator as well as one or more other people who work with the person.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, when the party identified by the universal contact locator submits to the server computer an update to the contact information after the server computer has downloaded the contact information to the client computer, the server computer automatically transmits the updated contact information to the client computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 4 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: (a) the contact information is organized with a high level of detail and a low level of detail; (b) the low level of detail is sent by the server computer to the client computer unless the party identified by the universal contact locator has indicated to the server computer that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the higher level of detail, in which case the high level of detail is sent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 6 wherein, when the party identified by the universal contact locator indicates to the server computer, after the client computer has already received the low level of detail, that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the high level of detail, the server computer automatically updates the client computer with the high level of detail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 7 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when r on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 6 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the contact information is automatically loaded into a contact management system's persistent memory for the client computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 10 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the identification is transmitted to the party identified by the universal contact locator as part of an e-mail message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 12 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 8 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving at a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information for the party associated with the universal contact locator and downloading the contact information to the client computer; and, (c) when the party identified by the universal contact locator submits to the server computer an update to the contact information after the server computer has downloaded the contact information to the client computer, in response, the server computer automatically transmits the updated contact information to the client computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving at a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information for the party associated with the universal contact locator and downloading the contact information to the client computer; and, (c) when the party identified by the universal contact locator submits to the server computer an update to the contact information after the server computer has downloaded the contact information to the client computer, in response, the server computer automatically transmits the updated contact information to the client computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the updated contact information includes replacement information such that, if the party identified by the universal contact locator has been replaced by another party, the updated contact information includes contact information about the replacement party.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 17 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the contact information includes information about a person identified by the universal contact locator as well as one or more other people who work with the person.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 19 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 wherein, when the server transmits the contact information to the client computer, the server computer gathers an identification of the client computer and automatically transmits to the party identified by the universal contact locator said identification.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when rug on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 21 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 16 wherein: (a) the contact information is organized with a high level of detail and a low level of detail; (b) the low level of detail is sent by the server computer to the client computer unless the party identified by the universal contact locator has indicated to the server computer that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the higher level of detail, in which case the high level of detail is sent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 23 wherein, when the party identified by the universal contact locator indicates to the server computer, after the client computer has already received the low level of detail, that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the high level of detail, the server computer automatically updates the client computer with the high level of detail.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 24 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 23 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the contact information is automatically loaded into a contact management system's persistent memory for the client computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the updated contact information is transmitted to the client computer as part of an e-mail message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving on a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information associated with the universal contact locator which information is organized with a high level of detail and a low level of detail and; (c) downloading the contact information at the low level of detail to the client computer unless the party identified by, the universal contact locator has indicated to the server computer that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the higher level of detail, in which case the high level of detail is sent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer method within a network, comprising: (a) receiving on a client computer a universal contact locator identifying a party and transmitting the universal contact locator to a remote server computer; (b) on the server, accessing stored contact information associated with the universal contact locator which information is organized with a high level of detail and a low level of detail and; (c) downloading the contact information at the low level of detail to the client computer unless the party identified by, the universal contact locator has indicated to the server computer that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the higher level of detail, in which case the high level of detail is sent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 29 wherein, when the party identified by the universal contact locator indicates to the server computer, after the client computer has already received the low level of detail, that a class of client computers including the client computer should receive the high level of detail, the server computer automatically updates the client computer with the high level of detail.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 30 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 29 wherein, when the server transmits the contact information to the client computer, the server computer gathers an identification of the client computer and automatically transmits to the party identified by the universal contact locator said identification.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 32 .
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 29 wherein, when the party identified by the universal contact locator submits to the server computer an update to the contact information after the server computer has downloaded the contact information to the client computer, the server computer automatically transmits the updated contact information to the client computer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the updated contact information includes replacement information such that, if the party identified by the universal contact locator has been replaced by another party, the updated contact information includes contact information about the replacement party.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 35 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 34 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 29 herein the contact information includes information about a person identified by the universal contact locator as well as one or more other people who work with the person.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 38 .
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer readable data carrier containing data comprising a set of computer programs which, when run on computers on a network, cause the computers to perform the method of claim 29 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4334268A
Cited
US4742453A
Cited
US4754393A
Cited
US5081574A
Cited
US5517628A
Cited
US5228131A
Cited
US5148531A
Cited
US5193157A
Cited
US5652910A
Cited
US5625837A
Cited
US5418917A
Cited
US5321820A
Cited
US5371862A
Cited
US5430854A
Cited
US5493105A
Cited
US5659722A
Cited
US5574930A
Cited
US5710884A
Cited
US5740549A
Cited
US5572643A
Cited
US5737619A
Cited
US6314426B1
Cited
US5848397A
Cited
US5809242A
Cited
US5873095A
Cited
US20020120927A1
Cited
US6064979A
Cited
US6115641A
Cited
US5732218A
Cited
US5903721A
Cited
US6269369B1
Cited
US6714916B1
Cited
US20030101092A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-04-18 | 2008-10-18 | 2009-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-18 | 2012-10-18 | 2013-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-18 | 2016-10-18 | 2017-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |