WO2001071582A1 - A method and system for exchanging users related information via their communication systems - Google Patents

A method and system for exchanging users related information via their communication systems Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001071582A1
WO2001071582A1 PCT/IL2000/000180 IL0000180W WO0171582A1 WO 2001071582 A1 WO2001071582 A1 WO 2001071582A1 IL 0000180 W IL0000180 W IL 0000180W WO 0171582 A1 WO0171582 A1 WO 0171582A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
information
users
communication
software package
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2000/000180
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Neriel Paglin
Original Assignee
Direct & Clear Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Direct & Clear Inc. filed Critical Direct & Clear Inc.
Priority to AU33218/00A priority Critical patent/AU3321800A/en
Priority to PCT/IL2000/000180 priority patent/WO2001071582A1/en
Publication of WO2001071582A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001071582A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • This invention is generally in the field of communication techniques, and relates to a method and system for exchanging information belonging to different users through their communication systems in a manner allowing the users to keep in touch.
  • the invention is particularly useful for people to exchange their personal information (e.g., of a kind typically included in a business card) whilst meeting each other and wishing to communicate in the future. Additionally, the invention is useful for e-commerce applications, where the users are those providing information regarding certain services and their potential clients.
  • Techniques of communication between a provider of specific services and its potential clients through the Internet are generally known and widely used for ordering various products, tickets, etc. from suppliers or retailers, provided the latter is represented and advertised on one or more Web Sites.
  • This may, for example, be a Web Site relating to a specific company and aimed at advertising products commercially available from this company to various users when going on-line, and/or enabling the users to purchase the products by ordering them through the Internet.
  • a business card When people meet for business purposes, it is commonly practiced to exchange business cards containing relevant information for future contacts.
  • a business card usually contains data pertaining to the following: name, occupation, company, position and addresses relative to communication systems such as mail, phone, fax, e-mail and the like.
  • this data relates to new products or price changes, as well as changes in the company's mailing address and/or network's address.
  • personal information such as that contained in a business card, although names tend to remain the same, positions, occupations and many kinds of addresses are modified quite often. For example, a person may be promoted to a higher position in another division, may leave for another company or, as frequently occurs, a phone, facsimile or e-mail address is modified.
  • any user who has once received information about other user, for example, has once used the services of a specific company, wishes to communicate with the other user (e.g., obtain information of interest associated with this company later on), he has to search for this information.
  • the user may desire to have a simpler way of contacting the other user in the future, just as it may be desirable for the company to keep its clients updated about the changes in company related information whenever these changes occur.
  • an Internet Server Provider owns a central database for maintaining personal address books of various users who are subscribers to PlanetAU. Each subscriber is allowed to create his own personal address book in the central database.
  • the contact particulars of the first subscriber are transmitted from his address book to the address book of the second subscriber.
  • the address book of the second subscriber is automatically updated with the relevant changes whenever they occur in the address book of the first subscriber.
  • ICQ Internet site
  • This technique utilizes a Client Program and a central database, and is aimed at facilitating on-line communication (e.g., Internet Chats, messaging, etc.) between subscribers to ICQ.
  • ICQ allows any subscriber thereto to create and operate his own personal address book.
  • This address book includes personal data of other subscribers to ICQ, per the choice of the owner of the address book.
  • the address book is created at the subscriber side (i.e., in his personal computer), and can be updated with any changes in the personal data of subscribers recorded in the address book.
  • the address book owner needs to go on-line to access the ICQ central database.
  • the updating procedure is carried out in response to a specific request from the address book owner.
  • This technique does not allow for managing the personal address books of ICQ subscribers.
  • any subscriber before using personal data recorded in his address book for contacting a corresponding subscriber, has to check the actuality of data stored in the address book by establishing an on-line connection with the central database through the Internet.
  • the user's related information (including that to be delivered to other users and that obtained from the other users) is maintained in the user's private database managed by a software package installed in his communication system.
  • the user's related information to be transmitted to other users is stored in a file (the so-called "Data Card”) tagged with a unique identification code (“the so-called "Link Code”). This link code presents access to the corresponding data card for obtaining the information contained therein.
  • the users may be, respectively, a company supplying specific services and a potential client interested in these services.
  • the terms “client” and “company” hereinfater will signify two different users connectable to each other through a communication network (e.g., the Internet), provided that access to information related to at least one of the users, e.g., "company”, is represented at one or more Web Sites accessible to the "client” when he goes on-line to the network (by performing a client-server communication session).
  • the "client” and the "company” are both “clients” (users) with respect to the communication network.
  • these different users are called in the description below the "client” and “company”, so as to distinguish between them only for the purposes of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • access code link code
  • to the information belonging to the "company” is represented in a Web Site, while that of the "client” may and may not be represented in any Web Site.
  • the method of the present invention enables the client to successfully obtain information related to the company and contact the company in a very simple and convenient way, whenever the client desires, and enables the company to register this client and successfully contact him, even if a significant amount of time has passed from the date of their first contact.
  • the access to information related to the company is represented by a reference mark displayed in the Web Site. This reference mark is representative of a unique link code belonging to the company.
  • the client actuates the reference mark, thereby enabling the actuation of the software package (if installed in his communication system), or the downloading of this software package.
  • the user's communication system may comprise one or more communication devices such as computer and phone devices, wherein at least one of the communication devices in the user's communication system is interconnectable with at least one communication device of the other user's communication system.
  • This connection between the communication systems is carried out in accordance with a predefined protocol between similar software packages installed in these communication systems.
  • data card signifies a data record or file containing information that can be stored in a communication system and can be transmitted to another communication system by means of either a data stream or signal transmission.
  • connection may be based on any known suitable protocol, such as e-mail, client-server or S.M.S. protocol.
  • the communication systems may interconnect using a short-range wireless connection, for example by means of a technique disclosed in the Internet site "Bluetooth".
  • the second user's request for information belonging to the first user may be generated and transmitted from one of the communication devices of his personal communication system, while he may select to receive this information to another communication device of his communication system.
  • the request generated by the software package installed in the communication system of the second user in addition to the unique link code of the first user, is also indicative of an address of that communication device, in which the second user wishes to have his private database maintained.
  • the second user's request is also indicative of a certain key code belonging to the second user. This key code will be tagged to messages generated by the software package of the first user and transmitted to the software package of the second user, so as to enable the latter to identify that messages are arriving from the first user, namely from an authorized side.
  • the first user himself may actuate his software package for transmitting his related information to the second user.
  • the software package installed in the user's communication system enables him to create the data record containing his related information, create his unique link code presenting access to this data record, and to define his preferences with respect to the communication with the software packages in other users' communication systems. For example, these preferences may relate to a manner in which the user's private database is to be updated, namely, the updating may be initiated immediately in response to the changes entered to the data record of the first user, or by periodically checking for any changes.
  • the software packages should be previously installed in these devices.
  • the software package may not be initially installed in the communication system of the second user, and may be downloaded for these specific purposes.
  • the software application is previously installed in the computer system of the first user, but may or may not be previously installed in the communication system of the second user. If there is no such software in the communication system of the second user, in response to the activation of the reference mark (e.g., icon), an interface is presented enabling the second user to initiate downloading of this software package by activating an appropriately provided icon.
  • the second users may carry out the so-called “drag-and-drop” procedure to drag the icon towards the area in his communication system designated for this software package.
  • the software packages installed in the communication systems of the first and second users operate in accordance with a predefined protocol for managing the private databases of the users in response to corresponding messages generated by these software packages.
  • This enables the software packages to exchange information belonging to the first and second users and maintained in their data cards, enables to generate and transmit notification messages, and to manage the users' private databases in response to the received information and received notification messages.
  • the software package when transmitting the user-related information, also transmits data indicative of a software application needed for retrieving the received information, and may also transmit the address of an application service provider (ASP) for obtaining this specific software application.
  • ASP application service provider
  • the case may be such that prior to the activation of his software package there was no private database in the user's communication system, or the user prefer to have a separate database for these purposes.
  • the software package when being installed in the user's communication system, operates to create such a private database.
  • the private database managed by the software package is not necessarily maintained in that communication device from which the user initiates the connection.
  • the software package of the second user allows him to create the data card containing at least the address where he wishes to receive the notification messages.
  • a data card may include more information about the second user (e.g., name, mailing address, e-mail, phone number, fax number, etc.), and the user's software package may allow him to create a unique link code belonging to him and associated with this information.
  • the software package initiates the transmission of a message indicative of the second user related information (or at least a relevant part thereof according to the user's preferences) and/or of the second user's link code, to the communication system of the first user.
  • each such user's communication system after being installed with the software package, actually presents a so-called "Micro-Server", capable of communicating with other, similar Micro-Servers through a predefined protocol between the software packages utilizing link codes belonging to corresponding users.
  • Each link code actually presents a link (access) to the corresponding data record in the private database stored in the communication system and managed by the software package installed therein.
  • a link code may be based on the user's e-mail address or telephone address.
  • the design of the private database may be based on the Microsoft Outlook application typically installed in users' computers.
  • the updating procedure is carried out by means of the so-called "off-line protocol", such as that used for e-mail transmission.
  • the data record containing the user's personal information may include so-called “dynamic information", which presents data indicative of a "new" address for communication (e.g. phone number, e-mail, etc.) introduced by the user
  • the entrance of the dynamic information may be caused by the fact that the user is going to be available at the new address within a certain period of time, and intends to return to the "main" address indicated in his data record when this period of time expires.
  • the specific user may specify only some of the other users registered in his private database to be updated with these temporary changes. This may be implemented in the following manner. When the user enters any temporary address for communication into his dynamic field of the data record, his software "asks" him whether all the registered users in the lists should be updated or not, and operates in accordance with the user's selection.
  • a system for exchanging information belonging to different users between them and maintaining obtained information updated comprising users' communication systems, wherein each of the communication systems is installed with a software package, the software packages being operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them for managing private databases of the users stored in their communication systems, respectively, wherein said communication protocol enables transmission of the information between the user's communication systems, and transmission of notification messages indicative of changes in the users' related information generated by the software packages; each software package, when installed in the communication system of the respective user, allows the creation of a data card containing the information which belongs to this user and which is to be transmitted to at least one other user, allows the creation of a unique link code belonging to said information and tags said data record with said unique link code; in response to the received information, said software package is capable of creating a
  • an Internet Web Site accessible by one Internet user when going on-line to the Internet by performing a client-server communication session, wherein said Web Site represents another Internet user and includes a reference mark displayed to said one user when reaching said Web Site, the reference mark being representative of a unique link code belonging to said another user and presenting access to a data record containing information, which belongs to said another user and is to be transmitted to said one user in response to activation of said reference mark.
  • the present invention by its yet another aspect, provides a software package installable in a communication system, wherein said software package when installed in the communication system allows the system to participate as a user's communication system in the above system for exchanging information.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system according to the invention
  • Fig. 2A shows one example of users' communication systems suitable to be used in the system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 2B shows another example of users' communication systems suitable to be used in the system of Fig. 1.
  • the system comprises two interconnectable communication systems 12A and 12B associated with users A and B (constituting, respectively, first and second users).
  • Each of the communication systems 12A and 12B is installed with a software package specifically designed for the purposes of the present invention. Namely, each of the software packages enables the creation of the user's private database, and the software packages operate in accordance with a communication protocol between them enabling the management of users' private databases 13 A and 13B installed in their communication systems.
  • each of the users' communication systems may be composed of one or more communication devices (such as computer or phone devices).
  • the communication devices of the user's communication system may and may not be connectable to each other, but at least one of the communication devices of the first user communication system is connectable to at least one of the communication devices of the second user communication system.
  • These first and second communication devices of the first and second users, respectively, which are connectable to each other have to be installed with the software package.
  • each such Micro-Server is capable of establishing a connection with the other, similar Micro-Server, and presents an interface with one or more applications installed in the communication device for retrieving received information to be stored in the user's private database.
  • three such applications - App. a, App. b and App. c - are installed in the communication device of each user.
  • One such application may relate to the kind of transmitted/received data (e.g., address book), another application may be that for retrieving the received data (e.g., Excel), and yet another application may contain data indicative of the ASP address for receiving the application required for retrieving the received data.
  • Data Card -1 Information that belongs to user A and is to be transmitted to user B is maintained as a data card (Data Card -1) in the private database of user A.
  • This data card is created by user A (or on his behalf, as the case may be) by using the user interface of the software package installed in his communication device.
  • This software package allows the creation of a unique identification code (ID) or link code belonging to the user and tags this data card with this ID.
  • ID unique identification code
  • link code belonging to the user and tags this data card with this ID.
  • the software package of user A is responsive to this unique ID as a request for the information contained in the data card.
  • the receipt at the device 12A of a message indicative of this ID results in the activation of the software package installed therein for transmitting the information to a requesting communication device, 12B in the present example.
  • the user A himself may activate his software package for transmitting his related information to a communication device indicated by him.
  • the software package in the device 12A When the software package in the device 12A is activated for transmitting the user's A related information, it also transmits data indicative of the application that has to be provided in the receiving communication device to retrieve the received information, and/or an address of a corresponding application server provider. Obviously, if the transmission of user's A related information is initiated by the receipt of his ID, his software package may ask for his permission to carry out the transmission (if this is defined by user's A preferences).
  • the user's A software package in response to the initiation of the transmission of user's A related information to user B (carried out either by user B through the application of the ID of user A, or by user A himself), registers the available personal data of user B in the private database of user A.
  • This data relating to user B is maintained in the so-called "Mailing List" of user A associated with this specific data card (Data Card-1) for the purposes of automatic updating.
  • user B has to define his related data, namely to create, using his software package, a data card containing his related information.
  • This information includes at least an address of user's communication device where he wishes notification messages from the software package of user A to be received.
  • the software package of user B enables him to create a unique key code belonging to him.
  • This key code is also included in user's B request for the information belonging to user A.
  • the software package of user A identifies this key code and tags a notification message addressed to user B with this key code, thereby enabling user's B software package to identify the authorization of this message.
  • the user's B software package in response to a message indicative of the transmitted information belonging to user A, creates a corresponding data record in the private database of user B.
  • a message indicative of the transmitted information belonging to user A creates a corresponding data record in the private database of user B.
  • his software package attends to creating the private database and storing the corresponding data record therein.
  • This software package also identifies in the received message the data indicative of the application required for retrieving the received information and operates accordingly to enable the retrieval of information. It should also be understood, that the Micro-Servers in the systems 12A and
  • the private database of a specific user in the most general case is composed of two lists: one list includes received information belonging to other users, and the other lists is the Mailing List including information indicative of those users who received the personal information of this specific user.
  • the software package installed in user's A communication system operates in accordance with his preferences to generate a notification message to user's B communication system.
  • This notification message is transmitted to the address selected by user B and indicated when requesting the information belonging to user A.
  • User A may select automatic notification to all users listed in his Mailing list, or may select some of them. Additionally, user A may choose that the users selected by him should and should not be immediately notified about the changes, but in accordance with a specific time frame selected by user A.
  • the software package installed in user's B communication system in response to this notification message, updates the corresponding data record in user's B private database.
  • such communication devices 12A and 12B of users A and B are their mobile phone devices connectable to each other using a short-range wireless connection, for example by IR or RF signal transmission.
  • these devices capable of short-range wireless interconnection should not necessarily be mobile phone devices, but may be computers, phone-computer, etc, provided they are equipped with suitable receiving/transmitting means.
  • the private database of user A, as well as that of user B should not necessarily be maintained in these mobile phone devices. The case may be such that the software packages installed in these devices simply exchange messages indicative of user's B request for information, and user's A permission to obtain this information.
  • user B may indicate user A (through the software packages connection) that he wishes to obtain user's A related information, and may indicate the address of his communication device to which this information should be transmitted, and, if different, that for addressing notification messages.
  • User's A software package may, for example, only notify that this information can be received, and transmit the user's A unique ID, which when being applied through user's B software package, will create a link to another communication device of user's A communication system, where his related information is maintained and from which it may be transmitted.
  • Fig. 2B there is illustrated another example of the implementation of the system according to the invention.
  • a communication technique is presented between a company (constituting a first user) supplying information regarding certain services to its clients and a potential client (constituting a second user), from their computer systems through the Internet.
  • the "client” and the “company” are both “clients” or users with respect to the Internet, and are referred to here as the “client” and “company” solely to distinguish between them for the purposes of the present invention: the “company” is represented in a Web Site, while the “client” may and may not be represented in any Web Site.
  • the company is associated with a plurality of remotely located sites, for example a chain of flower shops, one of the branches being shown in the figure. These sites may and may not be connectable to each other through the Internet. It should, however, be understood that the company could be associated with a single site, e.g., a single computer device or a plurality of computer devices connected to each other through a local network.
  • a system 100 utilizes the Internet 112 to enable the on-line connection between a client's computer system 14 and a company's computer system 16.
  • the company is represented by a Web Site 18, Flower Shop site in the present example, and the Web Site includes a reference mark, e.g., icon, 20 displayed to users when reaching the Web Site.
  • This reference mark is representative of an identification code (ID) or link code belonging to the company.
  • ID identification code
  • the ID "hidden" in the reference mark is applicable to access a data record (data card) that is maintained in the company's private database and contains company-related information which it wishes to deliver to its clients, as will be described more specifically further below.
  • the computer system 16 is installed with the software package operating as described above.
  • client's computer system 14 it may and may not be initially installed with the similar software package, namely prior to carrying out a method of the present invention for the first time.
  • the client's computer system 14 is typically equipped with suitable utilities, i.e., client agent application (such as browser), modem, etc., enabling the client to go on-line to the Internet, search for information of interest and retrieve the received information.
  • client agent application such as browser
  • modem modem
  • the software package when being installed in the client's computer system 14, is responsive to the activation of the reference mark, namely, it identifies the ID hidden in the mark and operates accordingly.
  • the example of the operation of the system 100 will now be described, according to which this operation is initiated by the client from his computer system 14. It should be understood that in order to enable the operation of the system, the following procedure is previously performed at the company's computer system 16, which, as indicated above, is installed with the software package.
  • the software package allows the creation of a data card belonging to the company and the creation of a link code corresponding to this data card.
  • a plurality of card-code pairs may be created, each being associated with different kinds of information about the company (e.g., different products it sales or advertises), and/or different codes may relate to different parts of the data record associated with different information parts.
  • the Web Site 18 representing this company utilizes the reference mark 20 to be displayed on the user's computer when reaching this Web Site, such that the activation of this icon by the user allows to initiate a communication method of the present invention. Namely, the activation of this icon allows the user to automatically receive the requested information about this specific company from the company's computer system 16.
  • This information contains data that will allow the client to communicate with the company, and/or data relating to the services it supplies. In other words, this information is that corresponding to the company's link code "hidden" in the icon.
  • the client goes on-line to the Internet from his computer system 14 by performing the Internet's client-server communication session, and reaches the Web Site 18 representing a company of interest to him, i.e., that associated with the computer system 16.
  • the client decides to obtain the information of the company, he activates the reference mark, thereby activating the software package, if installed in his computer 14.
  • the activation of the mark presents an interface allowing the user to initiate the downloading procedure.
  • the software while being installed in the computer 14, is responsive to the icon activation for identifying the link code belonging to the company, and applies this code to establish the on-line connection with the computer system 16 to automatically transmit the user's request for information and obtain the requested information.
  • the software package may transmit user's related information (at least the address for receiving information) to be stored in the company's private database, and operate in the future to keep this stored information updated.
  • the software package creates a data record or icon enabling the user to review the received information and decide whether he wishes this information to be maintained in his private database or not. If the user decides to have this information stored, his software package creates a corresponding data record in the private database. Additionally, the case may be such that there is no private database previously created, or the user wishes to have a separate database for these purposes.
  • the software application presents an interface to the user to enter his selections, and creates such a private database, if needed.
  • the software package allows the user to define his preferences with respect to the received information, and, if not existing at the time, define his related data, namely, it allows the creation of a data card containing the user's related information (at least the address for receiving notification messages); his private database, his identification (link) code; and also allows him to indicate his preferences with respect to the transmission of the information belonging to him, and with respect to receipt of other information to be included in his private database (e.g., updating procedure).
  • the transmitted information i.e., at least the address of the client's software application, will be stored in the company's private database, i.e., the client will be registered.
  • both private databases contain corresponding data records, and both software packages are now responsible for performing updating procedures and managing these private databases.
  • the client's address which was previously recorded in the corresponding data record of the company's private database (Mailing List) as the address selected by the client for updating purposes, may change.
  • the software package in the client's computer identifies these changes, and operates in accordance with the client's priorities to generate a corresponding message addressed to the company's computer system. This message is received by the company's software package, which retrieves the received information and manages the company's private database accordingly. Similarly, changes may be made to the data card belonging to the company with respect to the information previously transmitted to the registered client. In this case, both software packages operate in accordance with the communication protocol to update the private database of the client.
  • the client may automatically receive information about the branch of the restaurant chain closest to his new home.
  • the client may not be specifically notified as to the receipt of such information, but when he contacts the same company for ordering the same or other services, he will automatically reach the closest restaurant, since his private database has been duly updated.
  • the client may receive a notification message from the company notifying him about the existence of such a shop or restaurant, its address, phone number, etc.
  • Fig. 2B allows the reference mark owner (i.e., company) to keep all its linked users automatically updated, and allows the user to always have the benefit of updated information.
  • the technique according to the invention allows for exchanging information between different users and keeping obtained information updated by means of identical software packages installed in the user's respective communication systems.
  • Such communication systems installed with the software packages presents Micro-Servers connectable to each other by a communication protocol enabling the management of the users' private databases.
  • the user's communication system may comprise one or more communication devices.
  • Users' communication systems may include computers or phone devices, and may be interconnectable be means of a communication network or by short-range wireless connection.

Abstract

A method and system are presented for exchanging information belonging to different users between them and maintaining obtained information updated, utilizing users' personal communication systems, each provided with a software package installed therein. The software packages are operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them enabling management of users' private databases maintained in their communication systems, respectively, in response to messages generated by the software packages. The software package, when being installed in the communication system of a specific user, enables the creation of a data card that contains the information, which belongs to the specific user and is to be transmitted to other users, and the creation of a unique link code presenting access to this data card. Information relating to those users, to whom the information related to the specific user is transmitted, are recorded in the private database of the specific user for automatic updating them with changes made to the specific user related data card, whenever these changes occur. Similarly, the private database of the specific user can be kept updated with changes in information about those users who are recorded in his private database. The invention can utilize connection between the users' communication systems through a communication network, or the short-range wireless connection.

Description

A Method and System for Exchanging Users Related Information via their Communication Systems
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is generally in the field of communication techniques, and relates to a method and system for exchanging information belonging to different users through their communication systems in a manner allowing the users to keep in touch. The invention is particularly useful for people to exchange their personal information (e.g., of a kind typically included in a business card) whilst meeting each other and wishing to communicate in the future. Additionally, the invention is useful for e-commerce applications, where the users are those providing information regarding certain services and their potential clients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Techniques of communication between a provider of specific services and its potential clients through the Internet are generally known and widely used for ordering various products, tickets, etc. from suppliers or retailers, provided the latter is represented and advertised on one or more Web Sites. This may, for example, be a Web Site relating to a specific company and aimed at advertising products commercially available from this company to various users when going on-line, and/or enabling the users to purchase the products by ordering them through the Internet.
When people meet for business purposes, it is commonly practiced to exchange business cards containing relevant information for future contacts. A business card usually contains data pertaining to the following: name, occupation, company, position and addresses relative to communication systems such as mail, phone, fax, e-mail and the like. However, as time passes, it is usual for changes to occur in at least some of the user-related data. For example, when dealing with a company selling various products, this data relates to new products or price changes, as well as changes in the company's mailing address and/or network's address. With regard to personal information such as that contained in a business card, although names tend to remain the same, positions, occupations and many kinds of addresses are modified quite often. For example, a person may be promoted to a higher position in another division, may leave for another company or, as frequently occurs, a phone, facsimile or e-mail address is modified. These are all "dynamic" changes that take place in everyday life.
Thus, if any user, who has once received information about other user, for example, has once used the services of a specific company, wishes to communicate with the other user (e.g., obtain information of interest associated with this company later on), he has to search for this information. The user may desire to have a simpler way of contacting the other user in the future, just as it may be desirable for the company to keep its clients updated about the changes in company related information whenever these changes occur.
With regard to network users' communication particulars, such as address, e-mail, phone and fax numbers, communication techniques enabling the managing of users' personal address books have been developed. According to one such technique proposed by the Internet site "PlanetAU", an Internet Server Provider (PlanetAU) owns a central database for maintaining personal address books of various users who are subscribers to PlanetAU. Each subscriber is allowed to create his own personal address book in the central database. Upon mutual consent of a first subscriber and a second subscriber to PlanetAU, the contact particulars of the first subscriber are transmitted from his address book to the address book of the second subscriber. Additionally, the address book of the second subscriber is automatically updated with the relevant changes whenever they occur in the address book of the first subscriber. All these address books reside within the central database belonging to PlanetAU. Thus, each PlanetAU subscriber has his personal address book maintained at the Service Provider's side. Consequently, to gain access to his personal address book, the subscriber needs to establish an on-line connection with the Service Provider. Moreover, to obtain permission of one of the subscribers for the automatic transmission of his contact particulars to another subscriber, the Service Provider has to invoke a specific procedure. This technique suffers from numerous drawbacks, as it always requires the active intervention of the user, the time consuming process of getting on-line, accessing addresses and waiting for the results. Moreover, it provides no privacy for the subscribers, since their related information is maintained in the central database relating to PlanetAU.
Another communication technique, proposed by Internet site "ICQ", has been developed by Mirabilis Ltd. This technique utilizes a Client Program and a central database, and is aimed at facilitating on-line communication (e.g., Internet Chats, messaging, etc.) between subscribers to ICQ. ICQ allows any subscriber thereto to create and operate his own personal address book. This address book includes personal data of other subscribers to ICQ, per the choice of the owner of the address book. The address book is created at the subscriber side (i.e., in his personal computer), and can be updated with any changes in the personal data of subscribers recorded in the address book. However, to perform this updating, the address book owner needs to go on-line to access the ICQ central database. In other words, the updating procedure is carried out in response to a specific request from the address book owner. This technique does not allow for managing the personal address books of ICQ subscribers. As a result, any subscriber, before using personal data recorded in his address book for contacting a corresponding subscriber, has to check the actuality of data stored in the address book by establishing an on-line connection with the central database through the Internet.
Yet another known techniques enabling an Internet user to obtain information of his interest and keep this information updated are the so-called "push" technologies developed by BackWeb and PointCast companies. These techniques, however, are intended for communication between the "client" and "server". Namely, for "client" to be updated with changes introduced to the information he previously received, he has to establish on-line connection to the "server" (which means that the server should be in on-line connection 24 hours aday). Additionally, these techniques do not provide a simple way of delivering information of interest to a "client". The "client" has to search for this information while being on-line, and, after obtaining the information and further obtaining its related updated data, has to create and update a corresponding file by himself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is accordingly a need in the art to improve techniques for communication between different users, by providing a novel method and system for exchanging users related information and maintaining the received information updated.
It is a major feature of the present invention to provide such a method that allows one user to deliver information belonging to him (for example, his own personal data) to another user and vice versa, and keep the obtained data updated with any changes whenever they occur. The user's related information (including that to be delivered to other users and that obtained from the other users) is maintained in the user's private database managed by a software package installed in his communication system. To this end, the user's related information to be transmitted to other users is stored in a file (the so-called "Data Card") tagged with a unique identification code ("the so-called "Link Code"). This link code presents access to the corresponding data card for obtaining the information contained therein.
The users may be, respectively, a company supplying specific services and a potential client interested in these services. The terms "client" and "company" hereinfater will signify two different users connectable to each other through a communication network (e.g., the Internet), provided that access to information related to at least one of the users, e.g., "company", is represented at one or more Web Sites accessible to the "client" when he goes on-line to the network (by performing a client-server communication session). In other words, the "client" and the "company" are both "clients" (users) with respect to the communication network. Thus, these different users are called in the description below the "client" and "company", so as to distinguish between them only for the purposes of one embodiment of the present invention. Namely, access code (link code) to the information belonging to the "company" is represented in a Web Site, while that of the "client" may and may not be represented in any Web Site.
The method of the present invention enables the client to successfully obtain information related to the company and contact the company in a very simple and convenient way, whenever the client desires, and enables the company to register this client and successfully contact him, even if a significant amount of time has passed from the date of their first contact. The access to information related to the company is represented by a reference mark displayed in the Web Site. This reference mark is representative of a unique link code belonging to the company. To obtain information belonging to the company, the client actuates the reference mark, thereby enabling the actuation of the software package (if installed in his communication system), or the downloading of this software package.
The user's communication system may comprise one or more communication devices such as computer and phone devices, wherein at least one of the communication devices in the user's communication system is interconnectable with at least one communication device of the other user's communication system. This connection between the communication systems is carried out in accordance with a predefined protocol between similar software packages installed in these communication systems. There is thus provided according to one aspect of the present invention, a method of exchanging information belonging to first and second users between them and maintaining obtained information updated, the method utilizing users' personal communication systems and comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a software package installed in each of said personal communication systems of the first and second users, the software packages being operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them enabling the management of private databases of the first and second users maintained in their communication systems in response to messages generated by the software packages; (b) providing a first data card containing the information which belongs to the first user and is to be transmitted to the second user, wherein said first data card is tagged with a unique link code belonging to the first user, said unique link code presenting access to said data card and being applicable by the second user to actuate the software packages and request said information; (c) providing a second data card containing the information belonging to the second user and including at least an address of the second user's communication system for transmitting thereto notification "messages generated by the software package of the first user;
(d) actuating the software package installed in the communication system of the first user for transmitting said information belonging to him to the communication system of the second user, and registering the second user as a receiver of the information belonging to the first user by recording said information belonging to the second user in the private database of the first user, so as to, upon detecting changes in said first data record, transmit a notification message to the communication system of the second user in accordance with said address;
(e) by the software package installed in the communication system of the second user, in response to the transmitted information, creating a corresponding data record in the private database of the second user; in response to the notification message, automatically updating said corresponding data record; and, upon detecting changes in said information of the second user, generating a notification message to the communication system of the first user for updating the recorded information belonging to the second user. The term "data card" used herein signifies a data record or file containing information that can be stored in a communication system and can be transmitted to another communication system by means of either a data stream or signal transmission. The interconnection between the communication systems of the first and second users (i.e., their software packages) may and my not utilize a communication network. If a communication network is utilized, the connection may be based on any known suitable protocol, such as e-mail, client-server or S.M.S. protocol. The communication systems may interconnect using a short-range wireless connection, for example by means of a technique disclosed in the Internet site "Bluetooth".
The second user's request for information belonging to the first user may be generated and transmitted from one of the communication devices of his personal communication system, while he may select to receive this information to another communication device of his communication system. In other words, the request generated by the software package installed in the communication system of the second user, in addition to the unique link code of the first user, is also indicative of an address of that communication device, in which the second user wishes to have his private database maintained. Preferably, the second user's request is also indicative of a certain key code belonging to the second user. This key code will be tagged to messages generated by the software package of the first user and transmitted to the software package of the second user, so as to enable the latter to identify that messages are arriving from the first user, namely from an authorized side. The first user himself may actuate his software package for transmitting his related information to the second user.
Generally, the software package installed in the user's communication system enables him to create the data record containing his related information, create his unique link code presenting access to this data record, and to define his preferences with respect to the communication with the software packages in other users' communication systems. For example, these preferences may relate to a manner in which the user's private database is to be updated, namely, the updating may be initiated immediately in response to the changes entered to the data record of the first user, or by periodically checking for any changes. When dealing with the communication between two mobile phone devices via short-range wireless connection, the software packages should be previously installed in these devices. As for communication utilizing a communication network, the software package may not be initially installed in the communication system of the second user, and may be downloaded for these specific purposes. In the specific embodiment of the invention where the communication between "company" and "client" is considered, it is assumed that the software application is previously installed in the computer system of the first user, but may or may not be previously installed in the communication system of the second user. If there is no such software in the communication system of the second user, in response to the activation of the reference mark (e.g., icon), an interface is presented enabling the second user to initiate downloading of this software package by activating an appropriately provided icon. To operate the software package installed in the communication system of the second user by the icon activation, the second users may carry out the so-called "drag-and-drop" procedure to drag the icon towards the area in his communication system designated for this software package.
The software packages installed in the communication systems of the first and second users operate in accordance with a predefined protocol for managing the private databases of the users in response to corresponding messages generated by these software packages. This enables the software packages to exchange information belonging to the first and second users and maintained in their data cards, enables to generate and transmit notification messages, and to manage the users' private databases in response to the received information and received notification messages. Preferably, the software package, when transmitting the user-related information, also transmits data indicative of a software application needed for retrieving the received information, and may also transmit the address of an application service provider (ASP) for obtaining this specific software application.
The case may be such that prior to the activation of his software package there was no private database in the user's communication system, or the user prefer to have a separate database for these purposes. In this case, the software package, when being installed in the user's communication system, operates to create such a private database. As indicated above, the private database managed by the software package is not necessarily maintained in that communication device from which the user initiates the connection.
To enable the registration of the second user in the private database of the first user for updating purposes, the software package of the second user allows him to create the data card containing at least the address where he wishes to receive the notification messages. Obviously, such a data card may include more information about the second user (e.g., name, mailing address, e-mail, phone number, fax number, etc.), and the user's software package may allow him to create a unique link code belonging to him and associated with this information. Thus, the software package initiates the transmission of a message indicative of the second user related information (or at least a relevant part thereof according to the user's preferences) and/or of the second user's link code, to the communication system of the first user.
It should be understood that according to the present invention, each such user's communication system, after being installed with the software package, actually presents a so-called "Micro-Server", capable of communicating with other, similar Micro-Servers through a predefined protocol between the software packages utilizing link codes belonging to corresponding users. Each link code actually presents a link (access) to the corresponding data record in the private database stored in the communication system and managed by the software package installed therein. In its simplest example, such a link code may be based on the user's e-mail address or telephone address. The design of the private database may be based on the Microsoft Outlook application typically installed in users' computers. The updating procedure is carried out by means of the so-called "off-line protocol", such as that used for e-mail transmission.
Furthermore, the data record containing the user's personal information may include so-called "dynamic information", which presents data indicative of a "new" address for communication (e.g. phone number, e-mail, etc.) introduced by the user
(or by authorized person) to be currently relevant. The entrance of the dynamic information may be caused by the fact that the user is going to be available at the new address within a certain period of time, and intends to return to the "main" address indicated in his data record when this period of time expires. The specific user may specify only some of the other users registered in his private database to be updated with these temporary changes. This may be implemented in the following manner. When the user enters any temporary address for communication into his dynamic field of the data record, his software "asks" him whether all the registered users in the lists should be updated or not, and operates in accordance with the user's selection. Consequently, when one of the selected registered users wishes to communicate with this specific user, the software package of this registered user operates to check whether there exists any temporary address in the dynamic field of the specific user. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for exchanging information belonging to different users between them and maintaining obtained information updated, the system comprising users' communication systems, wherein each of the communication systems is installed with a software package, the software packages being operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them for managing private databases of the users stored in their communication systems, respectively, wherein said communication protocol enables transmission of the information between the user's communication systems, and transmission of notification messages indicative of changes in the users' related information generated by the software packages; each software package, when installed in the communication system of the respective user, allows the creation of a data card containing the information which belongs to this user and which is to be transmitted to at least one other user, allows the creation of a unique link code belonging to said information and tags said data record with said unique link code; in response to the received information, said software package is capable of creating a corresponding data record in the user's private data base; and, in response to a notification message, automatically updating the corresponding data record.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet Web Site accessible by one Internet user when going on-line to the Internet by performing a client-server communication session, wherein said Web Site represents another Internet user and includes a reference mark displayed to said one user when reaching said Web Site, the reference mark being representative of a unique link code belonging to said another user and presenting access to a data record containing information, which belongs to said another user and is to be transmitted to said one user in response to activation of said reference mark.
The present invention, by its yet another aspect, provides a software package installable in a communication system, wherein said software package when installed in the communication system allows the system to participate as a user's communication system in the above system for exchanging information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system according to the invention;
Fig. 2A shows one example of users' communication systems suitable to be used in the system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 2B shows another example of users' communication systems suitable to be used in the system of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a system 10 according to the invention. The system comprises two interconnectable communication systems 12A and 12B associated with users A and B (constituting, respectively, first and second users). Each of the communication systems 12A and 12B is installed with a software package specifically designed for the purposes of the present invention. Namely, each of the software packages enables the creation of the user's private database, and the software packages operate in accordance with a communication protocol between them enabling the management of users' private databases 13 A and 13B installed in their communication systems.
It should be noted, that each of the users' communication systems may be composed of one or more communication devices (such as computer or phone devices). The communication devices of the user's communication system may and may not be connectable to each other, but at least one of the communication devices of the first user communication system is connectable to at least one of the communication devices of the second user communication system. These first and second communication devices of the first and second users, respectively, which are connectable to each other, have to be installed with the software package. These devices, when being installed with the software packages, actually present Micro-Servers 12A and 12B. This means that these devices are connectable to each other for the purposes of managing users' private databases via messages generated by the software packages. Generally speaking, each such Micro-Server is capable of establishing a connection with the other, similar Micro-Server, and presents an interface with one or more applications installed in the communication device for retrieving received information to be stored in the user's private database. In the present example, three such applications - App. a, App. b and App. c - are installed in the communication device of each user. One such application may relate to the kind of transmitted/received data (e.g., address book), another application may be that for retrieving the received data (e.g., Excel), and yet another application may contain data indicative of the ASP address for receiving the application required for retrieving the received data.
It should be noted that, if the communication devices are connectable to each other through a communication network, this connection is needed for the purposes of the present invention solely at the level of a client-server communication session for establishing an on-line connection. Information that belongs to user A and is to be transmitted to user B is maintained as a data card (Data Card -1) in the private database of user A. This data card is created by user A (or on his behalf, as the case may be) by using the user interface of the software package installed in his communication device. This software package allows the creation of a unique identification code (ID) or link code belonging to the user and tags this data card with this ID. The software package of user A is responsive to this unique ID as a request for the information contained in the data card. In other words, the receipt at the device 12A of a message indicative of this ID, results in the activation of the software package installed therein for transmitting the information to a requesting communication device, 12B in the present example. Alternatively, the user A himself may activate his software package for transmitting his related information to a communication device indicated by him.
When the software package in the device 12A is activated for transmitting the user's A related information, it also transmits data indicative of the application that has to be provided in the receiving communication device to retrieve the received information, and/or an address of a corresponding application server provider. Obviously, if the transmission of user's A related information is initiated by the receipt of his ID, his software package may ask for his permission to carry out the transmission (if this is defined by user's A preferences). The user's A software package, in response to the initiation of the transmission of user's A related information to user B (carried out either by user B through the application of the ID of user A, or by user A himself), registers the available personal data of user B in the private database of user A. This data relating to user B is maintained in the so-called "Mailing List" of user A associated with this specific data card (Data Card-1) for the purposes of automatic updating. To this end, user B has to define his related data, namely to create, using his software package, a data card containing his related information. This information includes at least an address of user's communication device where he wishes notification messages from the software package of user A to be received. Additionally, the software package of user B enables him to create a unique key code belonging to him. This key code is also included in user's B request for the information belonging to user A. The software package of user A identifies this key code and tags a notification message addressed to user B with this key code, thereby enabling user's B software package to identify the authorization of this message.
The user's B software package, in response to a message indicative of the transmitted information belonging to user A, creates a corresponding data record in the private database of user B. As indicated above, if there is no such private database or user B desires a separate private database to be created, his software package attends to creating the private database and storing the corresponding data record therein. This software package also identifies in the received message the data indicative of the application required for retrieving the received information and operates accordingly to enable the retrieval of information. It should also be understood, that the Micro-Servers in the systems 12A and
12B are installed with the identical software packages, namely each Micro-Server is capable of transmitting the personal information belonging to the respective user and receiving information belonging to other users. Therefore, the private database of a specific user in the most general case is composed of two lists: one list includes received information belonging to other users, and the other lists is the Mailing List including information indicative of those users who received the personal information of this specific user.
When user A introduces changes to his data card (Data Card-1), from which the information was previously transmitted to user B, and user B was therefore registered in the Mailing List of user's A, the software package installed in user's A communication system operates in accordance with his preferences to generate a notification message to user's B communication system. This notification message is transmitted to the address selected by user B and indicated when requesting the information belonging to user A. User A may select automatic notification to all users listed in his Mailing list, or may select some of them. Additionally, user A may choose that the users selected by him should and should not be immediately notified about the changes, but in accordance with a specific time frame selected by user A.
The software package installed in user's B communication system, in response to this notification message, updates the corresponding data record in user's B private database.
As indicated above the transmission of the notification messages, as well as those indicative of the information to be delivered, could be performed in accordance with the off-line protocol. As shown in Fig. 2A, such communication devices 12A and 12B of users A and B, respectively, are their mobile phone devices connectable to each other using a short-range wireless connection, for example by IR or RF signal transmission.
It should be understood that these devices capable of short-range wireless interconnection should not necessarily be mobile phone devices, but may be computers, phone-computer, etc, provided they are equipped with suitable receiving/transmitting means. It should also be noted that the private database of user A, as well as that of user B, should not necessarily be maintained in these mobile phone devices. The case may be such that the software packages installed in these devices simply exchange messages indicative of user's B request for information, and user's A permission to obtain this information. For example, user B may indicate user A (through the software packages connection) that he wishes to obtain user's A related information, and may indicate the address of his communication device to which this information should be transmitted, and, if different, that for addressing notification messages. User's A software package may, for example, only notify that this information can be received, and transmit the user's A unique ID, which when being applied through user's B software package, will create a link to another communication device of user's A communication system, where his related information is maintained and from which it may be transmitted. Turning now to Fig. 2B, there is illustrated another example of the implementation of the system according to the invention. Here, a communication technique is presented between a company (constituting a first user) supplying information regarding certain services to its clients and a potential client (constituting a second user), from their computer systems through the Internet. As indicated above, the "client" and the "company" are both "clients" or users with respect to the Internet, and are referred to here as the "client" and "company" solely to distinguish between them for the purposes of the present invention: the "company" is represented in a Web Site, while the "client" may and may not be represented in any Web Site. In this specific example, the company is associated with a plurality of remotely located sites, for example a chain of flower shops, one of the branches being shown in the figure. These sites may and may not be connectable to each other through the Internet. It should, however, be understood that the company could be associated with a single site, e.g., a single computer device or a plurality of computer devices connected to each other through a local network.
Thus, a system 100 utilizes the Internet 112 to enable the on-line connection between a client's computer system 14 and a company's computer system 16. The company is represented by a Web Site 18, Flower Shop site in the present example, and the Web Site includes a reference mark, e.g., icon, 20 displayed to users when reaching the Web Site. This reference mark is representative of an identification code (ID) or link code belonging to the company. The ID "hidden" in the reference mark is applicable to access a data record (data card) that is maintained in the company's private database and contains company-related information which it wishes to deliver to its clients, as will be described more specifically further below. The computer system 16 is installed with the software package operating as described above. As for the client's computer system 14, it may and may not be initially installed with the similar software package, namely prior to carrying out a method of the present invention for the first time. The client's computer system 14 is typically equipped with suitable utilities, i.e., client agent application (such as browser), modem, etc., enabling the client to go on-line to the Internet, search for information of interest and retrieve the received information.
The software package, when being installed in the client's computer system 14, is responsive to the activation of the reference mark, namely, it identifies the ID hidden in the mark and operates accordingly. The example of the operation of the system 100 will now be described, according to which this operation is initiated by the client from his computer system 14. It should be understood that in order to enable the operation of the system, the following procedure is previously performed at the company's computer system 16, which, as indicated above, is installed with the software package.
The software package allows the creation of a data card belonging to the company and the creation of a link code corresponding to this data card. Obviously, a plurality of card-code pairs may be created, each being associated with different kinds of information about the company (e.g., different products it sales or advertises), and/or different codes may relate to different parts of the data record associated with different information parts. The Web Site 18 representing this company utilizes the reference mark 20 to be displayed on the user's computer when reaching this Web Site, such that the activation of this icon by the user allows to initiate a communication method of the present invention. Namely, the activation of this icon allows the user to automatically receive the requested information about this specific company from the company's computer system 16. This information contains data that will allow the client to communicate with the company, and/or data relating to the services it supplies. In other words, this information is that corresponding to the company's link code "hidden" in the icon. Thus, the client goes on-line to the Internet from his computer system 14 by performing the Internet's client-server communication session, and reaches the Web Site 18 representing a company of interest to him, i.e., that associated with the computer system 16. If the client decides to obtain the information of the company, he activates the reference mark, thereby activating the software package, if installed in his computer 14. Generally, the activation of the mark presents an interface allowing the user to initiate the downloading procedure.
The software, while being installed in the computer 14, is responsive to the icon activation for identifying the link code belonging to the company, and applies this code to establish the on-line connection with the computer system 16 to automatically transmit the user's request for information and obtain the requested information. Additionally, the software package may transmit user's related information (at least the address for receiving information) to be stored in the company's private database, and operate in the future to keep this stored information updated. Preferably, the software package creates a data record or icon enabling the user to review the received information and decide whether he wishes this information to be maintained in his private database or not. If the user decides to have this information stored, his software package creates a corresponding data record in the private database. Additionally, the case may be such that there is no private database previously created, or the user wishes to have a separate database for these purposes. The software application presents an interface to the user to enter his selections, and creates such a private database, if needed.
Generally speaking, the software package allows the user to define his preferences with respect to the received information, and, if not existing at the time, define his related data, namely, it allows the creation of a data card containing the user's related information (at least the address for receiving notification messages); his private database, his identification (link) code; and also allows him to indicate his preferences with respect to the transmission of the information belonging to him, and with respect to receipt of other information to be included in his private database (e.g., updating procedure). The transmitted information, i.e., at least the address of the client's software application, will be stored in the company's private database, i.e., the client will be registered. Thus, both private databases contain corresponding data records, and both software packages are now responsible for performing updating procedures and managing these private databases.
As the time passes, the client's address, which was previously recorded in the corresponding data record of the company's private database (Mailing List) as the address selected by the client for updating purposes, may change. The software package in the client's computer identifies these changes, and operates in accordance with the client's priorities to generate a corresponding message addressed to the company's computer system. This message is received by the company's software package, which retrieves the received information and manages the company's private database accordingly. Similarly, changes may be made to the data card belonging to the company with respect to the information previously transmitted to the registered client. In this case, both software packages operate in accordance with the communication protocol to update the private database of the client.
Thus, for example of the "company" represents a chain of restaurants, if the client moves to another residence, he may automatically receive information about the branch of the restaurant chain closest to his new home. The client may not be specifically notified as to the receipt of such information, but when he contacts the same company for ordering the same or other services, he will automatically reach the closest restaurant, since his private database has been duly updated. Alternatively or additionally, the client may receive a notification message from the company notifying him about the existence of such a shop or restaurant, its address, phone number, etc.
The above technique exemplified in Fig. 2B allows the reference mark owner (i.e., company) to keep all its linked users automatically updated, and allows the user to always have the benefit of updated information.
Generally speaking, the technique according to the invention allows for exchanging information between different users and keeping obtained information updated by means of identical software packages installed in the user's respective communication systems. Such communication systems installed with the software packages, presents Micro-Servers connectable to each other by a communication protocol enabling the management of the users' private databases.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and changes can be applied to the present invention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope defined in and by the appended claims. For example, the user's communication system may comprise one or more communication devices. Users' communication systems may include computers or phone devices, and may be interconnectable be means of a communication network or by short-range wireless connection.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A method of exchanging information belonging to first and second users between them and maintaining obtained information updated, the method utilizing users' personal communication systems and comprising the steps of: (a) providing a software package installed in each of said personal communication systems of the first and second users, the software packages being operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them enabling the management of private databases of the first and second users maintained in their communication systems in response to messages generated by the software packages;
(b) providing a first data card containing the information which belongs to the first user and is to be transmitted to the second user, wherein said first data card is tagged with a unique link code belonging to the first user, said unique link code presenting access to said data card and being applicable by the second user to actuate the software packages and request said information;
(c) providing a second data card containing the information belonging to the second user and including at least an address of the second user's communication system for transmitting thereto notification messages generated by the software package of the first user; (d) actuating the software package installed in the communication system of the first user for transmitting said information belonging to him to the communication system of the second user, and registering the second user as a receiver of the information belonging to the first user by recording said information belonging to the second user in the private database of the first user, so as to, upon detecting changes in said first data record, transmit a notification message to the communication system of the second user in accordance with said address;
(e) by the software package installed in the communication system of the second user, in response to the transmitted information, creating a corresponding data record in the private database of the second user; in response to the notification message, automatically updating said corresponding data record; and, upon detecting changes in said information, of the second user, generating a notification message to the communication system of the first user for updating the recorded information belonging to the second user.
2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said predefined protocol enables communication between the software packages through a telephone network.
3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said predetermined protocol enables communication between the software packages through a computer network.
4. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said predefined protocol enables communication between the software packages through a short-range wireless connection.
5. The method according to Claim 4, wherein the transmission of the information and messages utilizes IR or RF signal transmission.
6. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the users' communication systems utilize phone devices.
7. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the users' communication systems utilize computer devices.
8. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the users' communication systems utilize computer and phone devices.
9. The method according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said first user is represented at a Network Site accessible to the second user when being on-line, the method further comprising the step of providing a reference mark displayed in said Network Site, wherein the reference mark is representative of said unique link code, and, when being activated by the second user, is capable of operating the software package in his communication system to apply said unique link code, thereby initiating the request for said information belonging to the first user.
10. The method according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said first user is represented at a Network Site accessible to the second user when being on-line, the method further comprising the step of providing a reference mark displayed in said Network Site, wherein the reference mark is representative of said unique link code, the provision of the software package in the communication system of the second user comprises downloading said software package in response to the 5 activation of the reference mark.
11. The method according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the activation of the reference mark includes dragging the reference mark onto the software package designated area in the communication system of the second user.
12. The method according to Claim 9, wherein the operation of said protocol l o further comprises :
- in response to the reference mark activation, identifying by the software package in the communication system of the second user said unique link code belonging to the first user, automatically applying the code to create a direct link with the software package installed in the
15 communication system of the first user and to transmit the request for the information belonging to the first user.
13. The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of:
- while transmitting the information from the communication system of the first user to the communication system of the second user, 0 transmitting also data indicative of a specific application needed to be provided in the communication system of the second user for retrieving the received information and managing the private database of the second user accordingly.
14. The method according to Claim 13, wherein said message is indicative of 5 an address of an application service provider (ASP) for obtaining therefrom said specific application.
15. A system for exchanging information belonging to different users between them and maintaining obtained information updated, the system comprising users' communication systems, wherein each of the communication systems is installed with a software package, the software packages being operable in accordance with a predefined communication protocol between them for managing private databases of the users stored in their communication systems, respectively, wherein said communication protocol enables transmission of the information between the user's communication systems, and transmission of notification messages indicative of changes in the users' related information generated by the software packages; each software package, when installed in the communication system of the respective user, allows the creation of a data card containing the information which belongs to this user and which is to be transmitted to at least one other user, allows the creation of a unique link code belonging to said information and tags said data record with said unique link code; in response to the received information, said software package is capable of creating a corresponding data record in the user's private data base; and, in response to a notification message, automatically updating the corresponding data record.
16. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the users' communication systems are connectable to each other through a communication network.
17. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the software packages installed in the users' communication systems are connectable to each other through a short-range wireless connection.
18. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the transmission of the information and messages utilizes IR or RF signal transmission.
19. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the users' communication systems utilize computer devices.
20. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the users' communication systems utilize phone devices.
21. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the users' communication systems utilize computer and phone devices.
22. The system according to Claim 16, one of the users is represented at a Network Site accessible to another user when being on-line, and said Network Site displays a reference mark, which is representative of said unique link code belonging to said one user and, when being activated by said another user, is capable of operating the software package in his communication system to apply said unique link code, thereby initiating the request for the information belonging to said one user.
23. An Internet Web Site accessible by one Internet user when going on-line to the Internet by performing a client-server communication session, wherein said Web Site represents another Internet user and includes a reference mark displayed to said one user when reaching said Web Site, the reference mark being representative of a unique link code belonging to said another user and presenting access to a data record containing information, which belongs to said another user and is to be transmitted to said one user in response to activation of said reference mark.
24. A software package installable in a communication system, wherein said software package when installed in the communication system allows the system to participate as a user's communication system in the above system for exchanging information.
PCT/IL2000/000180 2000-03-22 2000-03-22 A method and system for exchanging users related information via their communication systems WO2001071582A1 (en)

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