Method and System that Mitigates Digital Address Book Data Decay [TetherTap]

Abstract

A method is proposed to automatically, securely and directly notify and inform, selected contacts in the digital address book of a user's device when there is a change in the user's contact information. A system is proposed that does not require the user to store or maintain private data to any third party service server or central database repository in the cloud or not in the cloud. The proposed system employs TetherTap (TT) Privacy by Design (PbD) architecture resulting in full EU GDPR and California CCPA regulatory compliance, storing and transmitting data with default address book and peer to peer (P2P) communication platforms. The method proposed does not require receiver devices to be programmed with system functionality, however, it is designed to allow the receiver of an update from the user to set up and install reciprocal functionality.

Claims

1. A method and system that enables updating of a user's contact information to contacts within a user's digital address book that is default to a user's device using automated secure decentralized communications technology that is default to a user's device, in order to mitigate digital address book data decay, while leveraging Privacy (and Data Protection) by design and by default protocols.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of electronic messages are automatically generated within the user's device, not utilizing external or third-party servers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the existing contact information is transmitted and received via device default peer to peer communication technologies.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein a mechanism is provided whereby automatic and periodic notifications are generated by the user's device to send changes to address book contacts.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein a mechanism is provided whereby the addressee is enabled to synchronously opt/in to the system proposed in this application.

6. A method generating a plurality of electronic messages in order to inform a plurality of addressees included in the address book contact database of a digital user's digital device in order to automatically transmit and update or maintain the user's contact information fields within an address book contact database of a predetermined plurality of the addressees, without requiring an individual to manually update same.

7. A method of claim 6 wherein a mechanism is provided that assigns a tag to each address book contact as either personal, business or other designation.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein a mechanism is provided whereby users can deliver their contact information to addressees.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein each electronic message generated by the user's device, of the plurality of electronic messages, includes the contact information of the user and the addressee, for display within a body of the electronic message.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the contact information comprises at least one of an email address, a name, a residential address, a business address, a company name, a business phone number, a home phone number, a mobile phone number, a fax number or any other contact and relationship information a user may want to include as an update to address book contacts.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the contact information to be updated includes existing contact information associated with the addressee.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the contact information or the messaging data is modifiable by the computing device.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising: conditions causing the recipient addressee to automatically or manually write the updated contact information to a digital address book.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein updated contact information is received by the addressee if the user (i) provided an update to the contact information or (ii) a confirmation of the contact information (or) when an addressee is selected to be included in future update notification cycles.

15. We claim the method and system comprising any feature described either individually or in combination with any feature, in any configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] FIG. 1 Illustrates a block diagram detailing the flow of data as it moves from a user's device to the selected recipient contacts. The flow of data is identical for both the process of System Install and Set UP and the Method of Operation.

[0053] FIG. 2 Illustrates a process diagram of System Install and Set Up on a user's device that generates a notification to the selected recipients' devices where the recipient options are determined.

[0054] FIG. 3 Illustrates a process diagram of the Method of Operation where a change in the users contact profile generates a notification to the selected recipients' devices where the recipient options are determined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Essential System Components that Contribute to the Invention

[0056] This invention requires the following system components that are innovative and interact with parts that are conventional: [0057] Conventional Systems Part 1User digital devices are generally equipped with address book databases with records containing the personal and/or business contact information of people that the user can refer to in order to communicate with others over various communication platforms. [0058] Conventional Systems Part 2User digital devices are generally equipped with digital messaging systems that reside on a user's digital device that is able to communicate directly with other digital devices (person to person) utilizing available internet/wireless communication infrastructure. [0059] Conventional Systems Part 3User digital devices generally have functionality that enables direct transfer of information from one device to another using Near Field Communication and QR Code, WIFI, and bluetooth technologies. [0060] Conventional System Part 4The addition of, or integration with a user profile record or multiple user profiles that exist on the user's digital device, that contain the user's personal and/or business contact information that enables others to communicate with the user over various communication platforms. [0061] Innovative System Part 1The user device profile record integrates a TT user selected timed tracking capability that prompts the user to do a review of the user profile for any updates that are appropriate. [0062] Innovative System Part 2The addition of a user device listing of address book contacts that will be included in the TT notification network specified by the user. The TT notification network may also be identified using a field in the contact record. [0063] Innovative System Part 3The TT notification network internal to the user's device enables identification of the context of the relationship between the contacts and the user, and a tracking of the last update transmission performed while also adding more information not traditionally included with address book data, including messaging opt-in/opt-out status. [0064] Innovative System Part 4A method by which the receiver of a TT update transmission will be enabled to acquire a reciprocal TT capability, internal to the receiver device, should the receiver choose such an option.

[0065] Detailed Interaction of System Components

[0066] The following steps are required to set-up the TT system on a user's device: [0067] 1. Address book contact records are created when a user elects to store a contact's information on the user's device by manually entering, or by automated means, entering data fields or by using the device's native automatic data transfer functionalities such as text and email extraction, NFC, QR Code, WIFI, or bluetooth technologies. Address book contact records exchange between multiple devices simultaneously is enabled using these device automatic data transfer functionalities. [0068] 2. The user specifies a TT profile or profiles on the user's digital device with a reminder period specification FIG. 1, Step 1, FIG. 2, Step 1 [0069] 3. The user specifies the user's address book contacts to be notified should the user's chosen profile information change, with an option to specify the context of relationship and other information that is not traditionally included in address book records such as messaging opt-in/opt-out status. Contacts can also be pre-selected by the system based on groups and/or email platforms which are identifiable by address extensions. FIG. 1, Step 2, FIG. 2, Step 2, [0070] 4. The address book contacts specified by the user are notified, and receive by direct person to person messaging, that they are included in the user's TT network of contacts that are to be notified should the user's profile information change. FIG. 2, Step 3 [0071] 5. The contacts specified by the user are offered an option and instructions to set-up reciprocal TT functionality systems on their device and an option to opt-in/out of future notifications. FIG. 1, Step 3, FIG. 2, Step 4

[0072] The following steps define the method of operation: FIG. 3 [0073] 1. The user makes a change in the TT profile contact information FIG. 1, Step 1, FIG. 3, Step 1. [0074] 2. The address book contacts pre-selected by the user are automatically notified, and receive by direct messaging, that the user has changed TT profile contact information. FIG. 1, Step 2, FIG. 3, Step 2 [0075] 3. The receiver of the notification is presented with the following options: FIG. 1, Step 3, FIG. 3, Step 3 [0076] a. Manual address book update FIG. 1, Step 4 [0077] b. Automatic address book update FIG. 1, Step 5 [0078] c. Set-up on device of reciprocal TT system functionality FIG. 1, Step 5 [0079] d. Opt-in/opt-out of future TT notification messages. FIG. 3, Step 3