System and Method for Finding Persons in a Corporate Entity

Abstract

A graphical user interface-based contact information system allows users to see obtain not only contact information in a quick, efficient manner, but also allows users to see organizational charts and update communication devices. The contact information system comprises a server executing the graphical user interface that a users uses to access contact information. The contact information is stored in an information database. The graphical user interface can be a web browser. By navigating through web pages displayed to the user by the web browser, the user is able to extract contact information from the information database for a particular person, display organizational charts and provide updates to communication devices. In addition, the contact information system can access Internet sites to obtain services such as providing maps and driving directions to users based on the contact information for the particular person.

1 . A method of providing contact information for individuals associated with an organization, the method comprising:
 accepting query information from a first location responsive to user input at the first location;   initiating a query of a database using the query information accepted from the first location wherein the database includes contact information records for the individuals associated with the organization so that each contact information record includes contact information for a respective one of the individuals associated with the organization;   receiving data of a selected contact information record from the database wherein the selected contact information record corresponds to the query information accepted from the first location;   transmitting the data of the selected contact information record to the first location;   after transmitting the data of the selected contact information record, receiving a load request from the first location wherein the load request identifies a communications device at a second location different than the first location; and   responsive to receiving the load request, loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record to the communications device at the second location wherein the communications device is separate from the database.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating the query of the database comprises initiating the query of the database via an intranet for the organization. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record comprises loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record to the communications device at the second location via an intranet for the organization. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before accepting information from the first location, providing a graphical user interface prompting for the query information at the first location;   wherein accepting the query information comprises accepting the information using the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the graphical user interface comprises a web browser. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing the data at the first location comprises providing the data on a display at the first location. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the communications device comprises a wireless communications device. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 :
 wherein receiving data of the selected contact information record comprises receiving data of a plurality of selected contact information records corresponding to the query information accepted at the first location;   wherein transmitting the data of the selected contact information record comprises transmitting the data of the plurality of selected contact information records to the first location;   wherein the load request identifies one of the plurality of selected contact information records; and   wherein loading the data of the selected contact information record comprises loading data of the identified one of the plurality of selected contact information records.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the contact information records are maintained in the database in a format compatible with the LDAP format. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 after transmitting the data of the selected contact information record, receiving a link request from the first location identifying the selected contact information record; and   responsive to receiving the link request, linking the first location with an internet site through the internet using the data of the selected contact information record.   
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 displaying a map at the first location in accordance with the data of the selected contact information record.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 displaying driving directions at the first location in accordance with the data of the selected contact information record.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the communications device comprise one of an interactive pager and/or a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record to the communications device comprises loading the at least a portion of the data via an email. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating the query of the database comprises initiating the query of the database via an intranet for the organization, and wherein loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record comprises loading at least a portion of the data of the selected contact information record to the communications device at the second location via the intranet for the organization.