Method and apparatus of triggering a transfer of data stored in a database

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sending or retrieving data by mobile phone users. The data is stored in a database. The sender or recipient enters into the connection with a manager and provides identification to the manager. Further, the method involves associating an e-mail address or a URL address with the recipient based in part on the identification provided to the manager.

1 . A method of sending data stored in a database by a sender to a recipient, which are mobile phone users, in relationship with a manager defining a managing software application, the database and the manager being in connection with a website, the method comprising:
 entering into a connection between the sender and the manager, wherein the sender enters into the connection with the manager and provides sender identification to the manager;   transferring an identifier to the manager, wherein the sender transfers the identifier comprising at least a recipient's mobile phone number;   associating an e-mail address or a URL address with the identifier by the manager, wherein the associating comprises selectively accessing the database according to at least whether the sender is a subscriber to the sending data service; and   sending the data stored in the database to the recipient's e-mail address or URL address.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises furthermore a code related to a selection in the database of the data to be transmitted, the manager associating the data to be transmitted to the e-mail address or the URL address. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manager associates the recipient's e-mail address with the identifier, wherein the manager sends an e-mail to the recipient, the data being attached to the e-mail, in case the recipient's e-mail address is known to the manager and is listed in a central database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manager associates a URL address with the identifier, wherein the manager sends an SMS message comprising the URL address to the recipient's mobile phone, the URL address offering access to a web page comprising the data, the URL address being parameterized with the recipient's mobile phone number, and wherein the manager sends the SMS message in case the recipient's e-mail address is not known to the manager. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the URL is secured by a login password which is communicated to the recipient by way of the SMS message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sender uses a WAP mobile phone. 
     
     
         7 . A method of retrieving information, being stored in a database, by a recipient who is a mobile device user, in relationship with a database manager, the database and the database manager being in connection with a web site, towards a recipient, the method comprising:
 from a mobile device, sending a request for information to a database manager;   from the database manager, sending a message with a summary of the information to the mobile device;   identifying an electronic address different from the mobile device associated with the user of the mobile device;   retrieving the requested information from the database; and   sending a copy of the retrieved information to the identified electronic address.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information is impractical to be displayed on a mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein sending a copy of the retrieved information is via e-mail or URL. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a manager, the manager defining a managing software application, to perform a data transfer service, the data transfer service comprising transferring data stored in a database from a sender to a recipient, the sender and recipient being mobile phone users, the database and the manager being in connection with a website, the method comprising:
 receiving a communication from the sender, the communication comprising an identifier for the sender and an identifier for the recipient, the identifier for the recipient comprising a mobile phone number of the recipient;   determining whether the recipient is a subscriber of the data transfer service using at least the identifier for the recipient;   associating an e-mail address or URL with the recipient responsive to at least whether the recipient is a subscriber; and   sending the stored data to the e-mail address or URL associated with the recipient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the identifier for the sender comprises a mobile phone number. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stored data comprises a plurality of data items. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication from the sender further comprises a data identifier indicative of one or more of the plurality of data items and wherein sending the stored data comprises sending the one or more data items indicated by the data identifier. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a manager, the manager defining a managing software application, to perform a data retrieval service, the data retrieval service comprising transferring data stored in a database to a recipient, the recipient being a mobile phone user, the database and the manager being in connection with a website, the method comprising:
 receiving a communication from the recipient, wherein the communication comprises an identifier indicative of the recipient;   determining whether the recipient is a subscriber of the data retrieval service using at least the identifier;   associating an e-mail address or URL with the recipient responsive to at least whether the recipient is a subscriber; and   sending the stored data to the e-mail address or URL associated with the recipient.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the identifier for the recipient comprises a mobile phone number for the recipient. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the stored data comprises a plurality of data items. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the communication from the recipient further comprises a data identifier indicative of one or more of the plurality of data items and wherein sending the stored data comprises sending the one or more data items indicated by the data identifier. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed, cause a server to:
 receive a request for information from a recipient via a mobile device;   send a message with a summary of the information to the mobile device;   identify an electronic address of the recipient different from an electronic address of the mobile device;   retrieve the requested information from a database; and   send a copy of the retrieved information to the identified electronic address.   
     
     
         40 . A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed, cause a server to:
 receive a communication from a sender comprising an identifier for the sender and an identifier for a recipient, the identifier for the recipient comprising a mobile phone number of the recipient;   determine whether an e-mail address for the recipient is stored in a database using at least the identifier for the recipient;   associate the e-mail address or a URL with the recipient responsive to at least whether the e-mail address is stored in the database; and   send a stored data item to the e-mail address or URL associated with the recipient.   
     
     
         41 . A server configured to perform an information retrieval service, the server comprising:
 means for receiving a request for information from a mobile device;   means for sending a message with a summary of the information to the mobile device;   means for identifying an electronic address of a recipient different from an electronic address of the mobile device;   means for retrieving the requested information from a database; and   means for sending a copy of the retrieved information to the identified electronic address.   
     
     
         42 . A server configured to perform an information transfer service, the server comprising:
 means for receiving a send request from a mobile device of a sender, the send request including a mobile phone number for a recipient;   means for sending a message with a summary of a data item to be transferred to a mobile device associated with the mobile phone number of the recipient;   means for identifying an electronic address of the recipient different from the mobile phone number of the recipient;   means for retrieving the data item to be transferred from a database; and   means for sending an electronic copy of the data item to be transferred to the identified electronic address.   
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled)