Method and System for Controlled Distribution of Information Over a Network

Abstract

An information management and distribution system is disclosed. The information management and distribution system includes a client-side application and a server application that interact to facilitate the controlled exchange of contact information over a network. The client-side application can provide creation and design, rolodex, exchange, and update features. The information management and distribution system can also include a corporate administrator application. Still another aspect of the invention is that contact information can be distributed to registered users in a common format.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 by one or more computing devices, storing information associated with an image in association with profile information for a user of an electronic contact information management and distribution system;   by the one or more computing devices, retrieving the profile information for the user; and   by the one or more computing devices, providing a presentation of the profile information and the image, the image being placed into a designated area of the presentation.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the information associated with the image comprises an imported image file, a reference to an image file, or a selection from a plurality of pre-stored images. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 providing one or more presentation templates for the profile information for the user and the image; and   receiving a selection of a presentation template.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 storing the selection in association with the profile information for the user.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 providing an interface to enable the user to design a presentation for their profile information and the image; and   receiving design information for the presentation.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 storing the design information in association with the profile information for the user.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the interface interface to enable the user to design a presentation for their profile comprises conventional drawing tools. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 fitting the image for the designated area of the presentation.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the user comprises a company, and wherein the image comprises a company logo. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the image comprises multimedia information. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the image is associated with text, a web reference, an applet, or a script. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for the profile information for the user, the request comprising a personal identifier for the user; and   wherein retrieving the profile information for the user is performed based on the personal identifier.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to exchange profile information with the user, the request being associated with a second user;   determining that the user has accepted the request from the second user; and   sending the user's profile information including the image to the second user.   
     
     
         41 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 by one or more computing devices, store information associated with an image in association with profile information for a user of an electronic contact information management and distribution system;   by the one or more computing devices, retrieve the profile information for the user; and   by the one or more computing devices, provide a presentation of the profile information and the image, the image being placed into a designated area of the presentation.   
     
     
         42 . The media of  claim 41 , further comprising software operable when executed to:
 receive a request to exchange profile information with the user, the request being associated with a second user;   determine that the user has accepted the request from the second user; and   send the user's profile information including the image to the second user.   
     
     
         43 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
 store information associated with an image in association with profile information for a user of an electronic contact information management and distribution system; 
 retrieve the profile information for the user; and 
 provide a presentation of the profile information and the image, the image being placed into a designated area of the presentation. 
   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , the processors being further operable to:
 receive a request to exchange profile information with the user, the request being associated with a second user;   determine that the user has accepted the request from the second user; and   send the user's profile information including the image to the second user.