Permission-based updating of contact information

Abstract

A system for automatically updating personal consumer and business contact information is disclosed. A server located “in the cloud” automatically controls a database of contact data elements, some of which have preferred privacy protocol. These protocols may restrict some data elements from being shared unless a data-owner's explicit permission is obtained. When the server receives a request for such a restricted data element, the server issues an email or text message in order to obtain the necessary permissions. If permission is granted, the server then supplies the requested data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for updating a database of personal contact information on an end-user electronic communications device, comprising:
 providing at least a first end-user electronic communications device and a second end-user electronic communications device, with each end-user device being capable of coupling to a communications network,
 wherein said first and/or said second end-user electronic communications device stores, in a contact database, at least one contact data element pertaining to said second user or said first user respectively; 
   providing a manager server having programmed instructions for controlling a server database, said server database comprising a plurality of contact data elements,
 wherein one or more of said plurality of contact data elements comprises a preferred permission protocol selected via said first and/or second user; 
   receiving a request, from said program operative on said first user and/or second end-user electronic communications device, for one or more of said plurality of contact data elements stored on said server database, said one or more of said plurality of contact data elements being identified by said at least one contact data element of said first and/or second user;   systematically applying, by said manager server, said preferred permission protocol of requested said one or more of said plurality of contact data elements,
 wherein if said preferred permission protocol allows, systematically supplying, by said server manager, a requested contact data element to said program operative on said first and/or second end-user electronic communications device, and, wherein if said preferred permission protocol does not allow supplying of said requested contact data element, said first or second user generating and sending a permission request for said requested contact data element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one contact data element is an email address and wherein said permission request is generated and sent via email to said first and/or second user, said email comprising an identity of said requester, a nature of said one or more contact data elements requested, and an allow or disallow option. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one contact data element is a phone number and wherein said permission request is generated and sent via a text message, said text message comprising an identity of said requester, a type of said one or more contact data elements requested, and an allow or disallow option. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying said requested contact data element further comprises using said at least one data element to query said database, and wherein said matches in said database are prioritized. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said database of contact database elements is configured to query at least one third party database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said at least one third party database comprises at least one B2C contact information database and one B2B contact information database, and wherein supplying said requested contact data element further comprises using said at least one data element to obtain a first matching data element from said B2C database and a second matching data element from said B2B database and wherein said first matching data element is prioritized over said second matching data element. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises receiving a plurality of requests from said program and wherein said manager server responds by providing a number of records checked, a number of records matched and a number of possible changes available to be made on a personal contacts database associated with said first and/or second end-user electronic communications device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising receiving a request to make one or more of said possible changes, and supplying said information to make said requested possible changes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said at least one contact data element is a wireless phone number. 
     
     
         10 . A method for systematically updating a database of personal contact information on an end-user electronic communications device, comprising:
 providing at least a first and a second end-user electronic communications device, with each end-user device being capable of coupling to a communications network,
 wherein said first and/or said second end-user electronic communications device stores, in a contact database, at least one contact data element pertaining to said second user or said first user respectively; 
   providing a manager server having programmed instructions for systematically controlling a server database, said server database comprising a plurality of contact data elements,
 wherein one or more of said plurality of contact data elements comprises a preferred permission protocol selected via a user, and 
 wherein said server database is capable of querying at least one third party database,
 wherein said at least one third party database comprises at least one B2C contact information database and at least one B2B contact information database; 
 
   said user receiving a request, from said program operative on said end-user electronic communications device, for one or more of said plurality of contact data elements stored on said server database;   systematically applying, by said manager server, said preferred permission protocol of requested said one or more of said plurality of contact data elements,
 wherein if said preferred permission protocol allows, systematically supplying, by said server manager, a requested contact data element to said program operative on said end-user electronic communications device, and, 
 wherein if said preferred permission protocol does not allow a supplying of said requested contact data element, said server manager generating and sending a permission request for said requested contact data element to said user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said at least one contact data element is a personal email address and wherein said permission request is generated and sent via email or text message to said first and/or second end user communications device, said email or text message comprising an identity of said requester, a nature of said contact data element requested, and an allow or disallow option. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said at least one data element is a phone number and wherein said permission request is generated and sent via an email or text message to said user, said email or text message comprising an identity of said requester, a nature of said contact data element requested, and an allow or disallow option. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein supplying said requested contact data element further comprises using said at least one data element to query said database, and wherein said matches in said database are prioritized. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises receiving a plurality of requests from said program and wherein said manager server responds by providing to said first and/or second end user communications device a number of records checked, a number of records matched and a number of possible changes available to be made on a personal contacts database associated with said first and/or second end-user electronic communications device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising receiving a request to make one or more of said possible changes, and supplying said information to make said requested possible changes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said at least one data element of said data element is a wireless phone number. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said first matching data element is prioritized over said second matching data element when updating said one or more contact data elements.