Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2003-11-18
Vu, Kim (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the organization of data and, more specifically, to a computerized system and method allowing providers of information to send information to potentially interested parties in a manner wherein the information is automatically organized by category for the interested parties, wherein the potentially interested parties selectively have some level of control over the placement of the data, and establishing a communication link between providers and recipients for their mutual benefit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The proliferation of information and communication methods in the technological society in which we live has made it increasingly difficult for businesses and consumers to collect and organize information. Most businesses, as well as most households, whether inhabited by a single individual or an entire family, are constantly inundated with, and some even overwhelmed by, information taking various forms, such as product and service guides and updates, solicitations, mail (U.S., electronic, and voice), and the like. Businesses and consumers habitually store information in places that are not easily accessible, discard information for which they do not have a present use but almost always will have a later use, fail to transmit information to potentially interested third parties, or simply misplace information which cannot easily be reacquired. For example, warranty information or product manuals may be a very low priority to a retailer interested in a quick sale or to a consumer who first purchases and installs a new electronic item such as a stereo, television, video cassette recorder, DVD player, photocopier, telephone, or computer system. However, several days, weeks, or even years later, if the product has been updated, recalled, or malfunctions, or if questions arise as to its usage or compatibility, the warranty information or product manuals can become extremely useful. Unfortunately, many individuals lack a reliable, easy-to-use, centralized information storage system to keep track of such information.
The storage systems many rely upon to keep track of product and service information today generally are obsolete, cumbersome, decentralized and otherwise inefficient. For example, a filing cabinet or storage drawer, figureheads in every home and business, require categorization and re-categorization, are highly dependent on the accuracy of individuals' placement of the information in the correct file, and provide no convenient way for transmission of updates or communications. Also, most computer software systems that provide for the electronic storage of information are frequently cumbersome to initialize, requiring the user to create the separate categories of information, and, further, to place the information in the proper category, and decentralized, requiring the user to maintain several separate computer programs for the maintenance of relevant information. Moreover, most often it is the case that information desired to be stored is not provided to individuals in digital form, but, rather, in paper, card, or booklet form. Some sophisticated users may resort to existing scanning technology to convert their important documents into digital form for storage purposes, but they still must create their own categories of information and place the information into the proper categories.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information organization system and method wherein little or no effort is required on the part of a recipient of information in order to store and manage the information in an organized fashion. It is a further object of the present invention for the information organization system and method to have information already categorized, or already designated for association with a particular category, at the time the information is provided to the recipient.
It is a further object of the present invention for the information organization system and method to provide a means for the provider of information to have, in some instances, at least some level of continued access to the information provided to the user so that the provider of information can update the information as may be necessary.
Another object of the present invention is to create a single program by which all information desired to be electronically stored or accessed by users can be maintained and updated to simplify operations and processes.
An additional object of the invention is for the information organization system and method to include, after a recipient receives information from a particular provider, means to instruct the system to facilitate proper designation of further information from the same provider in a fashion desirable to the recipient. Another object of the present invention is to include a means within the system to process a refusal of delivery of information by an intended recipient, and optionally notifying the provider of information in the event a recipient refuses delivery of the information. The manner in which these and other objects of the invention are achieved will become clear through the following Summary of the Invention, the Drawings, and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention places the burden on the provider of the information to specify the category to which the information corresponds, so that when the information is provided to the recipient, the information is automatically delivered to a proper location within the recipient's or user's personal information storage and retrieval area, or “User Data Repository.” In this disclosure, the words “data” and “information” are considered synonymous and interchangeable. “Recipient” and “User” are also used interchangeably. For purposes of this disclosure of the invention, the following definitions are considered useful:
User Data Repository—Personal information storage and retrieval area, in which information is stored in a compartmentalized or categorized format, allowing the user to easily identify, retrieve, and otherwise manage the information stored in locations corresponding to the various categories therein.
Portal—A collection of User Data Repositories for all Users.
Provider—Any provider of information, such as a seller or distributor of goods or services (e.g., retailer, pharmacist, vendor, supplier, or a physician).
Manufacturer—A source or producer of information about a particular product.
Quarantine Area—An area in or associated with a User Data Repository, in which information is first received by the recipient before passing through a Firewall/Filter.
Firewall/Filter—A barrier that separates the Quarantine Area from a preferably secure or private area of the User Data Repository in which information is stored and managed.
Network—A communications system allowing the transmission of information between Providers and Recipients, e.g., the Internet.
Recipient (or User)—A person (or other entity) that receives information from various Providers.
Reverse Communication Link (or “Feedback”)—The transmission of information or data back from a Recipient's User Data Repository to a Provider.
User Destination Address—A protocol, code, or other identifier uniquely associated with each individual Recipient, which is utilized by the Provider for sending information to the intended Recipients via the Network.
Dynamic Information—Information that a Provider or Manufacturer can revise or manipulate subsequent to delivery to Recipients.
Static Information—Information that, to protect the interests of the Recipients, cannot be revised or manipulated by a Provider or Manufacturer after it is sent to Recipients.
In the system and method of the present invention, a Recipient communicates his or her User Destination Address to the Provider. Using this User Destination Address, the Provider sends information to the Recipient's User Data Repository via the Network. The information is encoded, labeled, or ta
Marshall & Gerstein & Borun LLP
Truong Cam-Y T
Vu Kim
LandOfFree
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