BE1019612A3 - SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING AN ELECTRONIC BUSINESS CARD. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method enabling a user to obtain, via an operator of a telecommunications service, and on the basis of an identification code, an electronic business card comprising a set of information associated with said code in an electronic register, said method comprising the following steps: the sending by said user, from a portable wireless terminal, of a request to the operator in the form of a first electronic message comprising said identification code; sending, to said portable wireless terminal, a response in the form of a second electronic message comprising said electronic business card; and if an electronic mail address associated with the user is also included in said electronic register, sending an electronic mail addressed to said electronic mail address of the user, also comprising said electronic business card.

Description

SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING AN ELECTRONIC BUSINESS CARD Purpose of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for a user to obtain, via an operator of a telecommunications service, and based on an identification code, an electronic business card comprising a set of information associated with said code in an electronic register.

Technological background

A vCard (for virtual card, or virtual card) is an electronic card, whose function is to make accessible personal information in digital form for the exchange on electronic networks.

[0003] This is an open standard format whose specifications have been made by the Internet Mail Consortium (IMC). Two versions exist: vCard 2.1 and vCard 3.0. Either of these formats are used by Address Book software or email software (eg Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator, etc.). vCard is also used by mobile devices such as mobile phones, personal assistants, or the open Jabber standard. The format is FirstName.vcf.

[0004] A vCard is in the form of an SMS / MMS (see definition below) or an e-mail attachment which is detected automatically and can be directly transferred to the address directory (address book) without reformatting.

Examples of information fields that may be on a vCard are, but not limited to: - Name; - First name; - Middle name ; - Third name, etc. ; - Sex; - Full Name ; - Society ; - Title (professional or otherwise); - home telephone number 1 (fixed); - Office telephone number 1 (fixed); - home phone number 2 (fixed); - Office telephone number 2 (fixed); - mobile telephone number 1; - mobile telephone number 2; - mobile telephone number 3; - E-mail 1; - E-mail 2; - Url; - home address 1, including street, number, postal code, state, department, province or region, country; - home address 2, including street, number, postal code, state, department, province or region, country; - Name and first name of the spouse; - Name and surname of the children; - Etc.

There are known programs that allow a user to manage and share electronic personal data (name, phone, address, etc.) obtained by photographing business cards "paper", for example with a mobile phone, and associate them with photos of these people taken at conferences, meetings, etc. (eg IBM's PENSIEVE project).

The SMS or text messaging service or short message service (short message service) can transmit short text messages (usually between 70 and 160 characters), mainly in mobile telephony. The messages themselves are called text messages or SMS or textos ™, or short messages or telemessages. An enhanced version, the Multimedia Message Service (MMS), allows messages that are longer and richer in content to be transmitted, such as photos, voice messages, or video.

[0008] Electronic mail (or message) or e-mail (for electronic mail) or e-mail means the service for the transfer of sent messages, from a sender user, by an e-mail system through an electronic mail system. computer network to the mailbox of a recipient user. The exchanged message is also called e-mail or e-mail. With the MIME standard, different files can be attached (or attached) to the email.

The term wireless (wireless) is used broadly to refer to cell phones, laptops (laptops) with wireless modem (WiFi), wireless PDAs or Pocket PCs or any other wireless device.

State of the art

In the application EP-A-1 146 701 discloses a method for transmitting or receiving data stored in a database, in connection with a management software application or "manager", in connection with the website / internet portal of the mobile operator of the owner of this data and with a central database and an independent website, in which the transmission or reception of data is initiated preferably by a mobile phone.

In document US-A-2007/0130101 discloses a system and a method for allowing users to have unique identifiers associated with personal information stored in a database accessible by an identity server. The latter is connected to one or more networks, including the internet. Users can distribute their personal unique identifier to third parties who can then obtain personal information by accessing the server through the network. Users can modify the information stored in the database, and third parties can be assisted to obtain the modified information by entering their personal unique identifier. This can be done over long periods of time so that third parties can easily access the user's personal information, even if this information is changed.

US-A-2003/0014278 discloses a method of managing personal information that uses a mobile communications system capable of supporting the short messaging service (SMS) format and including a plurality of mobile terminals having a personal information management function (PIM).

CN-C-1281090 discloses a method for exchanging communication records between cellular telephone terminals comprising a first step of incorporating communication records, itself subdivided into two substeps: a manual call which provides a communication register to a networked SMS server that receives registers of different types of laptops and extracts useful information from these different forms of recordings and converts it into a uniform vCard format stored in the server and a second step of unloading these records where the server extracts the vCard format from the registers kept in the server in terms of user needs and converts them into the format supported by the receiving cell phones to send it to the receiving cellular telephone terminal in format SMS.

According to JP-A-2003/303192, a person, registered owner of individual information, distributing a business card displays an identification code on his business card and records the displayed information corresponding to the code of identification on the business card in an individual database of a centralized server. When another person, the person requesting individual information, in possession of the business card, enters the identification code mentioned above, the information displayed on the business card is extracted from the individual information database and unloaded on his personal computer.

US-A-2004/0014454 discloses a system and a method for a user of; request and receive information via a mobile phone. The user dials a series of digits in his phone that are entered into said system, for example by pressing the "send" button on the mobile phone. The numbers entered include a prefix or routing code and a data code. A call deflection system designates, on the basis of the prefix, a processing system to which a message is sent, with the dialed digits and the identification of the sender or his telephone. The processing system, based on the data code contained in said digits, determines which service or information to be provided, as well as a user account. The user account information can then be used to determine a delivery technique, such as email using an email address associated with the phone making the call, text messaging of the type SMS / MMS / EMS or WAP communication, through which the requested information associated with the data code can be sent to the requesting user.

US-A-2005/0053203 discloses a method for providing an extended voice message system to subscribers of a voice mail service, wherein the calling party may receive further details about the called subscriber and in different modes or formats. The type of message may be for example an SMS message with additional telephone numbers or a WAP link to the personal WML page or a vCard of the subscriber. Similarly EMS or MMS messages can be sent, as well as video presentations or road maps indicating a path to follow or any other information that the subscriber wishes to provide.

US-A-2002/0095456 discloses a database for storing identification codes of a plurality of members and information about them, and a web server that is connected to the database. ID code URLs can be printed on a business card. The web server is configured to transmit to a user, in response to the access thereof via the Internet, an HTML document that has an input field for the identification code. In response to the receipt of the user identification code, the identification code is used as a key in the database to extract the information on a member corresponding to said code, and to transmit this information to the user .

US-A-2002/0084888 discloses a system for sending and receiving personal information using a mobile terminal. Personal information is sent using a short message service (SMS) with attached credentials. When the SMS is received by the mobile terminal, the attached identification information allows the receiving mobile terminal to distinguish and process the SMS differently from other SMS.

US-A-6622021 discloses a system and method for implementing an automatic response feature in a telecommunications network which includes a short messaging service center (SMSC) for receiving, storing and sending a short message, an e-mail service for receiving, storing and sending an e-mail message, a mobile services diversion center (MSC) and a data terminal equipment ( DTE). When the receiving subscriber B can not be reached, a response server automatically provides responses to calls and / or e-mail sent by a subscriber A to the subscriber B, in accordance with and using the information stored in predetermined fields in a subscriber's calendar database.

Goals of 11 invention

The present invention aims to provide a business card exchange method that overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art.

The invention in particular aims to greatly facilitate the way people exchange their private and professional contact information, including the social networks they belong to, as part of business-to-business meetings. (B2B) or private (C2C for "customer-to-customer").

Main features of the invention

The method forming the subject of the present invention comprises the following steps: the sending by said user, from a portable wireless terminal, of a request to the operator in the form of a first message electronic device comprising said identification code; sending, to said portable wireless terminal, a response in the form of a second electronic message comprising said electronic business card; and - if an email address associated with the user is also included in said electronic register, sending an email addressed to said user's email address, also including said electronic business card.

Preferred embodiments of the invention, the subject of the dependent claims, further contain, taken in combination, one or more of the following characteristics: - said identification code is transmitted to the the user of a physical medium, such as for example a physical business card (however, the code could alternatively be transmitted in another way, such as, for example, in the signature of an electronic mail, or through a website); if a membership in a social network is associated with said code in said electronic register, an invitation to join said social network is sent to said user; if a membership in a social network is associated with said user in said electronic register, an invitation to join said social network is sent to a holder of said identification code; if said set of information associated with said code in said electronic register is modified, an update of said electronic business card is sent to said wireless portable terminal and / or to said user's email address; - the social network can be Linkedln®, MySpace®, facebook®, viadeo, Netlog or any other existing social network; - Preferably, the sending of said update is operated only with the agreement of the user and / or a holder of the identification code.

- the received electronic business card is configured in vCard format; - the information in said electronic business card includes at least one or more of the information consisting of a first name, a first name, a company, an office fixed telephone number, a private fixed telephone number, a fax number, a cell phone number, e-mail address, photo and / or access plan; the first and / or the second electronic data message are of the text message type optionally containing photos, voice or video messages or road maps or access plans; the first and / or the second electronic data message are of the SMS or MMS / EMS type; - The portable wireless terminal is a cell phone, a laptop with wireless modem, WiFi type, a PDA or a wireless Pocket PC; - the email contains the electronic business card as an attachment; a second electronic mail is sent addressed to an email address associated with said identification code in said electronic register; - Following a request from the user, sending said electronic business card to said wireless portable terminal and / or to said user's e-mail address is repeated;

The invention also relates to an electronic service server comprising: an electronic data register; a programmable electronic processor connected to said electronic register and connectable to: a transmitter capable of communicating with a portable wireless terminal and identifying it; and an email server; said processor being programmed for receiving, through said transmitter, a first electronic message comprising an identification code, and coming from a wireless portable terminal identified by said transmitter: transmitting to said wireless portable terminal through said transmitter, a response in the form of a second electronic message comprising an electronic business card comprising a set of information, wider than said identification code, associated with said code in said electronic register; and if an e-mail address is associated in said electronic register with an identifier of said wireless portable terminal, transmitting, via said e-mail server, an electronic mail addressed to said address and including said electronic business card; and to a method of registration in said server, comprising the following steps: - communicating, via a computer network, an email address, and one or more profiles, each profile comprising a set of information that can be integrated in an electronic business card; and - receive, in response, an identification code.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In an embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 attached, the method according to the invention is implemented in the following manner.

A person A meets a person B. In a first step 101, A gives his business card to B. On a corner thereof (or any other place thereof), a code is printed, for example: "SMS 4321L @ 3543".

The meeting ends and B wants to keep in touch with A.

In step 102, B sends, by means of his mobile phone 1, a first SMS 2, the content of which is 4321L to the number 3543. This first SMS 2 is received by a transmitter 4 which sends the content of the SMS , as well as an identifier of the mobile telephone 1 to a server comprising a programmable electronic processor 5 connected to an electronic data register 6. This electronic data register 6 can take the form of any system for storing digital data, for example magnetic, optical, and / or solid state example.

First, in step 103, the processor 5 checks whether the 4321L code corresponds, in the register 6 to a profile comprising a set of information that can be integrated into an electronic business card. If this is the case, in a step 104, the processor proceeds to command the sending, through the transmitter 4, of a second SMS 3 comprising said set of information in the form of an electronic business card. A. B receives on his mobile phone 1 a second SMS 3 in return for his telephone operator. This second SMS 3 allows him to automatically obtain in his mobile phone directory all the contact details of A, for example in vCard format, such as last name, first name, company, landline office number, private landline number, number fax number, mobile phone number, e-mail address, etc.

In step 105, the processor 5 proceeds to check if an email address of B is associated with the identifier of his mobile phone 1 in the register 6. If it is the case, the processor 5 proceeds in a step 106 to order the sending, by an outgoing mail server 7, an electronic mail 8 addressed to said email address of B, and also comprising an electronic business card of A. Si B s is already registered for the service by transmitting his email address, so he can receive, along with the second SMS, an email on his computer (fixed, portable, PDA, etc.) connected to the Internet or an Intranet . This e-mail will allow him, if he wishes, that all the coordinates of A are automatically integrated into a directory that supports the vCard format. In step 107, the processor 5 checks whether, in the register 6, the profile of A also includes a membership of a social network, and in this case, proceeds in a step 108 to transmit the e-mail address of B to a server 9 of the social network, so that it sends an invitation to B to allow him to be connected or receive an invitation as a friend to all the social networks that uses A (by eg Linkedln®, facebook®, MySpace®, etc.). The service according to the invention can present several alternative possibilities of integration with existing social networks (eg simple mention of the presence in the transmitted information or direct invitation).

In a final step 109, the processor transmits to the outgoing mail server the command to send A to an email to confirm that his coordinates were sent to B. According to the invention, it is also possible to manage several profiles (eg private, professional, etc.) allowing only the desired information to be disseminated to each contact request (eg viadeo / Linkedln for B2B, facebook for C2C)

The way in which B will be able to manage his network of B2B or C2C contacts is now greatly facilitated: - it loses more time to have to encode this data several times in various directories; he must no longer keep all the business cards that he receives in paper form in a drawer of his office or in a filing cabinet and - if he lost his mobile phone, all these coordinates would be returned to him very quickly on request via said telecommunications service .

To be able to use the aforementioned service in turn and easily communicate its contact details and social networks, B must go before a website created to market this service, where he joins the service. The latter may for example be free at first, for the sake of promotion and with the aim of making this service standard. The price of the service can be modest. Registration is as follows: - B creates his profiles (B2B and C2C) and between all the coordinates that he wishes to disseminate to those who request it (surname, first name, phone number, GSM, etc.) .); - B indicates the social networks to which he is registered (Linkedln®, facebook®, MySpace®, etc.) and for which he accepts that persons requesting his contact information via the aforementioned service are part of his contacts; - B is assigned a standard code of type "4 32S8" or a free custom code or "nickname" type. It will suffice for him to have this code indicated on his "paper" business cards as soon as he orders new ones at his printer's. B may also communicate its unique code by email, on its website or by any other means.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, the invitation to join a social network could be transmitted to A, rather than to B, if the profile of B includes a membership in this social network. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims (17)

1. A method enabling a user to obtain, via an operator of a telecommunications service, and on the basis of an identification code, an electronic business card comprising a set of information associated with said code in an electronic register said method comprising the following steps: sending by said user, from a portable wireless terminal, a request to the operator in the form of a first electronic message comprising said identification code; sending, to said portable wireless terminal, a response in the form of a second electronic message comprising said electronic business card; and - if an email address associated with the user is also included in said electronic register, sending an email addressed to said user's email address, also including said electronic business card. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting to the user of a physical medium comprising said identification code. 3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, if a membership in a social network is associated with said code in said electronic register, an invitation to join said social network is sent to said user. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, if a membership in a social network is associated with said user in said electronic register, an invitation to join said social network is sent to a holder of said identification code. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising, if said set of information associated with said code in said electronic register is changed, sending to said wireless portable terminal and / or to said mail address electronic user, an update of said electronic business card. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sending of said update is operated only with the agreement of the user and / or a holder of the identification code. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic business card is configured in vCard format. 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said set of information contained in said electronic business card comprises at least one or more information consisting of a name, a first name, company, a number of desk phone, a private landline number, a fax number, a cell phone number, an email address, a photo and / or an access plan. 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or the second electronic message are of the text message type optionally containing photos, voice or video messages or maps or access plans. 10. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and / or the second electronic message are of the SMS or MMS / EMS type. 11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portable wireless terminal is a cellular phone, a laptop with wireless modem, WiFi type, a PDA or wireless Pocket PC. 12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic mail contains said electronic business card as an attachment. 13. The method of claim 1, characterized in that a second electronic mail addressed to an email address associated with said identification code in said electronic register. 14. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, following a request from the user, the sending of said electronic business card to said wireless portable terminal and / or to said user's e-mail address. is repeated. 15. An electronic service server comprising: an electronic data register; a programmable electronic processor connected to said electronic register and connectable to: a transmitter capable of communicating with and identifying with a portable wireless terminal; and an email server; and characterized in that said processor is programmed to, after receiving, through said transmitter, a first electronic message including an identification code, and from a wireless portable terminal identified by said transmitter: transmit to said portable wireless terminal, through said transmitter, a response in the form of a second electronic message comprising an electronic business card comprising a set of information, wider than said identification code, associated with said code in said electronic register ; and if an electronic mail address is associated in said electronic register with an identifier of said wireless portable terminal, transmitting, via said electronic mail server, an electronic mail addressed to said address and including said electronic business card. 16. The method of registration in the server of claim 15, comprising the following steps: - communicating to said processor, through a computer network, an email address, and one or more profiles, each profile comprising a set of information can be integrated into an electronic business card; and - receive, in response, an identification code. The registration method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of profiles are communicated, and a unique identification code is received per profile.