Social Network Contact Directory for Accurate Email Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional web email systems and email client systems fail to maintain current email addresses and contact information for social network members, requiring users to manually update their address books and lacking a central repository for accurate information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to request and receive current email addresses and contact information for social network members by using a directory application to parse entity identifiers, determine authorized relationships, and update contact information in address books, ensuring that email addresses and contact details are up-to-date and accessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users manually update their address books to maintain current contact information, then contact information accuracy is improved, but user time and effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing members to automatically update their own contact information through profile updates. When a member changes their email address or contact details, the system automatically notifies relevant contacts and updates their address books without requiring manual intervention from each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where members receive notifications when their contact information is requested or updated. The system provides feedback loops that automatically sync contact information changes across the network, ensuring accuracy while minimizing user effort through automated confirmation and update processes.
2Ease of operation
If a central repository for contact information is implemented, then information accessibility is improved, but system complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by making the social network platform itself serve as the central repository. The existing profile system, messaging infrastructure, and user authentication mechanisms are leveraged to store and manage contact information, avoiding the need for a separate complex repository system while improving accessibility across all platform users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the contact management functionality with the existing social network infrastructure. Profile information, friend lists, and messaging systems are combined into an integrated contact management solution, reducing overall system complexity while enhancing information accessibility through a unified interface.
3Measurement precision
If contact information is automatically updated across the network, then information currency is improved, but privacy control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing different privacy settings for different contacts and information types. Members can specify which contacts receive automatic updates and what information is shared, enabling granular control over privacy while maintaining information currency for authorized users through differentiated access policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic privacy controls that allow members to adjust their sharing preferences at any time. Privacy settings are not static but can be modified to reflect changing relationships and preferences, with the system adapting automatic update behaviors accordingly to balance information currency with user-controlled privacy requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for providing current email addresses or contact information to members within a social network are described. In one described method, an email program application requests an email address for a member within a social network. Using profile information associated with the member, the email address is provided to the email program application which sent the request. The email address is then entered into the send-to parameter field of an email message. In another described method, contact information associated with a first member of a social can be provided to a second member of the social network. The contact information is provided if the relationship between the first and second members is an authorized relationship. The contact information associated with the first member can be used to update the contact information for the first member in an electronic address book associated with the second member.