System and method for automatic opportunistic data and image sharing

摘要

A system for requesting data from another includes means for automatically appending a request for certain information to an outgoing message. In one embodiment, an e-mail editor includes an on-screen “radio button” for causing a request for missing contact information to be appended to the message being composed. The system may automatically parse incoming messages for the requested information which may be extracted and stored automatically. Information may be associated with a date which triggers an automatic request for updated information. Certain embodiments of the invention may be one-sided—implemented on a single programmed system. Other embodiments are implemented on multiple systems such that the process may be automated on both the requesting and replying systems. In yet other embodiments, a website or file server is employed to upload and download requested information.

主权项

1. A method comprising the steps of:
identifying an email recipient during the composition of a first email message, the first email composed by a sender; searching, based on the identification, a local data store for personal information relating to the email recipient, the searching yielding certain data; determining whether the date of entry of the certain data in the local data store exceeds a pre-defined limit; requesting from the sender authorization to append to the first email message a request for updated personal information if the date of entry of the certain data in the local data store exceeds the pre-defined limit; and automatically appending, in response to receiving the sender's authorization, the data request to the first email message.