Virtual document organizer system and method

A database host for managing virtual documents on behalf of users, wherein a given virtual document has associated therewith an attribute file, the database host connected to a network and comprising:

• a) a user database having a set of categories;
• b) a network interface connected to said network, the network interface configured to receive electronic messages from an interactive television partner computer, said messages comprising said virtual documents;
• c) a main server and associated software connected to said network interface and configured to receive one of said virtual documents and to categorize said virtual documents according to data provided in the virtual document's associated attribute file, thereby parsing information elements from said virtual documents;
• and
• d) a database manager connected to said user database and said main server, said database manager configured to receive said information parsed by said main server and to store said information in categories in said user database according to parsing instructions from the main server.

A method of managing virtual documents on behalf of users, wherein a given virtual document has associated therewith an attribute file, the method comprising:

• a) establishing a user database on a network-connected computer, said user database having a set of categories;
• b) receiving a request for a virtual document at said network-connected computer from an interactive television partner computer;
• c) retrieving and categorizing said at least one virtual document according to its associated attribute file at the network-connected computer;
• and
• d) storing information from said at least one virtual document in one of said set of categories within said user database according to information within said attribute file.

A database host for managing virtual documents on behalf of users, wherein a given virtual document has associated therewith an attribute file, the database host connected to a network and comprising:

• a) a user database having a set of categories;
• b) a network interface connected to said network, the network interface configured to receive electronic messages from an interactive television partner computer, said messages comprising said virtual documents;
• c) a main server and associated software connected to said network interface and configured to receive a request for one of said virtual documents and to retrieve and categorize said virtual documents according to data provided in the virtual document's associated attribute file, thereby parsing information elements from said virtual documents;
• and
• d) a database manager connected to said user database and said main server, said database manager configured to receive said information parsed by said main server and to store said information in categories in said user database according to parsing instructions from the main server.

A method of distributing a virtual document to a user, wherein the virtual document has associated therewith an attribute file, the method comprising:

• establishing a user database on a host computer that is connected to a network, said user database having a set of categories;
• in response to a request from a user, receiving a virtual document and an associated attribute file at the host computer from a partner computer that is connected to the network;
• categorizing the virtual document according to its associated attribute file;
• transmitting the virtual document to the user through the network;
• receiving and storing the virtual document at a user computer;
• and
• downloading the virtual document onto a smart card device.

A method of distributing a virtual document to a user, wherein the virtual document has associated therewith an attribute file, the method comprising:

• establishing a user database on a host computer that is connected to a network, said user database having a set of categories;
• receiving a request for a virtual document from a user, the request forwarded to the host computer from a partner computer that is connected to the network;
• retrieving the requested virtual document and categorizing it in the host computer according to its associated attribute file;
• transmitting the virtual document to the user through the network;
• receiving and storing the virtual document at a user computer;
• and
• downloading the virtual document onto a smart card device.

A computer program product for use with a general purpose computer, the product encoded with instructions for commanding the computer to perform a series of steps including:

• receiving a virtual document and an associated attribute file at a user computer from a host computer that is connected to a computer network;
• extracting contact information from the associated attribute file;
• extracting at least one date from the associated attribute file;
• storing the extracted contact information in a contact database corresponding to a personal information manager program on the user computer;
• storing the extracted at least one date in a calendar database corresponding to the personal information manager program on the user computer;
• storing the virtual document in a synchronization queue on the user computer;
• and
• downloading the virtual document from the synchronization queue on the user computer to a smart card device.