Web-updated database with record distribution by email

A method of maintaining and distributing database information, the method comprising:

• communicating with at least one subscriber system to receive user input from a user at said at least one subscriber system;
• maintaining a database of information records;
• maintaining user records in said database and linking said user records with said information records;
• controlling said database such that each information record is associated with at least one user, wherein controlling said database includes obtaining for inclusion in a message a plurality of information records having at least one common field entry;
• amending said information records in response to user input from said at least one subscriber system;
• and
• serving said message including said plurality of information records having at least one common field entry from said database to said at least one user associated with said information record.

A remotely updatable database system comprising:

• means for communicating with at least one subscriber system to receive user input from a user at said at least one subscriber system;
• means for maintaining a database of information records;
• means for maintaining user records in said database and for linking said user records with information records;
• means for controlling said database such that each information record is associated with at least one user, said means for controlling said database including means for obtaining for inclusion in a message a plurality of information records having at least one common field entry;
• means for amending said information records in response to said user input from said at least one subscriber system;
• and
• means for serving said message including said plurality of information records having said at least one common field entry from said database to said at least one user associated with said information record.

A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored codes operable to direct a computer to maintain and distribute database information, by directing said computer to:

• communicate with at least one subscriber system to receive user input from a user at said at least one subscriber system;
• maintain a database of information records;
• maintain user records in said database and link said user records with information records;
• control said database such that each information record is associated with at least one user, wherein control said database includes obtain for inclusion in a message a plurality of information records having at least one common field entry;
• amend said information records in response to user input from said at least one subscriber system;
• and
• serve said message including said plurality of information records having said at least one common field entry from said database to said at least one user associated with said information record.

An apparatus for receiving database record information from a database containing a plurality of database records, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a message receiver for receiving a message from said database, said message including at least one file from said database;
• b) transfer memory for storing said at least one file;
• c) an output device for presenting information to a user;
• and
• d) a processor circuit in communication with said message receiver, said transfer memory and said output device, and processor memory programmed with processor-readable codes for directing said processor to direct said output device to present to the user a list of files stored in said local memory, the files included in said list having at least one predefined characteristic;
• and to direct said output device to present to the user at least some of the contents of at least one file having said at least one predefined characteristic.

A method of presenting database record information from a database containing a plurality of database records, the method comprising:

• receiving an Email message including at least one file from said database;
• storing said at least one file in a transfer memory;
• replacing existing files in said transfer memory with new files received from said database;
• presenting to a user a list of files stored in said transfer memory, the files included in said list having at least one predefined characteristic;
• and
• presenting to said user the contents of at least one file having said at least one characteristic.

An apparatus for communicating database record information from a database containing a plurality of database records, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving an Email message including at least one file, from said database;
• means for storing said at least one file in local memory;
• means for replacing existing files in said transfer memory with new files received from said database;
• means for presenting to the user a list of files stored in said local memory, the files included in said list having at least one predefined characteristic;
• and
• means for presenting to said user the contents of at least one file having said at least one characteristic.

A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored codes operable to direct a computer to present database record information from a database containing a plurality of database records, by directing said computer to:

• receive an Email message including at least one file from said database;
• store said at least one file in a transfer memory;
• replace existing files in said transfer memory with new files received from said database;
• present to a user a list of files stored in said transfer memory, the files included in said list having at least one predefined characteristic;
• and
• present to said user the contents of at least one file having said at least one characteristic.

A remotely updatable database system comprising:

• a) a central server and at least one subscriber system, said central server including:
• i) a user interface for communicating with said at least one subscriber system to receive user input from a user at said at least one subscriber system;
• ii) a database of information records;
• iii) a database manager in communication with said user interface, for controlling said database such that each information record is associated with at least one user, and for amending said information records in response to user input received at said user interface from said at least one subscriber system;
• and
• iv) a message server in communication with said database manager for serving a message including at least one record received from said database manager to said at least one user associated with said information record.
• b) said subscriber system including:
• i) a message receiver for receiving a message from said message server, said message including at least one file from said database;
• ii) transfer memory for storing said at least one file;
• iii) an output device for presenting information to a user;
• and
• iv) a processor circuit in communication with said message receiver, said transfer memory and said output device, and processor memory programmed with processor-readable codes for directing said processor to direct said output device to present to the user a list of files stored in said local memory, the files included in said list having at least one predefined characteristic;
• and to direct said output device to present to the user at least some of the contents of at least one file having said at least one predefined characteristic.