System using access information set by a user to allow another user to access updated portion of contact and personal information of the user

An apparatus for controlling a second user's access to a first user's information over a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

• a first computing device configured to be coupled to the communications network, the first computing device being further configured to receive a plurality of contact and personal information and registration information from the first user over the communications network, the plurality of contact and personal information being information about the first user;
• allow only persons knowing the registration information of the first user to update the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user;
• receive access information from the first user over the communications network, allow only persons knowing the registration information of the first user to update the access information;
• update the plurality of contact and personal information and the access information by the first user and the persons;
• receive requests for the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user from the second user over the communications network;
• transmit a first portion of the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user to the second user over the communications network based at least in part on the access information, and withhold a second portion of the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user from transmission over the communications network based at least in part on the access information.

An article of manufacture for a system for controlling a second user's access to a first user's information over a communications network, the article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer-readable signal-bearing medium, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium having information signals therein, the information signals corresponding to a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the system, cause the system to
• receive a plurality of contact and personal information from the first user over the communications network;
• the plurality of contact and personal information being information about the first user;
• receive access information from the first user over the communications network;
• receive registration information from the first user over the communications network;
• allow only persons knowing the registration information of the first user to update the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user and the access information;
• update the plurality of contact and personal information and the access information by the first user and the persons;
• receiving requests for the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user from the second user over the communications network;
• transmit a first portion of the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user to the second user over the communications network based at least in part on the access information;
• and
• withhold a second portion of the plurality of contact and personal information about the first user from transmission to the second user over the communications network based at least in part on the access information.