Method and apparatus for storing, sharing, and/or organizing personal information

A system for storing and controlling access to electronic documents, comprising:

• an interface;
• and
• an electronic storage element,
• wherein a client has access via the interface to add electronic documents to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, wherein persons and entities other than the client are allowed access via the interface to add electronic documents to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element when control information specifying the persons and entities, and access via the interface to add electronic elements to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, is input via the interface,
• wherein the client has access via the interface to
• (i) view electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• (ii) edit electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, and
• (iii) remove electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• wherein persons and entities other than the client are allowed one or more types of access via the interface with respect to specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element for a time limit, during a time period, or until an expiration date when control information specifying the persons and entities, the one or more types of access via the interface, the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element and the time limit, the time period, or the expiration date, is input via the interface, wherein the one or more types of access via the interface are selected from the group of access types consisting of:
• (i) access via the interface to view the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• (ii) access via the interface to edit the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, and
• (iii) access via the interface to remove the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element;
• wherein the system is configured such that when at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element is added and stored in the electronic storage element,
• (i) wherein the at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element is automatically associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element upon adding the at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element;
• and
• (ii) a first at least one type of access via the interface by a first one or more person and/or entity other than the client, to a first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element for a first time limit, during a first time period, or until a first expiration date, is allowed by inputting via the interface first control information specifying the first one or more person and/or entity, the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, the first at least one type of access via the interface, and the first time limit, the first time period, or the first expiration date,
• wherein the first control information causes the system to allow the first at least one type of access via the interface by the first one or more person and/or entity to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the system denies access via the interface by persons or entities other than the client, other than the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client, to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• wherein the system denies types of access via the interface other than the first at least one type of access via the interface to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element by the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the system denies access via the interface by the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client to at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, at times other than for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the system is configured for the interface to interconnect with the client and the first one or more person and/or entity via the world wide web infrastructure.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a set of instructions to cause a computer to perform a method, wherein the method comprises:

• providing a system having an interface and an electronic storage element,
• wherein a client has access via the interface to add electronic documents to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• wherein persons and entities other than the client are allowed access via the interface to add electronic documents to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element when control information specifying the persons and entities, and access via the interface to add electronic elements to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, is input via the interface,
• wherein the client has access via the interface to
• (i) view electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• (ii) edit electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, and
• (iii) remove electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• wherein persons and entities other than the client are allowed one or more types of access via the interface with respect to specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element for a time limit, during a time period, or until an expiration date when control information specifying the persons and entities, the one or more types of access via the interface, the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, and the time limit, the time period, or the expiration date, is input via the interface, wherein the one or more types of access via the interface are selected from the group of types of access consisting of:
• (i) access via the interface to view the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• (ii) access via the interface to edit the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, and
• (iii) access via the interface to remove the specific electronic documents associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element;
• adding at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element;
• storing the at least one electronic document associated with the client in the electronic storage element, wherein the at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element is automatically associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element upon adding the at least one electronic document to be associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element;
• allowing a first at least one type of access via the interface by a first one or more person and/or entity other than the client, to a first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element for a first time limit, during a first time period, or until a first expiration date, by inputting via the interface a first control information specifying the first one or more person and/or entity, the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, the first at least one type of access via the interface, and the first time limit, the first time period, or the first expiration date,
• wherein the first control information causes the system to allow the first at least one type of access via the interface, by the first one or more person and/or entity, to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the system denies access via the interface by persons or entities other than the client, other than the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client, to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element,
• wherein the system denies types of access via the interface, other than the first at least one type of access via the interface, to the first one or more of the at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element by the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the system denies access via the interface by the first one or more person and/or entity other than the client to at least one electronic document associated with the client and stored in the electronic storage element, at times other than for the first time limit, during the first time period, or until the first expiration date,
• wherein the client and the first one or more person and/or entity interconnect with the system via the interface, via the world wide web infrastructure.