Contact management system and method

Abstract

In an embodiment of a method of providing contact information, the method includes creating a contact record in a contact management system, where a process associated with a subject of the contact record and/or a recipient of data associated with the contact record is included in creating the contact record. A unique serial number is generated corresponding to the contact record and the serial number is conveyed to the recipient. A request by an application is received for the contact record from the contact management system corresponding to the serial number and data associated with the contact record is transmitted to the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for retrieving a public key from a contact management system via a network device, comprising the steps of submitting a request for a contact record to the contact management system, receiving the contact record from the contact management system, the contact record containing a public encryption key, a serial number and an electronic communication address found within the contact record. 
     
     
         2 . A method for encrypting a communication on a network device, comprising the steps of: detecting an electronic communication address or a serial number of a recipient of the communication; detecting a public encryption key corresponding to the electronic communication address or the serial number of the recipient; and presenting an interface to a user enabling the user to encrypt the communication using the public encryption key. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of detecting the electronic communication address or the serial number of the recipient includes the steps of: requesting an update from a contact management system for a contact record corresponding to the public encryption key; receiving the update for the contact record corresponding to the public encryption key from the contact management system, the contact record containing the public encryption key; and updating a public encryption key record stored on the network device with the public encryption key contained in the update for the contact record.