Techniques to manage contact records

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for managing contact information received in the context of a messaging system. Messages may be received from known contacts which contain user contact records for third parties. Based on the trust relationship with the known contacts, the user contact record is placed in a contact record repository for later retrieval. When another message is received which either references the user contact record or is from the third party referenced in the user contact record, a dialog box is presented offering the user the opportunity to add the user contact record as an address entry in the address book of the device.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a client device, a first message from a first sending user, wherein the first message is a contact record and the contact record includes contact information distinct from identifying information of the first sending user;   determining that the contact record does not match an entry in an address book on the client device;   determining whether the contact record is authorized for storage in a contact record repository on the client device that is separate from the address book and, if the contact record is authorized, storing the contact record in the contact record repository;   receiving, at the client device, a second message from a second sending user, wherein the second message is distinct from the contact record;   determining whether the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user; and   when the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user, retrieving the contact record from the contact record repository; and   displaying a contact record dialog showing in formation from the contact record retrieved from the contact record repository.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether the contact record is authorized for storage comprises displaying a dialog that provides an option to allow a user to save the contact record in the contact record repository. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the contact record is validated based on the contact record being received from a known contact of a recipient of the contact record or a user associated with the contact record being a participant in a messaging conversation on the client device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving an instruction to add the contact record to the address book of the client device; and   creating a record in the address book corresponding to the contact record.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein when no contact record in the address book or the contact record repository matches the message, further comprising displaying a spam dialogue warning that the message may be spam. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a messaging context associated with the contact record is added to the contact record repository with the contact record. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the contact record is received as an ephemeral contact record, wherein the message is received prior to an extinction time for the ephemeral contact record. 
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause a processor to:
 receive, at a client device, a first message from a first sending user, wherein the first message is a contact record and the contact record includes contact information different from contact information of the first sending user;   determine that the contact record does not match an entry in an address book on the client device;   determine whether the contact record is authorized for storage in a contact record repository on the client device that is separate from the address book and, if the contact record is authorized, storing the contact record in the contact record repository;   receive, at the client device, a second message from a second sending user, wherein the second message is distinct from the contact record;   determine whether the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user; and   when the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user, retrieve the contact record from the contact record repository; and   display a contact record dialog showing in formation from the contact record retrieved from the contact record repository.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein determining whether the contact record is authorized for storage comprises displaying a dialog that provides an option to allow a user to save the contact record in the contact record repository. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the contact record is validated based on the contact record being received from a known contact of a recipient of the contact record or a user associated with the contact record being a participant in a messaging conversation on the client device. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , further storing instructions for:
 receiving an instruction to add the contact record to the address book of the client device; and   creating a record in the address book corresponding to the contact record.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein when no contact record in the address book or the contact record repository matches the message, further storing instructions for displaying a spam dialogue warning that the message may be spam. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein a messaging context associated with the contact record is added to the contact record repository with the contact record. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the contact record is received as an ephemeral contact record, wherein the message is received prior to an extinction time for the ephemeral contact record. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus comprising:
 a network interface configured to receive a contact record at a client device;   a hardware processor; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause the processor to:   receive, at a client device, a first message from a first sending user, wherein the first message is a contact record and the contact record includes contact information different from contact information of the first sending user;   determine that the contact record does not match an entry in an address book on the client device;   determine whether the contact record is authorized for storage in a contact record repository on the client device that is separate from the address book and, if the contact record is authorized, storing the contact record in the contact record repository;   receive, at the client device, a second message from a second sending user, wherein the second message is distinct from the contact record;   determine whether the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user; and   when the contact record contains information matching identifying information of the second sending user, retrieve the contact record from the contact record repository; and   display a contact record dialog showing in formation from the contact record retrieved from the contact record repository.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein determining whether the contact record is authorized for storage comprises displaying a dialog that provides an option to allow a user to save the contact record in the contact record repository. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the contact record is validated based on the contact record being received from a known contact of a recipient of the contact record or a user associated with the contact record being a participant in a messaging conversation on the client device. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , the medium further storing instructions for:
 receiving an instruction to add the contact record to the address book of the client device; and   creating a record in the address book corresponding to the contact record.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein when no contact record in the address book or the contact record repository matches the message, the medium further storing instructions for displaying a spam dialogue warning that the message may be spam. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the contact record is received as an ephemeral contact record, wherein the message is received prior to an extinction time for the ephemeral contact record.