WO2002051094A2

WO2002051094A2 - Method for verifying user-specific information in a data and/or communications system and corresponding data and/or communications system

Info

Publication number: WO2002051094A2
Application number: PCT/DE2001/004901
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jochen Hertle; Ulrich Dietz
Original assignee: Vodafone Ag
Priority date: 2000-12-21
Filing date: 2001-12-19
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Also published as: DE10065067B4; AU2002231586A1; DE10065067A1; WO2002051094A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for verifying user-specific information in a data and/or communications system and to a system of this type in which a number of users communicate with each other and with the operator of the data and/or communications system by means of terminals. A digital directory is allocated to at least a proportion of the users, this directory being stored in a memory unit and user-specific information being stored therein in electronic form. The inventive method represents a particularly simple but reliable means of verifying user-specific information.

Description

Method for verifying user-specific information in a data and / or communication system and data and / or communication system

The present invention initially relates to a method for verifying user-specific information in a data and / or communication system according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a data and / or communication system according to the preamble of patent claim 17.

A known data system is, for example, the Internet. Communication systems of the type mentioned are known, for example, in the form of mobile radio networks and the like.

With the advent and rapid spread of the Internet, mobile telephony, and the like, the number of business operations conducted through these networks also increases. In online transactions that are carried out over the Internet, one speaks of the so-called "e-commerce". These are generally trading activities that take place on interconnected computers. In trading activities that are carried out with the help of a mobile network, one speaks generally of the so-called "M-Commerce".

Such online activities are possible, for example, in the area of business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C) or in the area of consumer-to-consumer (C2C). A fundamental aspect of this type of trading activity is security. In the past, it was common for the parties involved to be face-to-face when a transaction was concluded, or for documents that were signed to be legally binding to be exchanged, but the problem with online trading activities is that the two sides who want to conclude a transaction with each other are in usually do not know. This problem should be explained using a B2C constellation. In such a case, it is sufficient as a customer (consumer), for example, to assign a freely selectable user name and possibly a password. Exact data that enable the customer to be identified are generally not required. Because of the user name and the password, the true identity of the customer cannot usually be deduced. In online business, it is not uncommon to pay by credit card. It is usually sufficient here for the customer to provide the credit card number. However, the customer's contracting party does not guarantee that the credit card actually belongs to the customer and is not possibly stolen.

Conversely, the customer has no verifiable information about the dealer (business). For online business on the Internet, for example, the retailer offers a website on which he presents his offer in a virtual form. However, based on this virtual offer, it is not entirely clear to the customer whether the goods and services offered are actually available in the form shown.

There is therefore a need to verify the individual information provided by the customer and / or by the dealer in such a way that the customer, or the dealer, at least has a certain level of reliability with regard to their authenticity. Various solutions for this are already known.

A system is described at the Internet address "www.passport.com" with which online trading activities should be made safer and faster. With this system, a user must first log on to the operator of the service, acquiring a user name and password. Then the user can create a digital directory (wallet) in which he can store various information that is important to him. This information can be, for example, credit card numbers, numbers of euro check cards, details of bank accounts, delivery addresses and the like. The information compiled by the user is then stored centrally by the operator of the system. If the user registered in this way now wants to conclude a transaction with another partner of the system, he usually has to transmit a series of information to the partner before the transaction is concluded. He can now select the required information from his digital directory and send the selected information to the partner. The partner then uses the information to accept and execute the order. Since the information is stored in the digital directory, it does not have to be re-entered every time the user purchases online. This initially speeds up the execution of online trading activities.

Furthermore, both the user and the partner have a certain level of security with regard to the authenticity of the information transmitted, since both members are of the same system and both have to provide the operator of the system with a number of personal details during registration, which are used for identification purposes can be used.

At the Internet address "www.earthport.com" another system is described how online trading activities can be carried out as smoothly, safely and quickly as possible. This system is a specific Internet payment system for merchants and customers.

With this system too, dealers and customers must first register. The customer is again assigned a user name, a password and a digital directory (wallet). In the digital directory, the customer can, for example, store information about his means of payment, such as account numbers, numbers of euro check cards and credit cards or the like.

Since every customer and also every retailer has to provide various personal details when registering, and this information is stored with the operator of the system, the risk of fraud is considerably reduced if two members of the system come into contact with one another in business. The operator of the system is at those taking place between the customer and the dealer Transactions are not parties, but intermediaries. If, for example, the customer is to transfer an invoice amount to the dealer, the customer first pays the invoice amount into his wallet. This money is then passed on to the dealer by the system operator.

Both known approaches have in common that between two business partners who want to do business with each other, a trustworthy entity is interposed. This instance has a range of information that identifies the respective business partner. Since both business partners are members of the same system, the possibility of fraud from one side or the other is reduced.

The invention is based on the object of providing a further method for verifying user-specific information in a data and / or communication system and a data and / or communication system with which the security in the field of online trading activities is increased by verifying data and information can be.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the data and / or communication system according to claim 17. Further advantages, features, details, aspects and effects of the invention result from the subclaims, the description and the drawing. Details and features that are described in connection with the method according to the invention also apply to the system according to the invention and vice versa.

According to the first aspect of the invention, a method for verifying user-specific information in a data and / or communication system is provided, in which a number of users communicate with one another and with the operator of the data and / or communication system via terminal devices, at least part of the A digital directory is assigned to users, which is stored in a storage unit and in which user-specific information is stored in electronic form. According to the invention, the method is characterized by the following steps: a) at least a first user and at least a second user communicate with one another via their terminals, at least parts of the user-specific information stored in the digital directory being transmitted by at least one of the users to the at least one other user; b) The user who has received the user-specific information sends this information or parts of this information for verification to the operator of the data and / or communication system; c) At the operator of the data and / or communication system, the user-specific information or parts of this information are automatically compared with system-related information about the user; d) The comparison result is transmitted from the operator of the data and / or communication system to the requesting user.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to verify user-specific information in a simple and therefore cost-effective manner, so that the risk of fraud, particularly in the case of online trading activities, can be drastically reduced.

Compared to the solutions known from the prior art, it is not necessary in the method according to the invention that the body responsible for verifying the information (in the present case the operator of the data and / or communication system) between the two communicating with each other is interposed. Rather, these two users communicate directly with one another. The verification body is subordinate to this communication channel and is only requested by one or the other or both users if necessary.

In the method according to the invention it is initially provided that at least parts of the users using the data and / or communication system create a digital directory. Such a digital directory, or its creation, which can be, for example, a wallet as known from the prior art, will be explained in more detail in the further course of the description. In a first step, the two users who communicate with each other and want to do business, for example, contact each other. As part of the communication between the users, at least parts of the user-specific information stored in the digital directory are transmitted from at least one of the users to at least one other user.

In order to check whether this transmitted user-specific information is truthful, in a next step the user who has received the user-specific information transmits this information or parts of this information to the operator of the data and / or communication system for verification.

The transmission of information or data according to the present invention can be carried out in various ways. For example, it is possible for one user to send them to another user (push), for example if the user whose information is to be verified sends this information to the at least one other user. It is also conceivable that a user fetches the information or data from the other user (pull). The term "transmission" encompasses both variants.

The user-specific information can be transmitted in such a way that the information itself is transmitted from one user to at least one other user. However, it is also conceivable that the user-specific information is stored in the form of the digital directory in a central storage unit. In this case, it would be sufficient for only one link (link) to the digital directory to be exchanged and for the user who wants to verify the information of another user to access the storage unit via this link and the corresponding information from the digital Reads directory. Some examples of different transmission options will be explained in more detail later in the description. The operator of the data and / or communication system is now responsible for verifying at least parts of this transmitted user-specific information. A concrete example of this will be explained in more detail in the further course of the description. For this purpose, the operator compares the transmitted user-specific information with information which, due to the system, is known to him by the user who transmitted the information.

The system-related information can be of different types. It is conceivable, for example, that the system operator requests different information for the identification of a user when registering. In principle, the system operator can determine the extent of this information himself. In some cases, for example in the field of mobile telephony, there are different regulatory requirements, at least in Germany. In these cases, the system operator is obliged to obtain certain information about his users. An example of this will be explained in more detail in the further course of the description using a mobile radio network. In the latter case, the system operator can only verify information of those users who are actively members. In the case of a mobile operator, the users whose information is to be verified must be a member of the mobile network and have a mobile phone. In the former case, the system operator could also accept members who only have a digital directory. For such users of the system, it would therefore merely be a service provider for providing a digital directory in order to simplify the verification of users.

The information is compared automatically and leads to a comparison result, which the operator of the data and / or communication system ultimately transmits to the requesting user.

The information or the comparison result is transmitted in the manner prescribed by the data and / or communication system. For example, the transmission can take place via cable connections, radio connections and the like. Based on the result available to him, the requesting user can now decide how he would like to continue communicating with the other user.

The comparison of the information by the operator of the data and / or communication system can be carried out or supported using suitable program means or software.

The invention is not restricted to specific configurations of the data system or of the communication system. Furthermore, the invention is not restricted to a specific number of users of the respective system. The invention is also not restricted to certain user Cyprus. For example, the users can be natural and / or legal persons, such as individuals, organizations, companies and companies of all kinds, authorities and the like. Every possible combination of different user types is conceivable.

The method according to the invention can advantageously be used for verifying user-specific information in a data system, in particular on the Internet, or in a communication system, in particular in a mobile radio network. The verification of user-specific information in a data system is important, for example, in "e-commerce", while the verification of user-specific information in a communication system is interesting with regard to "m-commerce".

In particular, if the method is used in connection with a mobile radio network, the operator of the system is preferably the so-called "Mobile Service Provider" (MSP) or the "Mobile Network Operator" (MNO).

If the method is used in connection with a mobile radio network, the operator of the system can compare the user-specific information transmitted to him with corresponding system-related user information. The comparison is preferably carried out only between information that is both on the user-specific information side and on the system-related user information is available. This can result in the fact that only a subset of the transmitted user-specific information is verified. The user-specific information can advantageously be compared with such system-related information about the user that was made available to him when this user registered for the mobile radio system. This is, for example, the name and address of the respective user or their ID card number, which must be entered when registering. Furthermore, the operator of the mobile radio network can have appropriate credit information regarding the user.

For data protection reasons, the operator of the mobile radio network is generally not permitted to pass on the information available to him about a user to third parties. For the verification of the user-specific information on the basis of existing system-related user information, this means that the operator of the mobile radio network can then only inform the requesting user whether the comparable information matches or not. On the basis of this information, the requesting user must then decide whether and how he would like to continue communicating with the user to whom the corresponding information is assigned. Even if only a part of the user-specific information can be verified, this gives the requesting user at least a first clue about the trustworthiness of his communication partner.

The method according to the invention for verifying user-specific information can be used particularly advantageously in a system which is formed from a data subsystem and a communication subsystem. The method according to the invention can thus be used particularly advantageously in connection with the so-called WAP technology. WAP stands for "Wireless Application Protocol" and enables the development of Internet-like applications that run over wireless networks, for example cellular networks. WAP applications therefore enable e-commerce and m-commerce systems to be brought together.

Depending on the design of the data and / or communication system, the creation and editing of the digital directory can, for example, be web-based, WAP-based and the like. Communication between two users can be established, for example, by one user accessing the website, WAP site or the like of another user.

The users can advantageously communicate with one another and with the operator of the data and / or communication system via end devices designed as computers and / or mobile telephones. The computers can be, for example, stationary computers, mobile computers (laptops, notebooks), personal digital assistance (PDA) and the like. The cell phones can be, for example, conventional cell phones, WAP cell phones, smart phones and the like.

The digital directory assigned to a user can preferably be stored in a storage unit which is assigned to the operator of the data and / or communication system. This storage unit thus functions as a central server or as a central database of the data and / or communication system, which can be accessed by both the user and the operator of the system.

In a further embodiment, it is conceivable that the digital directory assigned to a user is stored in a storage unit which is assigned to the end device of the user. In this case there is a storage unit in each terminal, in which a digital directory, namely the digital directory of the user to whom the terminal is assigned, is stored. During the operation of the terminal, various locations, for example other users, the operator of the data and / or communication system and the like, can then access this storage unit and, if authorized, read out data stored in the digital directory.

In a further embodiment, it is possible for the digital directory assigned to a user to be stored in a storage unit which is designed independently of the operator of the data and / or communication system and / or of the end device of the user. The operator of the data and / or communication system and / or the user can use it via his terminal Communicate storage device. In this case, the storage unit is, for example, an independent computer unit or an independent database, which could be operated by an independent service provider, for example.

The user-specific information or parts of this information at the operator of the data and / or communication system are advantageously compared in a computer unit with system-related information about the user, the system-related information being stored in a storage unit. The actual comparison procedure can be triggered automatically, for example, or on request. The actual comparison of the information or pieces of information within the computer unit is advantageously carried out automatically. The storage unit can be assigned to the operator of the system, for example. It is particularly conceivable that the memory unit is assigned to the computer unit. The comparison is preferably carried out using suitable program means or software. After the comparison, a comparison result is automatically generated, which is transmitted from the computer unit to the terminal of the requesting user.

The digital directory is preferably created and / or edited by each user. The digital directory can be, for example, a so-called wallet as described in the prior art. In principle, the invention is not restricted to a specific type of information that can be stored in the digital directory. The information is advantageously in the form of data records which are stored in the digital directory or stored in a corresponding storage unit. The data records can be assigned to one another, linked to one another or independent of one another. Any type, any form and any collection of data records in the digital directory is possible.

Information for identifying the user is advantageously stored in the digital directory. This can be, for example, a user name, a password and the like. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible for information that is important for the user to be stored in the digital directory. This can be, for example, but not exclusively, information about the address of the user, personal data of the user, information about means of payment, such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, Euro check cards and the like. Of course, other types of information such as delivery addresses, specific delivery times and the like are also conceivable.

The user-specific information or parts of this information can preferably be transmitted from the at least one user to the at least one other user by transmitting an access address or an access identifier for the digital directory. As already described above, the information transmission can again take place according to the “push” and / or “PulP principle. If the data of the digital directory are stored, for example, on a website, WAP site or the like, it is generally preferred If the digital directory is stored in the form of one or more data records in a storage unit, a specific identifier, for example, can be transmitted with which this special digital directory can be identified.

If an access address or an access identifier for the digital directory is transmitted, the user receiving the user-specific information or parts of this information can advantageously access the digital directory via this access address or the access identifier. In this case, this can be stored in a central storage unit. The user receiving the user-specific information can thus query the data required for him from the digital directory.

This pending access is advantageously signaled to the user to whom the digital directory is assigned before the actual access to the digital directory. In this way, it is up to the user to decide whether, and if so, which, he wants to release information from the digital directory. Thereby the user can prevent information assigned to him from being passed on to third parties unintentionally or unauthorized.

The user is thus able to determine the scope of the user-specific information to be transmitted via his terminal. If the user has checked the information to be queried and transmitted and agrees, he can, for example, forward a corresponding confirmation signal to the digital directory so that the information released by the user can be transmitted from the digital directory to the other user.

After the comparison results have been transmitted, the operator of the data and / or communication system can advantageously generate confirmation information for the requesting user. This confirmation information can be sent back to the operator of the data and / or communication system, for example, and can be stored there, quasi as a receipt, in a storage unit. It is also conceivable to send the confirmation information to the user whose user-specific information should be verified by the method. It is also conceivable to forward confirmation information to an electronic archiving system or the like.

The method according to the invention also enables the system operator to introduce a fair fee system in connection with the verification requests. A usage fee can be charged for each verification request or the associated access, which can then be calculated precisely and fairly for the respective requesting user. If a usage fee is due for each request, each fee in itself can be relatively small. Each requesting user then only pays as many fees that also correspond to the number of their actual verification requests. The system operator is therefore not forced to determine lump-sum fees based on average values and experience, which would particularly disadvantage those users who only very rarely or to a limited extent send verification requests to the system operator. According to a second aspect of the invention, a data and / or communication system is provided, with a computer unit assigned to the operator of the system, one or more end devices via which users of the system can communicate with one another and with the operator of the system, and with at least one Storage unit in which one or more electronic directory (s) that are assigned to one or more users are stored. According to the invention, the data and / or communication system is characterized by means for carrying out the method according to the invention as described above.

The data and / or communication system according to the invention makes it possible in a simple manner to be able to verify user-specific information. With regard to the advantages, effects, effects and the mode of operation of the data and / or communication system according to the invention, reference is made in full to the above statements regarding the method according to the invention and reference is hereby made.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The only FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inventive data and / or communication system with which the inventive method for verifying user-specific information can be carried out.

1 shows a data and / or communication system 100 which is formed from a data subsystem (Internet) and a communication subsystem (mobile radio network).

The system 100 is operated by an operator 20 of the data and / or communication system, in the present exemplary embodiment, for example, a mobile radio provider. A computer unit 30 designed as a database is assigned to the operator 20. The system 100 also has a number of users who can communicate or communicate with one another and with the operator 20 of the system 100 via corresponding terminals 40, 50. The individual process steps at Implementation of the method according to the invention is represented by the arrows designated with the reference numbers 0 to 16. An electronic archiving system 60 is also provided. An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for verifying user-specific information in the system 100 is now described below.

Before the start of the method, a user, for example the user to whom the terminal 40, in the present case a mobile phone, is assigned (hereinafter referred to as user or customer 40), must create a digital directory, which is also called a wallet. This directory is created once, but can be changed, edited, supplemented or deleted at any time. In a first step (step 0), the digital directory is personalized by storing information that identifies the user 40, or information that is important to the user 40. Such information can be, for example, a user name, a password, information about the user's address, information about the user's means of payment, such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, the number of the identity card and the like. The digital directory can be created, for example, using WAP or web technology and stored in a corresponding storage device, which is assigned to the operator 20 of the system 100, for example as a computer unit 30.

In the present example, it is a business-to-consumer (B2C) constellation in which the consumer user uses his terminal 40 to communicate with the business user via his terminal 50, which in the present case is a computer unit , wants to communicate for the purpose of concluding a transaction.

In order to begin communication, the user of the terminal 40, that is to say the mobile telephone, first contacts the user of the terminal 50 (hereinafter referred to as user or dealer 50), that is to say the computer unit (arrow 1). This can be done, for example, by the user 40 accessing a website of the user 50 using WAP or web technology. This can be done by entering appropriate addresses, such as http://wap-merchant.com, http://merchant.com and the like, whereby Merchant should be the name of the user 50 in the present case. The desired destination address is entered into the terminal 40.

After accessing the website of the user 50 acting as a dealer, the user 40 acting as a customer can now navigate in the website of the dealer 50 and check the corresponding offer. Then he can decide whether he wants to buy the offer represented by the dealer 50 or to close a deal. This is shown by arrow 2.

After the customer 40 has decided to buy or to conclude a transaction, he transfers at least part of the user-specific information stored in his digital directory to the dealer 50. In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the customer 40 has an access identifier for his digital directory to the dealer 50 transfers (arrow 3). With the aid of this access identifier, the dealer 50 now accesses the digital directory of the customer 40 stored in the computer unit 30 or the database in accordance with arrow 4 in order to call up the data and information necessary for the conclusion of the transaction.

Before this call can take place, the digital directory, as shown by arrow 5, signals the customer 40 that there is an access request to his digital directory and whether this access request is authorized. As shown by arrow 6, the customer can now check which type of data is requested by the dealer 50. The customer 40 can freely decide which data he wants to transmit to the dealer 50. It is also possible for him to reject or not to release certain information requested by the dealer 50.

After the customer 40 has completed the selection and release of the information to be transmitted from the digital directory via his terminal, he issues a corresponding confirmation signal to the digital directory stored in the computer unit 30 (arrow 7). Then the digital transmits Directory the released data or user-specific information to the dealer 50 (arrow 8)

In order to be able to verify the information transmitted by the digital directory, the dealer 50 starts an inquiry with the operator 20 of the data and / or communication system 100, which is indicated by arrow 9. In this request, the dealer 50 asks for verification of the information transmitted to him in step 8 from the digital directory of the customer 40.

In order to be able to carry out this verification, the operator 20 checks the user-specific information transmitted to him in step 9 against a database in the computer unit 30, which is shown by arrow 10. System-related information about the customer 40 is stored in this database, for example. Such system-related information is, for example, information about the name and address of the customer 40 and, for example, his ID card number. The customer must deposit this information with the operator 20 of the system 100 if he wishes to become a member of the system 100.

Since the operator 20 is not allowed to hand over the data available to him to third parties for data protection reasons, the operator 20 checks whether the comparable user-specific information and system-related information about the user are identical. After this check, which runs automatically in the computer unit 30 by means of suitable program means, the operator 20 sends a message back to the dealer 50 that the information either matches or does not match (arrow 11). Based on this information, the dealer 50 can now decide whether and how he would like to keep in contact with the customer 40 and conclude the deal.

If, for example, the information was identical, the dealer 50 could prepare a corresponding order form in a next step (arrow 12) on the basis of the user-specific information from the digital directory transmitted according to arrow 8. The order form prepared and filled in this way can then be sent to the customer 40 (arrow 13). The customer 40 can sign the order form or provide it with an electronic signature (arrow 14) and then send it back to the dealer 50 (arrow 15). This concludes the deal between the customer 40 and the dealer 50. Appropriate confirmation information can be generated to confirm the transaction. This confirmation information, which is represented by arrow 16, can be sent to various locations of the system 100. For example, it is conceivable that the confirmation information is first sent to the computer unit 30 and stored there for acknowledgment purposes. It is also conceivable that the confirmation information is also sent to the customer 40, so that the customer 40 can understand the successful conclusion of the transaction on his terminal 40. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to forward the confirmation information to the independent electronic archiving system 60 for archiving purposes.

The method according to the invention makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to have user-specific information of the customer 40 verified by the dealer 50, so that the risk of fraud for the dealer 50, who has no personal contact with the customer 40, is at least considerably reduced. Likewise, it is of course also conceivable that the customer 40 carries out a verification of user-specific information of the dealer 50.

The verification of the user-specific information can be carried out in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, since a comparison is made with such system-related information that is already available to the operator 20 of the system 100, so that the operator 20 does not have to collect any further data in order to be able to verify the information , LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

0 to 16 = arrows that represent different process steps

20 = operator of the data and / or communication system

30 = computer unit (database)

40 = terminal (mobile phone)

50 = terminal (computer unit)

60 = archiving system

100 = data and / or communication system

Claims

claims

1. A method for verifying user-specific information in a data and / or communication system (100), in which a number of users via terminals (40, 50) with one another and with the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) communicate, with at least some of the users being assigned a digital directory which is stored in a storage unit and in which user-specific information is stored in electronic form, characterized by the following steps: a) at least one first user and at least one second user communicate via their Terminals (40, 50) with one another, at least parts of the user-specific information stored in the digital directory being transmitted by at least one of the users to the at least one other user; b) The user who has received the user-specific information sends this information or parts of this information to the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) for verification; c) at the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100), the user-specific information or parts of this information are automatically compared with system-related information about the user; d) The comparison result is transmitted by the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) to the requesting user.

2. The method according to claim 1 for verifying user-specific information in a data system, in particular on the Internet, or in a communication system, in particular in a mobile radio network.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 for verifying user-specific information in a system which is formed from a data subsystem and a communication subsystem.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the users via as a computer (50) and / or mobile phones (40) designed terminals communicate with each other and with the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the digital directory assigned to a user is stored in a storage unit which is assigned to the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the digital directory assigned to a user is stored in a storage unit which is assigned to the terminal (40, 50) of the user.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the digital directory assigned to a user is stored in a storage unit, which is independent of the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) and / or the terminal ( 40, 50) of the user and that the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) and / or the user communicates / communicate with this storage unit via his terminal (40, 50).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the user-specific information or parts of this information at the operator (20) of the data and / or communication system (100) in a computer unit (30) compared with system-related information about the user and that the system-related information is or will be stored in a storage unit.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the digital directory is created and / or edited by each user.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that information for identifying the user is stored in the digital directory.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that important information for the user is stored in the digital directory.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the user-specific information or parts of this information is transmitted from at least one user to the at least one other user by an access address or an access identifier for the digital directory is transmitted.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the user receiving the user-specific information or parts of this information accesses the digital directory via the access address or the access identifier.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the pending access to the user to whom the digital directory is assigned is signaled prior to the actual access to the digital directory.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the user determines via his terminal (40, 50) the scope of the user-specific information to be transmitted.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that confirmation information is automatically generated after the transfer of the comparison results.

17. Data and / or communication system (100), with a computer unit (30) assigned to the operator (20) of the system (100), one or more terminals (40, 50), via the users of the system (100) with one another and communicate or can communicate with the operator (20) of the system (100) and with at least one storage unit in which one or more electronic directory (s) that are assigned to one or more users (s), is / are stored, characterized by means for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 16.