Method for updating a personal data file in mobile units of communication networks

1. A method of updating, in at least one first mobile communication apparatus of a network, a file of personal information relating to at least one correspondent of the user of said first communication apparatus, said correspondent being equipped with a second mobile communication apparatus and having modified at least one item of personal information concerning said correspondent, comprising the following steps:

(a) detecting the call number of said first mobile communication apparatus, based on data stored in said second mobile communication apparatus;

(b) determining whether said first mobile communication apparatus contains a software program that is executed in said first mobile communication apparatus to update said file of personal information;

(c) transmitting, by means of a communication on the network to at least said first mobile communication apparatus, said personal information that is modified, by sending an E-SMS (“Enhanced Short Message Service”) message to said first communication apparatus,

(d) transmitting said software program with said E-SMS message if a determination is made that said first mobile communication apparatus does not contain said software program; and

(e) executing said software program in said first communication apparatus to update said file of personal information.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises the following steps:

(a 1 ) filtering the data of the second mobile communication apparatus to deduce therefrom at least one correspondent affected by the personal information that has been modified; and

(a 2 ) detecting the call number of the first apparatus of each identified correspondent.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) is carried out by said second mobile communication apparatus via software recorded in a SIM card.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) is carried out by a terminal which is connected to the network.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the message sent in step (c) includes a message in text form informing the user of the first mobile communication apparatus that an item of personal information of one of his correspondents has been modified.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the message contains the old and the new value of the information to be modified.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the software program contained in the message is executed in a SIM card of the first apparatus during step (e).

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information that has been modified is an address of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information that has been modified is a fax number of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information that has been modified is a call number of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the message also contains the old number that has been modified and the new number resulting from the modification.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the software program for updating the file of personal data in at least one first communication apparatus executes the following steps:

recognizing in said file of personal data of at least one first communication apparatus the value modified by the correspondent; and

automatically modifying this recognized value with the new value.

13. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the message also contains the old number that has been modified and the new number resulting from the modification.

14. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of deleting the software program from said first mobile communication apparatus after said program is executed to update said file of personal information.