Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-29
2001-02-27
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2783)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S200000, C709S207000, C709S218000, C709S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195686
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward electronic mail resources and, more particularly, to a messaging application for transmitting and receiving electronic mail items in various formats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In today's business world, communications via electronic mail resources, such as E-mail, fax mail, voice mail, etc., are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, various communications companies have seen a growing market in this industry and have set up systems for the transmission of electronic mail items. Such companies will hereinafter be referred to as “mail service providers”.
Generally, a user opens up an account with the mail service provider(s) of his/her choice. The user then receives software from the mail service provider which the user must load on his/her computer in order for the computer to interface, i.e., receive and transmit electronic mail items, with the mail server utilized by the mail service provider. The user also receives an address or “mailbox” within the mail service provider's network at which electronic mail items addressed to the user are received and stored.
When a user wishes to send an E-mail message, the user must access the appropriate mail service provider software. The user can then send the message to a desired destination via the selected mail service provider network. If the user has more than one mail service provider account, the user must manually choose which mail service provider to use for transmitting the E-mail message.
Since there are numerous mail service providers in the marketplace today, various discounts may be offered in order to attract business. A user manually choosing a first mail service provider to transmit an E-mail message may be unaware that a second or third mail service provider is offering a drastically reduced rate at that particular time. Further, the user may also be unaware that the mail service provider is experiencing a high volume of traffic which may delay the E-mail transmission.
In receiving E-mail messages, a user must log onto the appropriate mail service provider and check the mailbox provided to the user by the particular mail service provider. The user can then retrieve the message from the mailbox and view the message. If the user has more than one mail service provider account, the user must manually access each mailbox provided by each mail service provider. This is time consuming in that the user has to log onto each particular mail service provider in order to interface with the mailbox provided by the particular mail service provider.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A messaging application is provided for use in a user communications device having a processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different types of electronic messages. The messaging application includes a mail provider program operated by the processor. A mail provider module automatically controls the transmittal and/or receipt of electronic messages by a user accessing the display and user input device. A mail source module is operatively associated with the mail provider module for receiving of electronic messages including a plurality of mail source protocols each associated with a different mail service provider. A mail sink module is operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting of electronic messages including a plurality of mail sink protocols each associated with a different mail service provider. The mail source module selects one of the mail source protocols for controlling the receipt of incoming electronic mail messages to the mail provider module based on which of the mail service providers from which the electronic message is received. The mail sink module selects one of the mail sink protocols for controlling the transmission of the outgoing electronic message from the mail provider module based on select criteria.
In another aspect of the present invention, the mail source module includes a mail source operatively associated with the mail provider module, and a mail source protocol handler operatively associated with the mail source for receiving of electronic messages including a plurality of mail source protocols each associated with a different mail service provider. The mail source protocol handler selects one of the mail source protocols for controlling the receipt of incoming electronic mail messages to the mail provider module via the mail source based on which of the mail service providers from which the message is received.
In another aspect of the present invention, the mail sink module includes a mail sink protocol handler operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting of electronic messages including a plurality of mail sink protocols each associated with a different mail service provider. The mail sink protocol handler selects one of the mail sink protocols for controlling the transmission of outgoing electronic mail messages from the mail provider module based on select criteria. A mail sink operatively associated with the mail sink protocol handler receives the outgoing electronic mail message with the selected mail sink protocol and transmits the outgoing electronic mail message to a predetermined address via the mail service provider associated with the selected mail sink protocol.
In another aspect of the present invention, the mail sink module transmits the outgoing electronic mail message to the predetermined address via the mail service provider network and transmits a notification signal to the display of the user communications device notifying a user that the outgoing electronic mail message has been transmitted.
In another aspect of the present invention, the mail source module transmits the incoming electronic mail message to the processor via the mail provider module and transmits a notification signal to the user communications device notifying a user than an incoming electronic mail message has been received.
In another aspect of the present invention, the mail provider program further includes a mail filter module operatively associated with the mail provider module including a plurality of different types of mail filters, wherein the mail filter module selects one of the mail filters for applying to the outgoing or incoming electronic mail message based on the type of outgoing or incoming electronic mail message.
In another aspect of the present invention, a business card agent associated with an assigned address in the processor is applied to the outgoing or incoming electronic mail message.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the assigned address includes an address accessed via a business card stored in the processor, wherein the business card agent is previously stored in the mail filter module upon receipt of the business card including the business card agent by the user communications device.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the business card agent includes a filter.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a user communications device with the capability of interfacing with a plurality of mail servers utilized by different mail service providers during the receipt and transmission of electronic mail resource messages.
It is a further object of the present invention to automatically provide the user communications device with the “best” mail service provider for transmitting an electronic mail resource message.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide the user communications device with the ability to receive and send business cards including business card agents.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the application, the drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5278955 (1994-01-01), Forte et al.
patent: 5479472 (1995-12-01), Campana et al.
patent: 5706434 (1998-01-01
Bankler Brian
Baratt Manon A.
Moon Billy G.
Wooldridge Tammy A.
El-Hady Nabil
Ericsson Inc.
Maung Zarni
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
LandOfFree
Messaging application having a plurality of interfacing... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Messaging application having a plurality of interfacing..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Messaging application having a plurality of interfacing... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2567920