Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-12-25
Rinehart, Mark H. (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S203000, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334142
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of supplying messages.
In a well known method of transmitting messages to an intended audience, the messages are transmitted as e-mails to computers operated by members of the intended audience. However, as is also well known, messages transmitted as e-mails are prone to unpredictable delays. For some messages, such delays are unacceptable.
A system for storing messages and for the delivering the messages through a network is described in W096/34341.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a method of supplying messages in which:
messages are stored on a server which is accessible by a group of clients operated by users, each message being stored by performing the following operations:
receiving the message at said server from one of said group of clients, said message comprising an information part and a data part, the data part including at least one identifier specifying the intended audience of the message;
storing the information part of the message as a file at an address in a first store;
storing said address and said at least one identifier in a second store; and
messages intended for a particular user are viewed on one of said clients by performing the following operations:
said client transmitting requests automatically at periodic intervals to the server for messages intended for said particular user;
in response to each request, the server scanning the second store to compile a list of addresses of messages intended for said particular user;
the server transmitting files stored at addresses specified on said list to said client; and
said client displaying messages received by the client.
In the method of this invention, because the messages are stored on the server as files and then transmitted to clients operated by intended recipients as files, they are not subjected to the unpredictable delays experienced by messages transmitted as e-mails. Also, because a client which is being used for viewing messages intended by a particular user transmits requests automatically at periodic intervals to the server for messages intended for the particular user, an up-to-date set of messages can be viewed by the particular user.
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Clark Phil
Cruickshank David Richard
MacDonald Simon John
Newton Eric Robert
British Telecommunications public limited company
Cardone Jason D.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Rinehart Mark H.
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