Methods and systems for providing an electronic account to a customer

• US 20020029249A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Campbell, Leo J., Cook, Jon L., Orbke, Wayne H., Ray, Christine, Rogerson, Cathy M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and

linking the electronic account to the physical address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the matching step occurs by matching a physical address from a United States Postal Service address database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

establishing an e-mail address for the electronic account.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a geographic location.

5. A method for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

generating an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

initiating an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and

linking the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service electronic e-mail address.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service vanity e-mail address.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the request further includes a preferred electronic address.

9. A method for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

linking the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

linking the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

receiving a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and

receiving a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

presenting an identifier of the service to the user, the identifier including at least one service delivery option;

receiving a request for the service from the user, the request including a preferred service delivery option; and

providing the service to the user via the preferred service delivery option.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the physical address.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the electronic address.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mail is received in physical format by the United States Postal Service.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the mail is received electronically by the United States Postal Service.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the mail is delivered to the electronic address.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the mail is delivered to the physical address.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

delivering the message to the user at the electronic address.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

delivering the message to the user at the physical address.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

informing a sender of the complete physical address.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

delivering the message to the user at the electronic address.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

delivering the message to the user at the physical address.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

informing a sender of the complete electronic address.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second message directed to the preferred delivery address outside of the time period; and

sending the second message to the preferred delivery address.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the preferred delivery address is a physical address.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the preferred delivery address is an email address.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the preferred delivery address is a fax number.

13. A method for delivering mail, comprising the steps of:

receiving mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and

delivering the mail to the customer.

18. A method for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

receiving the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an electronic address and an incomplete physical address of the user;

determining a complete physical address of the user from the electronic address using an address database; and

delivering the message to the user.

23. A method for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

receiving the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an incomplete electronic address and a physical address of the user;

determining a complete electronic address of the user from the physical address using an address database; and

delivering the message to the user.

28. A method for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising the steps of:

receiving a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address;

receiving a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and

sending the message to the temporary delivery address.

33. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

a matching component configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and

a linking component configured to link the electronic account to the physical address.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the matching component matches a physical address from a United States Postal Service address database.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

an establishing component configured to establish an e-mail address for the electronic account.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the location is a geographic location.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service electronic e-mail address.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service vanity e-mail address.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the request further includes a preferred electronic address.

37. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

a generating component configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

an initiating component configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and

a linking component configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.

41. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

a physical linking component configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

an electronic linking component configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

a service request receiving component configured to receive a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and

a user request receiving component configured to receive a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

a presenting component configured to present an identifier of the service to the user, the identifier including at least one service delivery option;

a preferred delivery request receiving component configured to receive a request for the service from the user, the request including a preferred service delivery option; and

a providing component configured to provide the service to the user via the preferred service delivery option.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the physical address.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the electronic address.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the mail is received in physical format by the United States Postal Service.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the mail is received electronically by the United States Postal Service.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the mail is delivered to the electronic address.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the mail is delivered to the physical address.

45. A system for delivering mail, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and

a delivering component configured to deliver the mail to the customer.

50. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an electronic address and an incomplete physical address of the user;

a determining component configured to determine a complete physical address of the user from the electronic address using an address database; and

a message delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

an electronic address delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user at the electronic address.

52. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

a physical address delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user at the physical address.

53. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

an informing component configured to inform a sender of the complete physical address.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

55. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an incomplete electronic address and a physical address of the user;

a determining component configured to determine a complete electronic address of the user from the physical address using an address database; and

a message delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user.

56. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

an electronic address delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user at the electronic address.

57. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

a physical address delivering component configured to deliver the message to the user at the physical address.

58. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

an informing component configured to inform a sender of the complete electronic address.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

60. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising:

a temporary delivery address receiving component configured to receive a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address;

a first message receiving component configured to receive a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and

a first message sending component configured to send the message to the temporary delivery address.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a second message receiving component configured to receive a second message directed to the preferred delivery address outside of the time period; and

a second message sending component configured to send the second message to the preferred delivery address.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the preferred delivery address is a physical address.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the preferred delivery address is an e15 mail address.

64. The system of claim 60, wherein the preferred delivery address is a fax number.

65. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

a matching module configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and

a linking module configured to link the electronic account to the physical address.

66. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

a generating module configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

an initiating module configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and

a linking module configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.

67. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a physical linking module configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

an electronic linking module configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

a service request receiving module configured to receive a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and

a user request receiving module configured to receive a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.

68. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering mail, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and

a delivering module configured to deliver the mail to the customer.

69. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an electronic address and an incomplete physical address of the user;

a determining module configured to determine a complete physical address of the user from the electronic address using an address database; and

a message delivering module configured to deliver the message to the user.

70. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an incomplete electronic address and a physical address of the user;

a determining module configured to determine a complete electronic address of the user from the physical address using an address database; and

a message delivering module configured to deliver the message to the user.

71. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, the computer readable code comprising:

a temporary address receiving module configured to receive a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address;

a message receiving module configured to receive a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and

a message sending module configured to send the message to the temporary delivery address.

72. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

means for matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and

means for linking the electronic account to the physical address.

73. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

means for receiving a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

means for generating an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

means for initiating an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and

means for linking the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.

74. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

means for linking the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

means for linking the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

means for receiving a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and

means for receiving a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.

75. A system for delivering mail, comprising:

means for receiving mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and

means for delivering the mail to the customer.

76. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for receiving the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an electronic address and an incomplete physical address of the user;

means for determining a complete physical address of the user from the electronic address using an address database; and

means for delivering the message to the user.

77. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for receiving the message directed to the user with the electronic account, where the message includes an incomplete electronic address and a physical address of the user;

means for determining a complete electronic address of the user from the physical address using an address database; and

means for delivering the message to the user.

78. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising:

means for receiving a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address;

means for receiving a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and

means for sending the message to the temporary delivery address.