Method, apparatus, signals and media for providing custom output in response to user input and e-mail system employing same

• US 20020091742A1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infowave Software Inc.
• Original Assignee: Infowave Software Inc.
• Inventors: Chesser, Mark Miller
• Application Number:
  US09/755,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091742A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing custom output in response to user input is disclosed. The method involves producing custom output in response to user input by locating in a programmable device at least one user-specified output character associated with user input in response to receipt of an input code representing the user input, and providing the at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program. The method may involve receiving the input code from a web interface in communication with a communications system such as a wireless communications system. There is also disclosed an e-mail system comprising a web server operable to establish communications with devices using the World Wide Web, and an e-mail server operable to communicate with the web server. At least one of the web server and the e-mail server is programmed to produce at least one user-specified output character for use in a field of an e-mail in response to receipt of an input code from one of the devices.

Claims

1. A method of producing custom output in response to user input, the method comprising:

a) locating in a programmable device at least one user-specified output character associated with user input, in response to receipt of an input code representing said user input; and

b) providing said at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving said input code.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving said input code from a web interface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving said input code from a web interface comprises receiving said input code from a communications system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving said input code from a communications system comprises receiving said input code from a wireless communications system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving said input code from a wireless communications system comprises receiving said input code from a wireless telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said output character to an application program.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising performing an action based on said output character, at said application program.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a linguistic phrase to said application program in response to receipt of a corresponding input code.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising performing an action at said application program, in response to said linguistic phrase.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein performing an action comprises inserting said linguistic phrase into a field of an e-mail.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising programming said programmable device by associating at least one output character with a corresponding input code.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein programming comprises associating linguistic phrases with corresponding input codes.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein programming comprises receiving said at least one user-specified character from a user input device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving comprises receiving from a communications network programming commands for associating said at least one output character with said input code.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising presenting a programming interface to a user, to facilitate receiving said programming commands.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising relating a set of input codes and corresponding output characters to a user.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein relating comprises relating sets of input codes and corresponding output characters to corresponding users.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein producing comprises locating a set of input codes and corresponding output characters, corresponding to a user determined from said input code.

20. An apparatus for producing custom output in response to user input, the apparatus comprising:

a) a programmable device storing at least one user-specified output character associated with user input;

b) a processor circuit operable to locate in said programmable device said at least one user-specified output character, in response to receipt of an input code representing said user input; and

operable to provide said at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a receiving interface operable to receive said input code.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said receiving interface further comprises a web interface for receiving said input code.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said web interface is configured to cooperate with a communications system to receive said input code.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said web interface is configured to cooperate with a wireless communications system to receive said input code.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said web interface is configured to receive said input code from a wireless telephone.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor circuit is operable to communicate with the application program.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said processor circuit is operable to provide a linguistic phrase to the application program in response to receipt of a corresponding input code.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said processor circuit is operable to provide said linguistic phrase to the application program for use in a field of an e-mail.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor circuit is operable to program said programmable device to associate at least one output character with a corresponding input code.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said processor circuit is operable to associate linguistic phrases with corresponding input codes.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a receiving interface operable to receive said at least one output character from a user input device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said receiving interface is operable to receive programming commands from a communications system, to facilitate associating said at least one output character with said input code.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said receiving interface is operable to present a programming interface to a user, to facilitate receiving said programming commands.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said processor circuit is operable to relate a set of input codes and corresponding output characters to a user.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said processor circuit is operable to relate sets of input codes and corresponding output characters to corresponding users.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said processor circuit is programmed to locate a set of input codes and corresponding output characters, corresponding to a user determined from said input code.

37. An apparatus for producing custom output in response to user input, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for storing at least one user-specified output character associated with user input;

b) means for locating in said means for storing at least one user-specified output character associated with user input, in response to receipt of an input code representing said user input; and

c) means for providing said at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program.

38. A computer readable medium for providing codes for directing a processor circuit to:

a) locate in a programmable device at least one user-specified output character associated with user input, in response to receipt of an input code representing said user input; and

b) provide said at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program.

39. A signal embodied in a carrier wave, said signal comprising:

a) a first code segment for directing a processor circuit to locate in a programmable device at least one user-specified output character associated with user input, in response to receipt of an input code representing said user input; and

b) a second code segment for directing a processor circuit to provide said at least one user-specified output character for use by an application program.

40. An apparatus for producing user-defined output characters in response to input codes produced by a web-communicating input device, the system comprising a web server operable to establish communications with said web-communicating input device using the World Wide Web and programmed to produce at least one user-specified output character for use in a field of an e-mail produced by an e-mail server in communication with said web server, in response to receipt by said web server of an input code, from said web-communicating input device.

41. An e-mail system comprising:

a) a web server operable to establish communications with devices using the World Wide Web;

b) an e-mail server operable to communicate with said web server;

c) at least one of said web server and said e-mail server being programmed to produce at least one user-specified output character for use in a field of an e-mail in response to receipt of an input code from one of said devices.

42. The e-mail system of claim 41 wherein said web server and said e-mail server are implemented on a common computer.

43. The e-mail system of claim 41 wherein said web server and said e-mail server are implemented on separate computers.