Method and apparatus for notifying users of filtered e-mail using a set top box
First Claim
1. An apparatus for filtering electronic mail and notifying a user, residing on a set top box connected between a television content provider, an Internet provider having an e-mail server, and a television, comprising;
- a software program which enables a user to specify e-mail filter criteria and notification icons which then retains and stores said e-mail filter criteria and icons;
a querying module contained within said software program which queries said e-mail server to determine whether e-mail fulfilling said e-mail filter criteria has arrived at said e-mail server;
a notifying module also contained within said software program wherein, upon arrival of an e-mail fulfilling said criteria, said application notifies the user by posting said notification icons to the set top box.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A software application that filters specific messages from an e-mail server is disclosed. A user specifies filtering criteria within the application, which then detects the arrival of an e-mail fulfilling the specified criteria, and notifies the user accordingly. The notification can consist of blinking an icon on a Set Top Box (STB) TV screen, making an audible sound, or activating a pager. The subject of the filter criteria can be an Instant Message or telephone call using Caller ID, instead of an e-mail message.
72 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for filtering electronic mail and notifying a user, residing on a set top box connected between a television content provider, an Internet provider having an e-mail server, and a television, comprising;
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a software program which enables a user to specify e-mail filter criteria and notification icons which then retains and stores said e-mail filter criteria and icons;
a querying module contained within said software program which queries said e-mail server to determine whether e-mail fulfilling said e-mail filter criteria has arrived at said e-mail server;
a notifying module also contained within said software program wherein, upon arrival of an e-mail fulfilling said criteria, said application notifies the user by posting said notification icons to the set top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of filtering e-mail messages and notifying a user, comprising:
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installing a software program on a set top box, wherein said set top box is connected both to a TV content provider and an e-mail server;
configuring said program with specific e-mail criteria and also notification symbols;
queuing incoming e-mail messages at said e-mail server;
querying said e-mail server as to whether any of said queued messages fulfill said criteria; and
notifying a user that e-mail messages fulfilling said criteria are available on said e-mail server.
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20. An e-mail filtering and notification application, comprising:
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a set top box, connected between a TV content provider, an Internet provider having an e-mail server, and a TV;
user-input means for allowing a user to specify e-mail filter criteria and notification icons;
retaining and storing means for retaining and storing said criteria and icons;
querying means, for querying said e-mail server to determine whether e-mail fulfilling said user criteria has arrived at said e-mail server;
notification means for notifying the user of said arrival by posting said notification icons to the Set Top Box.
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21. An software application for filtering electronic mail and notifying a user, residing on a set top box connected between a television content provider, an Internet provider having an e-mail server, and a television, comprising;
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said software program enabling a user to specify e-mail filter criteria and notification icons which then retains and stores said e-mail filter criteria and icons;
a querying module which queries said e-mail server to determine whether e-mail fulfilling said e-mail filter criteria has arrived at said e-mail server;
a notifying module wherein, upon arrival of an e-mail fulfilling said criteria, said application notifies the user by posting said notification icons to the set top box.
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Specification