Method, system and article of manufacture for accessing computational resources through electronic messages

• US 20020198999A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fusion IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Smith, Ian E., Bellotti, Victoria M.E., Smith, Trevor F., Marcelo, Karen, Howard, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method, system, and article of manufacture for performing computation on an electronic message without the involvement of a user is provided. By including a command instruction in an electronic message which identifies an application provider for performing the computation and includes parameters and values to indicate what information is to be provided to the application provider, the message can be sent by a user and computation can be performed without the involvement of the user. The method, system, and article of manufacture is designed to intercept the message, control the computation, modify the message, and deliver it to the intended recipients.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the functionality of an electronic message, comprising the steps of:

receiving the electronic message;

obtaining a command instruction from the electronic message; and

performing a function responsive to the step of obtaining.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the command instruction indicates an application provider for performing the function.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the command instruction is a Uniform Resource Locator (“

URL”

).

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of performing a function includes the steps of:

determining an application provider from the command instruction; and

sending a Request to the application provider to perform the function.

5. The method of claim 4, including the step of:

preparing the Request based on the command instruction.

6. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

receiving a Response from the application provider; and

modifying the message responsive to receiving the Response.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of:

sending the modified message to a destination.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the command instruction includes:

a host and a file which indicate an application provider for performing the function; and

at least one parameter which indicates information to be delivered to the application provider.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the command instruction is included in the received message as an Internet shortcut file.

10. The method of claim 4,

wherein the Request is sent using an HTTP POST command.

13. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming a computer as in claim 1,

wherein the message includes a command instruction which indicates an application provider which will perform a function.

11. An article of manufacture including an information storage medium wherein is stored information for programming a computer to:

receive an electronic message having a destination address;

alter the destination address of the message; and

send the message based on the altered destination address.

12. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming a computer as in claim 11,

wherein the altered destination address identifies a computing device which will perform a function on the message.

14. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming a computer as in claim 11,

wherein the message includes a return address, and wherein the computer is programmed to modify the return address to identify a computing device which will perform a function responsive to a returned message.

15. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming a computer as in claim 13,

wherein the command instruction includes:

a host and file which indicate the application provider for performing the function; and

at least one parameter, and at least one associated value which indicates information to be delivered to the application provider.

16. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming a computer as in claim 11,

wherein a command instruction is included in the electronic message as an Internet shortcut file.

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the Response includes instructions and data, wherein the instructions include information for disposal of the data.

19. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the processor readable program code for programming the computer to perform a function includes programming the computer to:

deliver the Response using an HTTP POST command.

20. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein the Response includes a parameter, a value associated with the parameter, and a data stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein the Request is in the form of an HTTP POST command.

22. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein the Request includes a host, a file, a parameter, a value associated with the parameter, and a data stream.

23. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein the host and file indicate the apparatus for providing the function;

and

wherein the at least one parameter, and at least one associated value indicate information to be delivered to the apparatus.

17. An apparatus for providing a function responsive to receiving a Request, comprising:

a processor; and

a processor readable storage medium in communication with the processor, containing processor readable program code for programming the apparatus to;

receive the Request;

perform a function responsive to an instruction included in the Request; and

,

prepare a Response subsequent to performing the function.