Communications system
First Claim
1. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
- at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send, the steps of;
enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;
receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and
communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus; and
at the intermediate communication apparatus the steps of receiving messages each with the accompanying target profile specific to that message and, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system including a server and a plurality of user apparatus, and methods of operating each of the same. The server stores user profiles corresponding to users'"'"' characteristics. Messages are allocated by matching target profiles with the user profiles. The user provides recipients of a message with an indication of the relative location of the recipient of the message to the sender of the message. Only one copy of the message need be stored by the server. Users can specify folder allocation rules. Data related to the sender of a message is attached with a message and can be varied on a message-by-message basis. A storage medium and a signal with processor-implementable instructions for the methods are also included.
159 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
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at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send, the steps of;
enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;
receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and
communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus; and
at the intermediate communication apparatus the steps of receiving messages each with the accompanying target profile specific to that message and, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 89)
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18. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
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at the intermediate communication apparatus the steps of receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements and, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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20. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the corresponding user; and
receiving or retrieving a message allocated to the user by an intermediate communication apparatus of the communications system. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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21. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
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at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send, the steps of;
enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;
receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and
supplying the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus.
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23. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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a first communication apparatus of a first user transmits first location data, related to the location of the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;
the intermediate communication apparatus converts the first location data into first coordinates;
a second communication apparatus of a second user transmits second location data, related to the location of the second user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;
the intermediate communication apparatus converts the second location data into second coordinates;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35)
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32. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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receiving, from a first communication apparatus of a first user, first location data, related to the location of the first user;
converting the first location data into first coordinates;
receiving, from a second communication apparatus of a second user, second location data, related to the location of the second user;
converting the second location data into second coordinates;
receiving from the first user a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
allocating the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
indicating to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user.
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34. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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transmitting location data, related to the location of the user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;
receiving or retrieving a message sent from a further user to the intermediate communication apparatus and allocated to the user; and
receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus an indication of the relative location of the further user to the user.
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36. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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receiving a plurality of messages and allocation specifications from a plurality of users;
storing the plurality of messages;
specifying a respective message ID for each message;
determining from the allocation specification which users are to be allocated as recipient users to receive respective messages;
forming for each recipient user a users list of the message ID'"'"'s of the messages allocated to that recipient user; and
making the message available for transmission to or retrieval by a recipient user on the basis of the message ID so that the intermediate communication apparatus need only store one copy of the message.
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37. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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a communication apparatus of a first user transmits data, relating to the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;
the intermediate communication apparatus stores the data relating to the first user;
a communication apparatus of a second user transmits folder data to the intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user;
the intermediate communication apparatus analyses the folder allocation rules with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification; and
responsive to the analysis, the intermediate communication apparatus specifies one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.
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38. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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receiving, from a communication apparatus of a first user, data relating to the first user;
storing the data relating to the first user;
receiving, from a communication apparatus of a second user, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;
receiving from the first user a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
allocating the message to the second user;
analysing the folder allocation rules of the second user with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification;
and, responsive to the analysis, specifying one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.
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40. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing, to an intermediate communication apparatus, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders; and
receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus a message directly into one or more folder identities.
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41. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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a first communication apparatus of a first user provides a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to a second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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receiving from a first communication apparatus of a first user a user profile, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;
receiving from the first communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;
allocating the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
indicating to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics.
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44. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the user; and
transmitting to the user a message, preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile.
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51. A communication apparatus for enabling communication of messages from one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which communication apparatus comprises:
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enabling means for enabling a sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;
receiving means for receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and
communicating means for communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus.
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52. A communication apparatus for enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
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receiving means for receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements, accessing means for, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing means for comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying means for identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.
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55. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
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at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send;
enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile including a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;
receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and
communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus; and
at the intermediate communication apparatus, receiving messages each with the accompanying target profile specific to that message and, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:
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at the intermediate communication apparatus, receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements and, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element, comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message. - View Dependent Claims (73)
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74. A communications system, comprising:
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a first communication apparatus of a first user transmits first location data, related to the location of the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;
the intermediate communication apparatus converts the first location data into first coordinates;
a second communication apparatus of a second user transmits second location data, related to the location of the second user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;
the intermediate communication apparatus converts the second location data into second coordinates;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of messages and allocation specifications from a plurality of users;
storing the plurality of messages;
specifying a respective message ID for each message;
determining from the allocation specification which users are to be allocated as recipient users to receive respective messages;
forming for each recipient user a users list of the message ID'"'"'s of the messages allocated to that recipient user; and
making the message available for transmission to or retrieval by a recipient user on the basis of the message ID so that the intermediate communication apparatus need only store one copy of the message.
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85. A communications system, comprising:
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an intermediate communication apparatus stores data relating to the first user;
a communication apparatus of a first user transmits data, relating to the first user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;
a communication apparatus of a second user transmits folder data to the intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user;
the intermediate communication apparatus analyses the folder allocation rules with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification; and
responsive to the analysis, the intermediate communication apparatus specifies one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.
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86. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising:
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providing, to an intermediate communication apparatus, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders; and
receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus a message directly into one or more folder identities.
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87. A communications system, comprising:
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a first communication apparatus of a first user provides a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;
the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;
the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to a second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and
the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (88)
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90. A communications system for enabling communication of messages between of a group of users of the system, the communications system comprising:
- a plurality of user computing apparatus each associated with a different user in the group and communications apparatus for enabling communication of messages between the user computing apparatus,
the communications apparatus having;
user profile data providing means providing user profile data comprising characteristic data representing characteristics that can be associated with a user; and
personal user profile storing means storing, for each user, a personal user profile comprising personal profile data comprising characteristic data selected from the user profile data for that user, each user computing apparatus having;
message sending means for sending messages;
message receiving means for receiving messages; and
message generating means for enabling the associated user to generate a message for one or more other users in the group, the message generating means comprisingmessage content receiving means for receiving message content data from the associated user, target profile data selecting means for enabling the associated user to select from the user profile data characteristic data representing characteristics that the associated user requires be associated with the recipient or recipients of the message, and target profile data generating means for generating for the message a target profile comprising target profile data representing the characteristic data selected by the associated user, the communications apparatus also having;
comparing means for comparing the message target profile data with the personal user profile data stored by the personal user profile storing means to identify as recipient or recipients of the message any user or users in the group having personal user profiles that match the target profile; and
message communicating means for enabling the message content data to be communicated to the message receiving means of the user computing apparatus associated with the identified recipient or recipients.
- a plurality of user computing apparatus each associated with a different user in the group and communications apparatus for enabling communication of messages between the user computing apparatus,
Specification