Distribution of messages using an address book of a user

• US 20030225842A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seven Blue SEAS Vacations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Seven Blue SEAS Vacations Incorporated
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel, Li, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/358,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225842A1
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method utilizing a computer for distributing a preselected message using electronic mail addresses stored on a user device. The method includes receiving a request to send the preselected message to e-mail addresses stored on the user device, retrieving e-mail addresses stored on the user device, and sending the preselected message to the e-mail addresses retrieved from the user device.

Claims

1. A method utilizing a computer for distributing a preselected message using electronic mail addresses stored on a user device comprising:

receiving by the computer of a request to send the preselected message to electronic mail addresses stored on the user device;

retrieving electronic mail addresses stored on the user device; and

sending the preselected message to the electronic mail addresses retrieved from the user device.

2. The method utilizing a computer of claim 1 further comprising:

checking an operating system and user device type of the user device; and

transferring to the user device an address retrieval program specific to the operating system and device type of the user device.

3. The method utilizing a computer of claim 1 further comprising:

checking whether an address retrieval program is already stored in the user device; and

transferring to the user device an address retrieval program to the user device if no address retrieval program is stored in the user device.

4. The method utilizing a computer of claim 3 further comprising:

prompting the user to select at least one of the retrieved electronic mail addresses.

5. The method utilizing a computer of claim 4 further comprising:

prompting the user to enter a personal message; and

sending the personal message to the retrieved electronic mail addresses.

6. The method utilizing a computer of claim 1 further comprising tracking the number of addresses the preselected message is sent to.

7. The method utilizing a computer of claim 1 further comprising sending the retrieved electronic mail addresses to a server.

8. The method utilizing a computer of claim 7 further comprising addressing the preselected message with the retrieved electronic mail address listed as a blind carbon copy and the user listed as the sender.

9. A system for distributing messages to electronic mail addresses comprising:

a message server coupled to a computer network;

a user device coupled to the computer network;

wherein the message server is configured to;

receive a request to send a message to e-mail addresses stored on the user terminal;

retrieve electronic mail addresses stored on the user device; and

send a message to the electronic mail addresses retrieved from the user device.

10. The system for distributing messages of claim 9 wherein the message server is further configured to:

check an operating system and user device type of the user device; and

transfer to the user device an address retrieval program specific to the operating system and device type of the user device.

11. The system for distributing messages of claim 9 wherein the message server is further configured to:

check whether an address retrieval program is already stored in the user device; and

transfer to the user device an address retrieval program to the user device if no address retrieval program is stored on the user device.

12. The system for distributing messages of claim 11 wherein the message server is further configured to:

prompt the user to select at least one of the retrieved electronic mail addresses;

receive from the user a selection of retrieved electronic mail addresses to send a message to;

prompt the user to enter a personal message;

receive from the user a personal message; and

send the personal message to the selection of retrieved electronic mail addresses.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions including instructions for distributing messages, the instructions, when executed by a microprocessor cause the microprocessor to perform the steps of:

prompting a user to send a message to the electronic mail addresses stored on a user device;

receiving by the computer of a request to send a message to electronic mail addresses stored on the user device;

retrieving electronic mail addresses stored on the user device; and

sending the message to the electronic mail addresses retrieved from the user device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions to perform the steps of:

checking an operating system and user device type of the user device; and

transferring to the user device an address retrieval program specific to the operating system and device type of the user device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions to perform the steps of:

checking whether an address retrieval program has already been transferred to the user device; and

transferring to the user device an address retrieval program to the user device if no address retrieval program has been transferred to the user device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to perform the steps of:

prompting the user to select at least one of the retrieved electronic mail addresses;

receiving from the user a selection of at least one retrieved electronic mail address;

prompting the user to enter a personal message; and

sending the personal message to the selected retrieved electronic mail addresses.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions to perform the steps of:

tracking the number of addresses the message is sent to; and

addressing the message sent to the selected retrieved electronic mail addresses with the selected retrieved electronic mail address listed as a blind carbon copy and the user listed as the sender.