Systems and methods for delivering time sensitive messages over a distributed network

• US 20030229668A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for displaying content of a time-sensitive e-mail message to a recipient, wherein the content displayed is based on when the recipient opens the time-sensitive e-mail message. A sender of the time-sensitive email message establishes content and a rule set for delivering the e-mail message. The rule set contains a predefined time limit for allowing the recipient of the time-sensitive e-mail message to open it. If the recipient opens the time-sensitive e-mail message within the predefined time limit, the content within the e-mail is delivered to the recipient. If, however, the recipient fails to open the time-sensitive e-mail message within the predefined time limit, then the time-sensitive e-mail message is either deleted from the recipient'"'"'s mailbox or an alternative message is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a time-sensitive e-mail message to a recipient, comprising:

receiving the time-sensitive e-mail message, the time-sensitive e-mail message having a rule set for delivering the time-sensitive e-mail message and at least one set of content for the e-mail message;

extracting the rule set, from the time-sensitive e-mail message, the rule set specifying a predefined time limit;

determining whether to provide the set of content to the recipient based on when the recipient opened the time-sensitive e-mail message before the predefined time limit;

if the recipient opened the time-sensitive e-mail message before the predefined time limit, then providing the set of content of the time-sensitive e-mail message to the recipient; and

if the recipient has not opened the time-sensitive e-mail message within the predefined time limit, not providing the set of content to the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving and extracting occurs at a message server for the Internet appliance of the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the time-sensitive email message comprises receiving an instant message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule set for delivering the time-sensitive e-mail message and at least one set of content for the e-mail message is created from a drop-down menu associated with a message client on an Internet appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule set for delivering the time-sensitive e-mail message and at least one set of content for the e-mail message is embedded in the time-sensitive e-mail message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule set for delivering the time-sensitive e-mail message and at least one set of content for the e-mail message is embedded in the header of the time-sensitive e-mail message.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule set for delivering the time-sensitive e-mail message and at least one set of content for the e-mail message is embedded in the content of the time-sensitive e-mail message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second set of content; and

providing the second set of content after the predefined time limit has expired.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein not providing the set of content to the recipient comprises deleting the time-sensitive e-mail message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the time-sensitive email message comprises receiving the time-sensitive e-mail message from a message server for a sender of the time-sensitive e-mail message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the recipient opened the time-sensitive e-mail message before the predefined time limit comprises determining if the time-sensitive e-mail message has been delivered to the recipient.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the recipient opened the time-sensitive e-mail message before the predefined time limit comprises determining if the time-sensitive e-mail message has been downloaded from a message server associated with the recipient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the recipient opened the time-sensitive e-mail message before the predefined time limit comprises determining if the time-sensitive e-mail message has been opened by the recipient at an Internet appliance of the recipient.