Communications system

• US 20040111478A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Adventure Series 103 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gross, Erwin Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Erwin, Gross, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A communication system (1, 2, 5) is provided in which users associate handling data (18) identifying how messages are to be processed with contact data (20). Handling data (18) for the identified contacts in the contact data (20) then dispatched to those contacts. Subsequently when messages are dispatched from the locations identified by the contact data (20) a sender of a message selects handling data (18) to be associated with a message being dispatched. Upon receipt of a message associated with handling data (18) the message is then processed in the manner identified by the handling data (18).

Claims

1. A system for controlling the processing of data that is communicated between a first computer and a second computer, wherein said first computer and second computer are connected to an interconnected communication network, said system comprising:

(a) a means for permitting the selection from a group of processing criteria one or more particular processing criteria for processing communications dispatched by said second coputer to said first computer; and

(b) a means for processing communcations dispatched by said second computer to said first coputer in accordance with said particular communication processing criteria.

3. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

selection means for selecting a remote despatching unit and items of control data wherein said association means is arranged to associate remote despatching units with items of control data selected utilizing said selection means.

4. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising:

input means for inputting process definition data indicative of processes to be performed on messages wherein said input means is arranged to associate control data adapted to be indicative of processes with said process definition and said processing means is adapted to process messages received by said receiving means together with associated items of control data in accordance with said process definition associated with said items of control data.

5. A receiving unit in accordance with any of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising output means for outputting definition data identifying processes to be performed on messages prior to receipt of a message, wherein said generation means is arranged to generate, at said remote despatching units, means for processing messages associated with selected items of control data associated with definition data corresponding to processes to be performed prior to despatch of said message.

7. A storage medium storing computer implementable instructions for generating within a programmable computer, apparatus in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5.

9. A disc in accordance with claim 7, comprising a magnetic, optical or magnetic optical disc.

10. A storage medium in accordance with claim 7, comprising an electrical signal in a communications network.

2. A receiving unit for receiving and processing messages dispatched from remote dispatching units, said receiving unit comprising:

association means for associating remote dispatching units with items of control data adapted to be indicative of processes to be performed on messages;

generation means for generating, at a remote dispatching unit, means for selecting one or more of said items of control data associated with said remote dispatching unit enabling selected items of control data to be associated with a message to be dispatched;

receiving means for receiving messages together with associated items of control data; and

processing means for processing messages received by said receiving means together with associated items of control data in accordance with said processes identified by said items of control data.

6. A receiving unit in accordance with any proceeding claim wherein said association means is arranged to associate control data adapted to be indicative of processing messages by forwarding messages to other locations wherein said processing means is arranged to forward messages associated with said items of control data to said locations.

8. A storage medium in accordance with claim 6 comprising a disc.

11. A computer system for associating messages with control data and processing messages associated with control data substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of associating messages with control data and processing messages associated with control data substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of transmission units; and

communication means for transmitting messages and data between said transmission units;

characterized in that each of said transmission units comprises;

data storage means for storing identification data adapted to be indicative of processes to be performed upon received messages;

association means for associating items of identification data with messages for dispatch;

receiving means for receiving messages associated with identification data transmitted via said communications means; and

processing means for processing received messages received by said receiving means associated with identification data in accordance with processes identified by said identification data.