Method and system for transmission of computer files

• US 20040143650A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Wollowitz
• Original Assignee: Michael Wollowitz
• Inventors: Wollowitz, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/753,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting and receiving electronic files via a computer network simulates physical postal system functions and images to provide a familiarity that facilitates use by sending and receiving parties. A server functions as the communication link between sending and receiving computers. Accounts for subscribers are established at the server and debited as files are transmitted. A sending subscriber computer displays an image of a physical envelope with data fields for entry of the receiving computer email address at the recipient field, the sending computer email address at the return address field and the amount charged for the transmission at the postage field. A packing list is displayed and permits attachment of files to be transmitted. Upon receiving a package, the server sends a message notifying the recipient that mail is waiting along with a package identification code to be used by the recipient when retrieving the mail. When the mail is retrieved, the receiving computer displays an image of a physical envelope corresponding to that displayed at the sending computer. The receiving computer need not be a subscriber. Subscribers may authorize or send “postage” to non-subscriber correspondents who can then transmit files.

Claims

1. A method for sending and receiving electronic files via a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a connection on said network between a sending computer and a server programmed to provide file transmission service;

(b) at said sending computer;

(b.1) displaying a simulated postal envelope, mailer, or similar packaging of a type commonly used for the delivery of printed documents with designated data fields permitting entry of a return address of said sending computer and a receiving address of a receiving computer at respective locations on said envelope;

(b.2) providing means for selecting, from electronic files that are stored at said sending computer, files to be sent to said receiving computer;

(b.3) displaying a simulated packing list of files selected in step b.2;

(b.4) providing means for effecting transmission via said network of a package comprising said return and receiving addresses and the selected files to said server;

(c) at said server, in response to receiving said package, transmitting a notification via said network to the receiving computer at said receiving address that said package is available for reception;

(d) at said receiving computer, selectively retrieving said package via said network from said server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, and enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

wherein step (b) further comprises the step of;

(b.3.1) displaying at said simulated envelope charges to be assessed against said account for the transmission of said package to said receiving computer;

and wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of;

(c.1) in response to receiving said package, prior to sending said notification to said receiving computer, determining whether or not said account of said sending computer contains sufficient funds to cover the charges of transmitting said package;

(c.2) in response to a determination in step (c.1) that said account contains sufficient funds, uploading said package and debiting said account of said sending computer by an amount corresponding to the charge for transmitting said package, and transmitting said notification to said receiving computer;

(c.3) in response to a determination in step (c.1) that said account contains insufficient funds, notifying said sending computer that there are insufficient funds in said account.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of:

(b.3.2) displaying, along with the charges for transmitting said package, the amount of funds currently in said account; and

(b.3.3) indicating if the charges for transmitting said package exceed the amount in said account and, if so, providing means for adding funds to said account.

4. The method of claim of claim 1 wherein said notification to said receiving computer comprises an email description of the contents of said package and a code number unique to said package,

wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d.1) establishing a connection between said receiving computer and said server;

(d.2) in response to establishing the connection in step (d.1), transmitting said code number to said server;

and further comprising at said server, the steps of;

(e.1) in response to receiving the code number in step (d.2), transmitting to the receiving computer an image of a simulated postal envelope or other packaging similar to the envelope displayed at the sending computer with said return address and said receiving address;

(e.2) enabling the receiving computer to effect transmission of at least some of said package from said server to said receiving computer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

step (e.1) includes transmitting to the receiving computer, along with said image, a list of the files included in the package received by the server in step (c); and

step (e.2) includes enabling the receiving computer to selectively effect transmission thereto from the server of individual files appearing in the list transmitted in step (e.1).

6. The method of claim 4, prior to step (e.1), further comprising the step of providing the receiving computer the option of downloading from the server and installing a dedicated client program to simplify and accelerate downloading of the files in the package.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

step (b.1) further comprises the step of providing means for entering a message to be transmitted with said package; and

step (b.4) comprises providing means for transmitting said message along with said package.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(e) establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of finds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, and enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

at said sending computer, sending a predetermined amount of funds authorization for transmitting files via said server by a third computer by means of the steps of;

(b.5) identifying said third computer and said predetermined amount of funds to said server;

at said server;

(c.1) determining whether or not the third computer has an account at said server;

(c.2) in response to a determination in step (c.1) that an account exists, crediting said account with the predetermined amount of funds and transmitting notification of said crediting to said third computer; and

(c.3) in response to a determination in step (c.1) that an account does not exist, creating a new account for the third computer, crediting said new account with the predetermined amount of funds, and transmitting notification of said new account and crediting thereof to said third computer.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(e) establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, and enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

at said sending computer, sending a predetermined amount of funds authorization for transmitting files via said server by a third computer by means of the steps of;

(b.5) identifying to said server said third computer and said predetermined amount of funds, and indicating to said server the said predetermined amount is to be charged to the account of said sending computer;

at said server;

(c.1) transmitting notification to said third computer that said sending computer has authorized pre-payment in said predetermined amount for transmission of files by said third computer via said server; and

(c.2) enabling said third computer to transmit files via said server.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, and enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

wherein step (b) further comprises the step of;

(b.3.1) displaying at said simulated envelope actual charges to be assessed against said account for the transmission of said package to said receiving computer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (b.3.1) comprises transmission from the server to the sending computer said actual charges, and wherein said actual charges may be either a fixed cost per transmission or dependent upon one or more parameters of said package.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step (b.3.1) comprises displaying said actual charges at said simulated envelope as a simulated postage stamp or simulated postage meter imprint.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying a virtual postage meter at said sending computer to store and display the balance in said account.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein:

step (b.4) includes the step of;

(b.4.1) providing means for indicating to the server that a confirmation of delivery of the package to the receiving computer is requested; and

step (c) includes the step of;

(c.1) in response to receipt of a request in step (b.4.1) and to successful transmission of the notification in step (c), transmitting to the sending computer a notice of confirmation of delivery.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, and enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of, at the sending computer;

(b.5) displaying a pre-paid mailer for use by the receiving computer to transmit one or more files to the sending computer, said pre-paid mailer having data fields for entering the address of the sending computer as recipient and the address of the receiving computer as sender; and

(b.6) transmitting the pre-paid mailer to the server for transmission to the receiving computer;

wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of, at server;

(c.1) transmitting the pre-paid mailer to the receiving computer; and

(c.2) enabling transmission of the pre-paid mailer with one or more attached files from the receiving computer to the sending computer via said server.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein access to the server by the sending and receiving computers is provided by a web-browser program using the internet or similar global computer communications network.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein access to the server by the sending computer is provided by a dedicated program using a computer communications network.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(d.1) at the receiving computer, continuously monitoring the network to determine if and when files transmitted to the receiving computer are available to be received.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein step (d.1) includes automatically receiving the files available to be received.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises, at said server:

(c.1) scanning all received files for viruses and suspect programs prior to transmission to the receiving computer; and

(c.2) notifying the receiving computer that all files transmitted thereto have been scanned per step (c.1).

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

encrypting files selected in step (b.2) at the sending computer prior to transmission to the server;

re-encrypting files received by said server prior to transmission of the received files to the receiving computer; and

at the receiving computer, de-encrypting files received from the server.

22. A method for sending and receiving electronic files via a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a connection on said network between a sending computer and a server programmed to provide file transmission service;

(b) at said sending computer;

(b.1) displaying a simulated postal envelope, mailer, or similar packaging of a type commonly used for the delivery of printed documents with designated data fields permitting entry of a return address of said sending computer and a receiving address of a receiving computer at respective locations on said envelope;

(b.2) providing means for selecting, from electronic files that are stored at said sending computer, files to be sent to said receiving computer;

(b.3) displaying a simulated packing list of files selected in step b.2; and

(b.4) providing means for effecting transmission via said network of a package comprising said return and receiving addresses and the selected files to said server.

23. A system for sending and receiving electronic files via a computer network comprising:

means for establishing a connection on said network between a sending computer and a server programmed to provide file transmission service;

at said sending computer;

means for displaying a simulated postal envelope, mailer, or similar packaging of a type commonly used for the delivery of printed documents with designated data fields permitting entry of a return address of said sending computer and a receiving address of a receiving computer at respective locations on said envelope;

means for selecting, from electronic files that are stored at said sending computer, selected files to be sent to said receiving computer;

means for displaying a simulated packing list of said selected files;

means for effecting transmission via said network of a package comprising said return and receiving addresses and the selected files to said server;

at said server, means responsive to receiving said package for transmitting a notification, via said network to the receiving computer at said receiving address, that said package is available for reception;

at said receiving computer, means for selectively retrieving said package via said network from said server.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server;

means for enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account;

means for displaying at said simulated envelope charges to be assessed against said account for the transmission of said package to said receiving computer;

means responsive to receiving said package, prior to sending said notification to said receiving computer, for determining whether or not said account of said sending computer contains sufficient funds to cover the charges of transmitting said package;

means responsive to a determination that said account contains sufficient funds, for uploading said package and debiting said account of said sending computer by an amount corresponding to the charge for transmitting said package and transmitting said notification to said receiving computer;

means responsive to a determination that said account contains insufficient funds for notifying said sending computer that there are insufficient funds in said account.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server, means for enabling said sending computer to selectively deposit funds in said account; and

means for displaying at said simulated envelope actual charges to be assessed against said account for the transmission of said package to said receiving computer.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for establishing an account for said sending computer at said server, said account containing a balance of funds to be charged to said sending computer for packages transmitted by said sending computer via said server;

at said sending computer, means for sending a predetermined amount of funds authorization for transmitting files via said server by a third computer, said means for sending comprising;

means for identifying said third computer and said predetermined amount of funds to said server;

at said server;

means for determining whether or not the third computer has an account at said server;

means responsive to a determination that an account exists for crediting said account with the predetermined amount of funds and transmitting notification of said crediting to said third computer; and

means responsive to a determination that an account does not exist for creating a new account for the third computer, crediting said new account with the predetermined amount of funds, and transmitting notification of said new account and crediting thereof to said third computer.

27. In a method for sending and receiving electronic files via a computer network, the step of displaying a simulated postal envelope at a sending computer, said envelope having a data field for entering the email address the sending computer at a location on the simulated envelope corresponding to the conventional return address location of a physical envelope, and a data field for entering the address of a receiving computer at a location on the simulated envelope corresponding to the recipient address location of a physical envelope.