Server that obtains information from multiple sources, filters using client identities, and dispatches to both hardwired and wireless clients
First Claim
1. A method performed by a server connected to a network, the method comprising:
- a. polling a first information source having a first user address assigned to a user;
b. receiving, in response to polling the first information source, a first message from a first sender identified by a first sender address;
c. polling a second information source having a second user address assigned to the user;
d. receiving, in response to polling the second information source, a second message from a second sender identified by a second sender address;
e. presenting the first and second messages to the user along with first and second response options, wherein the first response option may be selected by the user to respond to the first message, and wherein the second response option may be selected by the user to respond to the second message;
f. generating, in response to the user selecting the first response option, a third message addressed to the first sender address and including a first sender field including first data identifying the user with the first user address; and
g. generating, in response to the user selecting the second response option, a fourth message addressed to the second sender address and including a second sender field including second data identifying the user with the second user address;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mail server collects messages from a number of user accounts and presents them to the user from a single location. The user can set the mail server to block unwanted messages and to forward others to various receiving devices, including mobile telephones and pagers. Forwarded messages are automatically reformatted for the receiving device, while a copy of the original message is retained. The retained copy can be viewed later if the user is interested in message content that was not available to the wireless device. The user can also use the wireless device to forward the original message to another receiving device. In the case of forwarding, the saved original message and not the reformatted message is sent to the forwarding address. Some embodiments include an email agent that automatically pushes messages from intranet clients to the mail server through a firewall, thereby enabling the mail server to consolidate messages from intranet and Internet sources.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed by a server connected to a network, the method comprising:
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a. polling a first information source having a first user address assigned to a user;
b. receiving, in response to polling the first information source, a first message from a first sender identified by a first sender address;
c. polling a second information source having a second user address assigned to the user;
d. receiving, in response to polling the second information source, a second message from a second sender identified by a second sender address;
e. presenting the first and second messages to the user along with first and second response options, wherein the first response option may be selected by the user to respond to the first message, and wherein the second response option may be selected by the user to respond to the second message;
f. generating, in response to the user selecting the first response option, a third message addressed to the first sender address and including a first sender field including first data identifying the user with the first user address; and
g. generating, in response to the user selecting the second response option, a fourth message addressed to the second sender address and including a second sender field including second data identifying the user with the second user address;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of conveying messages from a plurality of information sources to a user via a plurality of receiving devices, each receiving device having a unique identifier associated with the user, the method comprising:
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a. preparing dispatching rules establishing user preferences for message routing, at least one dispatch rule adapted to identify a selected one of a plurality of user mail sources;
b. periodically polling each mail source for new messages, each new message having a plurality of message fields;
c. upon receipt of a new message;
i. applying at least one of the dispatching rules to at least one of the message fields, the at least one dispatching rule identifying whether the new message is from the selected one of the plurality of user mail sources;
ii. storing the new message; and
iii. if the new message is from the selected one of the plurality of user mail sources, reformatting the new message and dispatching the reformatted message to a wireless one of the receiving devices;
d. receiving a message request from a second one of the receiving devices; and
e. transmitting the new message to the second receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification