E-mail program capable of transmitting, opening and presenting a container having digital content using embedded executable software

• US 20050021633A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Venkatraman, R. C., Chern, Vincent Min-Hao, Gujarathi, Haresh, Nanja, Sekaran
• Application Number:
  US10/465,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021633A1
• 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: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

An E-mail message enhancement apparatus is preferably implemented through a sequence of program instructions. On the sender side, creation software implements a data format that allows for differing types of content, such as visual images, audio, multimedia, and functional attributes such as links to a sender'"'"'s home page on the world wide web. Furthermore, in addition to such content in the E-mail message, there is included header information, including the E-mail address of the sender, and recipient executable embedded software that ensures the recipient will be able to view contents and perform the functional attributes that make up the E-mail message.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a container to a recipient that has been electronically transmitted and receiving a return receipt comprising the steps of:

forming a data file representing said container as a plurality of objects, certain of said objects having associated therewith digital images, certain other of said objects having associated therewith initiable sub-components;

creating executable software that can cause said container to automatically open, generate a return receipt indicating that said container has been opened, initiate said initiable sub-components and cause said digital images to be rendered;

creating an attachment file by combining together said executable software and said data file;

electronically transmitting said attachment file from a first computer to a second computer; and

receiving said return receipt indicating that said container has been opened.