Techniques for providing add-on services for an email system
First Claim
1. A method for providing add-on services responsive to an email transferred via a distributed computer network, comprising:
- receiving via said distributed computer network said email at an email system;
ascertaining from said email whether a recipient of said email subscribes to at least one of said add-on services;
if said recipient subscribes to said at least one of said add-on services, providing said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said email, including forwarding at least a first portion of said email to an add-on service system via said distributed computer network, performing, using said add-on service system, said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said at least a first portion of said email, wherein at least one of said add-on services includes a media conversion service that coverts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message, and forwarding the voice message to a voice mail system, when a media conversion service that converts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message occurs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for providing add-on services responsive to an email transferred via a distributed computer network. The method includes receiving via the distributed computer network the email at an add-on service system. The method further includes ascertaining from the email whether a recipient of the email subscribes to at least one of the add-on services. If the recipient subscribes to the at least one of the add-on services, the method includes forming a post add-on service email, which includes performing, using the add-on service system, the at least one of the add-on services on at least a first portion of the email. Furthermore, the method includes forwarding the post add-on service email, after the performing, to the email system, thereby rendering the post add-on service email accessible to the recipient through the email system.
48 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for providing add-on services responsive to an email transferred via a distributed computer network, comprising:
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receiving via said distributed computer network said email at an email system;
ascertaining from said email whether a recipient of said email subscribes to at least one of said add-on services;
if said recipient subscribes to said at least one of said add-on services, providing said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said email, including forwarding at least a first portion of said email to an add-on service system via said distributed computer network, performing, using said add-on service system, said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said at least a first portion of said email, wherein at least one of said add-on services includes a media conversion service that coverts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message, and forwarding the voice message to a voice mail system, when a media conversion service that converts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 40, 41, 42)
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6-8. -8. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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13-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A method for providing add-on services responsive to an email transferred via a distributed computer network, comprising:
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receiving via said distributed computer network said email at an email system;
ascertaining from said email whether a recipient of said email subscribes to at least one of said add-on services; and
if said recipient subscribes to said at least one of said add-on services, providing said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said email, including forwarding at least a first portion of said email to an add-on service system via said distributed computer network, said first portion of said email including an identity of said recipient of said email, and performing, using said add-on service system, said at least one of said add-on services responsive to said at least a first portion of said email, wherein at least one of said add-on services includes a media conversion service that coverts at least a portion of text of said email into facsimile media. - View Dependent Claims (18, 43, 44)
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16-17. -17. (canceled)
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19. A method for providing add-on services responsive to an email transferred via a distributed computer network, comprising:
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receiving via said distributed computer network said email at an add-on service system, said email including both an identity of said add-on service system and an identity of an email system servicing an intended recipient of said email;
ascertaining from said email whether a recipient of said email subscribes to at least one of said add-on services, wherein at least one of said add-on services includes a media conversion service that coverts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message;
if said recipient subscribes to said at least one of said add-on services, forming a post add-on service email, said forming including performing, using said add-on service system, said at least one of said add-on services on at least a first portion of said email; and
forwarding said post add-on service email, after said performing, to said email system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 23, 45, 46)
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21-22. -22. (canceled)
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24-33. -33. (canceled)
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34. An add-on service system configured to provide add-on services to emails transferred via a distributed computer network, said add-on service system being configured to be coupled to an email system through said distributed computer network, comprising:
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a first server configured to receive from said email system an email that requires the performance of at least one of said add-on services;
a first logic module, operatively coupled to receive said email from said first server, for performing said at least one of said add-on services on at least a portion of said email, thereby forming a post add-on service email, wherein at least one of said add-on services includes a media conversion service that converts at least a portion of text of said email into a voice message; and
a second server, operatively coupled to receive said post add-on service email from said second logic module, said second server being configured to forward said post add-on service email back to said email system, thereby rendering said post add-on service email accessible to a recipient of said email, wherein the voice message is forwarded to a voice mail system when the add-on service coverts at least a portion of the text of said email into a voice message. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 47)
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38-39. -39. (canceled)
Specification