Messaging system

• US 20080195751A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Ahopelto, Timo, Friman, Kai, Peppers, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A method of selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, wherein each said message includes content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area. The method includes receiving content data having one of a plurality of different types for use in creating said message, accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of said user selectable portion upon display thereof at said receiving terminal, and selecting a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

Claims

1. A method of tracking access status of store-and-forward messages transmitted in a communications network, the method comprising:

selecting content for insertion within a store-and-forward message, the content including data for display within a display of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display, said display data including data for display in the user selectable portion;

creating a store-and-forward message comprising the selected content for transmission to a receiving terminal;

transmitting the created store-and-forward message to the receiving terminal; and

responsive to receipt of data indicative of selection of the user selectable portion within the display, modifying the access status of the transmitted store-and-forward message,

wherein the display data and the control data originate from a network location other than a terminal adapted to send messages in the communications network.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the control data comprise a set of processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which the receiving terminal operates in one of a plurality of modes in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

4. A method according to claim 1, in which the receiving terminal operates in one of a plurality of modes in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

5. A method according to claim 4, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal sending a response message identifying the receiving terminal to the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the network location.

6. A method according to claim 3, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal sending a response message identifying the receiving terminal to the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the network location.

7. A method according to claim 6, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

8. A method according to claim 5, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

9. A method according to claim 4, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

10. A method according to claim 3, in which a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

11. A method according to claim 10, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

12. A method according to claim 9, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

13. A method according to claim 8, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

14. A method according to claim 7, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

15. A method according to claim 6, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

16. A method according to claim 5, in which the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

17. A method according to claim 16, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

18. A method according to claim 15, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

19. A method according to claim 14, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

20. A method according to claim 13, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

21. A method according to claim 12, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

22. A method according to claim 11, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

23. A method according to claim 10, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

24. A method according to claim 9, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

25. A method according to claim 8, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

26. A method according to claim 7, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

27. A method according to claim 6, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

28. A method according to claim 5, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

29. A method according to claim 4, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

30. A method according to claim 3, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

31. A method according to claim 2, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

32. A method according to claim 1, including updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

33. A method according to claim 32, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

34. A method according to claim 31, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

35. A method according to claim 29, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

36. A method according to claim 28, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

37. A method according to claim 24, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

38. A method according to claim 21, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

39. A method according to claim 17, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

40. A method according to claim 16, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

41. A method according to claim 12, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

42. A method according to claim 9, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

43. A method according to claim 5, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

44. A method according to claim 4, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

45. A method according to claim 2, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

46. A method according to claim 1, in which the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

47. A method according to claim 46, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

48. A method according to claim 32, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

49. A method according to claim 31, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

50. A method according to claim 29, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

51. A method according to claim 28, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

52. A method according to claim 24, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

53. A method according to claim 21, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

54. A method according to claim 17, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

55. A method according to claim 16, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

56. A method according to claim 12, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

57. A method according to claim 9, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

58. A method according to claim 5, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

59. A method according to claim 4, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

60. A method according to claim 2, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

61. A method according to claim 1, in which the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

62. A tracking system for tracking access status of store-and-forward messages transmitted in a communications network, said store-and forward message comprising content including data for display within a display of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display, said display data including data for display in the user selectable portion, wherein the display data and the control data originate from a network location other than a terminal adapted to send messages in the communications network, the tracking system comprising:

an interface for receiving data indicative of selection of a said user selectable portion of a said store-and-forward message delivered to a terminal,

wherein the tracking system is arranged to modify the access status of the delivered store-and-forward message in response thereto.