Methods and systems for providing an electronic account to a customer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;
matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and
linking the electronic account to the physical address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank.
170 Citations
78 Claims
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1. A method for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network; matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and linking the electronic account to the physical address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user; generating an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address; initiating an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and linking the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising the steps of:
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linking the electronic account to a physical address of a user; linking the electronic account to an electronic address of the user; receiving a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and receiving a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for delivering mail, comprising the steps of:
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receiving mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and delivering the mail to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-27. -27. (canceled)
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28. A method for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address; receiving a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and sending the message to the temporary delivery address. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:
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a receiving component configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network; a matching component configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and a linking component configured to link the electronic account to the physical address. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:
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a receiving component configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user; a generating component configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address; an initiating component configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and a linking component configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:
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a physical linking component configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user; an electronic linking component configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user; a service request receiving component configured to receive a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and a user request receiving component configured to receive a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for delivering mail, comprising:
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a receiving component configured to receive mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and a delivering component configured to deliver the mail to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50-59. -59. (canceled)
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60. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising:
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a temporary delivery address receiving component configured to receive a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address; a first message receiving component configured to receive a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and a first message sending component configured to send the message to the temporary delivery address. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:
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a receiving module configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network; a matching module configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and a linking module configured to link the electronic account to the physical address.
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66. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:
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a receiving module configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user; a generating module configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address; an initiating module configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and a linking module configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.
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67. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:
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a physical linking module configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user; an electronic linking module configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user; a service request receiving module configured to receive a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and a user request receiving module configured to receive a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.
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68. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering mail, the computer readable code comprising:
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a receiving module configured to receive mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and a delivering module configured to deliver the mail to the customer.
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69-70. -70. (canceled)
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71. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, the computer readable code comprising:
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a temporary address receiving module configured to receive a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address; a message receiving module configured to receive a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and a message sending module configured to send the message to the temporary delivery address.
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72. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:
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means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network; means for matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail; and means for linking the electronic account to the physical address.
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73. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:
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means for receiving a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user; means for generating an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address; means for initiating an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user; and means for linking the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account.
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74. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:
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means for linking the electronic account to a physical address of a user; means for linking the electronic account to an electronic address of the user; means for receiving a request from a service to access the electronic account over the network; and means for receiving a request from the user to access the service over the network via the electronic account.
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75. A system for delivering mail, comprising:
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means for receiving mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account; and means for delivering the mail to the customer.
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76-77. -77. (canceled)
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78. A system for delivering a message to a user with an electronic account, the electronic account including a preferred delivery address, comprising:
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means for receiving a temporary delivery address for the user and a time period corresponding to the temporary delivery address; means for receiving a message directed to the preferred delivery address during the time period; and means for sending the message to the temporary delivery address.
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Specification