Mail Status Notification System

• US 20080320417A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven Begley, Storm Mcgrath
• Original Assignee: Steven Begley, Storm Mcgrath
• Inventors: McGrath, Storm, Begley, Steven
• Application Number:
  US12/094,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention provides a mail status notification system including a software application, at least one item of mail, a colour-coded identification means and at least one functional feature whereby the mail status notification system provides a means of enabling a user to quickly and easily identify the status of said mail including whether it has been sent, received, read or the like.

Claims

1. A mail status notification system including:

a software application;

at least one item of mail;

a colour-coded identification means; and

at least one functional feature whereby the mail status notification system provides a means of enabling a user to quickly and easily identify the status of said mail including whether it has been sent, received, read or the like.

2. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein mail is in the form of an email and/or message.

3. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the software application is provided as a plug-in application which is adapted to be used in conjunction with an mail application/program.

4. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the colour-coded identification means includes at least one colour which is adapted to indicate the status of mail which has been sent by a sender.

5. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a first colour is adapted to indicate that the mail has been successfully sent from the sender'"'"'s computer/device.

6. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first colour is red.

7. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a second colour is adapted to indicate that the mail has been received by a recipient'"'"'s server and/or appears in the recipient'"'"'s inbox, waiting to be read.

8. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second colour is yellow.

9. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a third colour is adapted to indicate that the mail has been opened and/or read by the recipient.

10. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the third colour is green.

11. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plug-in application has a control panel.

12. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the control panel has provided at least one functional feature which enables the user to adjust the settings and functionality of the system.

13. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a first functional feature is active tracking.

14. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a second functional feature is invisible tracking.

15. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a third functional feature is an ensure email which enables a sender to be certain that the recipient has read the email.

16. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the ensure email has provided a website URL link which, when selected, will download and display the mail/message.

17. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the ensure email has at least one confirmation request that must be acknowledged, and sent back to the sender, by the recipient.

18. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a fourth functional feature is a self-destruct email which is adapted to assign a period of time for the life of the mail.

19. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the self-destruct email has a website URL link which is adapted to direct the recipient to a secure website where they can view the mail.

20. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the self-destruct email has a timer/counter which is adapted to count down and/or display the time remaining for viewing the email before it expires and disappears.

21. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a fifth functional feature is a block save and print option which is adapted to prevent a recipient from being able to save and/or print the mail.

22. A mail status notification system as claimed in as claimed in claim 12 wherein a sixth functional feature is a certified email which is adapted to enable a recipient to verify that the mail and/or sender is authentic.

23. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the certified email has a signature section.

24. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the certified email has a website URL link which can be transferred to a website of a service provider to validate and certify the mail and/or sender.

25. A mail status notification system as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a website of a service provider which allows a sender/user to view and track mail sent using the system and/or manage their system account.

26. A method of providing a mail status notification system comprising the following steps:

a sender obtaining and installing software application on at least one computer/device;

the sender selecting and setting at least one functional feature;

the sender sending at least one item of mail to at least one recipient;

a service provider tracking the or each mail item;

a sender'"'"'s email log being coloured to indicate the status of the mail.

27. (canceled)