METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BOUNCING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20090006572A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServStor Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Meyer Cordless LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fuisz, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,150 B2
• 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 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided that establishes user accounts that automatically forward a user'"'"'s e-mail to the user'"'"'s pre-selected forwarding e-mail address(es). Each user creates a forwarding directory, which may comprise multiple e-mail accounts, that the user activates and deactivates as needed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

receiving a user command to transfer electronic messages from the primary account to the floating account;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

receiving a user command identifying a start time at which to begin transferring messages to said floating account.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

receiving a user command identifying a stop time at which to stop transferring messages to said floating account.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said primary account is a cellular telephone account.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said primary account is a pager account.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said primary account is a digital telephone account.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said floating account is a voicemail account.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

receiving a user input specifying that a device associated with the user'"'"'s primary account is unavailable;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

receiving a user command identifying a departure time at which the device associated with the user'"'"'s primary account is to become unavailable.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

receiving a user command identifying an arrival time at which the device associated with the user'"'"'s primary account is to become re-available.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said primary account is a cellular telephone account.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said primary account is a pager account.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said primary account is a digital telephone account.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said floating account is a pager account.

15. A method of bouncing electronic messages comprising the steps of:

receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

receiving a user command to transfer electronic messages from the primary account to the floating account;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a user command identifying a start time at which to begin transferring messages to said floating account.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a user command identifying a stop time at which to stop transferring messages to said floating account.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said primary account is a cellular telephone account.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said primary account is a pager account.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said floating account is a voicemail account.

21. A system for bouncing electronic messages comprising:

means for receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

means for assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

means for receiving a user command to transfer electronic messages from the primary account to the floating account;

means for receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

means for looking up said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

means for replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

22. A system for bouncing electronic messages comprising:

a memory; and

at least one account server that accesses said memory, the account server for;

receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

receiving a user command to transfer electronic messages from the primary account to the floating account;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up in said memory said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one account server receives a user command identifying a start time at which to begin transferring messages to said floating account.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one account server receives a user command identifying a stop time at which to stop transferring messages to said floating account.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said floating account is a voicemail account.