Mail Management

• US 20130212187A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reputation.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reputation.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Mortazavi, Sean Shahrokh, Ribera, Brendan
• Application Number:
  US13/371,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130212187A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The instant application discloses, among other things, techniques to allow a user to inform direct mail senders of their preferences with respect to communications.

Claims

1. ) A mail management system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

an identifier receiving component configured to allow receiving an identifier of an item of mail;

an identifier recognition component configured to perform recognition on the identifier to determine a sender of the item of mail;

a preference submission component configured to submit a preference request to the sender; and

a notification receiving component configured to receive a response resulting from the preference request.

2. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising a communication channel discovery component configured to find one or more channels with which to communicate with the sender.

3. ) The system of claim 1 wherein the perform recognition on the identifier comprises performing optical character recognition on an image.

4. ) The system of claim 1 wherein the perform recognition on the identifier comprises performing speech to text processing on a sound clip.

5. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a topic characterizing component, configured to categorize a topic of the identifier; and

a recommending component, configured to recommend a preference.

6. ) A method comprising:

receiving an identifier of an item of mail;

associating the item of mail with an address;

performing recognition on the identifier to determine a sender of the item of mail; and

submitting via a first communication channel to the determined sender a preference request to inform the sender communication preferences for the address.

7. ) The method of claim 6 further comprising discovering available communications channels to determine the first communication channel.

8. ) The method of claim 6 wherein the associating the item of mail with an address further comprises selecting an address from a previously saved list of addresses.

9. ) The method of claim 6 wherein the associating the item of mail with an address further comprises entering an address to use.

10. ) The method of claim 6 wherein the associating the item of mail with an address further comprises identifying an address by using a GPS.

11. ) The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving a response from the determined sender containing information about the success of the request.

12. ) The method of claim 11 wherein the communication preferences comprise cessation of paper mail from the sender to the address.

13. ) The method of claim 11 wherein the communication preferences comprise a request for future communications to be performed electronically.

14. ) The method of claim 11 wherein the communication preferences comprise forming an association with a social media site associated with the sender.

15. ) The method of claim 11 further comprising resubmitting a request via a second communication channel to stop sending mail to the address if the response indicates the request was not successful.

16. ) A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

an identifier selection component configured to allow selecting an identifier of an item of mail;

an associate address component configured to associate an address with the identifier;

an information submission component configured to submit information associated with an item, an address, and a preference to a mail management service; and

a notification receiving component configured to receive a status resulting from the preference request.

17. ) The system of claim 16 wherein the associate address component provides a way to select an address from a plurality of previously stored addresses.

18. ) The system of claim 17 wherein the information associated with an item comprises an image of the item.

19. ) The system of claim 18 wherein the information associated with an item comprises text obtained by analysis of the item.

20. ) The system of claim 17 wherein the information associated with an item comprises a sound clip identifying the item.