Network having selectively accessible recipient prioritized communication channel profiles
DCFirst Claim
1. In a network having a plurality of devices interconnected over a network channel having a plurality of network subscribers, the method of identifying the mode in which to transmit predetermined data from a given sender to a designated recipient on the network comprising the steps of:
- identifying the recipient to receive the data from a database of network subscribers,accessing the communication profile of the recipient for receiving said predetermined data from the database of network subscribers, said communication profile prioritizing different modes in which the designated recipient prefers to receive data from any network subscriber so that at least one device on the network to which the given sender can transmit the predetermined data to the designated recipient is identified,responsive to the communication profile of the recipient for receiving said predetermined data, determining the designated recipient'"'"'s preferred mode of receiving data, andconveying the predetermined data from the given sender to a device on the network that corresponds to the recipient'"'"'s preferred mode of receiving data designated by the communication profile of the recipient, so that the given sender is not required to convert data from one mode to another.
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Abstract
A method for a sender to automatically distribute information to a receiver on a network using devices (such as printers and facsimile machines) and communication channels (such as electronic mail) defined in a receiver profile. The receiver profile establishes the properties and mode for receipt of information for receivers on the network and the profile is published in a network repository for all network users or is accessible by selected groups or individuals on the network. Receivers have additional control over network senders by defining an information filter which further controls sender channel access (to a receiver) by defining some channels as having priority of access such as direct or delayed access, as well as selectively permitting senders to override the receiver profile. Consequently, receiver profiles provide a variable receiver definable link to senders using multiple forms of media as well as multiple hardware platforms and network configurations.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a network having a plurality of devices interconnected over a network channel having a plurality of network subscribers, the method of identifying the mode in which to transmit predetermined data from a given sender to a designated recipient on the network comprising the steps of:
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identifying the recipient to receive the data from a database of network subscribers, accessing the communication profile of the recipient for receiving said predetermined data from the database of network subscribers, said communication profile prioritizing different modes in which the designated recipient prefers to receive data from any network subscriber so that at least one device on the network to which the given sender can transmit the predetermined data to the designated recipient is identified, responsive to the communication profile of the recipient for receiving said predetermined data, determining the designated recipient'"'"'s preferred mode of receiving data, and conveying the predetermined data from the given sender to a device on the network that corresponds to the recipient'"'"'s preferred mode of receiving data designated by the communication profile of the recipient, so that the given sender is not required to convert data from one mode to another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a network having a plurality of devices including electronic workstations and electronic printers interconnected over a network having a plurality of modes in which data is transmitted, the network being accessible by a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber having a priority listing of modes of data receipt recorded in a communication profile, the method of transmitting data to a subscriber on the network comprising the steps of:
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identifying a given subscriber from the plurality of subscribers to receive data over the network, said identifying step accessing the communication profile of the given subscriber, selecting from the communication profile of the given subscriber a mode in which to transmit data, automatically specifying predetermined data to be conveyed to the given subscriber over the network channel in the mode of data identified by said selecting step, and responsive to the identification of the given subscriber and the selection of a mode of data receipt specified by the given subscriber, transmitting the predetermined data in the mode specified by said specifying step to the given subscriber so that data is received in a convenient form. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a network having a plurality of interconnected components including a network administrator, data memory devices, data display devices, and data printer devices, the network being accessible by a plurality of subscribers, a method of a first subscriber on the network determining a preferred mode of receipt of data from a second subscriber, the mode including at least one specified device, comprising the steps of:
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said first subscriber setting a priority of components for receiving data, storing said priority of components for receiving data in a network administrator, and invoking said priority of components for the first subscriber for receiving data upon said second subscriber identifying data to be sent to said first subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A network comprising a plurality of components including data memory devices, data display devices, and a data printer device interconnected over a network channel, the network being accessible by a plurality of subscribers, means for setting a priority for modes of receiving data relative to the components for a first subscriber, means for storing said priority for modes of receiving data in a memory device, and means for automatically invoking said priority for modes of receiving data for the first subscriber upon a second subscriber identifying data to be sent to said first subscriber whereby data is transmitted to the first subscriber in accordance with said priority for modes of receiving data.
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15. A network having a plurality of communication channels for communicating information between subscribers comprising:
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a communication channel profile to define a priority for preferred modes of data receipt for selected subscribers over the network; means for identifying a subscriber for receiving information over the network; means for selecting data for transmission to said subscriber; means for sending the selected data to said subscriber in response to the communication channel profile, and means for receiving the data over a given communication channel of the network in accordance with the priority for receipt of data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A network having a plurality of devices interconnected over a network channel having a plurality of connecting paths for transmitting predetermined data from a given source to a designated recipient on the network comprising:
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means for identifying the recipient to receive the data, means for accessing the recipients profile for receiving said data, said profile designating a recipients priority of receiving the mode of data including designating a least one device on the network that accepts that mode of data, means responsive to recipients profile for receiving said mode of data, for determining a set of connecting paths to transmit the predetermined data from the given source to the recipient, and means for conveying the predetermined data from the given source to the device on the network designated by the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for distributing information on a network, comprising:
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a server defining a first system element for receiving information; a client defining a second system element for sending information to said server and disposed remotely from said server on the network, said client communicating with said server using the network; a communication channel having properties defining a preferred mode of communication between said client and said server; and a user interface adapted for virtual communication between said client and said server using said communication channel in order that said server receives information in the mode defined by the communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. In a network interconnecting a plurality of network users having network access stations for communicating data over the network, a method for a given user to specify the mode of receipt of data from other users comprising the steps of:
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providing a set of devices for receipt of data over the network, selecting a subset of the set of devices, the subset including at least one device that is a preferred mode of data receipt of the given user, publishing the subset of the set of devices for access by given users on the network, and receiving data over the network from said given users in accordance with the subset of the set of devices. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45)
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- 42. The method of claim 46 wherein the network access stations include a user interface displaying said set of devices and a button for publishing the subset of the set of devices for all users with access to the network
Specification