E-mail paging system
First Claim
1. In a communications system including an E-Mail server coupled to an E-Mail network, the server having a database storing a plurality of records, each record being for an E-Mail recipient and including an alert signal address in an alert network in a radio communications medium, coupled to the E-Mail server, a method comprising the steps of:
- a) storing in a recipient'"'"'s record in the database identities of selected E-Mail senders and a forwarding destination for E-Mail sent to the recipient;
b) receiving at the E-Mail server an E-Mail message including the recipient'"'"'s identity and a received identity of a sender;
c) accessing the recipient'"'"'s record in response to receiving the E-Mail message;
d) comparing the received identity of the sender with the selected sender identities in the recipient'"'"'s record;
e) sending an alert signal to the E-Mail recipient over the alert network if the received identity of the sender matches one of the selected sender identities;
f) receiving a response signal in the radio communications medium from the E-Mail recipient in response to the alert signal; and
g) forwarding the E-Mail message to the forwarding destination in response to the response signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
E-Mail messages transmitted over an E-Mail network are routed to an E-Mail server servicing the recipient, where useful E-Mail messages can be identified, separated from the junk mail, and forwarded as directed by the recipient. The E-Mail server sends a summary of the E-Mail message to the recipient over a different network so that the recipient can select a forwarding destination for the message. The recipient sends a selection signal to the E-mail server which then forwards the E-Mail message to the selected destination. The E-Mail message can be forwarded by the server over another network, such as the public telephone network, to a computer or a FAX machine at the recipient'"'"'s office, home or other destination.
322 Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a communications system including an E-Mail server coupled to an E-Mail network, the server having a database storing a plurality of records, each record being for an E-Mail recipient and including an alert signal address in an alert network in a radio communications medium, coupled to the E-Mail server, a method comprising the steps of:
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a) storing in a recipient'"'"'s record in the database identities of selected E-Mail senders and a forwarding destination for E-Mail sent to the recipient; b) receiving at the E-Mail server an E-Mail message including the recipient'"'"'s identity and a received identity of a sender; c) accessing the recipient'"'"'s record in response to receiving the E-Mail message; d) comparing the received identity of the sender with the selected sender identities in the recipient'"'"'s record; e) sending an alert signal to the E-Mail recipient over the alert network if the received identity of the sender matches one of the selected sender identities; f) receiving a response signal in the radio communications medium from the E-Mail recipient in response to the alert signal; and g) forwarding the E-Mail message to the forwarding destination in response to the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communications system, comprising:
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an E-Mail server having a database storing a plurality of records, the database including a recipient'"'"'s record containing identities of selected E-Mail senders and a forwarding destination for E-Mail sent to the recipient; a first interface in said E-Mail server coupled to an E-Mail network, receiving an E-Mail message including the recipient'"'"'s identity and a received identity of a sender; a processor in said E-Mail server accessing the recipient'"'"'s record in response to receiving the message; said processor comparing the received identity of the sender with the selected sender identities in the recipient'"'"'s record; a second interface in said E-Mail server coupled to an alert network in a radio communications medium, sending an alert signal to the recipient over the alert network if the processor matches the received identity with one of the selected sender identities; means for receiving a response signal in the radio communications medium from the E-Mail recipient in response to the alert signal; and means for forwarding the E-Mail message to the forwarding destination in response to the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An article of manufacture for use in a computer system, comprising:
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for controlling an E-Mail server coupled to an E-Mail network, the server having a database storing a plurality of records, each record being for an E-Mail recipient and including an alert signal address in an alert network in a radio communications medium, coupled to the E-Mail server, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture comprising; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to store in a recipients record in the database identities of selected E-Mail senders and a forwarding destination for E-Mail sent to the recipient; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to receive at the E-Mail server an E-Mail message including the recipient'"'"'s identity and a received identity of a sender; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to access the recipient'"'"'s record in response to receiving the E-Mail message; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to compare the received identity of the sender with the selected sender identities in the recipient'"'"'s record; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to send an alert signal to the E-Mail recipient over the alert network if the received identity of the sender matches one of the selected sender identities; a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to receive a response signal in the radio communications medium from the E-Mail recipient in response to the alert signal; and a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to forward the E-Mail message to the forwarding destination in response to the response signal.
Specification