Distribution limiter for network messaging

• US 6,073,167 A
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Paratran Corporation, Inc.
• Inventors: Call, Luke A., Poulton, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asta, Frank J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/040,907
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/206, 709/238, 709/245, 709/219, 709/249, 380/24, 380/25, 380/49
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A message distribution limiter computer program and method are provided. The method preferably includes receiving a site address of target data stored at a remote site on a computer network; locating the target data stored at the remote site; examining the target data to determine if user addresses are present in the target data; extracting user addresses from the target data; and compiling a database containing the extracted user addresses. The method also preferably includes the steps of downloading the target data to a local memory; locating within the target data one or more embedded site addresses of remote sites on the computer network for locating additional target data referenced within the remote sites; screening the embedded site addresses according to a user-selectable criterion; and screening the target data according to a user-selectable criterion such that user addresses are extracted only from target data meeting the selected criterion. Also included is a mail screening module adapted to place into a network site a user-selectable code indicating whether a selected type of message is desired to be received by a mailbox within the network site.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing computer code for execution by a computer and tangibly embodying therein modules for selectively sending messages to remote terminals of a computer network, the modules comprising:

a. a network interface module configured to receive an address of target data stored at a remote site on the computer network, retrieve the target data, and make the target data locally available;

b. a search engine for examining the target data made available by the network interface module to determine if user addresses are present in the target data;

c. a user address extraction module for extracting user addresses from the target data; and

d. a database compilation module for compiling a database of user addresses from the user addresses extracted by the user address extraction module.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the search engine further comprises a filter for screening the target data according to a selected criterion, such that user addresses are extracted from the target data only when the target data meets the selected criterion.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data structures further comprise a site navigator module for locating within the target data referenced site addresses of remote sites on the computer network.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the site navigator module further comprises a filter for screening the site addresses referenced within the target data according to a selected criterion.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data structures further comprise a message addressing module for associating the user addresses with messages that are to be transmitted to remote sites on the computer network.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the data structures further comprise a message display module for allowing a human user to view the messages after the user addresses have been attached to the messages, to view context data regarding the messages, and to select whether to transmit the messages.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data structures further comprise a user interface for providing a human user with a choice of utilizing at least two different types of message screening.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the user interface provides the human user with the choice of utilizing at least three different types of message screening.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising a mail screening module adapted for use by a remote site for informing the search engine when examining target data from the remote site whether a selected type of message is desired to be received by a user through the remote site.

10. A computer-implemented method for selectively sending messages to remote terminals of a computer network, the method comprising:

a. receiving a site address of target data stored at a remote site on the computer network;

b. locating the target data stored at the remote site on the computer network;

c. retrieving the target data to make the target data locally available;

d. examining the target data to determine if user addresses are present in the target data;

e. extracting user addresses from the target data; and

f. compiling a database containing the extracted user addresses.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising downloading the target data to a local memory prior to the step of examining the target data.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating, within the target data, one or more embedded site addresses of remote sites on the computer network for locating target data referenced within the remote sites.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising screening the embedded site addresses according to a selected criterion.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising screening the target data according to a user-selectable criterion such that user addresses are extracted only from target data meeting the selected criterion.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising associating the user addresses to messages for transmitting the messages to selected remote sites on the computer network.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the messages to a human user to allow the human user to view and edit the messages after the user addresses have been attached to the messages.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the target data has been screened by a user using an Internet searching engine prior to the step of receiving an address of target data.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising searching for embedded codes within the target data that indicate whether a selected type of message is desired to be received by a network user at a remote site.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising searching for embedded codes within the target data that indicate whether the network user at the remote site is willing to read a message in return for a payment to the network user.

20. An apparatus for selectively sending messages to remote terminals of a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

a. a processor for executing programs;

b. a network interface for transmitting and receiving information over the computer network; and

c. a memory device containing an executable program capable of operating within the processor, the program comprising the steps of;

(i) receiving target data through the network interface from remote sites on the computer network and storing the target data in a local memory;

(ii) examining the target data according to a selected criterion regarding the relevance of the target data;

(ii) extracting user addresses from the target data when the target data is considered relevant in accordance with the selected criteria; and

(iii) transmitting messages addressed with the user addresses to locations referenced by the user addresses.