E-mail paging system and method

• US 6,216,165 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Everett Nemazi, Robert Thomas Woltz
• Original Assignee: John Everett Nemazi, Robert Thomas Woltz
• Inventors: Woltz, Robert Thomas, Nemazi, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/451,460
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.24, 379/88.15, 709/206, 709/232, 709/233, 709/203, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

The method is implemented using a mail program running on a host computer which receives incoming electronic messages. An authorized user queries a user data profile and generates a series of e-mail messages and pager messages which are formatted and distributed based upon the user profile and data filtered from the incoming message. The method allows an e-mail recipient to be promptly notified via pager of the receipt of any mail message and, depending upon the message typed, receives a complete copy of the message, a simple message notice or can have the message delayed until expiration of a message hold period. An embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use with two-way pagers enabling the message to be copied and sent to recipient'"'"'s e-mail box while containing the full two-way pager functionality with enhanced resend and no response replay capability.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic message processing using a host computer linkable to a network, the host computer cooperating with a user database containing profile data for each of a plurality of authorized users, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming electronic message addressed to an authorized user, the incoming message having a header including a sender'"'"'s address and a body;

associating information in the header with corresponding profile data for the authorized user;

forwarding a copy of the incoming message to at least one electronic address specified by the profile data;

retrieving at least one pager type and corresponding pager electronic mailing address from the profile data;

creating a pager message in a format suitable for each of the specified pager types identified in the profile data; and

filtering the incoming message to determine if a portion of the incoming message matches a value in the profile data; and

modifying the pager message in response to the value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating the authorized user profile data to determine if a blackout period has been selected by the user and delaying the sending of the pager message until after the blackout period.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the filtering step further comprises filtering the incoming message to determine if the incoming message contains a bypass phrase stored in the authorized user'"'"'s profile data and transmitting the pager message regardless of the blackout period if the bypass phrase matches.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the incoming message includes an attachment;

removing the attachment from the pager message and modifying the pager message to indicate that an attachment was sent.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating a pager message includes creating a pager message containing at least a portion of the attachment.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising forwarding a copy of the attachment to the at least one electronic address specified by the profile data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of creating a pager message includes limiting the pager message to a predetermined length based on a value in the profile data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating further comprises the step of sending a pager message containing the original sender'"'"'s address.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising;

monitoring the time following the sending of a pager message, and;

re-sending the pager message in the event that the user does not reply timely.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising limiting the number of times that the pager message is resent and transmitting a timeout reply message to the sender in the event user does not reply timely to the last pager message.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating the authorized user profile data to determine if a vacation period has been selected by the user and sending an electronic mail message to the sender indicating the user is on vacation during the vacation period.