Message database manipulation using a single command to evoke multiple operations on multiple messages
First Claim
1. A communication device for communicating with a message server that is adapted to store plural messages for a user, said communication device comprising:
- processor means responsive to a user'"'"'s connection signal to establish a communication path with said message server and to receive a download of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response from said user;
means for displaying said list of message identifiers, and, for each of said message identifiers, a plurality of associated potential actions;
input means for receiving user instructions indicating which of said plurality of associated potential actions is to be executed with respect to each said message associated with a message identifier, wherein, for each of said messages, said user instructions may indicate one or more of said plurality of associated potential actions; and
program means for controlling said processor means to accumulate all of said user instructions for said plural messages and to dispatch to said message server a single message including said accumulated user instructions to enable said message server to execute, for each of said messages, each of said indicated plurality of associated potential actions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device configured in accordance with the invention enables communication between a user and a message server that holds plural messages for the user. The communication device includes a processor that is responsive to a user'"'"'s connection signal to establish communication with the message server and to receive a download from the message server of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response by the user. The communication device includes a device for displaying the list of message identifiers, along with indications of potential actions which may be taken with respect to each message identifier. The display apparatus is preferably a printer which outputs a media sheet with the list of message identifiers and associated indicated actions. The communication device includes an input device that is adapted to receive user instructions regarding which of the actions is/are to be executed with respect to each message. The processor accumulates all of the user instructions for the plural messages and dispatches a single command message to the message server. The single command message passes the accumulated user instructions to the message server which responds by carrying out the actions instructed by the user. The preferred input device is a scanner which reads user instructions from the media sheet and inputs them to the processor.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A communication device for communicating with a message server that is adapted to store plural messages for a user, said communication device comprising:
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processor means responsive to a user'"'"'s connection signal to establish a communication path with said message server and to receive a download of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response from said user;
means for displaying said list of message identifiers, and, for each of said message identifiers, a plurality of associated potential actions;
input means for receiving user instructions indicating which of said plurality of associated potential actions is to be executed with respect to each said message associated with a message identifier, wherein, for each of said messages, said user instructions may indicate one or more of said plurality of associated potential actions; and
program means for controlling said processor means to accumulate all of said user instructions for said plural messages and to dispatch to said message server a single message including said accumulated user instructions to enable said message server to execute, for each of said messages, each of said indicated plurality of associated potential actions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
wherein said message server, in accordance with said user instructions, transmits said messages formatted for any of (a) printing, (b) play as audio, or (c) as symbolically encoded data suitable for display or editing, and wherein said communication device further comprises audio output means for broadcasting audio data that is downloaded in response to execution of a user indication by said message server. -
6. The communication device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
identifier means for inputting a user identification and a user connection signal to said processor.
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7. The communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein said identifier means comprises a card having embedded data regarding said user identification and said user connection signal.
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8. A communication device for communicating with a message server that is adapted to store plural messages for a user, said communication device comprising:
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processor means responsive to a user'"'"'s connection signal to establish a communication path with said message server and to receive a download of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response from said user;
means for displaying said list of message identifiers, along with one or more potential actions associated with each message identifier;
input means for receiving user instructions regarding which of said potential actions is/are to be executed with respect to each said message associated with a message identifier; and
program means for controlling said processor means to accumulate all of said user instructions for said plural messages and to dispatch to said message server a single message including said accumulated user instructions for each of said plural messages to enable said message server to execute actions in accord with said accumulated user instructions, wherein said means for displaying comprises a printer that outputs a media sheet upon which is printed said list of message identifiers, along with said one or more potential actions associated with each message identifier, and said input means is scanner means for reading marks on said media sheet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for enabling a communication device to communicate with a message server that is adapted to store plural messages for a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) responding to a user'"'"'s connection signal by establishing a communication path with said message server and receiving a download of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response from said user;
b) displaying said list of message identifiers, and, for each of said message identifiers, a plurality of associated potential actions;
c) receiving user instructions indicating which of said plurality of associated potential actions is to be executed with respect to each said message associated with a message identifier, wherein, for each of said messages, said user instructions may indicate one or more of said plurality of associated potential actions;
d) accumulating all of said user instructions for said plural messages; and
e) dispatching to said message server a single message including said accumulated user instructions for each of said plural messages, said message server thereby enabled to execute, for each of said messages, each of said indicated plurality of associated potential actions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
f) receiving from said message server, plural messages in accord with said accumulated user instructions, received ones of said plural messages formatted for display by one of printing or showing on a computer monitor, or for audio play, notwithstanding a format in which said plural messages are stored at said message server.
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15. A method for enabling a communication device to communicate with a message server that is adapted to store plural messages for a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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responding to a user'"'"'s connection signal by establishing a communication path with said message server and receiving a download of a list of message identifiers for plural messages awaiting a response from said user;
b) displaying said list of message identifiers, along with one or more potential actions associated with each message identifier;
c) receiving user instructions regarding which of said potential actions is/are to be executed with respect to each said message associated with a message identifier;
d) accumulating all of said user instructions for said plural messages; and
e) dispatching to said message server a single message including said accumulated user instructions for each of said plural messages, said message server thereby enabled to execute actions in accord with said accumulated user instructions, wherein step b) displays said list of message identifiers by printing a media sheet upon which is printed said list of message identifiers, along with said one or more potential actions associated with each message identifier, and wherein step e) dispatches to said message server said single message by scanning said media sheet and transmitting data from said media sheet as facsimile image data.
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Specification