Internet message system

• US 6,574,604 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antoon Van Rijn
• Original Assignee: van Rijn, Percy
• Inventors: van Rijn, Percy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/349,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 283/117, 700/90, 700/231, 700/232, 700/233, 705/1, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

An internet message system is provided that enables a user to compose an electronic greeting message and transmit the greeting message to any e-mail address over the Internet from a remote location. The internet message system is housed within a self-contained unit, such as a kiosk, such that it can be situated within various recreational and vacation locations. A payment system, incorporated within the internet message system, provides the user with access to the system upon receipt and verification of payment. In operation, the user selects from a variety of selectable greeting formats, including both real-time and pre-loaded still images, video segments, audio segments and text message lines, and combinations thereof which are integrated in the composition of the electronic greeting. In Included among the selectable greeting formats is real-time still images in the form of a self-portraits, such that the user can compose an electronic greeting depicting his/her own image as well as that of the surrounding background. Once the greeting is composed, it can be instantly transmitted over the Internet to the intended electronic mail address.

Claims

1. An internet message system for transmitting an electronic greeting over the Internet comprising

(a) an operating system comprising a power management system, a data management system, at least one storage device for maintaining a database of pre-loaded greeting formats and software capable of running said operating system, said software including a message compilation program;

(b) a power interface system which interacts with said power management system;

(c) a network interface system which is configured to receive and transmit data from said data management system to outside networks;

(d) a payment system capable of receiving and verifying payment and transmitting an activation code to said data management system upon receipt and verification of payment;

(e) an interactive visual screen;

(f) at least one electronic greeting composition component selected from the group consisting of an image scanner, a color camera capable of capturing a self-portrait still image of an individual standing in front of said color camera, and combinations thereof, said at least one electronic greeting composition component being controlled by said data management system,

wherein, upon receiving said activation code from said payment system, said data management system initializes said message compilation program and activates a menu of selectable greeting formats on said interactive visual screen, composes said electronic greeting and transmits said electronic greeting over the Internet through said network interface system.

2. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said database of pre-loaded greeting formats includes still images, video segments, audio segments and text messages.

3. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an audio speaker, said internet message system being configured with an opening sequence in the form of a pre-recorded audio message provided through said audio speaker and a visual message displayed on said interactive visual screen.

4. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating system, said power interface system, said network interface system, said payment system, said interactive visual screen and said at least one electronic greeting composition component are contained within a housing, said housing being a self-contained unit capable of being adapted into a free-standing unit.

5. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said payment system is capable of accepting and verifying payments in the form of cash, pre-paid cards and payment cards.

6. The internet message system in accordance with claim 5, wherein when payment is in the form of a payment card, the payment system extracts data from the payment card and through the data management system transmits the extracted data through the network interface system to a payment card processing center network for approval and authorization.

7. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactive visual screen includes a device integrated therewith for the entry of typed alpha-numeric characters.

8. The internet message system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said device is in the form of a keyboard.

9. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said selectable greeting formats include self-portraits, scanned images, real-time and pre-loaded still images, pre-loaded audio segments, real-time and pre-loaded audio segments and pre-loaded text messages and combinations thereof.

10. The internet message system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said electronic greeting is composed of at least one selectable greeting format.

11. The internet message system in accordance with claim 10, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a self-portrait and wherein said data management system activates said color camera.

12. The internet message system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said color camera incorporates the surrounding environ of the individual standing in front of said color camera.

13. The internet message system in accordance with claim 10, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a real-time video segment, said data management system activates said color camera, said color camera being capable of capturing a real-time video segment within the focal range of said color camera.

14. The internet message system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said selectable greeting format is a real-time video segment of an individual standing in front of said color camera and the surrounding environ.

15. The internet message system in accordance with claim 10, wherein when said selectable greeting format is composed of a scanned imaged, said data management system activates said image scanner, said image scanner being capable of capturing the image from a scanned photograph.

16. The internet message system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one additional electronic greeting composition component selected from the group consisting of a microphone and an electronic stylus.

17. The internet message system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising an audio speaker, said internet message system being configured with an opening sequence in the form of a pre-recorded audio message provided through said audio speaker and a visual message displayed on said interactive visual screen.

18. The internet message system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said operating system, said power interface system, said network interface system, said payment system, said interactive visual screen and said at least one electronic greeting composition component are contained within a housing, said housing being a self-contained unit capable of being adapted into a free-standing unit.

19. The internet message system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said selectable greeting formats include self-portraits, scanned images, real-time and pre-loaded still images, real-time and pre-loaded video segments, real-time and pre-loaded audio segments and real-time and pre-loaded text messages and combinations thereof.

20. The internet message system in accordance with claim 19, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a real-time audio segment, said data management system activates said microphone, said microphone being capable of capturing within the audio range of said microphone.

21. The internet message system in accordance with claim 19, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a combination of a real-time video segment and a real-time audio segment, said data management system activates both said color camera and said microphone in order to capture both the real-time video images within the focal range of said color camera and real time sounds within the audio range of said microphone.

22. The internet message system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said real-time text message includes hand-written text messages and typed text messages.

23. The internet message system in accordance with claim 22, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a hand-written text message, said data management system activates said electronic stylus, said electronic stylus being capable of capturing a hand-written message.

24. The internet message system in accordance with claim 22, wherein when said selectable greeting format is a typed text message, said data management system activates a device integrated with said interactive visual screen for entry of typed alpha-numeric characters.