Message automated information system and importance navigator

• US 6,768,790 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Manduley, Flavio M., Lukaszewski, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, Simon P
• Application Number:
  US09/350,724
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/142.15, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.18, 379/88.25, 379/68, 379/88.22, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 709/203, 709/207
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

This invention is a system and method that provides for the total integration and processing of all possible incoming message types into a single unit at one location. This invention also provides a system to automatically route messages based upon the preferences of the party who received the message. Responses to messages may be kept with the original message so that the status of the message may be maintained. This invention also presents an integrated approach for transmitting messages in all possible media from a single device at one location.

Claims

1. A system that enables incoming information received from a plurality of messaging devices to be available on a single unit so that the information may be accessed by a user at one location using the single unit, said system comprising:

means for obtaining information from the plurality of devices;

means for identifying the information by message media type;

means for sending the information and message type media to the single unit;

means for ordering the obtained information from the plurality of devices from most important to least important by utilizing user defined importance criteria stored in the single unit and/or a sender enabled priority indicator embedded in the information;

means coupled to the ordering means for indicating the message media type of the received message;

means coupled to the ordering means for responding to the obtained information in a optimal fashion;

means for automatically routing the ordered information in accordance with user selections routing rules; and

means coupled to the ordering and responding means for determining the status of responded to information and obtained information.

2. The system claimed in claim 1, further including:

means coupled to the responding means for preparing a message.

3. The system claimed in claim 2, wherein the preparing means prepares the message in an optimal fashion.

4. The system claimed in claim 3, wherein the preparing means transmits the message in an optimal fashion.

5. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices that the obtaining means obtain information from is selected from the group consisting of:

computers, facsimile devices, telephones, voice response units, video displays, scanners, video message devices, servers and E-mail.

6. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the responding means sends a message to recipients in accordance with the user defined rules.

7. The system claimed in claim 6, further including:

means coupled to the responding means for changing the user-defined rules.

8. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein if a key word appears in a particular ordered information, send that information automatically to one or more particularly specified individuals.

9. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein if ordered information is about a particular subject, send that information automatically to one or more particularly specified individuals.

10. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein if the ordered information is received from a particular individual, automatically forward that information to one or more particularly specified individuals.

11. A method for enabling incoming information received from a plurality of messaging devices to be available on a single unit so that the information may be accessed by a user at one location using the single unit, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining information from the plurality of devices;

identifying the obtained information by message media type;

storing the obtained information;

ordering the obtained information from the plurality of devices from most important to least important by utilizing user defined importance criteria stored in the single unit and/or a sender enabled priority indicator embedded in the information;

indicating the message media type of the ordered information;

responding to the obtained information in an optimal fashion;

routing the ordered information automatically in accordance with user selected routing rules; and

determining the status of responded to information and obtained information.

12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of:

canceling portions of the stored information at times specified by the user.

13. The method claimed in claim 11, further including the steps of:

preparing a message in an optimal fashion.

15. The method claimed in claim 11 further including the steps of:

creating information that may be sent to one or more recipients using more than one messaging device.

16. The method claimed in claim 11 further including the steps of:

distributing information based upon the subject of the information.

17. The method claimed in claim 11, further including the steps of:

distributing information based upon user defined criteria.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the user defined criteria is selected from the groups consisting of:

a message originator, distribution list of the message, message content, and priority of the message.

19. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein if a key word appears in a particular ordered information, send that information automatically to one or more particularly specified individuals.

20. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein if ordered information is about a particular subject, send that information automatically to one or more particularly specified individuals.

21. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein if the ordered information is received from a particular individual, automatically forward that information to one or more particularly specified individuals.

14. The method claimed in 11, further including the steps of:

scheduling the responded to information at user selected dates and times.