Method and system for managing message transactions between a sender and recipient within a virtual mailbox

• US 6,769,012 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herb Wang, Jon Song, Liu Song
• Original Assignee: Herb Wang, Jon Song, Liu Song
• Inventors: Liu, Song, Song, Jon, Wang, Herb
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US09/621,843
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/205, 709/204, 345/752
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

The invention is a computerized message management system that provides a method and system whereby sender'"'"'s of one or more messages and recipient'"'"'s of one or more messages each having digital or analog communications equipment can access a virtual mailbox wherein sender'"'"'s can enter messages and recipients'"'"'s can receive messages. Both sender and recipient being the only parties having authorization to view said messages.

Furthermore, either the sender and/or recipient can reorder said messages without affecting the selective message structure of the other party.

Claims

1. A data processing system utilizing a virtual mailbox for managing messages between a sender and recipient, the system comprising:

a) means for receiving messages;

b) means for storing messages;

c) means for retrieving messages;

d) means for transmitting messages;

e) means for authenticating access;

f) means for reordering messages into a new hierarchal structure within said virtual mailbox to suit the needs of either said sender or recipient without reordering the hierarchal structure of the recipient or sender, respectively, eliminating the need for each of the sender or recipient to maintain duplicate information; and

g) deletion of said messages requiring consent of both the sender and recipient.

2. The system of claim 1 in which a user is provided with a drag and drop function that provides means for reorganizing messages into new threads, attaching one set of messages into an existing thread, and rebuilding a relationship based on user defined logic, a thread comprising new subject matter and all related replies.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein sending of message data includes posting a URL (Universal Resource Locator) accessible to recipient of message data.

4. A method for managing messages between a sender and recipient in a virtual mailbox, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving messages;

b) storing messages;

c) receiving messages;

d) transmitting messages;

e) authenticating access;

f) said sender or recipient reordering messages within said mailbox into a new hierarchal structure without reordering the hierarchal structure of the recipient or sender, respectively, eliminating the need for each of the sender or recipient to maintain duplicate information; and

(g)deletion of messages requiring consent of both the sender and recipient of said messages.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein sending of message data includes a method for posting a URL (Universal Resource Locator) accessible to recipient of message data.

6. The method of claim 4 in which a user uses a drag and drop function for reorganizing messages into new threads, attaching one set of messages into an existing thread, and rebuilding a relationship based on user defined logic, a thread comprising new subject matter and all related replies.

7. A data processing system comprising:

a) a virtual mailbox for receiving, storing, retrieving and transmitting messages on behalf of users comprising senders and recipients;

b) said mailbox maintaining a hierarchal history of messages between a sender and a recipient that can be viewed only by the sender and the recipient; and

c) means in said mailbox allowing the historical hierarchal structure of messages between users to be maintained by each user in said virtual mailbox in a format selected by each user without affecting the format of the other user, deletion of messages requiring consent of both the sender and recipient, thereby eliminating any need for each of the users to maintain duplicate information.

8. The data processing system of claim 7 in which the messages stored in said mailbox are arranged according to threads, each thread comprising new subject matter and all related replies.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 in which a thread can be moved to an existing thread and parts of a thread can be redefined as new threads.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 in which a sender or a recipient can access said mailbox using digital or analog equipment.