System and method for managing multimedia messaging platforms
First Claim
1. A method for providing information to a subscriber on a messaging system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mailbox ID and service information to a messaging platform, said mailbox ID corresponding to a subscriber serviced by said messaging platform and said service information including an information type, a delivery period, and a delivery format;
sending a request to a master platform in response to said service information, said master platform responding to said request by requesting information from an information source, said information corresponding to said service information;
sending information received from said information source to said messaging platform;
converting information received from said information source into a delivery format corresponding to said delivery format selected in said step of providing service information; and
providing said information to a subscriber when said subscriber accesses a mailbox corresponding to said mailbox ID.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A messaging network has a plurality of messaging platforms interconnected through a switched backbone, such as the Internet. A master platform can receive and store status messages destined for a messaging platform that does not have an active connection to the messaging network or is in a non-operational state. In one embodiment, a messaging platform requests information from an information source outside the messaging network. The master platform sends the information request message to the information source and receives a response message therefrom. The response message is sent to the requesting messaging platform. In another embodiment, messages may be transformed into a format specified by the subscriber and delivered thereto.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for providing information to a subscriber on a messaging system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mailbox ID and service information to a messaging platform, said mailbox ID corresponding to a subscriber serviced by said messaging platform and said service information including an information type, a delivery period, and a delivery format; sending a request to a master platform in response to said service information, said master platform responding to said request by requesting information from an information source, said information corresponding to said service information; sending information received from said information source to said messaging platform; converting information received from said information source into a delivery format corresponding to said delivery format selected in said step of providing service information; and providing said information to a subscriber when said subscriber accesses a mailbox corresponding to said mailbox ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for delivering information to a subscriber on a messaging system, the system comprising:
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a messaging platform having means for receiving a mailbox ID and service information from a subscriber and means for requesting from a master platform information corresponding to said service information, said master platform having means for communicating with an information source, said means for communicating responsive to said means for requesting by requesting information corresponding to said service information from said information source; wherein said master platform is configured to respond to any information received from said information source by sending said information to said messaging platform; and wherein said messaging platform is configured to covert said information to have a delivery format corresponding to a delivery format selected by said subscriber, said messaging platform having means for providing said information in said delivery format to said subscriber when said subscriber accesses a mailbox corresponding to said mailbox ID. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A messaging network, comprising:
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a plurality of messaging platforms coupled to a communication network, each of the plurality of messaging platforms communicating with the others of the plurality of messaging platforms via the communication network; a user messaging device coupled to a first of the plurality of messaging platforms, the user messaging device being configured to transmit a mailbox ID and service information to the first of the plurality of messaging platforms wherein the first of the plurality of messaging platforms is configured to receive the mailbox ID and service information and to generate a request message in response thereto; a master platform coupled to the communication network and configured to receive the request message from the first of the plurality of messaging platforms, the request message including a request for information corresponding to the service information; and an information source external to the communication network coupled to the master platform and configured to receive the request for information corresponding to the service information and to respond to the request with a response message, the master platform further configured to receive the response message and to transmit the response message to the first of the plurality of messaging platforms. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for delivering information to a subscriber on a messaging system, the system comprising:
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a master messaging computer having a communication module; a messaging computer having a communication module configured to receive a mailbox ID and service information from a subscriber and to communicate with the master messaging computer communication module to request from the master messaging computer information corresponding to the service information; the master messaging computer communication module being further configured to communicate with an information source in response to the master messaging computer communication module receiving the request for information corresponding to the service information from the messaging computer communication module, the communication from the master messaging computer communication module to the information source comprising a request for information corresponding to the service information; wherein the master messaging computer is further configured to respond to any information received from the information source by sending the information to the messaging computer; wherein the messaging computer is further configured to convert the information to have a delivery format corresponding to a delivery format selected by the subscriber; and wherein the messaging computer communication module is further configured to provide the information in the delivery format to the subscriber when the subscriber accesses a mailbox corresponding to the mailbox ID. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification