Systems and methods for an e-mail clearing house

• US 7,062,564 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Quenton Lanier
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/243,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709206-207, 709217-219, 709227-228, 709213-216
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Systems and methods provide e-mail forwarding by receiving a first message from a first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system; associating the first message previously addressed to the first e-mail account with a second e-mail account address; forwarding the first message to the second e-mail account address; and arranging for an incentive to be shared between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the first message.

Claims

1. An e-mail clearing house server, comprising:

a memory with a look-up table;

a network connection to a first and a second e-mail system; and

a processor operative to;

receive a first message from the network connection to the first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associate the first message with a second e-mail account address on the second e-mail system;

forward the first message to the second e-mail system with the second e-mail account address;

arrange a fee payment between the first e-mail system and the e-mail clearing house server;

send a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receive a response from the second e-mail account address; and

forward the first message to the second e-mail account address if indicated by the response.

2. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 1, wherein the processor uses the look-up table stored in the memory to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

3. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 2, wherein the processor uses the look-up table to associate the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

4. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to provide a portion of the fee payment to the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the first message to the e-mail clearing house server.

5. The e-mail clearing house of claim 4, wherein the portion of the fee payment varies based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

6. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to receive the fee payment and share the fee payment with the first e-mail system.

7. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 6, wherein the processor arranges for the fee payment and receives contact information to arrange to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

8. An e-mail clearing house server, comprising:

a memory with a look-up table;

a network connection to a first and a second e-mail system; and

a processor operative to;

receive a first message from the network connection to the first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associate the first message with a second e-mail account address on the second e-mail system;

forward the first message to the second e-mail system with the second e-mail account address;

arrange a fee payment between the first e-mail system and the e-mail clearing house server;

send a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receive a response from the second e-mail account address; and

send the second e-mail account address to a sender of the first message if indicated by the response.

9. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 8, wherein the processor uses the look-up table stored in the memory to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

10. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 9, wherein the processor uses the look-up table to associate the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

11. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 8, wherein the processor is operative to provide a portion of the fee payment to the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the first message to the e-mail clearing house server.

12. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 11, wherein the processor arranges for the fee payment and receives contact information to arrange to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

13. The e-mail clearing house of claim 11, wherein the portion of the fee payment varies based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

14. An e-mail clearinghouse server, comprising:

a memory with a look-up table;

a network connection to a first and a second e-mail system; and

a processor operative to;

receive a first message from the network connection to the first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associate the first message with a second e-mail account address on the second e-mail system;

forward the first message to the second e-mail system with the second e-mail account address;

arrange a fee payment between the first e-mail system and the e-mail clearing house server;

send a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receive a response from the second e-mail account address; and

block the first message from being sent to the second e-mail account address if indicated by the response.

15. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 14, wherein the processor uses the look-up table stored in the memory to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

16. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 15, wherein the processor uses the look-up table to associate the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

17. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 14, wherein the processor is operative to provide a portion of the fee payment to the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the first message to the e-mail clearing house server.

18. The e-mail clearing house server of claim 17, wherein the processor arranges for the fee payment and receives contact information to arrange to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

19. The e-mail clearing house of claim 17, wherein the portion of the fee payment varies based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

20. A method for forwarding electronic mail, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associating the first message with a second e-mail account address;

forwarding the first message to the second e-mail account address; and

arranging an incentive to be shared between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the first message;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

forwarding the first message to the second e-mail account address if indicated by the response.

21. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 20, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

22. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 21, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

23. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 20, wherein arranging the incentive includes paying a fee to the first e-mail system and the fee is shared between the first e-mail system and the forwarding system.

24. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 20, wherein arranging the incentive includes paying a fee to the forwarding system and the fee is shared between the forwarding system and the first e-mail system.

25. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 24, wherein a user arranges to pay the fee to the forwarding system and provides contact information to arrange to share the fee with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

26. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 20, wherein arranging the incentive includes varying the incentive based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

27. A method for forwarding electronic mail, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associating the first message with a second e-mail account address;

forwarding the first message to the second e-mail account address;

arranging an incentive to be shared between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the first message;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

sending the second e-mail account address to a sender of the first message if indicated by the response.

28. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 27, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

29. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 28, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

30. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 27, wherein arranging the incentive includes paying a fee to the first e-mail system and the fee is shared between the first e-mail system and the forwarding system.

31. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 30, wherein a user arranges to pay the fee to the forwarding system and provides contact information to arrange to share the fee with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

32. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 27, wherein arranging the incentive includes varying the incentive based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

33. A method for forwarding electronic mail, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first e-mail system, the first message being previously addressed to a first e-mail account address on the first e-mail system;

associating the first message with a second e-mail account address;

forwarding the first message to the second e-mail account address;

arranging an incentive to be shared between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the first message;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address about the first message;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

blocking the first message from being sent to the second e-mail account address if indicated by the response.

34. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 33, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first message and the second e-mail account address.

35. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 34, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

36. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 33, wherein arranging the incentive includes paying a fee to the first e-mail system and the fee is shared between the first e-mail system and the forwarding system.

37. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 36, wherein a user arranges to pay the fee to the forwarding system and provides contact information to arrange to share the fee with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

38. The electronic mail forwarding method of claim 33, wherein arranging the incentive includes varying the incentive based upon a time period that a user desires for the first message to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

39. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for forwarding electronic mail, which when executed perform steps comprising:

receiving an e-mail originally sent to a first e-mail account address on a first e-mail system;

associating the e-mail with a second e-mail account address on a second e-mail system;

forwarding the e-mail to the second e-mail account address;

arranging a fee payment between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the e-mail;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address requesting permission to forward the e-mail;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

forwarding the e-mail to the second e-mail account address if permission is granted to forward the e-mail in the response.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first account address and the second e-mail account address.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising arranging a portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the e-mail to the forwarding system.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein arranging the portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system includes determining an amount for the portion, based on a period of time that the e-mail is to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein arranging the fee payment includes making the fee payment to the forwarding system and the fee payment is shared with the first e-mail system.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein a user arranges the fee payment with the forwarding system and provides contact information to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

46. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for forwarding electronic mail, which when executed perform steps comprising:

receiving an e-mail originally sent to a first e-mail account address on a first e-mail system;

associating the e-mail with a second e-mail account address on a second e-mail system;

forwarding the e-mail to the second e-mail account address;

arranging a fee payment between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the e-mail;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address requesting permission to forward the e-mail;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

sending the second e-mail account address to a sender of the e-mail if indicated in the response.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first account address and the second e-mail account address.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, further comprising arranging a portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the e-mail to the forwarding system.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein arranging the portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system includes determining an amount for the portion, based on a period of time that the e-mail is to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein a user arranges the fee payment with the forwarding system and provides contact information to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.

52. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for forwarding electronic mail, which when executed perform steps comprising:

receiving an e-mail originally sent to a first e-mail account address on a first e-mail system;

associating the e-mail with a second e-mail account address on a second e-mail system;

forwarding the e-mail to the second e-mail account address;

arranging a fee payment between the first e-mail system and a forwarding system that receives the e-mail;

sending a notification message to the second e-mail account address requesting permission to forward the e-mail;

receiving a response from the second e-mail account address; and

blocking the e-mail from being sent to the second e-mail account address if permission to forward the e-mail is denied in the response.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the associating step further comprises using a look-up table to generate the association between the first account address and the second e-mail account address.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the look-up table associates the first e-mail account address and a third e-mail account address with the second e-mail account address.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, further comprising arranging a portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system as an incentive to forward the e-mail to the forwarding system.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein arranging the portion of the fee payment to be shared with the first e-mail system includes determining an amount for the portion, based on a period of time that the e-mail is to be forwarded to the second e-mail account address.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein a user arranges the fee payment with the forwarding system and provides contact information to share the fee payment with the first e-mail system during a registration process.