Method and apparatus for bouncing electronic messages

• US 7,437,422 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServStor Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Meyer Cordless LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fuisz, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US11/515,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20070005718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 719/328, 719/329
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided that establishes user accounts that automatically forward a user'"'"'s e-mail to the user'"'"'s pre-selected forwarding e-mail address(es). Each user creates a forwarding directory, which may comprise multiple e-mail accounts, that the user activates and deactivates as needed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

storing, in a database, secondary account information about a secondary account associated with primary account information about a primary account;

receiving, from the secondary account, an electronic message including both a sender address related to the secondary account and a recipient address, wherein said recipient address is a conversion address which includes an embedded address that is independent of any previously received electronic messages;

replacing the recipient address with the embedded address to generate a forwarding address; and

forwarding the electronic message to the forwarding address.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

retrieving, from said database, primary account information corresponding to the secondary account, said primary account information including a primary account address;

replacing the sender address with the primary account address prior to forwarding the electronic message.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of replacing includes the steps of:

extracting the embedded address form the recipient address, and

generating the forwarding address based on the extracted address.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said forwarding address corresponds to an e-mail account and said secondary account is a non-internet account.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a pager account.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a cellular telephone account.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a digital telephone account.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a satellite telephone account.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a voice-mail account.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

capturing a reply message in an audio file; and

sending said reply message to the secondary account.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said non-internet account is a facsimile account.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

determining a packet size of said forwarded electronic message.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

billing a sender of said electronic message based at least in part on said packet size of said forwarded electronic message.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

billing a primary account holder based at least in part on said packet size of said forwarded electronic message.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

entering a floating account in a database that corresponds to a primary account, wherein said floating account comprises a user identifier;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up a secondary account assigned to said floating account;

replacing the recipient address with said secondary account; and

receiving a secondary account for said floating account from an associate service provider.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a start time for said floating account.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a stop time for said floating account.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a departure time, wherein one or more electronic message received after the departure time is forwarded to said secondary account.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

storing one or more electronic message received after said departure time but before activation of said secondary account.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said secondary account is a non-internet account.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

receiving a floating account request that corresponds to a primary account;

validating said primary account;

assigning a floating account to said primary account based on said floating account request, wherein said floating account has a user identifier and is administered by an associate service provider;

activating said floating account;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up said floating account assigned to said primary account; and

replacing the recipient address with said floating account.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a cellular telephone account.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a digital telephone account.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a satellite telephone account.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a voicemail account.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a facsimile account.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said primary account is a pager account.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a start time for said floating account.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a stop time for said floating account.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a departure time, wherein one or more electronic message received after the departure time is forwarded to said floating account.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

storing one or more electronic message received after said departure time but before activation of said floating account.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said floating account is a non-internet account.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein said non-internet account is a pager account.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein said non-internet account is a digital telephone account.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein said non-internet account is a satellite telephone account.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein said non-internet account is a facsimile account.

34. The computer-readable medium of 32 wherein said non-internet account is a cellular telephone account.

37. The computer-readable medium of 32 wherein said non-internet account is a voicemail account.

39. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:

entering an associate service area in a database that corresponds to a request for service associated with a primary account;

receiving an electronic message addressed to the primary account;

looking up a floating account associated with said associate service area, wherein said floating account comprises a user identifier;

receiving a secondary account for said floating account from said associate service area; and

replacing a recipient address of the electronic message with said secondary account.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a start time for said floating account.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

entering a stop time for said floating account.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said secondary account is a non-internet account.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a pager account.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a cellular telephone account.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a digital telephone account.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a satellite telephone account.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a voicemail account.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein said non-internet account is a facsimile account.