Method for providing video enhanced electronic mail return receipts

• US 7,451,189 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeLaCruz, Cedric G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Whipple; Brian P
• Application Number:
  US11/238,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method for providing electronic mail return receipts with video of the electronic mail recipient is disclosed. The electronic mail recipient opens an electronic mail message which initiates recording of the electronic mail recipient. The recording may be terminated when the recipient closes the electronic mail or minimizes the electronic mail message window. Recording may also end after a predetermined amount of time after the electronic mail message is opened.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic mail message return receipts between at least one electronic mail message originator and at least one electronic mail message recipient, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic mail message which requires a video enhanced electronic mail message return receipt when received by the at least one electronic mail message recipient;

providing the electronic mail message to the at least one electronic mail message recipient;

activating a video capturing device upon detecting that the at least one electronic mail message recipient has opened the electronic mail message; and

returning the video enhanced electronic mail message return receipt to the electronic mail message originator, wherein the electronic mail message originator will be able to view the electronic mail message recipient reading the electronic mail message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing the at least one electronic mail message recipient on video which comprises providing a signal to a video capturing device to begin recording the electronic mail message recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the video is saved in at least one format selected from the group of AVI, QUICKTIME, MPEG and REAL VIDEO formats.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the video enhanced electronic mail message recipient to the electronic mail message originator comprises:

attaching a video file to the electronic mail message return receipt.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining when the at least one electronic mail message recipient starts reading the electronic mail message; and

determining when the at least one electronic mail message recipient stops reading the electronic mail message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

ending the video capture when the at least one electronic mail message recipient stops reading the electronic mail message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a selected electronic mail message is tagged as requiring an electronic mail message return receipt by the electronic mail message originator.

8. A method for providing electronic mail message return receipts, the method comprising:

determining when an electronic mail message recipient has started reading an electronic mail message which requires an electronic mail message return receipt;

taking video of the electronic mail message recipient when the electronic mail message recipient has opened the electronic mail message;

determining when the electronic mail message recipient-has stopped reading the electronic mail message; and

providing the video of the electronic mail message recipient back to the electronic mail message'"'"'s originator who specified the electronic mail message return receipt requirement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining when an electronic mail message recipient has started reading a certain electronic mail message which requires an electronic mail message return receipt comprises:

detecting when the electronic mail message is opened.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining when the electronic mail message recipient has stopped reading the electronic mail message comprises:

detecting when the electronic mail message is closed.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining when the electronic mail message recipient has stopped reading the electronic mail message comprises:

detecting when the electronic mail message is minimized.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

halting the video taking after a predetermined time limit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein taking video of the electronic mail message recipient when the electronic mail message recipient has opened the electronic mail message comprises:

providing a signal to a video camera to begin taking video.

14. A method for providing electronic mail message return receipts between electronic mail correspondents, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic mail message having return receipt specified for the electronic mail message by a sender of electronic mail message;

providing the electronic mail message to at least one designated electronic mail message receiver;

determining when the at least one electronic mail message receiver opens the electronic mail message;

capturing the at least one electronic mail message receiver on video upon opening of the electronic mail message by the electronic mail message receiver; and

providing an electronic mail message return receipt to the sender of the electronic mail message, wherein the electronic mail message includes the video of the at least one electronic mail message receiver reading the electronic mail message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a signal is provided to a video camera upon opening of the electronic mail message by the electronic mail message receiver.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the video is attached as a file to the electronic mail message return receipt.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the video includes audio of the electronic mail message receiver.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing the electronic mail message receiver the opportunity to review and cancel the video if desired by the electronic mail message receiver.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the video is provided as a link to the video file.