E-mail to physical mail converter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving by an e-mail application an e-mail from a client, wherein the e-mail comprises at least one recipient identifier, wherein the at least one recipient identifier identifies an intended recipient of the e-mail;
determining by the e-mail application whether each recipient identifier including the at least one recipient identifier in the e-mail that identifies the intended recipient of the e-mail comprises an e-mail address;
in response to the determining, for the each recipient identifier in the e-mail;
if a recipient identifier does not comprise an e-mail address, removing the recipient identifier that does not comprise an e-mail address from the e-mail, printing the e-mail, printing postage on an envelop, printing a street address associated with the recipient identifier on the envelop, and subtracting a cost of the postage from an account associated with an originator of the e-mail; and
if a recipient identifier does comprise an e-mail address, retaining the recipient identifier comprising the e-mail address in the email;
wherein the removing, the printing of the postage, the printing of the street address, the subtracting, and the retaining are performed by the email application; and
sending by the e-mail application the e-mail to recipient identifiers retained in the e-mail if any recipient identifier comprising an e-mail address is retained in the e-mail after the determining and the removing.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment convert e-mail into physical mail. In various embodiments, if a recipient identifier in the e-mail is an e-mail address, the recipient identifier is retained. But, if the recipient identifier in the e-mail is not an e-mail address, the recipient identifier, or a street address associated with the recipient identifier, is printed on an envelope, and the e-mail is also printed. Postage may also optionally be printed on the envelope. In this way, persons who do not have an e-mail address may still receive the contents of e-mail via physical delivery.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving by an e-mail application an e-mail from a client, wherein the e-mail comprises at least one recipient identifier, wherein the at least one recipient identifier identifies an intended recipient of the e-mail; determining by the e-mail application whether each recipient identifier including the at least one recipient identifier in the e-mail that identifies the intended recipient of the e-mail comprises an e-mail address; in response to the determining, for the each recipient identifier in the e-mail; if a recipient identifier does not comprise an e-mail address, removing the recipient identifier that does not comprise an e-mail address from the e-mail, printing the e-mail, printing postage on an envelop, printing a street address associated with the recipient identifier on the envelop, and subtracting a cost of the postage from an account associated with an originator of the e-mail; and if a recipient identifier does comprise an e-mail address, retaining the recipient identifier comprising the e-mail address in the email; wherein the removing, the printing of the postage, the printing of the street address, the subtracting, and the retaining are performed by the email application; and sending by the e-mail application the e-mail to recipient identifiers retained in the e-mail if any recipient identifier comprising an e-mail address is retained in the e-mail after the determining and the removing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A storage medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps comprising of:
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receiving by an e-mail application an e-mail from a client, wherein the e-mail comprises at least one recipient identifier, wherein the at least one recipient identifier identifies an intended recipient of the e-mail; determining by the e-mail application whether each recipient identifier including the at least one recipient identifier in the e-mail that identifies the intended recipient of the e-mail comprises an e-mail address; in response to the determining, for the each recipient identifier in the e-mail; if a recipient identifier does not comprise an e-mail address, removing the recipient identifier that does not comprise an e-mail address from the e-mail, printing the e-mail, printing postage on an envelop, printing a street address associated with the recipient identifier on the envelop, and subtracting a cost of the postage from an account associated with an originator of the e-mail; and if a recipient identifier does comprise an e-mail address, retaining the recipient identifier comprising the e-mail address in the email; wherein the removing, the printing of the postage, the printing of the street address, the subtracting, and the retaining are performed by the email application; and sending by the e-mail application the e-mail to recipient identifiers retained in the e-mail if any recipient identifier comprising an e-mail address is retained in the e-mail after the determining and the removing. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; and memory encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions execute steps comprising of; receiving by an e-mail application an e-mail from a client, wherein the e-mail comprises at least one recipient identifier, wherein the at least one recipient identifier identifies an intended recipient of the e-mail; determining by the e-mail application whether each recipient identifier including the at least one recipient identifier in the e-mail that identifies the intended recipient of the e-mail comprises an e-mail address; in response to the determining, for the each recipient identifier in the e-mail; if a recipient identifier does not comprise an e-mail address, removing the recipient identifier that does not comprise an e-mail address from the e-mail, printing the e-mail, printing postage on an envelop, printing a street address associated with the recipient identifier on the envelop, and subtracting a cost of the postage from an account associated with an originator of the e-mail, and if a recipient identifier does comprise an e-mail address, retaining the recipient identifier comprising the e-mail address in the email; wherein the removing, the printing of the postage, the printing of the street address, the subtracting, and the retaining are performed by the email application; sending by the e-mail application the e-mail to recipient identifiers retained in the e-mail if any recipient identifier comprising an e-mail address is retained in the e-mail after the determining and the removing; and determining whether to perform the removing, the printing the e-mail, and the printing the street address based on an option associated with an address book. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification