Methods and apparatus for transmitting prioritized electronic mail messages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing prioritized delivery of an email message, comprising:
- receiving the email message;
receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message;
selecting procedures sufficient for delivering the email message within the specified time frame; and
delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures.
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Abstract
A system allows users to send electronic mail messages having prioritized delivery. A server receives an electronic mail message that contains a specified priority or a specified time frame for delivery. The server determines a time frame for delivery and selects procedures to ensure delivery of the electronic mail message within the determined time frame. The server then provides the electronic mail message to the receiving account within the determined time frame.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing prioritized delivery of an email message, comprising:
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receiving the email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures sufficient for delivering the email message within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing prioritized delivery, comprising:
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receiving from a sending account of the at least one sending account at a mail server an email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures to ensure that the email message can be delivered to the receiving account within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for providing prioritized delivery of an email message, comprising:
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at least one memory having program instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the program instructions to perform the operations of; receiving the email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures sufficient for delivering the email message within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus for providing prioritized delivery of an email message from a sending account to a receive account, comprising:
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at least one memory having program instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the program instructions to perform the operations of; receiving from the sending account at a mail server the email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures to ensure that the email message can be delivered to the receiving account within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing prioritized delivery of an email message, the method comprising:
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receiving the email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures sufficient for delivering the email message within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing prioritized delivery of an email message from a sending account to a receiving account, the method comprising:
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receiving from the sending account at a mail server the email message; receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; selecting procedures to ensure that the email message can be delivered to the receiving account within the specified time frame; and delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An apparatus for providing prioritized delivery of an email message, comprising:
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means for receiving the email message; means for receiving a corresponding delivery time frame for the email message, wherein the corresponding delivery time frame is specified by a sender of the email message; means for selecting procedures sufficient for delivering the email message within the specified time frame; and means for delivering the email message within the specified time frame using the selected procedures. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification