Messaging and document management system and method

• US 7,502,828 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jon S. Gardner
• Original Assignee: Epostal Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Gardner, Jon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US10/803,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 715/500, 705/401
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A communication system and method transmits electronic mail among multiple users that are senders or recipients of the mail, or both. The system and method use and augment the Internet with a postal server and software (ePostal Service) linked to the Internet. The sender and recipient have terminals also linked to the Internet. The sender uses postal sender software to select transmission using the ePostal Service, with certain automatic premium services, and select certain optional premium services, typically available for an additional cost. The system and method include payment and accounting functions for use of the premium services. The system and method can operate with networks serving multiple terminals. Premium services include sender identification and certification, screening of mail for technical and content risks, encryption, confirmation of receipt and opening of the mail, customizable incentives for recipients to open received mail, and post office “window” and mail holding functions.

Claims

1. A communication system that transmits electronic mail among multiple Sender and Recipient terminals and which both uses and augments the Internet, comprising:

an ePostal server and ePostal server software,

links connecting the Sender and Recipient terminals and said ePostal server and ePostal server software to the Internet, and Sender ePostal software

(i)operable on at least the Sender terminal and

(ii) operable with conventional electronic mail application software also operating on the Sender terminal to

(iii) selectively provide access by the Sender terminal and said Sender ePostal software to said ePostal server and ePostal server software for managing and processing the electronic mail transmitted from the Sender terminal in order to provide the communication system'"'"'s premium mail services to the electronic mail, and

(iv) begin processing of said premium mail services to the electronic mail.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 further comprising Recipient ePostal software

(i) operable at least on the Recipient terminal, and

(ii) operable with conventional electronic email application software also operating on the Recipient terminal, to

(iii) process the electronic mail, transmitted by the Sender terminal. managed and processed by said ePostal server and Postal-server software, and received by the Recipient terminal via the internet and said Recipient link in order to provide said premium mail services to the electronic mail.

3. The communication system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said Sender and Recipient ePostal software is software stored at the Sender and Recipient terminals.

4. The communication system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said Sender and Recipient ePostal software is stored and accessible to the Sender and/or Recipient at said ePostal server.

5. The communication system according to claim 2 wherein said links comprise a network interconnecting the multiple terminals to the Internet, at least one of said ePostal Sender, Recipient and server software is stored and/or accessible to the Sender and/or Recipient at said network.

6. The communication system according to claim 2 wherein said Sender ePostal software and ePostal server software include payment software to authorize and account for payment for use of the communication system.

7. The communication system according to claim 6 wherein said Sender and Recipient ePostal software and said ePostal server software include said payment software to account for incentive credits for the opening of the electronic mail at the Recipient terminal.

8. The communication system according to claim 6 wherein said premium services include optional selectable premium services and said payment software accounts for the collection of an additional fee in response to said Sender ePostal software selection of one or more of said optional premium services.

9. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said connecting links between the internet and any of the Sender terminal, Recipient terminal, and ePostal server includes a telecommunications link.

10. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said connecting links between the internet and any of the Sender terminal, Recipient terminal, and ePostal server includes a link selected from the group consisting of:

ISP, intranet, extranet, LAN, dial up, DSL, cable, satellite, cell, wireless, and combinations thereof.

11. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said premium services for the electronic mail are selected from the group consisting of:

identification of the Sender;

certification of the identity of the entity operating the Sender terminal;

prioritization of the sent and received electronic mail;

screening of the electronic mail for technical risks;

screening of the electronic mail for content risks;

encryption of the electronic mail;

notification to the Sender of receipt of the electronic mail;

notification to the Sender of opening of the electronic mail;

pre-paid replies for the Recipient to respond to the Sender through the communication system;

customized incentives for the Recipients to open the electronic mail;

verifiable date and time stamp of ePostal server processing;

customized verification of content of the electronic mail;

creation of secure holding of the electronic mail at the Sender, Recipient and ePostal server; and

payment and accounting for said premium electronic mail services; and

combinations thereof.

12. The communication system according to claim 11 where said prioritization is a differentiation between the electronic mail processed by the communication system and conventional electronic mail carried in the Internet.

13. The communication system according to claim 11 wherein said prioritization comprises a differentiation among the electronic mail processed by the communication system.

14. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the Sender and Recipient terminals and the Internet can have different combinations of operating systems and electronic mail application software, and wherein said Sender and Recipient ePostal software are adapted to interface across said different combinations with said ePostal server and ePostal server software.

15. A method of communication for electronic mail among multiple Sender and Recipient terminals that both uses and augments the Internet, comprising:

providing an ePostal server and ePostal server software;

linking the Sender and Recipient terminals to the Internet and said ePostal server and ePostal server software;

providing Sender ePostal software

(i) operating on the Sender terminal, and

(ii) operating with conventional electronic mail application software also operating on the Sender terminal.

(iii) to provide selectively access by the Sender terminal and said Sender ePostal software to said ePostal server and ePostal server software for managing and processing the electronic mail transmitted from the Sender terminal in order to provide the communication system'"'"'s said premium electronic mail services to the electronic mail and

(iv) to begin processing of said premium mail services to the electronic mail,

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing Recipient ePostal software;

(i) operable on the Recipient terminal, and

(ii) operating with conventional electronic mail application software also operating on the Recipient terminal,

(iii) for processing the electronic mail, transmitted by the Sender terminal, managed and processed by said ePostal server and ePostal server software, and received by the Recipient terminal via the Internet and said Recipient link, in order to provide said premium mail services to the electronic mail.

17. The method of claim 16 where said linking includes telecommunicating.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said linking includes networking multiple ones of the Sender and Recipient terminals.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said Sender ePostal software and said ePostal server software processing includes payment and accounting services for at least a portion of said premium mail services.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said payment and accounting services account for incentives to a user of the Recipient terminal for opening of the electronic mail at the Recipient terminal.