Method and system for automatic modifiable messages

• US 7,680,948 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartComms SC Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Thunderhead Limited
• Inventors: McLennan, James, Davey, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US10/706,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 709202-203, 709206-207, 709/232, 709/246, 704 2- 7
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system automatically providing responses to a recipient stores data relating to the recipient in a data store, the data being gatherable from one, some or all of written communications, mail, telephone, the Internet, servers, telephone voice, data and text messages, and other files and data sources. An initial automatic communication is formed, and passed to a modifying console for possible modification to form a final communication. Modifications can include: doing nothing; deleting material; adding new material; adding material of predetermined fixed content; adding material of predetermined alterable content; and altering material. The final communication can be provided on one, all or some of the Internet, servers, the telephone system in the form of text, voice and data messages, and as mail for posting or mailing. The final communication can be in a selectable language, for a selectable jurisdiction and in a selectable idiom.

Claims

1. A method for directing an automatic communication to a recipient, said method including the steps of:

providing a data store;

storing data relating to the recipient in the data store;

examining the data stored and determining that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

extracting data relating to the recipient from the data store in response to a determination that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

automatically composing an initial communication in response to the data stored in the data store;

reviewing the initial communication and, passing the initial communication to be modified to become a final communication when stored data extracted when composing the initial communication indicates that human modification is required and, treating the initial communication as the final communication without passing to be modified, when stored data extracted when composing the initial communication indicates that human modification is not required; and

sending the final communication including any and all modifications to the recipient.

2. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the initial communication comprises modifying the initial communication in a manner selected in response to the data extracted from the data store.

3. A method, according to claim 1, wherein said step of modifying the initial communication comprises at least one of:

deleting material from the initial communication;

adding new material to the initial communication;

providing material of predetermined fixed content and adding the material of predetermined fixed content to the initial communication;

providing material of predetermined alterable content and adding the material of predetermined alterable content to the initial communication; and

altering material already provided in the initial communication.

4. A method, according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a plurality of selectable media for providing the final communication to the individual;

selecting, in response to the data extracted from the data store, at least one medium of said plurality of selectable media for providing the final communication to the individual; and

employing said at least one medium to send the final communication.

5. A method, according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of selectable media comprises facsimile transmission;

telephonic text messaging;

data transmission;

Internet Communication; and

mailing of printed letters.

6. A method, according to claim 2, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a plurality of selectable media for providing the final communication to the individual;

selecting, in response to the data stored, at least one medium of said plurality of selectable media for providing the final communication to the individual; and

employing said at least one medium to send the final communication.

7. A method, according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of selectable media comprises facsimile transmission;

telephonic text messaging;

data transmission;

Internet Communication; and

mailing of printed letters.

8. A method, according to claim 1, wherein said step of storing data relating to the recipient in a data store comprises the step of providing access to and accepting data relating to the recipient from at least one of:

the Internet;

a digital data transmission medium;

telephonic text messages;

telephonic voice messages;

printed matter;

data files; and

record data files.

9. A method, according to claim 1 wherein said step of automatically composing an initial communication in response to the data stored in the data store comprises the step of providing composition text in a plurality of languages, selecting one of said languages in response to the data stored relating to the recipient and composing the initial communication in the language selected.

10. A method, according to claim 9, wherein said step of modifying the initial communication comprises modifying the initial communication in a same language as a language selected for said initial communication.

11. A method, according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically composing an initial communication in response to the data stored in the data store includes the step of providing a plurality of idioms for the initial communication and selecting one of said plurality of idioms for the initial communication in response to data relating to the recipient extracted from the store.

12. A method, according to claim 11, wherein said step of modifying the initial communication comprises modifying the initial communication in a same idiom as an idiom selected for said initial communication.

13. A method, according to any one of claims 1-12, wherein said step of automatically composing an initial communication in response to the data stored in the data store includes the step of providing a plurality of forms of composition suitable for use in respective individual jurisdictions;

and selecting a particular jurisdiction with the respective form of composition in response to the data relating to the recipient extracted from the store; and

, composing the communication in the respective form of composition.

14. A method, according to claim 13, wherein said step of modifying the initial communication comprises modifying the initial communication with material suitable for use in a same jurisdiction as the initial communication.

15. A system for directing an automatic communication to a recipient, said system comprising:

a data store for storing data relating to the recipient;

examination means for examining the data stored in the data store and determining that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

data extraction means for extracting data relating to the recipient from said data store in response to a determination by said examination means that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

initial communication composition means for composing an initial communication in response to the data stored;

modification means for modifying the initial communication to become a final communication; and

message transmission means for sending the final communication to the recipient, wherein said modification means is optionally selectively operable in response to the data extracted from the data store.

16. A system, according to claim 15, wherein said modification means is operable to change only a predetermined portion of the initial communication.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said modification means is operable in response to the data extracted from said data store to modify the initial communication in a selected manner.

18. A system, according to claim 15, wherein said modification means is operable to perform at least one of:

doing nothing to the initial communication;

deleting material from the initial communication;

adding new material to the initial communication;

adding material of predetermined fixed content to the initial communication;

adding material of predetermined alterable content to the initial communication; and

altering material already provided in the initial communication.

19. A system, according to any claim 15, wherein said initial communication composition means is operable, in response to the data extracted from said data store, to select at least one medium from among a plurality of selectable media for providing the communication to the individual and to compose the communication in a form suitable for use on said at least one medium selected;

and wherein said message transmission means is operable to employ said at least one media selected to send the final communication.

20. A system, according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of media includes:

facsimile transmission;

telephonic text messaging;

data transmission;

Internet Communication; and

mailing of printed letters.

21. A system, according to claim 15, wherein said data relating to the recipient includes data from at least one of:

the Internet;

a digital data transmission medium;

telephonic text messages;

telephonic voice messages;

printed matter;

data files; and

record data files.

22. A system, according to claim 15, wherein said initial communication composition means is operable to compose the initial communication in a selectable one of a plurality of languages, the one of the plurality of languages being selected in response to the data relating to the recipient extracted from said data store.

23. A system, according to claim 22, wherein said modification means is operable to modify the initial communication in a same language as a language selected for said initial communication.

24. A system, according to claim 15, wherein said initial communication composition means is operable to select one of a plurality of idioms for the initial communication, the particular idiom being selected in response to the data relating to the recipient extracted from said data store.

25. A system, according to claim 24, wherein said modification means is operable to modify the initial communication in a same idiom as an idiom selected for said initial communication.

26. A system, according to any one of claims 15 and 16 to 25, wherein said initial communication composition means is operable to compose the initial communication in a form suitable for use in a selectable one of a plurality of jurisdictions, the particular one of the plurality of jurisdictions being selected in response to the data relating to the recipient extracted from the data store.

27. A system, according to claim 26, wherein said modification means is operable to modify the initial communication with material in a same form as the form suitable for use in the same jurisdiction as the jurisdiction selected for the initial communication.

28. A method for directing an automatic communication to a recipient, said method including the steps of:

providing a data store;

storing data relating to the recipient in the data store;

examining the data stored and determining that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

extracting data relating to the recipient from the data store in response to a determination that a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

automatically composing an initial communication with a modifiable portion and an unmodifiable portion in response to the data stored from the data store;

passing the modifiable portion of the initial communication to become a final communication and sending the final communication to the recipient;

wherein said step of passing the modifiable portion of the initial communication to be modified to become a final communication is optional and selectable in response to the data relating to the recipient extracted from the data store.

29. A method for directing an automatic communication to a recipient, said method including the steps of:

storing data, relating to the recipient, in a data store;

examining the stored data to determine if a communication is to be provided to the recipient;

if a communication is to be provided to the recipient, extracting the stored data relating to the recipient from the data store;

automatically composing an initial communication in response to the stored data;

passing the initial communication to be modified to become a final communication;

sending the final communication to the recipient, and wherein said step of passing the initial communication to be modified to become a final communication is optional and selectable in response to the extracted stored data.

30. A system for directing an automatic communication to a recipient, said system comprising:

a data store for storing data relating to the recipient;

examination means, operable to examine the stored data extraction means, operable, if said examination means determined that a communication is to be provided to the recipient, to extract the stored data relating to the recipient from said data store;

initial communication composition means, operable to compose an initial communication in response to the stored data;

modification means, operable to modify the initial communication to become a final communication;

message transmission means, operable to send the final communication to the recipient, and

wherein said modification means is optionally selectably operable in response to the extracted stored data.