Automated system and method for delivery of messages and processing of message responses

• US 7,966,373 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vesta Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dialogic Communications Corporation (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Charles M., St. Clair, Harold D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Philip C
• Application Number:
  US10/155,836
• Time in Patent Office: 3,315 Days
• Field of Search: 378/88.13, 395/200.04, 709/201, 709/206, 709/203, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

An automated system for delivery of messages to multiple recipients, and for processing of responses to the messages, includes a message client, message server, and system database. A message is created using a universal message form. The message content can be translated into multiple formats and sent to one or more different recipients using one or more different types of messaging devices, including pagers, telephones, fax machines, and e-mail readers. A recipient profile manager allows each recipient to select the messaging devices to be used for message delivery as well as preferred messaging schedules, priorities, and message security. Receipt of the messages by the recipients is verified, response requirements collected and consolidated from multiple sources and presented to the message originator in a structured format.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a sender-created message to one or more recipients using at least one messaging device, the method comprising:

creating message content and message information for the message in a universal message form using a message client, wherein the universal message form comprises a header and a body, the header including the message information comprising data identifying the one or more recipients of the message, and the body including the message content and wherein the body is initially devoid of any fields;

embedding at least one sender-defined response field in the body, the response field adapted to directly accept message responses in a recipient-created format that is independent of sender-defined parameters in the sender-created message;

automatically accessing recipient profiles stored in a database, the recipient profiles created by the one or more recipients, the recipient profiles comprising data indicative of a recipient'"'"'s location and schedule, the recipient profiles further comprising data indicative of one or more types of messaging devices available for receiving the message based upon a current time and the data indicative of the recipient'"'"'s location and schedule;

translating in a message server the message content and the universal message form into a message format usable by each of the one or more types of messaging devices selected by the recipient in the recipient profile; and

transmitting the message and the universal message form to each of the one or more types of messaging devices selected by the recipient;

wherein translating into the message format is based at least on a message sensitivity level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in the message server responses to the message entered by the recipients in the response field in the universal message form using the one or more types of messaging devices;

automatically linking the responses to the message to the message information created in the message client; and

viewing the response to the message on the message client.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying multiple recipients for the message in the message information;

accessing multiple recipient profiles in the database corresponding to the multiple recipients identified in the message information;

transmitting the message and the universal message form to each messaging device selected by the multiple recipients;

receiving in the message server responses to the message entered by each of the multiple recipients in the response field in the universal message form using the messaging devices;

automatically linking the responses to the message to the message information created on the message client;

storing the responses to the message in the database; and

organizing the responses to the message for viewing on the message client.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the types of messaging devices include pagers, e-mail readers, telephones, personal computers, fax machines and voice mail systems.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the type of messaging device used by the multiple recipients to send the response to the message is different from the type of messaging device used to deliver the message to the multiple recipients.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying multiple recipients for the message in the message information;

accessing multiple recipient profiles in the database corresponding to the multiple recipients identified in the message information;

translating in the message server the message content and the universal message form into multiple formats corresponding to multiple types of messaging devices identified by the multiple recipients in the multiple recipient profiles; and

transmitting the message and the universal message form to each of the multiple types of messaging devices selected by the multiple recipients.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the types of messaging devices include pagers, e-mail readers, telephones, personal computers, fax machines and voice mail systems.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding hidden information in the message, the hidden information uniquely identifying both the message and at least one of the one or more recipients, wherein the hidden information enables the message server to distinguish which of the one or more recipients has responded to the message.

9. A method of delivering a sender-created message to one or more recipients using at least one messaging device, the method comprising:

creating message content and message information for the message in a universal message form using a message client, wherein the universal message form comprises a header and a body, the header including the message information comprising data identifying the one or more recipients of the message, and the body including the message content and wherein the body is initially devoid of any fields;

embedding at least one sender-defined response field in the body, the response field adapted to directly accept message responses in a recipient-created format that is independent of sender-defined parameters in the sender-created message;

automatically accessing recipient profiles stored in a database, the recipient profiles created by the one or more recipients, the recipient profiles comprising data indicative of a recipient'"'"'s location or schedule, the recipient profiles further comprising data indicative of one or more types of messaging devices available for receiving the message based upon a current time and the data indicative of the recipient'"'"'s location or schedule;

translating in a message server the message content and the universal message form into a message format usable by each of the one or more types of messaging devices selected by the recipient in the recipient profile; and

transmitting the message and the universal message form to each of the one or more types of messaging devices selected by the recipient;

wherein translating into the message format is based at least on a message sensitivity level.