Individual XML message processing platform

• US 8,386,569 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Interactive Services Corp.
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Stark, Juergen, Goren, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Nooristany, Sulaiman
• Application Number:
  US11/433,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/246, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/83 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/33 containing protocol addresses or telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/37 E-mail addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A communications platform is disclosed containing a message processing platform along with an XML message format (SmartMessage) which provides for the reception, organization, summarization, filing, storage, synthesis, routing, formatting, and intelligent processing of XML-based electronic messages and SMTP electronic mail from corporations and other senders to fully integrate individuals'"'"' existing e-mail boxes, cellular telephones, paging equipment, facsimile machines, wireless and wired telephones, and other devices. The platform utilizes a nickname-based routing to enable device specific sending without knowledge of the specific device address. The platform provides sender-defined information folios, which enable synthesized filing, viewing and storage of all received SmartMessages, and the platform allows semi-private access control for the user, which allows access by others. The platform also utilizes a web-based user interface, which greatly simplifies the user'"'"'s viewing, control and configuration of the individual user'"'"'s particular platform.

Claims

1. A communications platform that enables users to receive electronic messages comprising a message-processing platform, the processing platform comprising logic for:

receiving an electronic message transmitted from a server communicably coupled to and addressed to the platform, the electronic message comprising a routing indicator and at least one of formatting data or a link to the formatting data;

accessing a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with routing indicators;

accessing the formatting data for formatting at least some of the electronic message on the plurality of endpoints;

selecting at least one endpoint from a plurality of endpoints based on the routing indicator in the electronic message and the user-defined endpoint table, wherein at least one of a plurality of events are associated with the least one endpoint and update at least one activity;

formatting at least a portion of the electronic message based on the formatting data for the at least one endpoint;

routing, via a routing server, at least a portion of the formatted electronic message to the at least one endpoint;

wherein the formatting data comprises a stylesheet; and

wherein the electronic message includes the routing indicator and a reference to the stylesheet.

2. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein said endpoint is automatically created by a service provider and transmitted to an individual'"'"'s communication platform.

3. The communications platform in claim 2, wherein said endpoint comprises an electronic mail box, a wired or wireless telephone, a facsimile machine, a paging device, or a personal digital assistant.

4. The communications platform in claim 1, further comprising a website, said website being accessible by the users of the communications platform.

5. The communications platform in claim 4, wherein users of said communications platform can modify the user-defined endpoint table by accessing the website.

6. The communications platform in claim 5, wherein said modification of the user-defined endpoint table comprises configuring at least one.

7. The communications platform in claim 4, wherein said website further comprising delivery information pertaining to senders, activity and events, and endpoints.

8. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein said electronic message is delivered either by the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, or the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, to a receiving server.

9. A communications platform that enables users to receive electronic messages from corporations and others comprising a message-processing platform, the platform comprising at least one server, said processing platform comprising logic for:

receiving an electronic message transmitted from a sender'"'"'s communication device server, for a user, the electronic message comprising a routing indicator and a request for a response;

accessing a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with routing indicators;

receiving formatting data for formatting at least some of the electronic message on each of the plurality of endpoints;

selecting at least one endpoint from a plurality of endpoints based on the routing indicator in the electronic message and the user-defined endpoint table, wherein at least one of a plurality of events are associated with the least one endpoint and update at least one activity;

formatting at least a portion of the electronic message based on the formatting data for the at least one endpoint;

routing at least a portion of the formatted electronic message to the at least one endpoint, via a routing server;

receiving a response to the formatted electronic message sent from the at least one endpoint;

compiling information from the response;

sending at least a portion of the information to the sender via the routing server;

wherein the formatting data comprises a stylesheet; and

wherein the electronic message includes the routing indicator and a reference to the stylesheet.

10. The communications platform in claim 9, further comprising formatting the information;

and

wherein sending at least a portion of the information to the sender comprises sending at least a portion of the formatted information.

11. The communications platform in claim 9, wherein the response to the formatted message comprises a verbal response;

and

wherein compiling information from the response comprises using a voice recognition apparatus to process the verbal response.

12. The communications platform in claim 11, wherein routing at least a portion of the formatted electronic message to the at least one endpoint comprises routing an initial message from the sender, potential responses by the user, and XML-based messages to be sent back to the sender.