Methods and systems for providing an electronic account to a customer

• US 8,429,234 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Campbell, Leo J., Cook, Jon L., Orbke, Wayne H., Ray, Christine, Rogerson, Cathy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/155,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/220, 709/224, 709/228, 705/26, 705/35
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an electronic account over a network, using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the computer system, a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

matching, by the computer system, a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail;

linking, by the computer system, the electronic account to the physical address;

receiving a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

sending a copy of the message to the electronic account of the user based on the physical address of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the matching step occurs by matching a physical address from a United States Postal Service address database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a geographic location.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from one of:

a mailing online service, a NetPost.Certified service, a shipping online service, a stamps online service, and a PC Postage service.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from a secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from a non-secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

51. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing, by the computer system, an e-mail address for the electronic account; and

allowing, by the computer system, the user to access the e-mail address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

4. A method for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the computer system, a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

generating, by the computer system, an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

initiating, by the computer system, an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user;

linking, by the computer system, the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account;

receiving a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

sending a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service electronic e-mail address.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service user-chosen e-mail address.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the request further includes a preferred electronic address.

42. The method of claim 4, wherein the message is received from one of:

a mailing online service, a NetPost.Certified service, a shipping online service, a stamps online service, and a PC Postage service.

43. The method of claim 4, wherein the message is received from a secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

44. The method of claim 4, wherein the message is received from a non-secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

52. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

allowing, by the computer system, the user to access the electronic address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

8. A method for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

linking, by the computer system, the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

linking, by the computer system, the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

receiving, by the computer system, a request from a service provider to access the electronic account over the network;

receiving, from the service provider, a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

sending a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

presenting, by the computer system, an identifier of the service provider to the user, the identifier including at least one service delivery option;

receiving, by the computer system, a request for a service from the user, the request including a preferred service delivery option; and

providing, by the computer system, the service to the user via the preferred service delivery option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the physical address.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the electronic address.

45. The method of claim 9, wherein the service includes one of:

a mailing online service, a NetPost.Certified service, a shipping online service, a stamps online service, and a PC Postage service.

46. The method of claim 8, wherein the service provider provides electronic service is a secure service and includes provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

47. The method of claim 8, wherein the service provider provides a non-secure service and includes one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

12. A method for delivering mail, using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the computer system, mail for delivery to a customer with an electronic account, where the electronic account has both an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, both the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account;

querying for the electronic address of the customer in a database based on the physical address of the customer; and

delivering a copy of the mail to the electronic address of the customer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mail is received in physical format by the United States Postal Service.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the mail is received electronically by the United States Postal Service.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a message directed to the electronic address of the customer;

querying for the physical address of the customer in the database based on the electronic address of the customer; and

sending a copy of the message to the physical address of the customer.

48. The method of claim 12, wherein the mail is generated by one of:

a mailing online service, a NetPost.Certified service, a shipping online service, a stamps online service, and a PC Postage service.

49. The method of claim 12, wherein the mail is generated by a secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

50. The method of claim 12, wherein the mail is generated by a non-secure service provided by one of:

an online merchant, a government agency, and a bank.

53. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing, by the computer system, the user to access the electronic address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

16. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

a matching component configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail;

a linking component configured to link the electronic account to the physical address; and

a delivery component configured to receive a message directed to the physical address of the user and send a copy of the message to the electronic account of the user based on the physical address of the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the matching component matches a physical address from a United States Postal Service address database.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the location is a geographic location.

54. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an establishing component configured to establish an e-mail address for the electronic account; and

an accessing component configured to allow the user to access the e-mail address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

19. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

a generating component configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

an initiating component configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user;

a linking component configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account; and

a delivery component configured to receive a message directed to the physical address of the user and send a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service electronic e-mail address.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic address is a United States Postal Service user-chosen e-mail address.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the request further includes a preferred electronic address.

55. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

an accessing component configured to allow the user to access the electronic address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

23. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

a physical linking component configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

an electronic linking component configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

a service request receiving component configured to receive a request from a service provider to send a message directed to the physical address of the user access the electronic account over the network; and

a delivery component configured to send a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user via the electronic account based on the physical address of the user.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a presenting component configured to present an identifier of the service provider to the user, the identifier including at least one service delivery option;

a preferred delivery request receiving component configured to receive a request for a service from the user, the request including a preferred service delivery option; and

a providing component configured to provide the service to the user via the preferred service delivery option.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the physical address.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the preferred service delivery option is delivery to the electronic address.

27. A system for delivering mail, comprising:

a database configured to store an electronic account of a customer, the electronic account including an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account;

a receiving component configured to receive mail for delivery to the physical address of the customer a query component configured to query for the electronic address of the customer in the database based on the physical address of the customer; and

a delivering component configured to deliver a copy of the mail to the electronic address of the customer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the mail is received in physical format by the United States Postal Service.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the mail is received electronically by the United States Postal Service.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the receiving component is further configured to receive a message directed to the electronic address of the customer;

the query component is further configured to query for the physical address of the customer in the database based on the electronic address of the customer; and

the delivery component is further configured to send a copy of the message to the physical address of the customer.

56. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

an accessing component configured to allow the user to access the electronic address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

31. A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

a matching module configured to match a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail;

a linking module configured to link the electronic account to the physical address; and

a delivery module configured to receive a message directed to the physical address of the user and send a copy of the message to the electronic account of the user based on the physical address of the user.

32. A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

a generating module configured to generate an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

an initiating module configured to initiate an electronic account over the network for the user, wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user;

a linking module configured to link the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account;

a message receiving module configured to receive a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

a message sending module configured to send a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

57. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 32, wherein the computer readable code further comprising:

an accessing module configured to allow the user to access the electronic address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

33. A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing electronic mail services over, a network using an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a physical linking module configured to link the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

an electronic linking module configured to link the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

a service request receiving module configured to receive a request from a service provider to access the electronic account over the network;

a message receiving module configured to receive, from the service provider, a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

a message sending module configured to send a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

34. A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering mail, the computer readable code comprising:

a database module configured to store an electronic account of a customer in a database, the electronic account including an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account;

a receiving module configured to receive mail for delivery to the physical address of the customer;

a query module configured to query for the electronic address of the customer in the database based on the physical address of the customer; and

a delivering module configured to deliver a copy of the mail to the electronic address of the customer.

58. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 34, wherein the computer readable code further comprising:

an accessing module configured to allow the user to access the electronic e-mail address and an electronic service using the electronic account.

35. A system for establishing an electronic account over a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an electronic account over the network;

means for matching a physical address of the user from an address database, the physical address corresponding to a location where the user receives mail;

means for linking the electronic account to the physical address;

means for receiving a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

means for sending a copy of the message to the electronic account of the user based on the physical address of the user.

36. A system for establishing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

means for receiving a request for electronic mail services from a user, the request including a physical address of the user;

means for generating an electronic address for the user, wherein the user can receive electronic mail at the electronic address;

means for initiating an electronic account over the network for the user,

wherein the electronic account has a unique electronic customer account number corresponding to the user;

means for linking the physical address and the electronic address using the electronic account;

means for receiving a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

means for sending a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

37. A system for processing electronic mail services over a network using an electronic account, comprising:

means for linking the electronic account to a physical address of a user;

means for linking the electronic account to an electronic address of the user;

means for receiving a request from a service provider to access the electronic account over the network;

means for receiving, from the service provider, a message directed to the physical address of the user; and

means for sending a copy of the message to the electronic address of the user based on the physical address of the user.

38. A system for delivering mail, comprising:

means for storing an electronic account of a customer in a database, the electronic account including an electronic address for the customer and a physical address for the customer, the electronic address and the physical address being linked by the electronic account;

means for receiving mail for delivery to a physical address of the means for querying for the electronic address of the customer in the database based on the physical address of the customer; and

means for delivering a copy of the mail to the electronic address of the customer.