Method and apparatus for bouncing electronic messages

• US 8,495,150 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServStor Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Meyer Cordless LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fuisz, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Tauqir
• Application Number:
  US12/205,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided that establishes user accounts that automatically forward a user'"'"'s e-mail to the user'"'"'s pre-selected forwarding e-mail address(es). Each user creates a forwarding directory, which may comprise multiple e-mail accounts, that the user activates and deactivates as needed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a first system, including a processor, associated with a primary account to perform operations comprising:

receiving a routing address associated with a temporary account;

identifying a flight number associated with the primary account;

generating a start time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with the primary account and with an airline associated with the flight number;

transferring one or more electronic messages to a second system associated with the temporary account according to the start time;

receiving a notification of a termination of the temporary account; and

ceasing the transferring in response to the receiving the notification.

2. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the receiving the notification comprises receiving a command identifying a time at which to stop the transferring of the one or more electronic messages to the second system.

3. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the primary account is at least one of an email account, a facsimile account, or a cellular telephone account.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the primary account is a pager account.

5. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the primary account is a digital telephone account.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the primary account is a voicemail account.

21. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the ceasing the transferring comprises ceasing the transferring at a termination time generated based on the detection of the user presence associated with the primary account and with the airline associated with the flight number.

7. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a first device, including a processor and associated with a primary account, to perform operations comprising:

receiving a routing address associated with a temporary account;

receiving an input specifying a flight number;

generating a transfer time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with the primary account and with an airline associated with the flight number, wherein the transfer time indicates a time to start transferring one or more electronic messages from the first device to a second device associated with the temporary account; and

transferring, at or after the transfer time, the one or more electronic messages from the first device to the second device.

8. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein the primary account is at least one of an email account, a facsimile account, or a cellular telephone account.

9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein the primary account is a pager account.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein the primary account is a digital telephone account.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein the second device is associated with a pager account.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first device including a processor, an address of a temporary account, wherein the first device is associated with a primary account;

determining a flight number associated with the primary account;

generating a start time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with the primary account and with an airline associated with the flight number;

transferring at least one electronic message from the first device to a second device associated with the temporary account according to the start time;

receiving, by the first device, a termination message; and

terminating, by the first device, the transferring of the at least one electronic message in response to the receiving the termination message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the termination message comprises receiving a command identifying a time at which to terminate the transferring of the at least one electronic message to the second system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary account is at least one of an email account, a facsimile account, or a wireless communication device account.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary account is a pager account.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary account is a voicemail account.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the terminating the transferring comprises terminating the transferring at a termination time determined based on the detection of the user presence associated with the primary account and with the airline associated with the flight number.

17. A system, comprising:

first means for receiving an identifier of a temporary account;

means for determining a flight number associated with a primary account associated with a first system;

means for generating a start time with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with the primary account and with an airline associated with the flight number;

means for transferring one or more electronic messages from the first system to a second system associated with the temporary account based on the start time;

second means for receiving a message indicating a termination of the temporary account; and

means for terminating the transferring of the means for transferring in response to the message being received.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for terminating the transferring terminates the transferring of the means for transferring at a termination time determined based upon the detection of the user presence associated with the primary account and with the airline associated with the flight number.

18. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory-communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a bounce hub component associated with a primary account and configured to at least;

receive an address of a temporary account,

identify a flight number associated with the primary account,

generate a transfer time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with the primary account and with an airline associated with the flight number, wherein the transfer time indicates a time to start transferring one or more electronic messages from the primary account to the temporary account,

transfer, based on the address, at least one electronic message to at least one computing device associated with the temporary account at the transfer time,

receive a notification of a termination of the temporary account, and

terminate the transfer based on the notification.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the bounce hub component is further configured to receive a command identifying a termination time at which to stop the transfer.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the temporary account is a voicemail account.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the termination time is based on the detection of the user presence associated with the primary account and with the airline associated with the flight number.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the primary account is at least one of an email, a facsimile account, a cellular telephone account, a pager account, or a voicemail account.

25. A method, comprising:

communicating, to a second system associated with a primary account by a first system including a processor and associated with a temporary account, a routing address associated with the temporary account;

identifying a flight number associated with the primary account;

generating a transfer time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with an airline associated with the flight number, wherein the transfer time indicates a time to start transferring one or more electronic messages from the second system to the first system; and

communicating the transfer time to the second system.

26. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a bounce hub component associated with a primary account and configured to at least;

receive a routing address associated with a temporary account,

receive an input specifying a flight number,

generate a transfer time associated with the flight number based upon detection of user presence associated with an airline associated with the flight number, wherein the transfer time indicates a time to begin to transfer one or more electronic messages from a first device associated with the primary account to a second device associated with the temporary account, and

transfer, based on the routing address, the one or more electronic messages from the first device to the second device according to the transfer time.