Individual XML message processing platform

• US 8,655,967 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Interactive Services Corporation (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Notifications, Inc. (West Corporation)
• Inventors: Stark, Juergen, Goren, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murphy, Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/753,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 717/126, 717/108, 709/236, 709/231, 709/229, 709/228, 709/227, 709/226, 709/219, 709/217, 709/208, 709/207, 709/206, 709/205, 709/204, 715/848, 715/765, 715/764, 715/234, 715/209, 715/202, 715/201, 725/138, 725/136, 725/133, 725/114, 719/318, 719/315
• 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 having an XML based message-processing platform that enables users to receive electronic messages. The processing platform may include at least one server that receives an electronic message addressed to the platform, wherein the electronic message includes a routing indicator including at least one user identity and one or more message attributes. The one or more message attributes may include “folios” which include information folios that at least one of intelligently store, display and synthesize “incoming” electronic messages. The platform further includes at least one database that stores a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with sender defined message attributes. In this embodiment, the platform may include a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet.

Claims

1. A communications platform having an XML based message-processing platform that enables users to receive electronic messages, the processing platform comprising:

at least one server that receives an electronic message addressed to the platform, the electronic message comprising a routing indicator including at least one user identity and one or more message attributes, wherein the one or more message attributes include “

folios”

which include information folios that at least one of intelligently store, display and synthesize “

incoming”

electronic messages; and

at least one database that stores a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with sender defined message attributes;

wherein the platform;

comprises a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet, wherein the sender stylesheet describes meta-data pertaining to the informant, the electronic message stylesheet describes an activity and an event and XML schemas of the activity and the event, and defines how the activity and the event is transmitted to at least one endpoint;

wherein the platform is structured to select a first endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table;

route at least a portion of the electronic message to the first endpoint; and

determine whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint; and

wherein the platform is structured such that when the platform has determined that the at least a portion of the electronic message has not been received at the first endpoint, the platform selects a second endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table; and

routes a portion of the message to the second endpoint.

2. The communications platform of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint includes receiving acknowledgment.

3. The communications platform of claim 2, wherein the acknowledgement is received from the first endpoint.

4. The communications platform of claim 1, wherein the platform further comprises structure to determine whether the electronic message is urgent;

and

wherein determining whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint, selecting a second endpoint from the plurality of endpoints, and routing a portion of the message to the second endpoint are based on the determination of whether the electronic message is urgent.

5. The communications platform of claim 4, wherein the routing indicator indicates urgency of the electronic message.

6. The communications platform of claim 1, wherein the at least one endpoint comprises one of an electronic mail box, a wired or wireless telephone, a facsimile machine, a paging device, and a personal digital assistant.

7. The communications platform of claim 1, wherein the meta-data includes at least one of information pertaining to the sender'"'"'s name, website address, and industry category.

8. The communications platform of claim 1, further comprising logic for examining the sender stylesheet to authenticate the sender.

9. A communications method for enabling users to receive electronic messages via an XML based message-processing platform, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic message addressed to the platform, the electronic message comprising a routing indicator including at least one user identity and one or more message attributes, wherein the one or more message attributes include “

folios”

which include information folios that at least one of intelligently store, display and synthesize “

incoming”

electronic messages; and

storing a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with sender defined message attributes;

wherein the platform;

comprises a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet, wherein the sender stylesheet describes meta-data pertaining to the informant, the electronic message stylesheet describes an activity and an event and XML schemas of the activity and the event, and defines how the activity and the event is transmitted to at least one endpoint;

the method further comprising;

selecting a first endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table;

routing at least a portion of the electronic message to the first endpoint;

determining whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint; and

when the platform has determined that the at least a portion of the electronic message has not been received at the first endpoint;

selecting a second endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table; and

routing a portion of the message to the second endpoint.

10. The communications method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint includes receiving acknowledgment.

11. The communications method of claim 10, wherein the acknowledgement is received from the first endpoint.

12. The communications platform of claim 9, further comprising determining whether the electronic message is urgent;

and

wherein determining whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint, selecting a second endpoint from the plurality of endpoints, and routing a portion of the message to the second endpoint are based on the determination of whether the electronic message is urgent.

13. The communications platform of claim 12, wherein the routing indicator indicates urgency of the electronic message.

14. The communications method of claim 9, wherein the at least one endpoint comprises one of an electronic mail box, a wired or wireless telephone, a facsimile machine, a paging device, and a personal digital assistant.

15. The communications method of claim 9, further comprising examining, using logic, the sender stylesheet to authenticate the sender.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for enabling users to receive electronic messages via an XML based message-processing platform, the computer readable medium including instructions, which when executed perform steps comprising:

receiving an electronic message addressed to the platform, the electronic message comprising a routing indicator including at least one user identity and one or more message attributes, wherein the one or more message attributes include “

folios”

which include information folios that at least one of intelligently store, display and synthesize “

incoming”

electronic messages; and

storing a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with sender defined message attributes;

wherein the platform;

comprises a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet, wherein the sender stylesheet describes meta-data pertaining to the informant, the electronic message stylesheet describes an activity and an event and XML schemas of the activity and the event, and defines how the activity and the event is transmitted to at least one endpoint;

wherein the platform is structured to select a first endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table;

route at least a portion of the electronic message to the first endpoint; and

determine whether the user received the at least a portion of the electronic message at the first endpoint; and

wherein the platform is structured such that when the platform has determined that the at least a portion of the electronic message has not been received at the first endpoint, the platform selects a second endpoint from the plurality of endpoints based on the user identity, the message attributes and the user-defined endpoint table; and

routes a portion of the message to the second endpoint.