Enhanced services electronic mail

• US 9,571,438 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgetree, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bridgetree, Inc.
• Inventors: Beck, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Daftuar, Saket K
• Application Number:
  US15/012,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation

Abstract

A database includes one or more physical location identifiers such as postal addresses, delivery or street addresses, or geographic coordinates. A correlator correlates electronic addresses with physical location identifiers. The correlated electronic addresses can incorporate part or all of the corresponding physical location identifier. The correlated electronic addresses can further incorporate a reference to an individual, such as a name or title, or a reference to a group of individuals, such as by name. Correlated electronic addresses allow reception of electronic communication. Services offered with electronic delivery of correspondence to correlated electronic addresses include return receipt, insured delivery, certified delivery, forwarding, non-delivery notification, and non-electronic delivery. Costs associated with operation of the electronic mail may be covered by administration of postage or when the recipient elects electronic delivery of correspondence traditionally delivered by paper mail.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

an email address correlator executed by the processor wherein the email address correlator executed by the processor has access to;

physical addresses for a plurality of physical addresses wherein each of the physical addresses comprises, at least in part, geographically-based addresses that each comprise a latitude and longitude pair and at least one of a street address and a postal address for corresponding buildings;

associative data identifying associations between various persons and specific ones of the physical addresses; and

wherein the email address correlator executed by the processor causes the email address correlator to;

automatically generate unique email addresses that each comprise at least a portion of one of the physical addresses and a name of the person who is associated with that physical address, such that the unique email addresses each include a latitude and longitude pair and at least one of a street address and a postal address; and

provide the unique email addresses to an email transmitter to facilitate electronically delivering a message to a given person fully via email using a specific one of the unique email addresses that corresponds to the given person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the geographically-based addresses comprises at least each of:

a street address;

a postal address; and

a latitude and longitude pair.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the email address correlator executed by the processor causes the email address correlator to automatically generate the unique email addresses by utilizing a same domain name for each of the unique email addresses.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein automatically generating unique email addresses that each comprise at least a portion of one of the physical addresses and a name of the person who is associated with that physical address can include automatically generating unique email addresses for each of a plurality of people who are each associated with a same physical address.