Reply based electronic mail transactions
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
responsive to said recipient'"'"'s performance of said reply action;
(b) identifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message;
(c) retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
(d) transmitting, via an electronic mail infrastructure, said data for completing said transaction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rule-based electronic mail transaction system and method for conducting predefined transactions via electronic mail messaging. An electronic mail message prescribes a reply action for confirming agreement to conduct the transaction. If the recipient performs the action, a rule for conducting the transaction is identified. The rule defines data required for the transaction. Required data is gathered from a recipient data store responsive to a confirming action on the part of the recipient. The required data is used to complete the transaction. Optionally, information may be retrieved from the sender'"'"'s side to complete the transaction. Diverse transactions may be conducted in this manner, including sale and non-sale transactions, such as promotional and viral marketing, charitable donations, online bill payment, electoral voting, customer service communications, customer relationship management communications, product returns, and membership and enrollment transactions.
148 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
responsive to said recipient'"'"'s performance of said reply action;
(b) identifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message;
(c) retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
(d) transmitting, via an electronic mail infrastructure, said data for completing said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) preparing an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
responsive to said recipient'"'"'s performance of said reply action;
(b) specifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message, said rule identifying data required to complete said transaction;
(c) receiving said data via an electronic mail via an electronic mail infrastructure; and
(d) processing said data to complete said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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25. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sending an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
(b) receiving via an electronic mail infrastructure an indication of said recipient'"'"'s performance of said reply action;
(c) retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
(d) completing said transaction.
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33. A device for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the device comprising:
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a central processing unit;
a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for identifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message;
a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
a fourth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for transmitting, via an electronic mail infrastructure, said data for completing said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37, 38, 40)
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36. A device for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the device comprising:
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a central processing unit;
a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for preparing an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by a recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for specifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message, said rule identifying data required to complete said transaction;
a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving said data via an electronic mail via an electronic mail infrastructure; and
a fourth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for processing said data to complete said transaction.
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39. A device for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the device comprising:
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a central processing unit;
a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
a first data store stored in said memory, said first data store storing data specific to a recipient;
a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for sending an electronic mail message prescribing a reply action to be taken by said recipient to indicate said recipient'"'"'s desire to complete said transaction;
a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving via an electronic mail infrastructure an indication of said recipient'"'"'s performance of said reply action;
a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for retrieving from said first data store data required by said rule; and
a fourth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for completing said transaction.
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41. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an electronic mail message indicating a party'"'"'s desire to conduct a transaction;
(b) identifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message;
(c) retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
(d) processing said data to conduct said transaction.
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42. A method for conducting a predefined transaction via electronic mail messaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an electronic mail message indicating a party'"'"'s desire to conduct a transaction;
(b) identifying a rule applicable to said electronic mail message, said rule providing logic for processing a reply to said electronic mail message responsive to a prescribed action performed by said party;
(c) retrieving from a first data store data required by said rule; and
(d) processing said data to conduct said transaction.
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Specification