Communications system

• US 20030105826A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Linkadoo Communications Limited
• Original Assignee: Linkadoo Communications Limited
• Inventors: Mayraz, Guy
• Application Number:
  US10/271,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• 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

A communications system including a server and a plurality of user apparatus, and methods of operating each of the same. The server stores user profiles corresponding to users'"'"' characteristics. Messages are allocated by matching target profiles with the user profiles. The user provides recipients of a message with an indication of the relative location of the recipient of the message to the sender of the message. Only one copy of the message need be stored by the server. Users can specify folder allocation rules. Data related to the sender of a message is attached with a message and can be varied on a message-by-message basis. A storage medium and a signal with processor-implementable instructions for the methods are also included.

Claims

1. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:

at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send, the steps of;

enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;

receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and

communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus; and

at the intermediate communication apparatus the steps of receiving messages each with the accompanying target profile specific to that message and, in response to receipt of each message,

accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element,

comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and

identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps carried out at the intermediate communication apparatus further include sending the message to the communication apparatus of the or each identified user.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the identifying the step the intermediate communication apparatus identifies recipients solely on the basis of the target profile accompanying the received message.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the step at the sender communication apparatus of enabling a sender to select target profile elements includes the step of displaying to the sender on a display of the sender communication apparatus at least one target profile element input screen.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step at the sender communication apparatus of enabling a sender to select target profile elements includes displaying to the sender on a display of the sender communication apparatus at least one display screen displaying different target profile elements selectable by the sender.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of enabling a sender to select target profile elements at the sender communication apparatus includes enabling the sender to specify input target profile elements related to at least one of:

personal interests, professional interests, location, current location, office, department, project membership, group membership, qualifications, skills, job function, job title/position, gender, age, years service, required of a recipient for the message that the sender wishes to send.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enabling step enables the sender to select target profile elements as alternatives as well as in combination.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the enabling step enables the sender to select target profile elements combined by both logical AND and logical OR operations.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising at the intermediate communication apparatus indicating the number of recipient users to the recipient users.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein after the intermediate communication apparatus performs the comparing step, indicating to the sender communication apparatus the current number of matches between the target profile and the user profiles.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein after indicating the current number of matches, the sender communication apparatus transmits a revised target profile to the intermediate communication apparatus, and this is repeated until the revised target profile is specified by the user to be a final target profile;

and the message is communicated to the intermediate communication apparatus after the revised target profile is specified by the user to be the final target profile.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target profile further specifies a required number of recipients and the one or more target profile elements comprises a plurality of criteria in an order or priority;

the comparing step comprises repeatedly comparing the criteria of the target profile in order of priority of the criteria with the user profiles until the number of user profiles which match the target profile to the extent of the criteria so far compared first falls below, or alternatively lies closest to, the specified required number of recipients; and

the identifying step comprises allocating the message to those users whose user profiles are in the number of user profiles which first falls below or alternatively lies closest to the specified required number of recipients.

13. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user profiles comprise location data specifying the location of the users and the target profile includes a location target profile element specifying a location criteria.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the location data is in the form of a place name hierarchy and the comparing step comprises comparing the location data in the user profiles with the location data in the target profile at a hierarchical level specified in the target profile.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the location criteria specified in the target profile specifies a required maximum distance between candidate recipient users and a specified location, wherein the specified location is for example the location of the sender transmitting the target profile, and the location data is in the form of an area hierarchy which is used either to pre-filter the number of candidate recipient users for whom a more accurate matching procedure is then performed or to provide an approximate matching procedure for the location criteria.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the users of the communication service are divided into a plurality of categories;

users in a first category select one or more users in a second category to be associated with, preferably from a shortlist of users in the second category which is provided by the intermediate communication apparatus by comparing target profiles supplied by the users of the second category with the user profiles; and

the intermediate communication apparatus only compares the target profile transmitted with the message with user profiles of those users who are associated with the user who transmitted the target profile and message.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the communication apparatus of a user in a second category transmits a message but no target profile, and the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to all those users in the first category who are associated with the user who transmitted the message.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps performed by the intermediate communication apparatus in any one of claims 2 to 17.

22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21, further comprising the steps performed by the communication apparatus in any one of claims 2 to 17.

39. A method according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the data relating to the first user is the user profile according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

45. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 44, wherein the allocation specification is the target profile according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

46. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 45, wherein the user profile elements or characteristics are specified in the user profile in one or more hierarchical structures;

and

the specification of target profile elements or criteria and/or the selection of the characteristics comprises specification or selection in terms of one or more hierarchical levels of the one or more hierarchical structures.

47. A method comprising a combination of the methods according to any or more preceding claims when such combination is not already claimed.

48. A communications system comprising an intermediate communication apparatus and respective communication apparatus means for performing the steps of any one of claims 1 to 17, 23 to 31, 37, 39, 41, 42 and 45 to 47.

53. A storage medium storing processor-implementable instructions for controlling one or more processors to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 47.

54. A signal carrying processor-implementable instructions for controlling one or more processors to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 47.

89. A method according to any one of claims 54, 73, 84, and 86, wherein the user profile elements or characteristics are specified in the user profile in one or more hierarchical structures;

and

the specification of target profile elements or criteria and/or the selection of the characteristics comprises specification or selection in terms of one or more hierarchical levels of the one or more hierarchical structures.

18. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:

at the intermediate communication apparatus the steps of receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements and, in response to receipt of each message,

accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element,

comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and

identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.

49. An intermediate communication apparatus comprising means for performing the steps of any one of claims 18, 19, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 43 and 45 to 47.

20. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the corresponding user; and

receiving or retrieving a message allocated to the user by an intermediate communication apparatus of the communications system.

50. A communication apparatus comprising means for performing the steps of any one of claims 20 to 22, 34, 35, 40 and 44 to 47.

21. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:

at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send, the steps of;

enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;

receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and

supplying the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus.

23. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

a first communication apparatus of a first user transmits first location data, related to the location of the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;

the intermediate communication apparatus converts the first location data into first coordinates;

a second communication apparatus of a second user transmits second location data, related to the location of the second user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;

the intermediate communication apparatus converts the second location data into second coordinates;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location prior to the message being transmitted to or retrieved by the second user, or alternatively provides to the second user the indication of the relative location along with the message when it is transmitted to or retrieved by the second user.

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the relative location is indicated by a map provided to the second user and showing thereon the respective locations of the first and second user.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the map is selected from plurality of maps according to its scale.

27. A method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein one or more of the plurality of maps locates the second user at its centre.

28. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the relative locations are indicated on the map by icons determined in relation to the subject matter of the message and/or the allocation specification.

29. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein one or more of the maps are stored in advance at the second communication apparatus ready for just the location of the first user to be added thereon later to provide the indication.

30. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus stores one or more maps that are common to a plurality of users.

31. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 30, wherein the second communication apparatus displays the location indication for viewing by the second user.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps performed by the intermediate communication apparatus in any one of claims 24 to 31.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps performed by the second communication apparatus in any one of claims 24 to 31.

32. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving, from a first communication apparatus of a first user, first location data, related to the location of the first user;

converting the first location data into first coordinates;

receiving, from a second communication apparatus of a second user, second location data, related to the location of the second user;

converting the second location data into second coordinates;

receiving from the first user a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

allocating the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

indicating to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user.

34. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

transmitting location data, related to the location of the user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;

receiving or retrieving a message sent from a further user to the intermediate communication apparatus and allocated to the user; and

receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus an indication of the relative location of the further user to the user.

36. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving a plurality of messages and allocation specifications from a plurality of users;

storing the plurality of messages;

specifying a respective message ID for each message;

determining from the allocation specification which users are to be allocated as recipient users to receive respective messages;

forming for each recipient user a users list of the message ID'"'"'s of the messages allocated to that recipient user; and

making the message available for transmission to or retrieval by a recipient user on the basis of the message ID so that the intermediate communication apparatus need only store one copy of the message.

37. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

a communication apparatus of a first user transmits data, relating to the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;

the intermediate communication apparatus stores the data relating to the first user;

a communication apparatus of a second user transmits folder data to the intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user;

the intermediate communication apparatus analyses the folder allocation rules with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification; and

responsive to the analysis, the intermediate communication apparatus specifies one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.

38. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving, from a communication apparatus of a first user, data relating to the first user;

storing the data relating to the first user;

receiving, from a communication apparatus of a second user, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;

receiving from the first user a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

allocating the message to the second user;

analysing the folder allocation rules of the second user with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification;

and, responsive to the analysis, specifying one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.

40. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

providing, to an intermediate communication apparatus, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders; and

receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus a message directly into one or more folder identities.

41. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

a first communication apparatus of a first user provides a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to a second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus indicates the characteristics to the second user prior to the message being transmitted to or retrieved by the second user, or alternatively provides the indication of the characteristics to the second user along with the message when it is transmitted to or retrieved by the second user.

43. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving from a first communication apparatus of a first user a user profile, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;

receiving from the first communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;

allocating the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

indicating to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics.

44. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the user; and

transmitting to the user a message, preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile.

51. A communication apparatus for enabling communication of messages from one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which communication apparatus comprises:

enabling means for enabling a sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile consisting of a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;

receiving means for receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and

communicating means for communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus.

52. A communication apparatus for enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements,

accessing means for, in response to receipt of each message, accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element,

comparing means for comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and

identifying means for identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.

55. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:

at the sender communication apparatus, for each message that a sender wishes to send;

enabling the sender to select any combination of a plurality of different target profile elements to enable the sender to define, at the time of sending a message, a recipient target profile including a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target a specific message to a specific recipient audience desired by the sender;

receiving from the sender data representing a message that the sender wishes to send and data representing the sender'"'"'s selection of said different target profile elements and their combination for that particular message to define a target profile that is specific to that particular message; and

communicating the message and the target profile specific to that message to the intermediate communication apparatus; and

at the intermediate communication apparatus, receiving messages each with the accompanying target profile specific to that message and, in response to receipt of each message,

accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element,

comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and

identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the steps carried out at the intermediate communication apparatus further include sending the message to the communication apparatus of the or each identified user.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein identifying as a recipient at the intermediate communication apparatus includes identifying recipients solely on the basis of the target profile accompanying the received message.

58. A method according to claim 55, wherein enabling the sender at the sender communication apparatus includes displaying to the sender on a display of the sender communication apparatus at least one target profile element input screen.

59. A method according to claim 55, wherein enabling a sender to select target profile elements at the sender communication apparatus includes displaying to the sender on a display of the sender communication apparatus at least one display screen displaying different target profile elements selectable by the sender.

60. A method according to claim 55, wherein enabling a sender to select target profile elements at the sender communication apparatus includes enabling the sender to specify input target profile elements related to at least one of:

personal interests, professional interests, location, current location, office, department, project membership, group membership, qualifications, skills, job function, job title/position, gender, age, years service, required of a recipient for the message that the sender wishes to send.

61. A method according to claim 55, wherein enabling a sender includes enabling the sender to select target profile elements as alternatives as well as in combination.

62. A method according to claim 55, wherein the enabling step includes enabling the sender to select target profile elements combined by both logical AND and logical OR operations.

63. A method according to claim 55, further comprising at the intermediate communication apparatus indicating the number of recipient users to the recipient users.

64. A method according to claim 55, wherein after the intermediate communication apparatus performs the comparing step, indicating to the sender communication apparatus the current number of matches between the target profile and the user profiles.

65. A method according to claim 64, wherein after indicating the current number of matches, the sender communication apparatus transmits a revised target profile to the intermediate communication apparatus, and this is repeated until the revised target profile is specified by the user to be a final target profile;

and the message is communicated to the intermediate communication apparatus after the revised target profile is specified by the user to be the final target profile.

66. A method according to claim 55, wherein the target profile further specifies a required number of recipients and the one or more target profile elements comprises a plurality of criteria in an order or priority;

wherein the comparing step comprises repeatedly comparing the criteria of the target profile in order of priority of the criteria with the user profiles until the number of user profiles which match the target profile to the extent of the criteria so far compared first falls below, or alternatively lies closest to, the specified required number of recipients; and

wherein the identifying step comprises allocating the message to those users whose user profiles are in the number of user profiles which first falls below or alternatively lies closest to the specified required number of recipients.

67. A method according to claim 55, wherein the user profiles comprise location data specifying the location of the users and the target profile includes a location target profile element specifying a location criteria.

68. A method according to claim 67, wherein the location data is in the form of a place name hierarchy and the comparing step comprises comparing the location data in the user profiles with the location data in the target profile at a hierarchical level specified in the target profile.

69. A method according to claim 67, wherein the location criteria specified in the target profile specifies a required maximum distance between candidate recipient users and a specified location, wherein the specified location is for example the location of the sender transmitting the target profile, and the location data is in the form of an area hierarchy which is used either to pre-filter the number of candidate recipient users for whom a more accurate matching procedure is then performed or to provide an approximate matching procedure for the location criteria.

70. A method according to claim 55, wherein the users of the communication service are divided into a plurality of categories;

users in a first category select one or more users in a second category to be associated with, preferably from a shortlist of users in the second category which is provided by the intermediate communication apparatus by comparing target profiles supplied by the users of the second category with the user profiles; and

wherein the intermediate communication apparatus only compares the target profile transmitted with the message with user profiles of those users who are associated with the user who transmitted the target profile and message.

71. A method according to claim 70, wherein the communication apparatus of a user in a second category transmits a message but no target profile, and the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to all those users in the first category who are associated with the user who transmitted the message.

72. A method of enabling communication of messages from a sender communication apparatus to one or more recipient communication apparatus via a communication service provided by an intermediate communication apparatus, which method comprises:

at the intermediate communication apparatus, receiving messages each with an accompanying target profile specific to that message and containing a combination of target profile elements and, in response to receipt of each message,

accessing a database containing, for each user of the communication service provided by the intermediate communication apparatus, a user profile having a plurality of user profile elements each containing data representing information related to the corresponding user for that user profile element,

comparing the target profile accompanying the received message with each of the accessed user profiles to determine whether any user profile contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the message, and

identifying as a recipient for the received message any user having a user profile which contains a combination of user profile elements that matches the combination of target profile elements in the target profile accompanying the received message.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein the steps carried out at the intermediate communication apparatus further include sending the message to the communication apparatus of the or each identified user.

74. A communications system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus of a first user transmits first location data, related to the location of the first user, to an intermediate communication apparatus;

the intermediate communication apparatus converts the first location data into first coordinates;

a second communication apparatus of a second user transmits second location data, related to the location of the second user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;

the intermediate communication apparatus converts the second location data into second coordinates;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification, from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location of the first user to the second user.

75. A system according to claim 74, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the relative location prior to the message being transmitted to or retrieved by the second user, or alternatively provides to the second user the indication of the relative location along with the message when it is transmitted to or retrieved by the second user.

76. A system according to claim 74, wherein the allocation specification includes a recipient target profile including a combination of different target profile elements selected by the sender, so allowing the sender to define different target profiles for different messages to enable the sender to target.

77. A system according to claim 74, wherein the relative location is indicated by a map provided to the second user and showing thereon the respective locations of the first and second user.

78. A system according to claim 77, wherein the map is selected from plurality of maps according to its scale.

79. A system according to claim 77, wherein one or more of the plurality of maps locates the second user at its centre.

80. A system according to claim 77, wherein the relative locations are indicated on the map by icons determined in relation to the subject matter of the message and/or the allocation specification.

81. A system according to claim 77, wherein one or more of the maps are stored in advance at the second communication apparatus ready for just the location of the first user to be added thereon later to provide the indication.

82. A system according to claim 77, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus stores one or more maps that are common to a plurality of users.

83. A system according to claim 77, wherein the second communication apparatus displays the location indication for viewing by the second user.

84. A method performed by an intermediate communication apparatus in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages and allocation specifications from a plurality of users;

storing the plurality of messages;

specifying a respective message ID for each message;

determining from the allocation specification which users are to be allocated as recipient users to receive respective messages;

forming for each recipient user a users list of the message ID'"'"'s of the messages allocated to that recipient user; and

making the message available for transmission to or retrieval by a recipient user on the basis of the message ID so that the intermediate communication apparatus need only store one copy of the message.

85. A communications system, comprising:

an intermediate communication apparatus stores data relating to the first user;

a communication apparatus of a first user transmits data, relating to the first user, to the intermediate communication apparatus;

a communication apparatus of a second user transmits folder data to the intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message and preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to the second user;

the intermediate communication apparatus analyses the folder allocation rules with respect to the data relating to the first user and/or with respect to the allocation specification; and

responsive to the analysis, the intermediate communication apparatus specifies one or more folder identities of the second user for transmission to or retrieval by the second user of the message directly into the one or more specified folder identities.

86. A method performed by a communication apparatus of a user in a communications system, the method comprising:

providing, to an intermediate communication apparatus, folder data, wherein the folder data defines folder identities, a folder structure and folder allocation rules for allocating messages to folders; and

receiving or retrieving from the intermediate communication apparatus a message directly into one or more folder identities.

87. A communications system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus of a first user provides a user profile to an intermediate communication apparatus, wherein the user profile specifies characteristics related to the first user;

the first communication apparatus transmits to the intermediate communication apparatus a message, preferably also an allocation specification from which the intermediate communication apparatus can ascertain to which other user or users the message is to be allocated, and an indication of a selection of the characteristics specified in the user profile;

the intermediate communication apparatus allocates the message to a second user, for transmission to or retrieval by the second user; and

the intermediate communication apparatus indicates to the second user the characteristics contained in the first user'"'"'s selection of characteristics.

88. A system according to claim 87, wherein the intermediate communication apparatus indicates the characteristics to the second user prior to the message being transmitted to or retrieved by the second user, or alternatively provides the indication of the characteristics to the second user along with the message when it is transmitted to or retrieved by the second user.

90. A communications system for enabling communication of messages between of a group of users of the system, the communications system comprising:

a plurality of user computing apparatus each associated with a different user in the group and communications apparatus for enabling communication of messages between the user computing apparatus,

the communications apparatus having;

user profile data providing means providing user profile data comprising characteristic data representing characteristics that can be associated with a user; and

personal user profile storing means storing, for each user, a personal user profile comprising personal profile data comprising characteristic data selected from the user profile data for that user, each user computing apparatus having;

message sending means for sending messages;

message receiving means for receiving messages; and

message generating means for enabling the associated user to generate a message for one or more other users in the group, the message generating means comprising

message content receiving means for receiving message content data from the associated user, target profile data selecting means for enabling the associated user to select from the user profile data characteristic data representing characteristics that the associated user requires be associated with the recipient or recipients of the message, and

target profile data generating means for generating for the message a target profile comprising target profile data representing the characteristic data selected by the associated user,

the communications apparatus also having;

comparing means for comparing the message target profile data with the personal user profile data stored by the personal user profile storing means to identify as recipient or recipients of the message any user or users in the group having personal user profiles that match the target profile; and

message communicating means for enabling the message content data to be communicated to the message receiving means of the user computing apparatus associated with the identified recipient or recipients.