Apparatus and methods for converting an electronic mail to a postal mail at the receiving station

• US 5,805,810 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Netgram, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Content Processors, Inc.
• Inventors: Maxwell, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dzung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/432,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/200.01, 395/800.01, 395/200.3, 395/200.62, 395/200.36, 395/683, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method of generating mail objects from email messages. The method is performed by a computer system having at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and recipients. The method is broadly comprised steps of three steps: (1) receiving an email message from a sender; (2) locating in the database an identifier for the sender and an identifier for a recipient specified in the email message; and (3) generating a mail object from the email message using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient.

Claims

1. A method of generating mail objects from email messages performed by a computer system at a first station with at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and recipients, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first station from a sender an email message intended by the sender to be delivered by postal mail to a recipient;

locating in a database at the first station the identifier for the sender and the identifier for the recipient specified in the email message;

sending the email to a second station near the address of the recipient; and

generating at the second station a mail object from the email message using the address information identified in the database at the first station for the sender and for the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second station has a computer system and such computer system includes a printer, the generating step including the substep of:

printing on the printer at the second station a postal mail from the mail object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier for the sender includes a domain identifier that identifies a network associated with the sender.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the database includes demographic information on recipients and the postal mail includes an advertisement, said advertisement being selected based on the demographic information for the recipient.

5. A method of generating mail objects from email messages performed by a computer system at a first station at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and the recipients, the method comprising steps of:

receiving at the first station an email message from a sender, including an identifier of the sender and an identifier of a recipient;

locating in the database of the computer system the identifier of the sender to determine the name and address of the sender;

locating in the database of the computer system the identifier of the recipient to determine the name and address of the recipient;

sending the email message from the computer system to a receiving station near the address of the recipient, the email message including the name and address of the sender and the name and address of recipient, and

generating a mail object at the receiving station from the received email message using the name and address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the computer system includes a printer, the generating step including the substep of:

printing at the receiving station the mail object as a postal mail on a printer at the receiving station.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifier for the sender includes a domain identifier that identifies a network associated with the sender.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the postal mail includes the advertisement, said advertisement being selected based on at least one of the identifier for the sender, address information for the sender, and address information for the recipient.

92. In a method as set forth in claim 7, the step of:

sending the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient from the central station by electronic mail to a receiving station near the recipient when the request from the sender is entered in the transmit queue.

9. A method of generating mail objects from email messages performed by a computer system at a first station with at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and name and address information for both the senders and the recipients based upon the identifiers for the senders and the recipients, the method comprising steps of:

receiving at the first station an email message from a sender, including an identifier of the sender and an identifier of a recipient;

locating in the database of the computer system the identifier of the sender to determine the name and address of the sender;

locating in the database of the computer system the identifier of the recipient to determine the name and address of the recipient;

determining in the computer system whether the identifier of the sender in the database corresponds to the identifier of the recipient in the database;

sending the email massage to a receiving station near the address of the recipient when the computer system determines that the identifier of the sender in the database corresponds to the identifier of the recipient in the database,

generating at the receiving station a mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the computer system includes a printer, the generating step including the substep of:

printing at the receiving station the mail object as a postal mail on a printer at the receiving station; and

mailing the mail object to the recipient as postal mail.

11. A method of generating mail objects from email messages performed by a computer system at a first station with at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and name and address information for both the senders and the recipients based upon the identifiers of the sender and the recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the computer system from a sender an email message intended for a recipient;

extracting from the received email message an identifier of the sender and an identifier of the recipient;

locating in the database at the computer system the identifier of the sender;

determining whether the database contains the identifier of the recipient and whether the identifier of the recipient corresponds to the identifier of the sender; and

generating a mail object, at the computer system from the received email message, to a receiving station near the address of the recipient by using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient if it is determined at the computer system that the identifier of the recipient corresponds to the identifier of the sender.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the computer system includes a printer, the generating step including the substep of:

printing the mail object as a postal mail on a printer at the receiving station.

13. A method of generating mail objects from email messages performed by a computer system at a first station with at least one database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and name and address information for both the senders and the recipients based upon the identifiers of the sender and the recipient, the method comprising steps of:

receiving at the computer system an email message intended by a sender to be mailed to a recipient;

extracting at the computer system from the received email message an identifier of the sender and an identifier of the recipient;

locating in the database at the computer system the identifier of the sender;

determining in the database at the computer system whether the database contains the identifier of the recipient and whether the identifier of the recipient corresponds to the identifier of the sender; and

transmitting the email message from the computer system to a receiving station near the address of the recipient when it is determined at the computer system that the database in the computer system contains the identifier of the recipient and that the identifier of the recipient corresponds to the identifier of the sender, and

generating and storing at the computer system a partial mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender if it is determined at the computer system that the identifier of the recipient is not contained in the database at the computer system or if it is determined at the computer system that the identifier of the recipient does not correspond to the identifier of the sender.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving step includes the substep of:

generating an identifier for the email message at the computer system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the partial mail object is stored at the computer system using the identifier for the email message.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

sending from the computer system to the sender a return email message corresponding to the partial mail object and indicating that it was determined at the computer system that the identifier of the recipient is not contained in the database or that the identifier of the recipient does not correspond to the identifier of the sender.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the return email message from the computer system to the sender includes the identifier for the email message.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

the email message constituting a first email message,

receiving a second email message from the sender after the return of the first email message to the sender; and

determining at the computer system whether the second email message corresponds to the return email message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining step includes the substep of:

locating at the computer system in the second email message the identifier for the email message.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

combining at the computer system portions of the first mail message returned to the sender with portions of the second mail message to form a complete email message for transmission by the computer system to the receiving station.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the computer system includes a printer, the combining step including the substep of:

transmitting the complete email message from the computer system to the receiving station; and

printing the email object on a printer at the receiving station.

22. A computer system for generating mail objects from email messages, the computer system comprising;

a database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and recipients;

means for receiving email messages from senders;

means for locating in the database the identifiers for the senders and the identifiers for the recipients specified in the email messages; and

means for generating mail objects from the email messages using the address information in the database for the senders and for the recipients, wherein

the computer system includes a printer, and wherein

the generating means comprises;

means for printing the mail object on the printer.

23. A computer system for generating mail objects from email messages, the computer system comprising:

a database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and name and address information for both the senders and the recipients;

means receiving an email message from a sender, including an identifier of the sender and an identifier of a recipient;

means for locating in the database the identifier of the sender;

means for locating in the database the identifier of the recipient; and

means for generating a mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient, and including

a printer for printing the mail object.

24. A computer system for generating mail objects from email messages, the computer system comprising:

a database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and the recipients;

means for receiving an email message from a sender, including an identifier of the sender and an identifier of a recipient;

means for locating in the database the identifier of the sender and the identifier of the recipient;

means for determining whether the identifier of the sender in the database and the identifier of the recipient in the database correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message; and

generating a mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient if it is determined that the identifier of the sender and the identifier of the recipient correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message.

25. The computer system of claim 24 including a printer for printing the mail object.

26. A computer system for generating mail objects from email messages, the computer system comprising:

a database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and address information for both the senders and the recipients;

means for receiving an email message;

means for extracting from the received email message an identifier of a sender and an identifier of a recipient;

means for locating in the database the identifier of the sender;

means for determining whether the database contains the identifier of the recipient and whether the identifier of the recipient and the identifier of the sender correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message; and

means for generating a mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender and for the recipient if it is determined in the database that the identifier of the recipient and the identifier of the sender correspond to the identifier of the sender and the recipient in the email message.

27. The computer system of claim 26 including a printer for printing the mail object.

28. A computer system for generating mail objects from email messages, the computer system comprising:

a database containing identifiers for senders of email messages, identifiers for corresponding recipients of mail objects, and name and address information for both the senders and the recipients;

means for receiving an email message;

means for extracting from the received email message an identifier of a sender and an identifier of a recipient;

means for locating in the database the identifier of the sender;

means for determining whether the database contains the identifier of the recipient and whether the identifier of the recipient and the identifier of the sender correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message; and

means for generating and storing a partial mail object from the received email message using the address information in the database for the sender if it is determined that the identifier of the recipient is not contained in the database or if the identifier of the recipient and the identifier of the sender do not correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the receiving means includes:

means for generating an identifier for the email message.

30. The computer system of claim 29, wherein the partial mail object is stored using the identifier for the email message.

31. The computer system of claim 30 further comprising:

means for sending to the sender a return email message corresponding to the partial mail object and indicating that it was determined that the identifier of the recipient is not contained in the database or that the identifier of the recipient the identifier of the sender do not correspond to the identifiers of the sender and the recipient in the email message.

32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the return email message includes the identifier for the email message.

33. The computer system of claim 32 further comprising:

the return email message constituting a first email message;

means for receiving a second email message from the sender; and

means for determining whether the second email message corresponds to the first email message.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein the determining means includes:

means for locating in the second email message the identifier for the second email message.

35. The computer system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for combining portions of the partial mail message with portions of the second email to form a complete mail message.

36. The computer system of claim 35 further comprising a printer for printing the mail object on the printer.

37. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising:

means for determining whether the database indicates that the sender is permitted to generate an email message.

38. In a method of generating and sending a message, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message and the recipient of the message on a generalized basis and identifying the message,

providing a stored data base identifying the sender and the recipient previously identified by the sender on the generalized basis,

sending the message to a receiving station near the address of the recipient identified in the stored data base,

providing in the stored data base information indicating whether the sender has a financial balance sufficient to send the message to the recipient, and

sending the message to the receiving station near the address of the recipient when the stored data base indicates that the sender has a sufficient financial balance to send the message to the recipient.

39. In a method as set forth in claim 38, the steps of:

subtracting the cost of sending the message from the financial balance stored in the stored data base for the sender when the message is sent to the recipient identified in the stored data base.

40. In a method as set forth in claim 38 wherein

a central station receives the information identifying the sender and the recipient on the generalized basis and identifying the message and wherein

the central station provides the stored data base information identifying the sender and the specific recipient and wherein

the central station sends the message to the recipient identified in the stored data base at the central station.

41. In a method as set forth in claim 40 wherein

the central station stores information indicating whether the sender has a financial balance sufficient to send the message to the recipient and wherein

the central station sends the message to the recipient when the stored data base indicates that the sender has a sufficient financial balance to send the message to the recipient.

42. In a method as set forth in claim 41 wherein the central station subtracts the cost of sending the message from the financial balance stored in the stored data base for the sender when the central station sends the message to the recipient identified in the stored data base.

43. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message, information identifying the recipient of the message and information identifying the message,

determining which, if any, of the identification of the sender, the identification of the recipient and the identification of the message is incomplete,

storing the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message,

sending the message to the recipient when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is complete, and

preventing the message from being sent to the recipient when a determination is made that at least one of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is incomplete.

44. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message, information identifying the recipient of the message and information identifying the message,

determining which, if any, of the identification of the sender, the identification of the recipient and the identification of the message is incomplete,

storing the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message,

sending the message to the recipient when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is complete,

thereafter receiving the incomplete portion of at least one of the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message, and

sending the message to the recipient when the incomplete portion of at least one of the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message has been provided by the sender.

45. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message, information identifying the recipient of the message and information identifying the message,

determining which, if any, of the identification of the sender, the identification of the recipient and the identification of the message is incomplete,

storing the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message,

sending the message to the recipient when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is complete,

the recipient being identified on a generalized basis in a data base for the sender,

storing in the data base for the sender the identity of the recipient identified on the generalized basis by the sender, and

sending the message to the recipient identified in the data base of the sender when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message are complete.

46. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message, information identifying the recipient of the message and information identifying the message,

determining which, if any, of the identification of the sender, the identification of the recipient and the identification of the message is incomplete,

storing the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message, and

sending the message to the recipient when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is complete, and

identifying to the sender what in the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message is determined to be incomplete thereby providing the sender with an opportunity to complete such information.

47. In a method as set forth in claim 46, the steps of:

thereafter receiving what is determined to be the incomplete portion of the at least one of the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message,

the recipient being identified on a generalized basis,

storing in the database for the sender the identity of the recipient identified on a generalized basis by the sender, and

sending the message to a receiving station near the recipient identified in the database for the sender when it is determined that the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message are complete.

48. In a method as set forth in claim 47 wherein the steps of receiving, determining, storing and sending are provided at a central station.

49. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender information identifying the sender of the message, information identifying the recipient of the message and information identifying the message,

determining which, if any, of the identification of the sender, the identification of the recipient and the identification of the message is incomplete,

storing the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message, and

sending the message to the recipient when a determination is made that the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message is complete, and

the steps of receiving, determining, storing and sending being provided at a central station.

50. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail wherein

a sender sends by electronic mail to a central station information identifying the sender, information identifying a recipient and information identifying a message,

the central station receives the information sent by the sender,

the central station provides a stored database indicating the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient,

the central station sends by electronic mail to a receiving station near the address of the recipient information disclosing the message and the identity and the address of the sender in the database and the identity and the address of the recipient in the database, and

the receiving station receives the information disclosing the message and the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient.

51. In a method as set forth in claim 50 wherein the stored database at the central station provides information relating to the financial balance of the sender at the central station and wherein

the central station sends to the receiving station by electronic mail information disclosing the message and the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient when the central station determines from its stored database that the financial balance of the sender at the central station is sufficient to cover the cost of sending the message.

52. In a method as set forth in claim 50 wherein

the central station determines whether the information sent by the sender is complete and wherein

the central station sends to the receiving station by electronic mail the information disclosing the message and the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient when the central station determines that the information sent by the sender is complete.

53. In a method as set forth in claim 50 wherein the central station determines whether the information sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station is complete and wherein

the central station sends to the sender by electronic mail information indicating whether the information sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station is complete and, if the information is not complete, indicating the additional information that the sender has to provide by electronic mail to the central station to complete the information sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station.

54. In a method as set forth in claim 53 wherein

the central station stores in the stored database the information set by the sender by electronic mail to the central station when the central station determines that such information is complete and wherein

the sender sends to the central station additional information by electronic mail to complete the information previously sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station and wherein

the central station processes the additional information sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station and the information previously sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station and stored in the stored database to determine if such additional information and such stored information are complete and wherein

the central station sends the stored information and the additional information by electronic mail to the receiving station when the central station determines that the stored information and the additional information are complete.

55. In a method as set forth in claim 54 wherein

the stored database at the central station provides information relating to the financial balance of the sender at the central station and wherein

the central station sends to the receiving station by electronic mail information disclosing the message and the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient when the central station determines from its stored database that the financial balance of the sender at the central station is sufficient to cover the cost of sending the message.

56. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail wherein

a sender sends by electronic mail to a central station information identifying a message, information identifying the sender of the message and information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station receives the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and determines which, if any, of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message is incomplete and wherein

the central station sends by electronic mail to the sender the determination by the central station as to which, if any, of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message is incomplete and wherein

the sender sends by electronic mail to the central station additional information to complete the incomplete portion of the information identifying the sender, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station receives the additional information transmitted by electronic mail from the sender and determines whether the additional information completes the incomplete portion of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message.

57. In a method as set forth in claim 56 wherein

the central station sends by electronic mail to a branch station near the address of the recipient the information disclosing the sender of the recipient, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message when the central station determines that all of such information is complete.

58. In a method as set forth in claim 56 wherein

the central station discontinues the storage of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient and the information identifying the message when the central station fails to receive, within a particular period of time after the storage of such information, any additional information to complete the incomplete portion of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message.

59. In a method as set forth in claim 57 wherein

the receiving station receives by electronic mail from the central station the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the receiving station provides for a mailing to the recipient of the information identifying the message and the information identifying the sender of the message when the receiving station receives such information by electronic mail from the central station.

60. In a method as set forth in claim 59 wherein

the central station discontinues the storage of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message when the central station fails to receive, within a particular period of time after the storage of such information, any additional information to complete the incomplete portion of the information identifying the sender of the message, the information identifying the recipient of the message and the information identifying the message.

61. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail wherein

a sender sends by electronic mail to a central station information identifying a message, information identifying the sender of the message and information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station receives the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and determines which, if any, of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message is incomplete, and wherein

the central station provides a control number to the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station sends the control number by electronic mail to the sender and also sends by electronic mail to the sender, with such control number, the determination by the central station as to which, if any, of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message is incomplete.

62. In a method as set forth in claim 61 wherein

the central station stores in a database the control number and, with the control number, the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station eliminates from the database the control number and, with the control number, the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message when the central station determines that such information is incomplete and when the sender fails to send additional information relating to such message, the sender of the message and the recipient of the message by electronic mail to the central station within a particular time after such storage.

63. In a method as set forth in claim 61 wherein

the sender sends by electronic mail, with the control number, to the central station additional information to complete the incomplete portions of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message when the sender has learned by electronic mail from the central station what portions of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message are incomplete.

64. In a method as set forth in claim 63 wherein

the central station stores in a database the control number and, with the control number, the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station receives the control number by electronic mail from the sender and, with the control number, the additional information provided by the sender and wherein the central station determines if such additional information, when combined with the information stored in the database with such control number, completes the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message.

65. In a method as set forth in claim 63 wherein

the central station stores in a database information constituting a financial balance of the sender at the central station and wherein

the central station sends by electronic mail to the sender information with the control number to indicate whether the sender has a sufficient cash balance at the central station for the central station to send the message by electronic mail for reception by the recipient.

66. In a method as set forth in claim 63 wherein

the central station stores in a database information constituting a financial balance of the sender at the central station and wherein

the central station sends by electronic mail to the sender information with the control number to indicate whether the sender has a sufficient cash balance at the central station for the central station to send the message by electronic mail for reception by the recipient,

the sender of the message provides by electronic mail, with the control number, for an additional financial balance to be inserted into the financial balance in the database of the sender when the sender receives by electronic mail from the central station information that the financial balance of the sender is insufficient to cover the cost for the central station to sent the message to the recipient and wherein

the central station stores in the database the control number and, with the control number, the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station eliminates from the database the control number and, with the control number, the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message when the central station determines that such information is incomplete and when the sender fails to send additional information relating to such message, the sender of the message and the recipient of the message by electronic mail to the central station within a particular time after such storage.

67. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail wherein

a sender sends by electronic mail to a central station information identifying a message, information identifying the sender of the message and information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station receives the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender of the message and the information identifying the recipient of the message and wherein

the central station provides a control number to the received message and wherein

the central station determines whether it has sufficient information concerning the sender, the recipient and the message to send the message to the recipient and wherein

the central station sends the control number to the sender of the message and an indication to the sender as to whether or not the central station has sufficient information concerning the sender, the recipient and the message to send the message to the recipient and wherein

the central station sends the message and the identity of the sender and the recipient to a receiving station near the recipient, when the central station determines that it has sufficient information concerning the sender, the recipient and the message, for the mailing of such information from the receiving station to the recipient.

68. In a method as set forth in claim 67 wherein

the central station determines if the sender has a financial balance in the sender'"'"'s account with the central station to send the message to the receiving station near the address of the recipient and wherein

the central station sends the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to such receiving station when the central station determines that the sender has a sufficient balance in the sender'"'"'s account with the central station and when the central station determines that it has sufficient information concerning the sender, the recipient and the message to send the message to the receiving station.

69. In a method as set forth in claim 68 wherein

upon determining that there is an insufficient balance in the account of the sender with the central station, the central station sends a message to the sender that the sender has an insufficient financial balance in the sender'"'"'s account with the central station for the central station to send the message to the receiving station and that the sender will send the message to the receiving station when the sender has provided a sufficient balance in the account of the sender with the central station for the central station to send the message and the identities of the sender and the receiver to the receiving station.

70. In a method as set forth in claim 69 wherein

the central station stores the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender and the information identifying the recipient when the central station determines that the financial balance in the account of the sender at the central station is insufficient for the central station to send the message to the receiving station and wherein

the central station sends the message and the identities of the sender and the receiver to the receiving station when the sender has provided a sufficient balance in the financial account with the central station for the central station to send the message and the identities of the sender and the receiver to the receiving station.

71. In a method as set forth in claim 67 wherein

the central station determines whether the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender and the information identifying the recipient are complete and wherein

upon determining that at least one of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender or the information identifying the recipient is incomplete, the central station sends, with the control number, an indication that such information is incomplete and an indication of the information that the sender has to send to the central station to complete such information.

72. In a method as set forth in claim 71 wherein

the central station stores in a database the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender and the information identifying the recipient when the central station determines at least one of such information is incomplete and wherein

the central station discontinues the storage in the database of the information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender and the information identifying the recipient when the sender fails to send additional information relating to the incomplete information identifying the message, the information identifying the sender and the information identifying the recipient within a particular time after such storage.

73. In a method as set forth in claim 71 the steps of:

determining at the central station whether the central station has sufficient information concerning the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to send the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to the receiving station, and

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender the control number and an identity of what information is determined by the central station to be missing from the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to prevent the central station from sending the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to the receiving station, and

sending the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station when the central station receives additional information with the control number by electronic mail toward completing the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient and the central station determines that such additional information completes the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient.

74. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving from a sender at a central station by electronic mail information identifying a message, the sender of the message and the recipient of the message, the recipient being identified by an abbreviated designation other than the name and address of the recipient,

storing in a database at the central station the name and address of the recipient of the message on the basis of the abbreviated designation of the recipient in connection with the identity of the sender,

retrieving from the database at the central station the name and address of the recipient on the basis of the abbreviated designation in connection with the identity of the sender, and

sending the message and the identity of the sender and the name and address of the recipient, as retrieved from the database from the central station by electronic mail to a receiving station near the address of the recipient for mailing of the message from the receiving station to the recipient.

75. In a method as set forth in claim 74, the steps of:

providing at the central station a control number for the message and the sender and the recipient, and

sending from the central station to the sender by electronic mail the control number and a confirmation that the central station has received the message and the identity of the sender and the identity of the recipient and that the central station will be sending the message and the identity of the sender and the identity of the recipient by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

sending the control number from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station with the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient.

76. In a method as set forth in claim 74, the step of:

removing from the database at the central station the control number and the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient when the central station fails to receive from the sender by electronic mail any additional information to complete the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient within a particular period of time after the central station sends to the sender by electronic mail the control number and the identity of what information is determined by the central station to be missing from the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to prevent the central station from sending the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient to the receiving station.

77. In a method as set forth in claim 74, the step of:

adding to the database at the central station, for the control number of the message from the sender, the additional information sent by the sender by electronic mail to the central station, with the control number, toward completing the message and the identities of the sender and the recipient for sending from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station.

78. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving at a central station by electronic mail from a sender a particular message including the context of the particular message and the identities of the sender and the recipient,

providing an individual control number for the message at the central station,

storing the individual control number and the message in a queue with other control numbers and messages associated with such control numbers, and

retrieving each of the control numbers and the associated message in sequence from the queue in a chronological order related to the order in which the control numbers and the associated messages are stored in the queue, and

sending the retrieved individual control number and the associated message from the central station to a receiving station near the address of the recipient of the associated message for mailing by the receiving station to the recipient when such individual control number and such associated message are retrieved from the queue.

79. In a method as set forth in claim 78, the steps of:

determining at the central station whether the message associated with the individual control number is complete at the time that the individual control number and the associated message are received by the central station by electronic mail from the sender, and

when the central station determines that the message associated with the individual control number is incomplete, sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender an indication that the associated message is incomplete and an indication of what causes the associated message to be incomplete.

80. In a method as set forth in claim 79, the step of:

purging the individual control number and the associated message from the queue when the central station fails to receive by electronic mail from the sender the individual control number and additional information toward completing the message associated with the individual control number.

81. In a method as set forth in claim 78, the steps of:

storing in a database at the central station the financial balance in the account of the sender of the message with the individual control number,

determining at the central station whether the financial balance in the account of the sender with the individual control number is sufficient to pay for the sending of the message from the central station to the receiving station, and

sending the message with the individual control number from the central station to the receiving station when the central station determines that the financial balance in the account of the sender with the individual control number is sufficient to pay for the sending of the message.

82. In a method as set forth in claim 81, the steps of:

sending by electronic mail from the central station to the sender an indication that the financial balance in the account of the sender at the central station is insufficient to pay for the sending of the message from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

receiving at the central station by electronic mail from the sender a deposit in the financial account of the sender at the central station sufficient to pay for the sending of the message with the individual account number from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

sending the message with the individual control number from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station when the central station determines that it has a financial balance in the account of the sender sufficient for the sender to pay for the sending of the message with the individual control number by the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station.

83. In a method as set forth in claim 80,

determining at the central station whether the message associated with the individual control number is complete at the time that the individual control number and the associated message are received by the central station by electronic mail from the sender, and

when the central station determines that the message associated with the individual control number is incomplete, sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender an indication that the associated message is incomplete and an indication of what causes the associated message to be incomplete,

purging the individual control number and the associated message from the queue when the central station fails to receive by electronic mail from the sender after a particular period of time the individual control number and additional information toward completing the message associated with the individual control number.

84. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail, the steps of:

sending by electronic mail from a sender to a central station a request indicating a brief identification of the type of the message, a brief identification of the sender and a brief identification of the recipient,

storing in a first database at the central station the message indicated by the brief identification of the type of message,

storing in a second database at the central station the name and address of the sender as indicated by the brief identification,

storing in a third database at the central station the name and address of the recipient as indicated by the brief identification of the sender and the recipient,

retrieving the message from the first database as indicated by the brief identification of the message, the name and address of the sender from the second database as indicated by the brief identification of the sender and the name and address of the recipient from the third database as indicated by the brief identification of the sender and the recipient, and

sending the retrieved message, the retrieved name and address of the sender and the retrieved name and address of the recipient from the central station by electronic mail to a receiving station near the address of the recipient.

85. In a method as set forth in claim 84, the steps of:

receiving at the receiving station the message, the identity and address of the sender and the identity and address of the recipient, and

providing at the receiving station for the mailing of the message from the receiving station to the recipient of the message at the address of the recipient.

86. In a method as set forth in claim 84,

receiving at the receiving station the message, the identity and the address of the sender and the identity and the address of the recipient, and

providing at the receiving station for the sending of the message from the receiving station to the recipient of the message,

determining at the central station whether the message is incomplete and, if so, what causes it to be incomplete,

sending by electronic mail from the central station to the sender an indication that the request is incomplete and, if incomplete, what causes the message to be incomplete,

thereafter sending from the sender by electronic mail to the central station information to complete the request,

receiving at the central station by electronic mail from the sender the information to complete the request,

thereafter determining at the central station if the request is now complete, and

if the request is now complete, sending the message, the name and the address of the sender and the name and the address of the recipient from the central station to the receiving station office.

87. In a method as set forth in claim 84,

determining at the central station whether the message is incomplete and, if so, what causes it to be incomplete, and

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender an indication that the request is incomplete and, if incomplete, what causes the message to be incomplete, and

thereafter sending from the sender by electronic mail to the central station information to complete the request.

88. In a method as set forth in claim 87, the steps of:

receiving at the central station by electronic mail from the sender the information to complete the request,

thereafter determining at the central station if the request is now complete, and

if the central station determines that the request is now complete, sending the message, the name and address of the sender and the name and address of the recipient to the receiving station.

89. In a method as set forth in claim 84, the steps of:

retaining in a fourth database at the central station a balance in the account of the sender,

determining at the central station if the financial balance of the sender in the fourth database at the central station is sufficient to pay for the cost of sending the message by electronic mail from the central station to the receiving station, and

if so, sending the message, the identity and address of the sender and the identity and address of the recipient from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station.

90. In a method as set forth in claim 89, the steps of:

if the central station determines that the financial balance in the account of the sender at the central station is insufficient to pay for the cost of sending the message by electronic mail from the central station to the receiving station, sending an indication of this from the central station by electronic mail to the sender.

91. In a method as set forth in claim 90,

thereafter sending from the sender by electronic mail to the central station sufficient funds, when added to the funds indicated in the fourth database relating to the financial balance of the account of the sender at the central station, to pay for the cost of sending the message from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

thereafter sending the message, the identification and the address of the sender and the identification and address of the recipient from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station.

95. In a method as set forth in claim 86,

if the determination at the central station is that the request from the sender is in sufficient detail to send the request to the receiving station, entering the request from the sender into a transmit queue and

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender, when the request from the sender is entered in the transmit queue, an indication that the request from the sender has been approved,

providing at the central station the request from the sender with an individual control number,

entering the individual control number into the transmit queue at the central station with the request from the sender,

entering other requests from other senders into the transmit queue at the central station with control numbers identifying such other requests when the central station determines that such other requests have sufficient information for the central station to send messages to recipients identified in such other requests, and

sequentially sending messages identified by the request from the sender and the requests from the other senders to the receiving station near the address of the recipient identified in the request and to receiving stations near the addresses of recipients identified in the other requests in the same order that such request from the sender and the requests from the other senders are entered into the transmit queue.

100. In a method as set forth in claim 95, the steps of:

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender an indication of any additional information that the sender has to send by electronic mail to the central station to make the request sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to the receiving station,

thereafter receiving at the central station by electronic mail from the sender the additional information to make the request sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message to the receiving station, and

thereafter sending from the central station by electronic mail to the receiving station the message and the envelope with the name and address of the recipient as the addressee and the name and address of the sender as the addressor.

93. In a method of generating and sending messages by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving at a central station from a sender by electronic mail a request for the central station to send by electronic mail a message from the sender to a recipient identified by the sender in the request,

determining at the central station whether the request from the sender is in sufficient detail for the central station to send the message to the recipient and to indicate to the recipient that the message is from the sender,

if the determination at the central station is that the request from the sender is not in sufficient detail, entering the request from the sender in a transaction queue at the central station and entering in the transaction queue the information that is needed to provide the request in sufficient detail for the central station to send the message to the recipient, and

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender a request for the information that is determined by the central station to be needed to provide the request in sufficient detail for the central station to send the message to the recipient.

94. In a method as set forth in claim 93, the steps of:

providing at the central station the request from the sender with an individual control number,

entering the individual control number into the transaction queue at the central station with the request from the sender when the central station determines that there is insufficient information in the request to send the request to the receiving station,

entering other request from other senders into the transaction queue at the central station with control numbers identifying such other requests when the central station determines that such other requests have insufficient information for the central station to send messages to recipients identified in such other requests, and

sequentially sending messages identified by the request from the sender and the requests from the other senders to the sender and to the other senders in the same order that such request from the sender and the requests from the other senders are entered into the transaction queue to indicate to the sender the information that the sender has to send by electronic mail to the central station to complete the request from the sender and to indicate to the other senders the information that such other senders have to send by electronic mail to the central station to complete such other messages.

96. In a method as set forth in claim 93, the steps of:

if the determination at the central station is that the request from the sender is in sufficient detail, entering the request from the sender into a transmit queue, and

sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender, when the request from the sender is entered in the transmit queue, an indication that the request from the sender has been approved.

97. In a method as set forth in claim 96, the steps of:

providing at the central station the request from the sender with an individual control number,

entering the individual control number into the transmit queue at the central station with the request from the sender,

entering other requests from other senders into the transmit queue at the central station with control numbers identifying such other requests when the central station determines that such other requests have sufficient information for the central station to send messages to recipients identified in such other requests, and

sequentially sending messages identified by the request from the sender and the requests from the other senders to the receiving station near the address of the recipient identified in the request and to receiving stations near the addresses of the recipients identified in the other requests in the same order that such request from the sender and the requests from the other senders are entered into the transmit queue.

98. In a method of generating and sending a message by electronic mail, the steps of:

receiving at a central station from a sender a request to send a message by electronic mail to a recipient,

determining at the central station if the request from the sender is sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to a receiving station near the address of the recipient,

storing at the central station the name and address of the recipient and an abbreviated identification previously identified by the sender for such recipient,

substituting the name and address of the recipient for the abbreviated identification of the recipient if such abbreviated identification of the recipient is used in the request,

sending by electronic mail from the central station to the receiving station, for printing at the receiving station, the message identified in the request when the central station determines that the request from the sender is sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

sending by electronic mail from the central station to the receiving station, for printing at the receiving station, an envelope with the name and address of the recipient in the place on the envelope where an addressee is ordinarily identified and with the name and address of the sender in the place on the envelope where the addressor is ordinarily identified.

99. In a method as set forth in claim 98, the steps of:

providing at the central station a print queue in which the request of the sender to send the message to the recipient and the requests of other senders to send messages to other recipients are stored in the same order as the order in which the central station receives the request from the sender and the other requests from the other senders, and

sending by electronic mail from the central station, to receiving stations nearest the recipients of the message from the sender and the messages from the other senders, the message from the sender and the messages from the other senders in the same order as the order in which the central station receives the request from the sender and the other requests from the other senders in the print queue.

101. In a method as set forth in claim 98 wherein

the request from the sender is provided with a control number and wherein

the central station sends the control number of the request by electronic mail to the receiving station with the message and with the envelope printed with the name and address of the recipient as the addressee and with the name and address of the sender as the addressor and wherein

the central station sends by electronic mail to the sender an indication that the central station has approved the request of the sender for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to the receiving station.

102. In a method as set forth in claim 101,

providing at the central station a print queue in which the request of the sender to send the message to the recipient and the requests of other senders to send messages to other recipients are stored in the same order as the order in which the central station receives the request from the sender and the other requests from the other senders, and

sending by electronic mail from the central station, to receiving stations nearest the address of the recipient of the message from the sender and the recipients of the messages from the other senders, the message from the sender and the messages from the other senders in the same order as the order in which the central station provides the request from the sender and the other requests from the other senders in the print queue,

if the request from the sender is incomplete, sending from the central station by electronic mail to the sender an indication of any additional information that the sender has to send by electronic mail to the central station to make the request sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to the receiving station,

thereafter receiving at the central station by electronic mail from the sender the additional information to make the request sufficiently complete for the central station to send the message by electronic mail to the receiving station, and

thereafter sending to the receiving station the message and the envelope with the name and address of the recipient as the addressee and the name and address of the sender as the addressor.