Method and apparatus for automatically forwarding an email message or portion thereof to a remote device

• US 6,118,856 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Paarsmarkt, James Benjamin, Buckler, Brian Lawrence, Vizer, Raymond Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/220,960
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.07, 379/93.14, 379/93.15, 379/93.17-93.21, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 358/402, 358/407, 455/32.1, 455/412, 455/556, 455/557, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 379/93.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment

Abstract

A telephony apparatus is disclosed. The telephony apparatus has a receiver for receiving an email and a processor circuit having a communications port, for automatically forwarding at least a portion of the email from the communications port to a remote device, in response to receiving the email.

Claims

1. A subscriber telephony apparatus comprising:

a) an email receiver for receiving an email from one of a plurality of e-mail service providers at said subscriber telephony apparatus, said subscriber telephone apparatus capable of selective communication with each of said plurality of e-mail service providers via a telephone network;

b) a processor circuit programmed to determine whether or not said email is from a pre-specified system or person; and

c) a communication sport controlled by said processor circuit for transmitting signals from said subscriber telephony apparatus to a remote device when said email is from said pre-specified system or person.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communications port is operable to transmit at least a portion of said email.

3. a method comprising:

a) receiving an email from one of a plurality of e-mail service providers at a subscriber telephony equipment capable of selective communication with each of said plurality of e-mail service providers via a telephone network; and

b) automatically forwarding at least a portion of said email from said subscriber telephony equipment to a remote device in response to said receiving of said email.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein receiving comprises receiving said email in an SMTP format.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein receiving comprises receiving said email in a MDMF (Multiple Data Messaging Format) or ADMT (Analog Display Services Interface (ADSI) Data Messaging Format) signaling format.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein forwarding comprises transmitting said at least a portion of said email in a telocator alphanumeric paging protocol.

7. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising initiating communications with a source of said email to permit receiving.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein initiating communications comprises establishing communications between said subscriber equipment and an email server.

9. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein forwarding comprises transmitting said at least a portion of said email in a signalling format receivable by subscriber telephony equipment.

10. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selectively forwarding said at least a portion of said email when a predefined portion of said email matches pre-specified conditions.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein forwarding comprises forwarding when said sender identification matches at least one pre-specified sender identification.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein forwarding comprises forwarding to a pre-specified remote device when said sender identification matches at least one pre-specified sender identification.

13. A subscriber telephony apparatus comprising:

a) a receiver for receiving an email from one of a plurality of e-mail service providers at said subscriber telephony apparatus, said subscriber telephone apparatus capable of selected communication with each of said plurality of e-mail service providers via telephone network; and

b) a processor circuit having a communications port, said processor circuit being programmed to control said communications port to automatically forward at least a portion of said email from said subscriber telephony apparatus to a remote device, in response to receiving said email at said subscriber telephony apparatus.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processor circuit is programmed to selectively forward said at least a portion of said email when a predefined portion of said email meets pre-specified data.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising at least one pre-specified sender identification readable by said processor circuit and wherein said processor circuit is programmed to forward when said sender identification matches said at least one pre-specified sender identification.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising at least one pre-specified remote device identification readable by said processor circuit and wherein said processor circuit is programmed to forward to said pre-specified remote device when said sender identification matches at least one pre-specified sender identification.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processor circuit is programmed to transmit said at least a portion of said email in a signalling format receivable by subscriber telephony equipment.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said receiver is operable to receive said email in a MDMF (Multiple Data Messaging Format) or ADMF (Analog Display Services Interface (ADSI) Data messaging Format) signalling format.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said receiver is operable to receive said email in an SMTP format.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processor circuit is programmed to transmit said at least a portion of said email in a telocator alphanumeric paging protocol.