Screensaver messaging system

• US 6,288,715 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reeves, Bradley, Bain, Lynda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/309,356
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 345/211, 345/329, 345/333, 345/339, 345/340, 345/346, 345/347, 345/348, 345/352, 713/320, 713/321, 713/300
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A screensaver method and apparatus provides a communication system for a computer which allows a visitor to an office or workspace to leave an electronic message. A screensaver program is installed on a personal computer which provides a dialogue box on the display screen after a predetermined period of inactivity. The dialogue box includes areas for a computer user to provide instructions for visitors to the office to enter messages as well as places for the visitor to, through use of the mouse and keyboard, enter and transmit an e-mail message for the computer user. Once the message has been entered and the user transmits, the screensaver communications program converts the entered message and other information to a predetermined format and transmits it to the assigned destination address. The computer user who was absent may then upon return, remove the dialogue box from the screen and access the e-mail message.

Claims

1. A screen saver communications system for use in a computing device which is connectable to a data network comprising:

a display graphic which is presented on a display monitor after a predetermined period of inactivity for the computing device and which may be removed upon performance of a predetermined action, said display graphic including;

at least one dialogue box in which an alphanumeric message may be typed through use of a keyboard and mouse for the computing device; and

an activation button located proximate to the at least one dialogue box which provides for further processing of the alphanumeric message; and

an E-mail processing module which upon selection of the activation button, transmits the alphanumeric message to a predetermined E-mail address over the data network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a personal computer and the data network is comprised of at least one of:

the world wide web or a local area network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined E-mail address is associated with computing device on which the alphanumeric message was entered.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the display graphic is programmed to move about the display screen at predetermined intervals.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the display graphic may be removed from the display through selection of a preprogrammed key on the keyboard.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the E-mail module automatically formats the alphanumeric message in a predetermined format for transmission to the predetermined E-mail address.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein password protection is provided for the computing device through display of a password dialog box upon depression of the preprogrammed key, where a predetermined password must be entered into the password dialogue box to access applications in the computing device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the E-mail processing module is adapted to receive and display automated return E-mails in response to the transmission of the alphanumeric message to a predetermined E-mail address.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein no connection to the data network is established and the alphanumeric message typed into the dialog box is stored in an accessible file in a memory for the computing device.

10. The system of claim 1 further including a display for entering custom information which may include at least one of:

system activation and deactivation, period of inactivity before the system is activated, default E-mail address, message for visitors, and activation and deactivation of vacation mode.

11. A method of generating and transmitting an E-mail message from a computing device connected to a data network, comprising the steps of:

providing a display graphic which appears on a display screen for the computer after a predetermined period of inactivity;

displaying at least one dialogue box within the display graphic in which an alphanumeric message may be entered;

detecting selection of an activation button within the display graphic and converting the alphanumeric message entered into the at least one alphanumeric message to an E-mail message to be transmitted to a predetermined address; and

transmitting the E-mail message via the data network to the predetermined E-mail address.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein display graphic is part of a screen saver program which appears on the display screen after a predetermined period of inactivity of the computing device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of moving the display graphic to different location on the display screen at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of deactivating the display graphic through selection of a predetermined key on the keyboard.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying a password dialogue box upon selection of the predetermined key, and upon detection of the entry of a predetermined password in the password dialogue box, providing access to application in the computing device.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of detecting and displaying contents of an automated return E-mail message.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein if a connection to a data network is not established, the alphanumeric message is stored in an accessible file in a memory for the computer.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein a screen display is presented for entering custom information, the custom information includes at least one of:

activating or deactivating the screensaver program, entering a period of activating before the screensaver program is activated, entering a default email address, entering a message which will be read by visitors, and activating and deactivation of a vacation mode.