Method and system for remote retrieval of documents

• US 6,801,932 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Winkelman, John H., Rojas, John W., Strobel, Kevin L., Norris, James R. Jr., Picoult, Cheryl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US09/707,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/206, 379/88.14, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/424, 455/425
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The mobile device is then prompted to notify the recipient that a message is waiting. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are provided with a tag for wireless communication. The message recipient is prompted to bring the mobile device in close enough proximity to the destination device such that the tag sends information about the destination devise to the mobile device. The mobile device communicates the information via wireless communications means with the data center. The data center then determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in proper format. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the destination device for output.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving a message remotely comprising the steps of:

(a) storing at least one message for a recipient at a data center;

(b) sending a notification from said data center to a recipient'"'"'s mobile device said notification indicating that said at least one message exist at said data center;

(c) communicating between said recipient'"'"'s mobile device and a wireless tag, wherein said recipient'"'"'s mobile device retrieves from said tag a destination device and a destination address;

(d) sending said destination device address to said data center;

(e) having said data center ask said recipient'"'"'s mobile device to select whether said recipient would like said message to be sent securely or normally;

(f) sending said message to said destination device address securely if selected by said recipient or sending said message to said destination device normally if selected by said recipient; and

(g) translating said stored messages to a format compatible with a destination device.

2. The method of claim 1 further including sending a confirmation notification to said device that said message was sent to said destination device address.

3. The method of claim 1 further including printing said message at said destination device.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of determining a recipient.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of determining said recipient preferences and sending said message according to said recipient preferences.

6. The method of claim 1 sending a return receipt to said original sender.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a personal data assistant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said messages are delivered securely and stored until said recipient retrieves said messages.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a cell phone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a laptop computer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a pager.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said message is a facsimile message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said destination device is a photocopier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said destination is a facsimile machine.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said destination is a printer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said message is an e-mail.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said message is a voice signal communication.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said message is any electronic data message.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication is by IrDA.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication is by Rf.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication is ultrasonic.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination address also includes information about a message format required by said destination device for delivery.

23. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said message is secured by public key encryption.

24. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said message is secured by private key encryption.

25. A method for retrieving a message remotely comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a message to a recipient;

(b) said message routed to a data center, said data center determining recipient preferences;

(c) sending a notification, in accordance with recipient preferences, from said data center to a recipient'"'"'s mobile device, said notification indicating that said message exists at said data center;

(d) communicating between said recipient'"'"'s mobile device and a wireless tag, wherein said recipient'"'"'s mobile device retrieves from said tag a destination device and a destination address;

(e) sending said destination device address to said data center;

(f) having said data center ask said recipient mobile device to select whether said recipient would like said message to be sent securely or normally;

(g) converting said stored message to a format compatible with a destination device; and

(h) sending said converted message to said destination device address securely if selected by said recipient or sending said message to said destination device normally if selected by said recipient.

26. A method for retrieving a message remotely comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a message at a data center;

said data center determining said recipient and recipient preferences;

(b) sending a notification, in accordance with recipient preferences, from said data center to a recipient'"'"'s mobile device, said notification indicating that said message exists at said data center;

(c) communicating between said mobile device and a wireless tag, wherein said recipient'"'"'s mobile device retrieves from said tag a destination device and a destination address;

(d) sending said destination device address to said data center;

(e) having said data center ask said recipient'"'"'s mobile device to select whether said recipient would like said message to be sent securely or normally;

(f) converting said stored message to a format compatible with a destination device; and

(g) sending said converted message to said destination device address securely if selected by said recipient or sending said message to said destination device normally if selected by said recipient.

27. A method and system as claimed in claim 26, further including printing at said destination device said message.