Individual XML message processing platform

• US 7,809,855 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Interactive Services Corporation (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Notifications Group, Inc. (West Corporation)
• Inventors: Goren, Craig, Stark, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart; Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US11/432,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/83 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/33 containing protocol addresses or telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/37 E-mail addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A communications platform (Centerpost) is disclosed containing a message processing platform along with an XML message format (SmartMessage) which provides for the reception, organization, summarization, filing, storage, synthesis, routing, formatting, and intelligent processing of XML-based electronic messages and SMTP electronic mail from corporations and other senders to fully integrate individuals'"'"' existing e-mail boxes, cellular telephones, paging equipment, facsimile machines, wireless and wired telephones, and other devices. The Centerpost platform utilizes a nickname-based routing to enable device specific sending without knowledge of the specific device address. The Centerpost platform provides sender-defined information folios, which enable synthesized filing, viewing and storage of all received SmartMessages, and the platform allows semi-private access control for the user, which allows access by others.

Claims

1. A communications platform that enables users to receive XML electronic messages from corporations and others comprising a server, said server comprising logic for:

receiving an electronic message for a user, the electronic message addressed to the platform and comprising a routing indicator and a message payload, wherein the platform provides for bidirectional XML electronic messages;

accessing a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with routing indicators;

selecting at least one endpoint from a plurality of endpoints based on the routing indicator in the electronic message and the user-defined endpoint table, wherein the routing indicator is nickname-based; and

routing at least a portion of the message payload to the at least one endpoint, wherein the at least a portion of the message payload-intelligently stores, displays, and synthesizes itself in an information folio in at least one user-defined endpoint table based upon a sender-defined requirements;

wherein the communications platform further comprises a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet, wherein said sender stylesheet describes meta-data pertaining to a sender, said electronic message stylesheet describes an activity and an event; and

wherein said sender stylesheet and said electronic message stylesheet reside on said sender'"'"'s web servers.

2. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein the routing indicator is an XML routing indicator.

3. The communications platform in claim 2, wherein said XML routing indicator comprises an electronic message definition document, wherein said definition document is used by the communications platform to automatically determine how to display, summarize and process the electronic message.

4. The communications platform in claim 3, wherein said electronic message definition document comprises an entity and a class.

5. The communications platform in claim 2, wherein the electronic message comprises an attribute and at least one of a stylesheet or a reference to the stylesheet, the stylesheet including definitions for the plurality of attributes;

and

wherein the server accesses the stylesheet based on the reference in the electronic message to define the attribute.

6. The communications platform in claim 5, wherein the stylesheet comprises formatting data for a plurality of endpoints;

and

further comprising logic for formatting at least a portion of the message payload based on the stylesheet.

7. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein the routing indicator comprises an attribute of the electronic message;

and

wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of reach, immediacy, sensitivity, content, expiration, and context.

8. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein the routing indicator of the electronic message comprises immediacy indicating time sensitivity of the electronic message;

wherein the endpoint table comprises user-assigned endpoints based on the immediacy of the electronic message; and

wherein the server reviews the electronic message for the immediacy attribute to determine, based on the endpoint table, to which endpoint to route at least a portion of the electronic message.

9. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein the platform processes the electronic message based on the meta-data pertaining to the sender.

10. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein said at least one endpoint comprises an electronic mail box, a wired or wireless telephone, a facsimile machine, a paging device, or a personal digital assistant.

11. The communications platform in claim 1, wherein the routing indicator comprises an event associated with the electronic message;

wherein a server reviews the electronic message for the event to determine, based on the endpoint table, to which endpoint to route at least a portion of the electronic message.

12. The communications platform of claim 11, wherein the endpoint table comprises for each of a plurality of events at least one associated user-assigned endpoint.

13. The communications platform of claim 12, wherein the electronic message further comprises a reference to a stylesheet, the stylesheet including definitions for the plurality of events.

14. The communications platform of claim 13, wherein a server accesses the stylesheet based on the reference in the electronic message to define the event.