System, method and computer program for recipient controlled communications

• US 9,002,963 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Great Adventure Series 103 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gross, Erwin Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Daniel, Gross, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/846,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A communication system is provided in which users associate handling data identifying how messages are to be processed with contact data. Handling data for the identified contacts in the contact data is then dispatched to those contacts. Subsequently when messages are dispatched from the locations identified by the contact data a sender of a message selects handling data to be associated with a message being dispatched. Upon receipt of a message associated with handling data the message is then processed in the manner identified by the handling data.

Claims

1. A method of controlling processing of a communication to a first computer from a second computer among a plurality of computers connected to a communication network, the method comprising:

generating a group of first processing criteria;

selecting a group of second processing criteria from the first processing criteria, the selecting of the second processing criteria comprising identifying which of the first processing criteria are to be available to the second computer;

associating contact data with the first computer, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising an address of one specific computer of the plurality of computers and a list of one or more of the first processing criteria allocated to the one specific computer, the associating of the contact data comprising storing or accessing the contact data, wherein one contact record of the contact records corresponds to the second computer;

utilizing the one contact record to allocate the second processing criteria to the second computer, wherein a group of third processing criteria is to be selected by the second computer from the second processing criteria;

associating the communication with the third processing criteria; and

processing the communication in accordance with the third processing criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third processing criteria is to be selected by the second computer after dispatch of the communication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing the second processing criteria to the second computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the distributing of the second processing criteria comprises distributing the second processing criteria to the second computer using tag data associated with the second computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the second processing criteria allocated to the second computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a group of fourth processing criteria selected from the second processing criteria with an initial communication from the first computer to the second computer, wherein the communication is sent in reply to the initial communication and the third processing criteria is to be selected by the second computer subject to default values specified in the fourth processing criteria.

7. A method of receiving and processing by an electronic receiving unit of an electronic communication dispatched from a specific remote electronic dispatching unit among a plurality of remote electronic dispatching units, the method comprising:

generating a group of first processing criteria, the first processing criteria indicative of processes to be performed on electronic communications;

allocating to the specific remote electronic dispatching unit a group of one or more second processing criteria from the first processing criteria;

identifying which of the first processing criteria are to be made available to which one or more specific remote electronic dispatching units among the plurality of remote electronic dispatching units;

associating contact data with the electronic receiving unit, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising an address of one specific remote electronic dispatching unit of the remote electronic dispatching units and a list of one or more of the first processing criteria allocated to the one specific remote electronic dispatching unit, the associating of the contact data comprising storing or accessing the contact data at the electronic receiving unit, wherein;

one contact record of the plurality of contact records corresponds to the specific remote electronic dispatching unit, and

the allocating of the second processing criteria comprises utilizing the one contact record to allocate the second processing criteria to the specific remote electronic dispatching unit;

receiving from the specific remote electronic dispatching unit the electronic communication associated with a group of third processing criteria, the third processing criteria being selected from the second processing criteria by the specific remote electronic dispatching unit; and

processing the electronic communication in accordance with the third processing criteria.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying of the first processing criteria comprises enabling a user of the electronic receiving unit to select the specific remote electronic dispatching unit and the second processing criteria.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein

the generating of the first processing criteria comprises:

receiving processing definition data indicative of the processes to be performed on the electronic communications; and

establishing the first processing criteria based on the processing definition data, and

the processing of the electronic communication comprises processing the electronic communication in accordance with the processing definition data.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising distributing to the specific remote electronic dispatching unit processing definition data indicative of the processes to be performed on the electronic communications, wherein the receiving of the electronic communication comprises receiving the electronic communication after the electronic communication has been processed at the specific remote electronic dispatching unit in accordance with the processing definition data.

11. The method of claim 7,

wherein the first processing criteria comprises processing criteria indicative of forwarding of the electronic communications to other locations, and

wherein the processing of the electronic communication comprises forwarding the electronic communication to one of the other locations.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first processing criteria comprises control data indicative of processes to be performed on the electronic communications.

13. The method of claim 7,

wherein the specific remote electronic dispatching unit comprises a first remote electronic dispatching unit and a second remote electronic dispatching unit,

wherein the allocating of the second processing criteria further comprises allocating a first subset of the second processing criteria to the first remote electronic dispatching unit and a second subset of the second processing criteria to the second remote electronic dispatching unit,

wherein the electronic communication comprises a first electronic communication and a second electronic communication, and

wherein the receiving of the electronic communication comprises:

receiving from the first remote electronic dispatching unit the first electronic communication associated with a first subset of the third processing criteria, the first subset of the third processing criteria being selected from the first subset of the second processing criteria by the first remote electronic dispatching unit; and

receiving from the second remote electronic dispatching unit the second electronic communication associated with a second subset of the third processing criteria, the second subset of the third processing criteria being selected from the second subset of the second processing criteria by the second remote electronic dispatching unit.

14. A method of controlling processing of a call or a voice message between a specific caller and a recipient among a plurality of caller electronic communication devices, the method comprising:

generating a group of first processing criteria;

selecting a group of second processing criteria from the first processing criteria, the second processing criteria being selected based on the specific caller, the selecting of the second processing criteria identifying which of the first processing criteria are to be allocated to which one or more specific callers among the plurality of caller electronic communication devices;

associating contact data with the recipient, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising contact information of one specific caller of the caller electronic communication devices and a list of one or more of the first processing criteria allocated to the one specific caller, the associating of the contact data comprising storing or accessing the contact data, wherein one contact record of the contact records corresponds to the specific caller; and

processing the call or the voice message in accordance with a group of third processing criteria, the third processing criteria being selected from the second processing criteria by the specific caller.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising associating a current status with the recipient, wherein the processing of the call in accordance with the third processing criteria is responsive to the current status of the recipient.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the processing of the call comprises connecting the call to the recipient if the current status of the recipient satisfies the third processing criteria.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the processing of the call comprises storing the voice message if the current status of the recipient does not satisfy the third processing criteria.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the associating of the current status is operable at a mobile electronic communications device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the processing of the voice message comprises retrieving the voice message responsive to the third processing criteria.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting of the third processing criteria comprises providing the specific caller with a menu.