EP0376869A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of allowing the transmission of electronic messages between ennrolled and unenrolled users of computer systems
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-11-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A method allows for the communication of an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and an unenrolled recipient. A recipient is designated for delivery of an electronic message from an enrolled user of a computer network. It is determined if the designated recipient is an enrolled user in the computer network. Then, in the event the designated recipient is not an enrolled user of the computer network, it is determined automatically whether the designated recipient has a designated intermediary linked to the computer network for receipt of the electronic message. The electronic message is directed from the enrolled user through the computer network to the unenrolled recipient in care of the designated intermediary.
Inventors
- 👤 Chander Kasiraj
- 👤 Timothy James Wolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and recipient, comprising the steps of: designating a recipient for delivery of an electronic message from an enrolled user of a computer network; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of an intermediary.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and recipient, comprising the steps of: designating a recipient for delivery of an electronic message from an enrolled user of a computer network; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of an intermediary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and an unenrolled recipient according to Claim 1 wherein said intermediary is designated by said recipient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and an recipient according to Claim 1 wherein said intermediary is designated by said enrolled user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and an recipient according to Claim 1 wherein said intermediary receives said electronic message from said enrolled user and delivers said electronic message to said unenrolled recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria established by said enrolled user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and an recipient according to Claim 1 wherein said intermediary receives said electronic message from said enrolled user and delivers said electronic message to said unenrolled recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria established by said recipient.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient, comprising the steps of: designating a recipient for delivery of an electronic message from an enrolled user of a computer network; determining if said designated recipient is an enrolled user of said computer network; determining automatically whether said designated recipient has a designated intermediary linked to said computer network for receipt of said electronic message, in the event said designated recipient is not an enrolled user of said computer network; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of said designated intermediary.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient, comprising the steps of: designating a recipient for delivery of an electronic message from an enrolled user of a computer network; determining if said designated recipient is an enrolled user of said computer network; determining automatically whether said designated recipient has a designated intermediary linked to said computer network for receipt of said electronic message, in the event said designated recipient is not an enrolled user of said computer network; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of said designated intermediary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 6 wherein said intermediary comprises a computer simultaneously linked to said computer network and to a separate and distinct computer network, wherein said separate and distinct computer network comprises a stand-alone, multi-user system, wherein said intermediary serves as a gateway agent between said computer networks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 6 wherein said electronic message is directed from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of said intermediary while simultaneously revealing to said enrolled user that said electronic message is being routed to said intermediary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 6 wherein said electronic message is directed from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of said intermediary without revealing to said enrolled user that said electronic message is being routed to said intermediary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 6 wherein said intermediary serves as an intermediary for a plurality of recipients.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 6 wherein said intermediary comprises one of a plurality of designated intermediaries, each designated to receive particular electronic messages on behalf of said recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient, comprising the steps of: selecting said recipient for delivery of said electronic message to be sent through said computer network; determining automatically whether said selected recipient is an unenrolled user of said computer network; determining automatically whether said selected recipient has a designated intermediary linked to said computer network for receipt of said electronic message, in the event said selected recipient is an unenrolled user of said computer network; designating an intermediary linked to a computer network for receipt of an electronic message on behalf of said selected recipient in the event no designated intermediary exists; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said intermediary on behalf of said selected recipient.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient, comprising the steps of: selecting said recipient for delivery of said electronic message to be sent through said computer network; determining automatically whether said selected recipient is an unenrolled user of said computer network; determining automatically whether said selected recipient has a designated intermediary linked to said computer network for receipt of said electronic message, in the event said selected recipient is an unenrolled user of said computer network; designating an intermediary linked to a computer network for receipt of an electronic message on behalf of said selected recipient in the event no designated intermediary exists; and directing said electronic message from said enrolled user through said computer network to said intermediary on behalf of said selected recipient.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said intermediary comprises a computer simultaneously linked to said computer network and to a separate and distinct computer network, wherein said separate and distinct computer network comprises a stand-alone, multi-user system, whereby said intermediary serves as a gateway agent between said computer networks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said intermediary comprises one of a plurality of desig nated intermediaries, each designated to receive particular electronic messages on behalf of said recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said intermediary receives said electronic message from said enrolled user and delivers said electronic message to said recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria established by said enrolled user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said intermediary receives said electronic message from said enrolled user and delivers said electronic message to said recipient according to a predetermined delivery criteria established by said recipient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said intermediary serves as an intermediary for a plurality of recipients.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said electronic message is directed from said enrolled user through said particular computer network to said recipient in care of said intermediary without revealing to said enrolled user that said electronic message is being routed to said intermediary.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of communicating an electronic message between an enrolled user linked to a computer network and a recipient according to Claim 12 wherein said electronic message is directed from said enrolled user through said computer network to said recipient in care of said intermediary while simultaneously revealing to said enrolled user that said electronic message is being routed to said intermediary.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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