US5793497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for delivering and modifying information electronically
Assignee: Google LLC
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Filing: 1995-04-06
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2015-04-06
Abstract
Abstract An automated system of passively distributing personalized, unique information to users via electronic mail or facsimile. The system formats information into messages conforming to electronic mail protocols and transmits these messages to the user's electronic mailbox or reception system. The system also allows a user to automatically edit an underlying information database via electronic mail to modify services and further allows third parties to insert text messages into outbound message(s).
Inventors
- 👤 John T. Funk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for providing information via electronic-mail ("e-mail") to customers, comprising: a source of information; a computer connected to said source of information; and an e-mail network connecting said computer to said customers, said computer including: a customer database including a unique customer record for each customer; an information database including information dynamically updated periodically by said source of information; means for generating a file based on customer information in said customer database and based on said dynamically updated information from said information database; and means for converting said file to an e-mail message and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via said e-mail network; wherein the customer information includes at least a portion of the unique customer record and the means for generating further includes means for matching a field in the unique customer record to a corresponding field in said information database.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for providing information via electronic-mail ("e-mail") to customers, comprising: a source of information; a computer connected to said source of information; and an e-mail network connecting said computer to said customers, said computer including: a customer database including a unique customer record for each customer; an information database including information dynamically updated periodically by said source of information; means for generating a file based on customer information in said customer database and based on said dynamically updated information from said information database; and means for converting said file to an e-mail message and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via said e-mail network; wherein the customer information includes at least a portion of the unique customer record and the means for generating further includes means for matching a field in the unique customer record to a corresponding field in said information database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said information includes at least one of securities information, cleared checks, account balances, and charges and payments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said information database includes a list of publicly traded securities, which is updated daily by said information source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 1, said computer further comprising: means for receiving e-mail messages from a predetermined customer; and means responsive to said e-mail messages from said predetermined customer for modifying said unique customer record corresponding to said predetermined customer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for modifying includes means for modifying a list of securities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising a message database, wherein said computer further includes: means for receiving message information from a party; means for storing said message information in said message database; and means for adding said message information to said file before said file is converted to an e-mail message.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing information to a customer via e-mail, comprising the steps of: generating a customer record corresponding to said customer; storing said customer record in a database; generating a database of information to be provided to a customer; periodically updating said information in said information database; generating a file corresponding to said customer by matching fields in the customer record to predetermined corresponding fields in the information database; converting said file to an e-mail message; and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via an e-mail network.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing information to a customer via e-mail, comprising the steps of: generating a customer record corresponding to said customer; storing said customer record in a database; generating a database of information to be provided to a customer; periodically updating said information in said information database; generating a file corresponding to said customer by matching fields in the customer record to predetermined corresponding fields in the information database; converting said file to an e-mail message; and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via an e-mail network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said information includes at least one of securities information, cleared checks, account balances, and charges and payments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said information database includes a list of publicly traded securities, which is dynamically updated daily by an information source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: receiving an e-mail message from said customer; and modifying said customer record corresponding to said customer in response to said e-mail message from said customer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of modifying includes the steps of modifying a list of securities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of receiving message information from a party, storing said message information in a message database, and adding said message information to said e-mail message before transmitting said e-mail message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of receiving message information from a party, storing said message information in a message database, and adding said message information to a plurality of e-mail messages before transmitting said plurality of e-mail messages.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for providing information via electronic-mail ("e-mail") to customers, comprising: a computer connected to receive securities information, the securities information including information identifying selected securities and corresponding prices of the selected securities; a customer database including unique records for each customer, the unique customer records including a plurality of fields, at least one of the plurality of fields containing information identifying a security preselected by the customer; and an information database for storing the securities information received by the computer, the information database being periodically updated with said securities information; wherein the computer includes means for generating an e-mail message by matching the fields containing the security identification information from one of the unique customer records with the securities identifying information received by the computer and stored in the information database.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for providing information via electronic-mail ("e-mail") to customers, comprising: a computer connected to receive securities information, the securities information including information identifying selected securities and corresponding prices of the selected securities; a customer database including unique records for each customer, the unique customer records including a plurality of fields, at least one of the plurality of fields containing information identifying a security preselected by the customer; and an information database for storing the securities information received by the computer, the information database being periodically updated with said securities information; wherein the computer includes means for generating an e-mail message by matching the fields containing the security identification information from one of the unique customer records with the securities identifying information received by the computer and stored in the information database.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for providing information to a customer via e-mail, comprising the steps of: generating a customer record corresponding to said customer, the customer record including at least one field identifying a security preselected by the customer; storing said customer record; storing information identifying securities and corresponding prices of the securities; periodically updating the security information; generating a file corresponding to said customer by matching the information identifying securities to the at least one field identifying the security preselected by the customer; converting said file to an e-mail message; and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via an e-mail network.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for providing information to a customer via e-mail, comprising the steps of: generating a customer record corresponding to said customer, the customer record including at least one field identifying a security preselected by the customer; storing said customer record; storing information identifying securities and corresponding prices of the securities; periodically updating the security information; generating a file corresponding to said customer by matching the information identifying securities to the at least one field identifying the security preselected by the customer; converting said file to an e-mail message; and transmitting said e-mail message to said customer via an e-mail network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |