US5850519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computerized mail notification system and method which detects calls from a mail server
Assignee: Rooster Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-03-29
•
Granted: 1998-12-15
•
Expires: 2016-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An electronic mailing system having at least a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber is provided. The subscribers are not connected to each other or to the host computer. Messages are sent from one sender subscriber to another recipient subscriber via the host computer which stores mail addressed to subscribers in individual mailboxes. The host computer has a dialing unit connected to it for calling a phone associated with the recipient subscriber whenever a new message arrives at the host computer. The recipient has a receiving unit including a call intercepting unit associated with the recipient's phone for intercepting and identifying calls from the dialing unit and a display unit for displaying an indication that the dialing unit has called the call intercepting unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Shmuel Vazana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/224; H04M3/537
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An electronic mailing system having at last a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, comprising: a. a dialing unit connected to said host computer for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at the host computer; b. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An electronic mailing system having at last a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, comprising: a. a dialing unit connected to said host computer for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at the host computer; b. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said receiving unit further comprises a phone database for storing details associated with each of said calling telephone numbers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises an incrementing counter for displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a alphanumeric display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a light emitting diode display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said call intercept unit is a paging receiver not directly connected to said recipient subscriber's telephone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said call intercept unit comprises processing means for processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said host computer comprises: a. a communications processor for processing information communicated to said host computer; b. a user database for storing details of subscribers to said host computer; and c. a mail control unit for processing mail messages communicated to said host computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 8 wherein said mail control unit comprises: a. a plurality of mailboxes for storing of said received mail messages, each of said plurality of mailboxes allocated to one of said subscribers; and b. a mail update unit for registering and updating the status of one of said mailboxes whenever a mail message is received or collected from said mailbox.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said call intercept unit is a remote receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
An electronic mailing system having at last a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, comprising: a. a dialing unit connected to said host computer for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at the host computer; b. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
An electronic mailing system having at last a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, comprising: a. a dialing unit connected to said host computer for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at the host computer; b. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said modem communicator comprises a call intercept unit, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said receiving unit further comprises a phone database for storing details associated with each of said calling telephone numbers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said display unit comprises an incrementing counter for displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said display unit comprises a alphanumeric display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said display unit comprises a light emitting diode display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said call intercept unit comprises processing means for processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
141 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee that mail has been deposited in an addressee mailbox, the system comprising: a. a processing unit for processing mail operations; b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox; c. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
141 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee that mail has been deposited in an addressee mailbox, the system comprising: a. a processing unit for processing mail operations; b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox; c. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and c. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 further comprising a mail sorter, connected to said processing unit, for identifying and classifying mail addressed to said addressee subscriber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
167 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in an addressee subscriber's mailbox, the system comprising: a. a processing unit for processing mail operations; b. a sensing device, connected to said addressee subscriber's mailbox and said processing unit, for sensing whenever mail is deposited in or removed from said addressee subscriber's mailbox; c. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox; d. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and e. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
167 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in an addressee subscriber's mailbox, the system comprising: a. a processing unit for processing mail operations; b. a sensing device, connected to said addressee subscriber's mailbox and said processing unit, for sensing whenever mail is deposited in or removed from said addressee subscriber's mailbox; c. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox; d. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call; and e. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 further comprising: a. a user database for storing details of mailbox subscribers; and b. a mail control unit for registering and updating the status of one of said mailboxes whenever mail is received or collected from said mailbox.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said mail is postal mail.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said mail is voice mail.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said receiving unit further comprises a phone database for storing details associated with each of said calling telephone numbers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said display unit comprises an incrementing counter for displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said display unit comprises an alphanumeric display.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said display unit comprises a light emitting diode display.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said call intercept unit is a paging receiver not directly connected to said addressee subscriber's telephone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said call intercept unit comprises processing means for processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mail notification system according to claim 18 wherein said call intercept unit is a remote receiver.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box, comprising: a. a processing unit for processing incoming mail; b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box; c. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the addressee subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and d. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box, comprising: a. a processing unit for processing incoming mail; b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box; c. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the addressee subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and d. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said modem communicator comprises a call intercept unit, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said receiving unit further comprises a phone database for storing details associated with each of said calling telephone numbers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said display unit comprises an incrementing counter for displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said display unit comprises a alphanumeric display.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said display unit comprises a light emitting diode display.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said call intercept unit comprises processing means for processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said mail is postal mail.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said mail is voice mail.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for notifying a subscriber that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox, comprising the steps of: a. processing incoming mail; b. depositing mail addressed to said subscriber in said subscriber's mailbox; c. dialing a telephone number associated with said subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box; d. intercepting a dialed call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone; e. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and f. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for notifying a subscriber that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox, comprising the steps of: a. processing incoming mail; b. depositing mail addressed to said subscriber in said subscriber's mailbox; c. dialing a telephone number associated with said subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box; d. intercepting a dialed call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone; e. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and f. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 40 wherein said step of processing comprises the step of sorting said incoming mail by identifying and classifying said mail.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 40 and further comprising the step of sensing whenever there is a change in the amount mail deposited in said subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 40 and further comprising the step of registering and updating the status of said subscriber's mailbox whenever a change is made in the amount of mail deposited in said subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 40 wherein said step of intercepting comprises the step of identifying said dialled call from a database storing details of telephone numbers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 40 wherein said step of intercepting comprises the step of processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 40 wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transferring mail between a sensing subscriber and a recipient subscriber via a host computer, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: a. dialing a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer; b. intercepting a dialed telephone call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone; c. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and d. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for transferring mail between a sensing subscriber and a recipient subscriber via a host computer, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: a. dialing a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer; b. intercepting a dialed telephone call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone; c. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call; and d. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for transferring mail according to claim 47 wherein said step of intercepting comprises the step of identifying said dialled call from a database storing details of telephone numbers.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for transferring mail according to claim 47 wherein said step of intercepting comprises the step of processing data sent by the telephone network.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for transferring mail according to claim 47 further comprising the steps of: a. storing received messages within one of a plurality of mailboxes; and b. registering and updating the status of mail messages received or collected from said mailboxes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for transferring mail according to claim 47 wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of displaying the number of calls received.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for transferring mail according to claim 47 wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of displaying the telephone number of the caller.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for notifying a subscriber that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox according to claim 40 wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of displaying the telephone number of the caller.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a display for displaying the telephone number of the dialing unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic mailing system according to claim 11 wherein said display unit comprises a display for displaying the telephone number of the dialing unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mail notification system according to claim 20 wherein said display unit comprises a display for displaying the telephone number of the dialing unit, thereby indicating arrival of mail at said addressee subscriber's mailbox.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mail notification system according to claim 31 wherein said display unit comprises a display for displaying the telephone number of the dialing unit, thereby indicating arrival of mail at said subscriber's mailbox.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |