US5974449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for providing multimedia messaging between disparate messaging platforms
Assignee: CARMEL CONNECTON Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-09
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2017-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention is an apparatus and method for receiving a message having a first format and for converting the message from the first format to a second format that is compatible for reception by a messaging interface having a destination address corresponding to an intended recipient. In the preferred embodiment, a computer system is used to receive and send messages between messaging interfaces and networks which may be dissimilar from each other. A variety of network interfaces is used to communicate with the networks and which may optionally have a first interface and a second interface for interfacing to a first and second network, respectively. The messages may optionally be presented through a web page. A forwarding program or equivalent may be used to forward subscriber messages to or from remote locations served by a remote computer system, enabling a messaging user to use the remote computer system as a local access point. A browser interface may be optionally used to control messages presented by the computer system on a real-time basis using hyperlink commands. The computer system may also be used in conjunction with: a recipient notification program or equivalent device that determines when a recipient is logged on to a network and if so, provides any messages stored in the recipient's mailbox to the recipient; a connection notification program or equivalent device that notifies the computer system that a recipient is logged on to a network so that the computer system can send messages stored in the recipient's mailbox, if any; and an apparatus and method for sending and receiving a destination address including Internet addresses using a DTMF generator such as a standard telephone keypad.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack H. Chang
- 👤 Raymond L. Tong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00209; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04M3/533; H04M3/53325; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L61/00; H04L69/00; H04L69/08; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/60; H04M7/00; H04M7/0024; H04M7/0051; H04M7/0054; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/128; H04M7/1295; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0065; H04N2201/0067; H04N2201/0068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A system for receiving and sending messages, the system including at least a first messaging apparatus and a second messaging apparatus, each messaging apparatus comprising: a converter for converting an incoming message having a first format to a processed message having a delivery format, said converter converting said incoming message to said delivery format according to a format specified by delivery information provided by a user; a first network interface linked to said converter and a first network, said first network interface including a means for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said first network; a second network interface linked to said converter and a second network, said second network interface for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said second network; means for delivering said processed message through said first network or through said second network in response to said delivery information; wherein said first messaging apparatus is coupled to said second messaging apparatus through said first network; wherein said first network interface communicates with a telephone network, said first network interface having a messaging layer for interpreting a destination address generated by a DTMF signal generator, said destination address generated including a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol; wherein said destination address follows an Internet Domain Name System addressing scheme; and said DTMF signal generator includes a telephone keypad; said "." symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button on said telephone keypad; said "@" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "2" button, respectively; and said ".com" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "3" button, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
305 words
A system for receiving and sending messages, the system including at least a first messaging apparatus and a second messaging apparatus, each messaging apparatus comprising: a converter for converting an incoming message having a first format to a processed message having a delivery format, said converter converting said incoming message to said delivery format according to a format specified by delivery information provided by a user; a first network interface linked to said converter and a first network, said first network interface including a means for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said first network; a second network interface linked to said converter and a second network, said second network interface for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said second network; means for delivering said processed message through said first network or through said second network in response to said delivery information; wherein said first messaging apparatus is coupled to said second messaging apparatus through said first network; wherein said first network interface communicates with a telephone network, said first network interface having a messaging layer for interpreting a destination address generated by a DTMF signal generator, said destination address generated including a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol; wherein said destination address follows an Internet Domain Name System addressing scheme; and said DTMF signal generator includes a telephone keypad; said "." symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button on said telephone keypad; said "@" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "2" button, respectively; and said ".com" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "3" button, respectively.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of interpreting an Internet address generated by a DTMF signal generator having an alphanumeric keypad, comprising the steps of: associating two successive selections of a "1" button on the keypad with a "." symbol; associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "2" button on the keypad, respectively, with an "@" symbol; and associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "3" button on the keypad, respectively, with a ".com" symbol.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of interpreting an Internet address generated by a DTMF signal generator having an alphanumeric keypad, comprising the steps of: associating two successive selections of a "1" button on the keypad with a "." symbol; associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "2" button on the keypad, respectively, with an "@" symbol; and associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "3" button on the keypad, respectively, with a ".com" symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said DTMF signal generator is a telephone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 3, further including a step of generating numeric symbols comprising zero to nine by following a button selection for generating one of said numeric symbols with a "0" button selection.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for storing and forwarding messages, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface for interfacing with a first network; a second network interface for interfacing with a second network; means for receiving an incoming message and delivery information from said first network interface, said incoming message having a message content format of a first type; a converter for converting said incoming message having a message content format of a first type to a message having a message content format of a second type in response to said incoming message and said delivery information, said converter using said delivery information for selecting said message content format of a second type for said message; means for presenting said message having said message content format of a second type to at least one recipient specified in said delivery information, said message content format of a second type including a format where said message is stored in a location in memory, said location in memory pointed to by location information, said means for presenting having a means for creating a web page for presenting said incoming message; and wherein said delivery information includes a destination address, said destination address sent through a DTMF generator having a telephone keypad having a button signifying a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol, said symbols having a defined position on said button.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for storing and forwarding messages, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface for interfacing with a first network; a second network interface for interfacing with a second network; means for receiving an incoming message and delivery information from said first network interface, said incoming message having a message content format of a first type; a converter for converting said incoming message having a message content format of a first type to a message having a message content format of a second type in response to said incoming message and said delivery information, said converter using said delivery information for selecting said message content format of a second type for said message; means for presenting said message having said message content format of a second type to at least one recipient specified in said delivery information, said message content format of a second type including a format where said message is stored in a location in memory, said location in memory pointed to by location information, said means for presenting having a means for creating a web page for presenting said incoming message; and wherein said delivery information includes a destination address, said destination address sent through a DTMF generator having a telephone keypad having a button signifying a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol, said symbols having a defined position on said button.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said symbols are specified by a button having a digit corresponding to said defined position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
306 words
A system for receiving and sending messages, the system including at least a first messaging apparatus and a second messaging apparatus, each messaging apparatus comprising: a converter for converting an incoming message having a first format to a processed message having a delivery format, said converter converting said incoming message to said delivery format according to a format specified by delivery information provided by a user; a first network interface linked to said converter and a first network, said first network interface including a means for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said first network; a second network interface linked to said converter and a second network, said second network interface for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said second network; means for delivering said processed message through said first network or through said second network in response to said delivery information; wherein said first messaging apparatus is coupled to said second messaging apparatus through said first network; wherein said first network interface communicates with a telephone network, said first network interface having a messaging layer for interpreting a destination address generated by a DTMF signal generator, said destination address generated including a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol; and wherein said destination address follows an Internet Domain Name System addressing scheme; and said DTMF signal generator includes a telephone keypad; said "." symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button on said telephone keypad; said "@" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "2" button, respectively; and said ".com" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "3" button, respectively.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
306 words
A system for receiving and sending messages, the system including at least a first messaging apparatus and a second messaging apparatus, each messaging apparatus comprising: a converter for converting an incoming message having a first format to a processed message having a delivery format, said converter converting said incoming message to said delivery format according to a format specified by delivery information provided by a user; a first network interface linked to said converter and a first network, said first network interface including a means for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said first network; a second network interface linked to said converter and a second network, said second network interface for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said second network; means for delivering said processed message through said first network or through said second network in response to said delivery information; wherein said first messaging apparatus is coupled to said second messaging apparatus through said first network; wherein said first network interface communicates with a telephone network, said first network interface having a messaging layer for interpreting a destination address generated by a DTMF signal generator, said destination address generated including a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol; and wherein said destination address follows an Internet Domain Name System addressing scheme; and said DTMF signal generator includes a telephone keypad; said "." symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button on said telephone keypad; said "@" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "2" button, respectively; and said ".com" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "3" button, respectively.
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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) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |