Patent US5974449A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5974449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for providing multimedia messaging between disparate messaging platforms
Assignee: CARMEL CONNECTON Inc
•
Filing: 1997-05-09
•
Granted: 1999-10-26
•
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 19:07
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5115326A
Cited
US5377191A
Cited
US5737395A
Cited
US5349636A
Cited
US5530740A
Cited
US5838458A
Cited
US5333266A
Cited
US5479411A
Cited
US5557659A
Cited
US5740231A
Cited
US5608786A
Cited
US5633916A
Cited
US5675507A
Cited
US5647002A
Cited
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 |