US6549612B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unified communication services via e-mail
Assignee: J2 CALIFORNIA Inc
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Filing: 1999-05-06
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Granted: 2003-04-15
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Expires: 2019-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for providing unified messages services to a subscriber. The subscriber utilizes an active interface embedded in an e-mail notification to control delivery of a non-literal, single media or multimedia message to the subscriber. Such a non-literal message includes, but is not limited to, any of a hyperlink-based message, a voicemail message, a facsimile, and a video clip. The active interface provides access to communications-related services as well, including access to stock/options trading and bill payment.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren S. Gifford
- 👤 Paul Mowatt
- 👤 Philip Karcher
- 👤 Domenico Riggi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/07; H04L51/18; H04L51/56; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04L51/10; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2478; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/7243; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4509; H04M2203/4536; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control retrieval of non-literal messages referenced in a notification message, the computer program code mechanism comprising: a first computer code device configured to store a non-literal message sent to a subscriber identified by a unique identifier; a second computer code device configured to generate an e-mail notification with an embedded active interface referencing the non-literal message; a third computer code device configured to retrieve the non-literal message from the remote computer when requested by the subscriber through the active interface, wherein opening of the e-mail notification by the subscriber causes the non-literal message to be dynamically updated with any new information; and a fourth computer code device configured to selectively render the non-literal message from a user preferred audio format.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control retrieval of non-literal messages referenced in a notification message, the computer program code mechanism comprising: a first computer code device configured to store a non-literal message sent to a subscriber identified by a unique identifier; a second computer code device configured to generate an e-mail notification with an embedded active interface referencing the non-literal message; a third computer code device configured to retrieve the non-literal message from the remote computer when requested by the subscriber through the active interface, wherein opening of the e-mail notification by the subscriber causes the non-literal message to be dynamically updated with any new information; and a fourth computer code device configured to selectively render the non-literal message from a user preferred audio format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fourth computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to render the non-literal message in a streaming format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to link to a modifiable version of account and configuration information of the subscriber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises a voicemail message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises an active message indicating that an external event registered by the subscriber has occurred.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises an active message including at least one of news information and sports information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to dynamically update the active interface to display existing overrides of the subscriber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide interface controls representing short cuts for frequently performed tasks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to retrieve the non-literal message using a secure HTML request.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to perform any one of: (1) deliver a stored facsimile to a retrieval device specified by the subscriber; (2) delete the non-literal message from storage; and (3) save the non-literal message into storage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a fifth computer code device configured to synchronize, plural non-literal message storage systems when the non-literal message is deleted from one of the plural non-literal message storage systems.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to forward the non-literal message to any one of a phone number, a distribution list and an e-mail address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide two-way teleconferencing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide a return call interface for controlling a two-way teleconferencing bridge between two parties.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide a call originating interface for controlling a two-way teleconferencing bridge between two parties.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to control a telecommunications switch to call the subscriber to play the voice messages of the subscriber over a phone connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising a sixth computer code device configured to control the telecommunications switch to perform one of stopping a playing voice message, restarting a stopped voice message, fast forwarding a playing voice message and rewinding a playing voice message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the active interface is implemented as a Java applet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fourth computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to render the non-literal message in a visual format.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a computer-based messaging system, a method of providing unified communication services over a network comprising: storing a non-literal message sent to a subscriber identified by a unique identifier; generating an e-mail notification with an embedded active interface referencing the non-literal message, the active interface including sections having dynamic information; retrieving the non-literal message from the remote computer when requested by the subscriber through the active interface; dynamically updating the non-literal message with any new information upon opening the e-mail notification by the subscriber; enabling the subscriber to respond to a message through the active interface; and selectively rendering the non-literal message in a user preferred audio format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a computer-based messaging system, a method of providing unified communication services over a network comprising: storing a non-literal message sent to a subscriber identified by a unique identifier; generating an e-mail notification with an embedded active interface referencing the non-literal message, the active interface including sections having dynamic information; retrieving the non-literal message from the remote computer when requested by the subscriber through the active interface; dynamically updating the non-literal message with any new information upon opening the e-mail notification by the subscriber; enabling the subscriber to respond to a message through the active interface; and selectively rendering the non-literal message in a user preferred audio format.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 20 , wherein the step of generating comprises generating the active interface to enable the subscriber to respond to a message through the active interface.
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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) | 2006-04-14 | 2006-10-14 | 2007-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-14 | 2010-10-14 | 2011-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-10-14 | 2015-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |