Patent US6587549B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6587549B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device for automatically processing incoming electronic mail (=e-mail)
Assignee: Sound View Innovations LLC
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Filing: 2000-05-09
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2020-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A device and process for receiving and/or forwarding electronic mail (=e-mail) are characterised in that, in the case of all the e-mail messages ( 4 ) incoming in a receiving unit ( 1 ), information is extracted automatically in accordance with predetermined search criteria, that as a function of the extracted information and predetermined assignment criteria, an automatic assignment of the incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses takes place, and that the incoming e-mail is automatically stored in a storage area ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) designated by the corresponding address(es) or forwarded to the address(es). In this way the incoming e-mail can be automatically pre-sorted and appropriately stored or forwarded to assigned addresses without the user having to perform manual tasks or the subsequent processing via a macro of the e-mail which has already arrived and been stored in a mailbox. (FIG. 1)
Inventors
- 👤 Hartmut Weik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; H04L51/42; H04L51/234
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A router for connection to a telecommunications network, said router comprising a device for receiving and forwarding electronic mail, wherein said device comprises: means for extracting information from the incoming e-mail in accordance with predeterminable search criteria, and means for assigning incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses as a function of the extracted information and one or more predeterminable assignment criteria.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A router for connection to a telecommunications network, said router comprising a device for receiving and forwarding electronic mail, wherein said device comprises: means for extracting information from the incoming e-mail in accordance with predeterminable search criteria, and means for assigning incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses as a function of the extracted information and one or more predeterminable assignment criteria.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The router according to claim 1 , wherein addresses to which the incoming e-mail is assigned designate storage areas of a data storage unit which are set up as electronic files.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The router according to claim 2 , wherein means are provided for storing the incoming e-mail in the corresponding file(s).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The router according to claim 1 , wherein the content is at least subject matter contained in the body of the e-mail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The router according to claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a receiving unit comprising said means for extracting and said means for assigning.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A router for performing a process of receiving and/or forwarding electronic mail, said router comprising a receiving unit, wherein when e-mail messages are received in the receiving unit, information is extracted automatically in accordance with predetermined search criteria, as a function of the extracted information and predetermined assignment criteria, an automatic assignment of the incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses takes place, and the incoming e-mail is at least automatically stored in a storage area designated by corresponding address(es) or is forwarded to the address(es).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A router for performing a process of receiving and/or forwarding electronic mail, said router comprising a receiving unit, wherein when e-mail messages are received in the receiving unit, information is extracted automatically in accordance with predetermined search criteria, as a function of the extracted information and predetermined assignment criteria, an automatic assignment of the incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses takes place, and the incoming e-mail is at least automatically stored in a storage area designated by corresponding address(es) or is forwarded to the address(es).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein the addresses to which the incoming e-mail is assigned designate storage areas of a data storage unit which are set up as electronic files.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the search criteria and assignment criteria relates to sender-specific data of the incoming e-mail, said spender-specific data comprising the name and e-mail address of the sender.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The router according to claim 8 , wherein the sender-specific data are compared with a black list, and in the event that the result of this comparison is positive, the incoming e-mail is immediately erased or without further processing is stored under, or forwarded to, a special address which in particular performs scrap functions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein the sender-specific data are compared with a white list and in the event that the result of this comparison is positive, the incoming e-mail is immediately passed on for further processing as a function of the assignment criteria.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The router according to claim 10 , wherein in the event that the result of the comparison with the white list is positive, a backup copy of the incoming e-mail is stored under, or forwarded to, a special address in parallel to the further processing of the e-mail.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The router according to claim 10 , wherein in the event that the result of the comparison with the white list is positive, a signalling device ( 15 ) is actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The router according to claim 12 , wherein said signaling device is at least one of an optical signal generator and an acoustic signal generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the search criteria and assignment criteria relates to content of the incoming e-mail, said content comprising a specific keyword, and upon discovery of said specific keyword in the incoming e-mail ( 4 ), either the e-mail directly or a backup copy thereof is stored under, or forwarded to, a specific address.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the search criteria relates to the data content at a specific position within the incoming e-mail.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The router according to claim 15 , wherein said specific position within the incoming e-mail comprises a “salutation”, a “reference”, an “enclosure”, and a “cc”.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein in the event that one of the assignment criteria applies, the incoming e-mail is forwarded to one or more predetermined other e-mail address(es).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The router according to claim 6 , wherein in the event that one of the search- or assignment criteria applies, the incoming e-mail is further processed with special priority.
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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) | 2006-06-30 | 2006-12-30 | 2007-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-30 | 2011-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-30 | 2014-12-30 | 2015-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |