US6779178B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for personalizing electronic mail messages
Assignee: SIGNATURE-MAILCOM LLC
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Filing: 1999-09-16
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Granted: 2004-08-17
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Expires: 2019-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an e-mail customization system that incorporates personalized images, including handwritten signatures, into existing e-mail messages. Specifically, the e-mail customization system generates customized software that integrates with existing e-mail systems that provides the ability to select different hand-written signatures. Once a signature is selected, the signature may be included in all e-mail sent from the user. A recipient capable of displaying HTML e-mail messages, views the e-mail message with the signature. This signature provides a readily discernable visual queue indicating the sender of the e-mail message. In case the recipient's e-mail system does not recognize HTML formatted messages, a clean copy of the e-mail message and an alternate text version of the image is added to the top of the HTML message. In addition, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention include handwritten signatures into web-based e-mail systems and electronic greeting cards.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Lloyd
- 👤 Christopher Shepley
- 👤 Sean Stidman
- 👤 H. Lee Browne
- 👤 Curtis Generous
- 👤 John Lycas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/12; G06F40/131; G06F40/14; G06F40/143; G06F40/151; G06F40/166; G06F40/174; G06F40/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor, wherein installing the code that processes the images for communications comprises installing a plug-in for an application installed at the processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; determining a format for displaying the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor, wherein installing the code that processes the images for communications comprises installing a plug-in for an application installed at the processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; determining a format for displaying the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; and determining a format for displaying the communication; determining a background for the image that will appear transparent within the communication such that the information that was handwritten appears integrated within the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; and determining a format for displaying the communication; determining a background for the image that will appear transparent within the communication such that the information that was handwritten appears integrated within the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; determining a format for displaying the communication; determining whether the format supports displaying the image within the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication when the format supports displaying the image, and displaying text that corresponds to the handwritten information of the image when the format fails to support displaying the image.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said method comprising: installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; determining a format for displaying the communication; determining whether the format supports displaying the image within the communication; and displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication when the format supports displaying the image, and displaying text that corresponds to the handwritten information of the image when the format fails to support displaying the image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor, wherein the means for installing installs a plug-in for an application installed at the processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; means for determining a format for displaying the communication: and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor, wherein the means for installing installs a plug-in for an application installed at the processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; means for determining a format for displaying the communication: and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; and means for determining a format for displaying the communication; means for determining a background for the image that will appear transparent within the communication such that the information that was handwritten appears integrated within the communication; and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor, code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; and means for determining a format for displaying the communication; means for determining a background for the image that will appear transparent within the communication such that the information that was handwritten appears integrated within the communication; and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor. code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; means for determining a format for displaying the communication; means for determining whether the format supports displaying the image within the communication; and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication when the format supports displaying the image, and displaying text that corresponds to the handwritten information of the image when the format fails to support displaying the image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for providing through a network communications that include handwriting integrated within the communications, said system comprising: means for installing, at a processor. code that processes images for communications sent through the network from at least one additional processor; means for receiving a communication from the at least one additional processor through the network, wherein the communication includes text and an image of information that was handwritten by a user; means for determining a format for displaying the communication; means for determining whether the format supports displaying the image within the communication; and means for displaying the communication based on the format and the installed code such that the handwritten information appears integrated with the text of the communication when the format supports displaying the image, and displaying text that corresponds to the handwritten information of the image when the format fails to support displaying the image.
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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) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-02-16 | 2008-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-17 | 2012-02-16 | 2012-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | 2016-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |