US6912564B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for instant messaging the sender and recipients of an e-mail message
Assignee: Meta Platforms Inc
•
Filing: 2001-05-04
•
Granted: 2005-06-28
•
Expires: 2021-05-04
Abstract
Abstract Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system include a host system structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system. The host system includes an instant messaging network; a mail gateway; and a configuring network in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway. The instant messaging network enables instant messaging communication between users of the communications system and has the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment. The mail gateway receives and delivers e-mail messages to users of the communications system. The configuring network is dedicated to automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Appelman
- 👤 Larry L. Lu
- 👤 Alisa Clemmons
- 👤 Peter Weck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 97
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A communications system for transferring electronic data between users, the system including a host system structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the host system comprising: an instant messaging network enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; a mail gateway receiving and delivering e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and a configuring network in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway, the configuring network being dedicated to automatically configure instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A communications system for transferring electronic data between users, the system including a host system structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the host system comprising: an instant messaging network enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; a mail gateway receiving and delivering e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and a configuring network in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway, the configuring network being dedicated to automatically configure instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the instant messaging network detects an instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system of claim 2 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is communicated to the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The communications system of claim 3 further comprising configuring a menu in response to recipient input reflecting a request to communicate with the sender, wherein options made available to the communication-seeking recipient through the menu differ depending upon the instant messaging state of the sender in the e-mail message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communications system of claim 4 further comprising configuring an option to communicate to the sender using instant messaging only if the instant messaging state of the sender is online.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications syste of claim 5 wherein configuring an option includes making the option available for selection by the recipient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 3 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communications system of claim 3 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is represented by an icon in the e-mail message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The communications system of claim 3 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is reflected through an appearance of the instant messaging sender identifier in a display of the received e-mail message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications system of claim 2 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications system of claim 2 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes offline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the instant messaging network detects an instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communications system of claim 12 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient e-mail message is communicated to the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication system of claim 13 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication system of claim 13 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon in the e-mail message.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication system of claim 12 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication system of claim 12 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message includes offline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network is configured to enable instant messaging communication between other intended recipients of the e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication system of claim 18 wherein the instant messaging network detects an instant messaging state of the other intended recipients of the e-mail message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication system of claim 19 wherein the instant messaging state of the other intended recipients of the e-mail message is made perceivable to the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network sends a redirection command to the recipient based on the capability of the sender to receive an instant message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 3 wherein the redirection command comprises a uniform resource locator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network sends a redirection command to the recipient based on the capability of another recipient of the e-mail message to receive an instant message.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 5 wherein the redirection command comprises a uniform resource locator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network determines whether an e-mail address is associated with a recognized domain.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communications system of claim 7 wherein the configuring network strips recognized domains from e-mail addresses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network comprises a cache.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 9 wherein the configuring network detects whether information associated with an e-mail message is stored in the cache.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network comprises a look-up server for associating e-mail addresses with instant messaging screen names.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network establishes a persistent connection to the instant messaging network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring networks checks a control port to confirm whether the sender is capable of receiving an instant message.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the mail gateway comprises a send mail server for delivering electronic data to users.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the mail gateway comprises a read mail server for accessing electronic data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the mail gateway comprises a processing server for processing electronic data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the mail gateway is web-based.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the mail gateway is online-service-provider-based.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the mail gateway is instant-messaging-host-based.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the instant messaging network is web-based.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the instant messaging network is online-service-provider-based.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communications system of claim 1 wherein the configuring network is configured to enable instant messaging communication between multiple intended recipients of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
138 words
A communications method for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system, the communications system including a host that is structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the method comprising: enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system at an instant messaging network, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; receiving email messages at a mail gateway; delivering the e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message at a configuring network, the configuring network being in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
138 words
A communications method for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system, the communications system including a host that is structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the method comprising: enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system at an instant messaging network, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; receiving email messages at a mail gateway; delivering the e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message at a configuring network, the configuring network being in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising detecting an instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications method of claim 42 further comprising communicating the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message to the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
49 words
The communications method of claim 43 further comprising configuring a menu in response to recipient input reflecting a request to communicate with the sender, wherein options made available to the communication-seeking recipient through the menu differ depending upon the instant messaging state of the sender in the e-mail message.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communications method of claim 44 further comprising configuring an option to communicate to the sender using an instant messaging only if the instant messaging state of the sender is online.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications method of claim 45 wherein configuring an option includes making the option available for selection by the recipient.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications method of claim 43 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communications method of claim 43 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is represented by an icon in the e-mail message.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
The communications method of claim 43 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is reflected through an appearance of the instant messaging sender identifier in a display of the received e-mail message.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications method of claim 42 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications method of claim 42 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes offline.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising detecting an instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications method of claim 52 further comprising communicating the instant messaging state of the of the intended recipient e-mail message to the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications method of claim 53 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications method of claim 53 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon in the e-mail message.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications method of claim 52 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications method of claim 52 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail offline.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising automatically configuring instant messaging communication between other intended recipients of the e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communications method of claim 58 further comprising detecting an instant messaging state of the other intended recipients of the e-mail message.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communications method of claim 58 further comprising detecting an instant messaging state of the other intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising determining whether an e-mail address is associated with a recognized domain.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communications method of claim 61 further comprising stripping a recognized domain from the e-mail address.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising associating e-mail addresses with instant messaging screen names at a look-up server.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising sending a redirection command from the configuring network to the recipient based on the capability of the sender to receive an instant message.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
35 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising sending a redirection command from the configuring network to the recipient based on the capability of another recipient of the e-mail message to receive an instant message.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising establishing a persistent connection between the configuring network and the instant messaging network.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications method of claim 21 further comprising checking a control port to confirm whether the sender is capable of receiving an instant message.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising determining whether information associated with an e-mail message is stored locally.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications method of claim 41 further comprising automatically configuring instant messaging communication between multiple intended recipients of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer program for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system, the communications system including a host that is structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for: enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system at an instant messaging network, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; receiving e-mail messages at a mail gateway; delivering the e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message at a configuring network, the configuring network being in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer program for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system, the communications system including a host that is structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for: enabling instant messaging communication between users of the communications system at an instant messaging network, the instant messaging network having the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment; receiving e-mail messages at a mail gateway; delivering the e-mail messages to users of the communications system; and automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message at a configuring network, the configuring network being in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program of claim 70 futher comprising instructions for detecting instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 71 futher comprising instructions for communicating the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message to the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program of claim 72 futher comprising instructions for configuring a menu in response to recipient input reflecting a request to communicate with the sender, wherein options made available to the communication-seeking recipient through the menu differ depending upon the instant messaging state of the sender in the e-mail message.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program of claim 73 futher comprising instructions for configuring an option to communicate to the sender using instant messaging only if the instant messaging state of the sender is online.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program of claim 74 wherein the instructions for configuring an option include instructions for making the option available for selection by the recipient.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program of claim 72 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program of claim 72 further comprising instructions for configuring a menu in response to recipient input reflecting a request to communicate with the sender, wherein options made available to the communication-seeking recipient through the menu differ depending upon the instant messaging state of the sender in the e-mail message.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer program of claim 72 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message is reflected through an appearance of the instant messaging sender identifier in a display of the received e-mail message.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program of claim 71 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program of claim 71 wherein the instant messaging state of the sender of the e-mail message includes offline.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program of claim 70 futher comprising instructions for detecting an instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 70 futher comprising instructions for communicating the instant messaging state of the of the intended recipient e-mail message to the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program of claim 82 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program of claim 82 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message is represented by an icon in the e-mail message.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program of claim 81 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message includes online.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program of claim 81 wherein the instant messaging state of the intended recipient of the e-mail message includes offline.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 70 further comprising instructions for automatically configuring instant messaging communication between other intended recipients of the e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program of the claim 87 further comprising instructions for detecting an instant messaging state of the other intended recipients of the e-mail message.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program of claim 88 further comprising instructions for enabling perception of the instant messaging state of the other intended recipients of the e-mail message by the sender of the e-mail message.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claim 70 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a disc.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer program of claim 70 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a propagated signal.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claim 70 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a host.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claim 70 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a client.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 70 further comprising instructions for automatically configuring instant messaging communication between multiple intended recipients of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.
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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) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-12-27 | 2009-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-27 | 2012-12-27 | 2013-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-27 | 2016-12-27 | 2017-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |