Electronic mail distribution system for integrated electronic communication

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to communication technologies such as electronic mail (e-mail), voice mail and facsimile (fax) mail messaging. Particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic mail gateway for integrating communications to facilitate access to electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail messages.

2. Description of the Related Art

Communications technology today allows individuals to send messages to one another from virtually any location in the world at virtually any time of day. The variety of communication modes (e.g., telephone, computer) and communication media (e.g., e-mail, voice mail, fax mail) available today allows individuals to choose one appropriate for the circumstances.

In general message senders today may select from a variety of communication media while message receivers are limited to the option selected by the message sender. If the sender uses the telephone to leave a voice mail message, the message receiver is required use a telephone to retrieve the voice mail message. If the sender uses a computer to send an e-mail message, the message receiver is required to use a computer to retrieve the e-mail message. Some days, the message receiver may be unable to retrieve a message because the available communication mode may not be used to retrieve the message. In other instances, even if a message receiver has access to a telephone, a computer, or some other communication device, the receiver may prefer using one device over the others. For example, the receiver may spend most of his working day on a computer and may therefore, prefer to retrieve all of his inbound messages--regardless of the originating communication medium--using his computer.

The inability to alter the message medium after a message has been sent (or to use a communication mode other than the one selected by the sender) unnecessarily burdens both message senders and message receivers. Senders and receivers may be required to select a medium prior to communicating so the parties are assured the communication will be received in a timely manner. If circumstances for the receiver change at any point following selection of the medium and the receiver is unable to notify the sender of the change, the receiver may risk missing the sender's communication because the message may not be accessible using an alternate communication mode. In addition, the inability of a message receiver to retrieve all inbound messages using a single communication mode or device results in additional burdens. Receivers are inconvenienced when they are required to switch, for example, between the telephone to retrieve voice mail messages and the computer to retrieve e-mail messages.

Technologies have been introduced that address the inconveniences imposed by widespread use of different messaging media. For example, Text-To-Speech (TTS) technology allows electronic text messages to be heard by a message receiver. However, message receivers are generally required to integrate this technology into their own customized telecommunications/computer environments. Messages in differing media (e.g., e-mail, voice mail, fax mail) have not been seamlessly integrated so a message receiver may simply choose a preferred messaging medium and have all incoming or inbound messages processed accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the limitations in current communications technology that require receivers to retrieve messages in accordance with a predetermined communication medium or in accordance with the communication mode selected by senders. The present invention is a seamlessly integrated communications system that combines e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail messaging. The cross-media messaging system of the present invention allows messages to be exchanged between electronic mail and telecommunications service providers so all inbound messages-regardless of the originating communication medium--may be retrieved by a message receiver using a telephone or computer.

The present invention is an electronic mail gateway that allows electronic messages to be exchanged between an electronic mail service and a telecommunications service. Messages forwarded from the electronic mail service to the telecommunications service may be retrieved using a telephone. Using a standard telephone, receivers may listen to voice mail messages, redirect fax mail to a fax machine, or "listen" to e-mail messages that originated as text messages and have been forwarded from an electronic mail service to a telecommunications service switch. Messages may also be forwarded from the telecommunications service to the electronic mail service. Using a computer and modem, users may playback voice mail messages, view fax mail messages, or read e-mail messages that originated as voice or fax messages. Messages and/or message attachments which are exchanged using electronic mail messaging technology are automatically reformatted or converted into the appropriate format (e.g., xing protocol, TIFF format.) Message reformatting or conversion is performed automatically at a telecommunications or electronic mail service provider that delivers inbound messages so message receivers need only specify a preferred communication medium to take advantage of the features and functionality of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system organization diagram of the primary components for a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the primary steps of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a common message format for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention is a sophisticated computer system that facilitates communications between senders and receivers of e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail messages. The system is comprised of a collection of application programs and services hosted on different computers (or servers) and various devices that are interconnected by an infrastructure or gateway that supports electronic mail communications between the participating entities. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the application programs and services as well as the supporting hardware components of the present invention may be developed and maintained by different service providers who cooperate with one another to provide the features and functionality of the present invention. Using this arrangement, each service provider may focus on the development of technology suited to its particular area of expertise. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the features and functionality may be developed and maintained by a single service provider or access service. The service provider or access service on which the message receiver relies for delivery of voice mail, e-mail, and fax mail messages knows the receiver's preferences as defined in a set of rules stored in a message receiver or user profile database so all messages may be delivered to the receiver in accordance with his or her preferences. The ability to exchange electronic messages between service providers based on rules defined in accordance with user preferences is unique to the present invention.

The present invention offers a variety of features to both "senders" and "receivers" of messages. Senders are users who address communications to message receivers. Senders use a particular communication mode (e.g., telephone, computer/modem) to send messages. Initially, messages are routed to and stored in a mailbox compatible with the sender's communication mode/medium For example, messages sent via the telephone may be stored in a voice mailbox. Messages sent via a computer and modem may be stored in an electronic mailbox.

Receivers are the users to whom the individual voice mail, fax mail, and e-mail messages are addressed. Receivers are, preferably, subscribers or users of the telecommunications and/or electronic mail service. Electronic mail services may be provided by an online information service such as the CompuServe Information Service. An online information service such as the CompuServe Information Service may provide Internet access and access to proprietary databases in addition to providing electronic mail services. The information service may be comprised of large number of network nodes or servers that located throughout the world and that are capable of communicating with each other in order to create a global network.

Connection software provided by the electronic mail service allows message receivers to connect to and communicate with the service. Preferably, the connection software is embodied in a graphical user interface that allows users to interact with the service using graphical displays and a pointing device such as a mouse. CompuServe's WinCIM Version 3.0 is an example of connection software that supports access to and interaction with an electronic mail service. To communicate with the service, a subscriber or user establishes a connection with one of the nodes or servers that belongs to the information service.

In addition to providing access to and inter acting with an electronic mail service, the connection software allows a user to define rules or filter and forward instructions for managing incoming (inbound) and outgoing (outbound) messages. In addition to other rules or filter and forward instructions, a message receiver may indicate a preferred communication medium by selecting options that define one or more rules to be applied automatically by an electronic mail service provider to inbound messages. For example, a receiver may, by selecting certain options, define a rule to request that messages initiated via the telephone be stored in a voice mailbox and forwarded to an e-mail mailbox for later viewing. Alternatively, a receiver may, by selecting certain options, define a rule to request that messages initiated via a computer/modem (i.e., e-mail messages) be stored in an e-mail mailbox and forwarded to a voice mailbox for later retrieval.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a message receiver may interact with a telephone voice response unit to select options that define rules to be applied to incoming voice and fax mail messages. The rules may be stored in a database at the telecommunications service and applied to incoming messages.

As may be apparent, user preferences may be selected and stored in a database at either the electronic mail service or the telecommunications service. As messages addressed to the receiver arrive at the telecommunications or electronic mail service (either of which facilitates delivery of the message), the receiver's rules are applied by an electronic mail distributor or other message distributor so all forwarding and conversion of messages (if necessary) may be performed automatically. The receiver then uses the appropriate communication mode (e.g., telephone, computer) to retrieve the inbound messages. For example, a receiver may dial into a voice mailbox with a standard telephone and listen to voice mail messages, redirect fax mail to a local fax machine, or "listen" to e-mail messages. Alternatively, a user may dial into an e-mail mailbox with a computer and playback voice mail messages, view fax mail messages, and read e-mail messages.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is an electronic mail gateway that facilitates the exchange of electronic messages between an electronic mail service 10 and a telecommunications service 12 to support cross-media messaging. Messages are exchanged according to a common message format. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, messages between the electronic mail service 10 and telecommunications service 12 are electronic mail messages that may include voice mail or fax mail attachments. Messages are exchanged between the services based on preferences of users of the system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which electronic mail messages are forwarded to a telecommunications service, an electronic mail distributor 14 located at the electronic mail service 10 examines an incoming message 16 from a user (i.e., message sender) 18 of the electronic mail service 10 who may use dial-up access 20 to send a message to another user (i.e., message receiver) of the service. Alternatively, incoming messages 16 may be forwarded to the service from another electronic mail service or the Internet. The electronic mail distributor 14 which, preferably, is an application program that operates on a server located at the electronic mail service determines the receiver of the message and accesses a Message Receiver Profile Database 22 to determine whether the receiver of the message has rule 24 in his or her profile that indicates the message receiver would like the message to be forwarded to the telecommunications service 12 for later retrieval via the telephone. If the receiver has specified a preference (via a rule in his or her message receiver profile) for receiving incoming messages at the telecommunications service 12, the incoming message 16 is modified by the electronic mail distributor 14 to include telecommunications service routing information 26. The telecommunications service routing information is preferably stored in a Telecommunications Service Routing Information Database 28 which is accessible by the electronic mail distributor 14. For example, information may be stored in service name-routing information pairs within the database 28. A message receiver's profile may include the name of a telecommunications to which electronic mail messages are to be forwarded. The Telecommunications Service Routing Information Database 28 may include the service name-routing information pair so that the distributor may perform a look-up in the database based on the service name found in the message receiver's profile 22.

The modified electronic message 30 is then forward by the electronic mail distributor 14 to an electronic mailbox 34 in communication with an electronic mail service network node 32 at the electronic mail service 10 and that has been created specifically for the telecommunications service 12. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electronic mail service network node 38 located at the telecommunications service 12 periodically polls the electronic mail service network node 32 at the electronic mail service 10 to determine whether the telecommunications service mailbox 34 contains any modified messages to be forwarded to the telecommunications service 12. The polling operation and the exchange of messages between the services, preferably, is performed using an X.25 link 36 that has been established between the services. Modified messages 30 from the telecommunications service mailbox 34 may then be transmitted from the electronic mail service network node at the electronic mail service 32 via the X.25 link 36 to the electronic service network node at the telecommunications service 38.

Once at the telecommunications service 12, the incoming messages are examined to identify the individual message receivers. Each message receiver's personal messages may then be stored in an electronic mailbox 40 located at the electronic mail service network node 38. A message may then be made available through the telephone switch 46 at the telecommunications service 12 and the message 30 may be retrieved by a message receiver via the telephone. When the message receiver calls the telephone switch 46 to retrieve a message, the telephone switch 46 communicates with the electronic mail service network node 38 via a switch node 44 connected via a local area network 42. A text-to-speech operation performed at the telecommunications service allows the electronic mail message to be heard by the message receiver when he or she calls the switch to hear the message. Alternatively, the message receiver may arrange to receive the electronic mail message at a fax machine specified by the receiver.

Alternatively, if the message receiver does not specify a preference for receiving the incoming message at the telecommunications service, the electronic mail distributor 14 based on other preferences or actions of the message receiver may forward the electronic message 16 to the receiver's mailbox 48 at the electronic mail service 10 or to one or more electronic mailboxes 50 designated for use by other members of the electronic mail service 10. Finally, the message 16 may be forwarded to Internet or another electronic mail service 52.

Referring to FIG. 2, a flow chart of the primary steps of the present invention is shown for a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which electronic mail messages are forwarded from an electronic mail service to a telecommunications service. The steps or operations shown in FIG. 2, preferably, are performed by the electronic mail distributor of the present invention. When the electronic mail distributor receives an incoming message, it first examines the message receiver preferences or filter and forward instructions as defined in the message receiver's profile stored in the message receiver profile database 60. Preferably, the incoming message is comprised of a message header that includes an identifier for the message receiver or recipient and text for the message. The electronic mail distributor may then lookup the receiver's profile based on the identifier in the header of the message. In the next step, the electronic mail distributor determines, based on information or instructions stored in the profile, whether the message receiver wants the electronic mail message to be forwarded to the telecommunications service 62. If the message receiver does not want the electronic mail message to be forwarded to the telecommunications switch, the electronic mail distributor arranges to forward the message to the message receiver's mailbox located at the electronic mail service, to other service subscribers, or to the Internet or another electronic mail service 64. If the message receiver wants the electronic mail message to be forwarded to the telecommunications switch, the electronic mail distributor modifies the message to include routing information for the telecommunications service electronic mailbox located at the electronic mail service 66. The message is then forwarded to the telecommunications service mailbox 68. Once at the telecommunications service mailbox, messages stored in the mailbox are sent to the electronic mail service network node located at the telecommunications service when the electronic mail service network node located at the telecommunications service polls the mailbox 70. Once at the telecommunications service, the message receiver may retrieve the message via the telephone.

Referring to FIG. 3, a common message format for messages exchanged between the electronic mail service and telecommunications service is shown. Preferably, the message is comprised of an envelope 80 and a body 82. The body of the common message format is preferably the original message sent by the message sender. The original message is preferably comprised in part of a message header 84 that identifies the subject of the original message, the recipient of the original message, the sender of the original message, and the date and time the original message was sent. The original message also contains the text of the original message 86. In the common message format, the envelope 80, preferably, is comprised of a message header 88 that includes several fields with information that allow the message to be processed at either the telecommunications service or the electronic mail service. A first field 90 may identify the telecommunications or electronic mail service provider to which the message may be forwarded. The message header of the envelope 88 may also include a field with a subject line 92 that refers to the telecommunications or electronic mail service as well as a field with the date and time the original message was modified 94. Finally, the message header of the envelope 88 may include a field that identifies the message sender 96 as the telecommunications or electronic mail service rather than the original message sender.

Modifying the original message to include an new envelope allows electronic messages to be exchanged between an electronic mail service and