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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing
certified email comprising the steps of:
using an interactive receiver to generate a certified email message from the sending account;
sending the certified email message to a mail server configured to store certified email messages;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, from the receiving account to the mail server, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account.
2. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing certified email comprising the steps of:
receiving at a mail server that is configured to store certified email messages a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification of an action taken by the receiving account upon the certified email message;
storing the notification in a database associated with the mail server; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account, whereby the interactive receiver is operative to receive broadcast information.
3. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing certified email comprising the steps of:
receiving at a mail server that is configured to store certified email messages a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was filtered by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was filtered by the receiving account.
4. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing certified email comprising the steps of:
receiving at a mail server configured to receive certified email messages a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was replied to by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was replied to by the receiving account.
5. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing certified email comprising the steps of:
receiving at a mail server, configured to receive certified email messages, a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was forwarded by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was forwarded by the receiving account.
6. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a method for providing certified email comprising the steps of:
receiving at a mail server, configured to store certified email messages, a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was saved by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was saved by the receiving account.
7. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, an apparatus for providing certified email comprising:
a memory having program instructions, and
a processor configured to use the program instructions to perform the steps of:
using an interactive receiver to generate a certified email message from the sending account;
sending the certified email message to a mail server that is configured to store certified email messages;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account.
8. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, an apparatus for providing certified email comprising:
a memory having program instructions, and
a processor configured to use the program instructions to perform the steps of:
receiving at a mail server, that is configured to store certified email messages, a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message in a storage device associated with the mail server;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message by the receiving account;
storing the notification in a database associated with the mail server; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account, whereby the interactive receiver is operative to receive broadcast information.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving step further comprises the step of receiving notification that the certified email message was filtered.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving step further comprises the step of receiving notification that the certified email message was replied to.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving step further comprises the step of receiving notification that the certified email message was forwarded.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving step further comprises the step of receiving notification that the certified email message was saved.
13. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email, by:
using an interactive receiver to generate a certified email message from the sending account;
sending the certified email message to a mail server;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, from the receiving account to the mail server, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account.
14. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email comprising
the steps of:
receiving at a mail server a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message by the receiving account;
storing the notification in a database associated with the mail server; and
selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account, whereby the interactive receiver is operative to receive broadcast information.
15. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email comprising
the steps of:
receiving at a mail server a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was filtered by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was filtered by the receiving account.
16. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email comprising
the steps of:
receiving at a mail server a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was replied to by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was replied to by the receiving account.
17. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email comprising
the steps of:
receiving at a mail server a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was forwarded by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was forwarded by the receiving account.
18. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, a computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing certified email comprising
the steps of:
receiving at a mail server a certified email message from the sending account;
storing the certified email message;
receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification that the certified email message was saved by the receiving account; and
selectively notifying the sending account that the certified email message was saved by the receiving account.
19. In a system for sending and receiving email using an interactive receiver and having at least one sending account and at least one receiving account, an apparatus for providing certified email comprising:
means for generating a certified email message from the sending account;
means for sending the certified email message to a mail server capable of storing certified email messages;
means for storing the certified email message at the mail server;
means for receiving a request from the receiving account to access the certified email message;
means for delivering the certified email message from the mail server to the receiving account;
means for receiving, by the mail server from the receiving account, notification of an action taken upon the certified email message by the receiving account; and
means for selectively notifying the sending account of the action taken on the certified email message by the receiving account. |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to electronic mail systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for employing certified email messages.
B. Description of the Related Art
The past several years have seen a dramatic shift in methods of communicating information. In the past, the only way of communicating information was via standard mail delivery of handwritten or typed documents. With the advent of the telephone
and telegraph, it became possible to convey voice signals and information electrically. Recently, electronic communication has become a rapidly increasing way of conveying information--especially because of widely available access to the Internet.
People now exchange electronic mail ("email") addresses concurrently with telephone numbers, and many major businesses provide access to information and services on the Internet via sites on the World Wide Web.
Because of the rapid pace of development in this field, however, the evolution has not been completely seamless. Although it is now possible to communicate audio/visual information electronically, it is certainly not easy to do so. Simply to
send and receive email, a user initially must purchase a computer system, configure all of its component parts to interoperate, learn the operating system for the computer, contract with an Internet service provider, and learn how to use the application
software for email. If a user wants to send audio-visual information such as a picture, video sequence or audio, the user is forced to purchase even more hardware and learn even more software.
A conventional computer system is shown in FIG. 1. A computer system 100 is used to compose and transmit email, generally by dial-up telephone connection, to an Internet service provider (ISP) 180. ISP 180 contains a mail server 190, which is
responsible for receiving email and routing it to the appropriate destination address.
Computer system 100 consists of a computer 130, to which are attached several accessories. Computer 130 may be any conventional home or business computer such as a personal computer (PC), a Macintosh, a network computer, or a Sun Workstation.
The user interface to computer 130 includes a keyboard 140, some type of pointing device such as a mouse 150, and a display screen 120. In addition to a user interface, computer system 100 may also contain an offline storage device 110 for storing
messages to be sent and messages that have been received. Typical offline storage devices include a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, or a tape unit. A typical computer system 100 also contains a modem 160 which is employed to send or receive
messages between computer system 100 and ISP 180.
To send a email message, a user enters a message into computer 130 via keyboard 140 and/or mouse 150. This email message may or may not then be stored on offline storage device 110. The email message is then transmitted from computer 130 to ISP
180 via modem 160. Upon receiving the message, mail server 190, within ISP 180, forwards the message to the appropriate destination. In this manner, a user of computer system 100 may transmit a email message to any user that is connected to ISP 180,
either directly or indirectly via the Internet.
A user desiring to transmit an email message containing audio-visual information must further employ an audio-video input interface 170. To this interface 170 a user may attach an audio-visual source such as, for example, a video cassette
recorder (VCR) or a camcorder. To transmit an audio-visual email message, audio-visual information is transferred from the audio-visual source to computer 130 via interface 170, and converted to an appropriate format such as MPEG. This information may
or may not be stored offline on storage device 110. The information is then composed into an email message and is transmitted from computer 130 to ISP 180 via modem 160. Mail server 190 of ISP 180 forwards it to the appropriate destination.
As the preceding explanation demonstrates, composing and transmitting an email message on a conventional computer system requires numerous hardware components and significant user sophistication. This complexity creates a barrier to entry that
prevents many individuals from participating in the information age.
Recent developments have sought to address the problem noted above. Companies now provide a service that allows an individual to purchase a relatively inexpensive "set-top box," which is connected to a television receiver to access the Internet. As a result, individuals now have somewhat easier access to the Internet and a simpler way of sending and receiving email.
A representative example of such a set-top system is shown in FIG. 2, and is commercially available from WebTV. Such a system consists of a set-top box 220 which is connected to a conventional television receiver 200. Also attached to
television receiver 200 may be a video signal source 210 such as, for example, a VCR or a camcorder.
A user of such a system may compose a email message by using remote control 230 in conjunction with set-top box 220. This may be accomplished by using a wireless keyboard (not shown). Alternatively, set-top box 220 may generate a display of the
alphabet, which is shown on television receiver 200. By employing remote control 230, the user selects individual letters of the displayed alphabet to compose words, phrases, or sentences. During this composition, the email message being created is
stored in a memory of set-top box 220. Once the message has been fully created, it is transmitted from set-top box 220 to a WebTV system 240. This transmission is performed using a conventional modem and dial-up telephone lines. Once the message
reaches WebTV system 240, a WebTV mail server 250 forwards the message to the appropriate destination.
Problems remain, however, despite the availability of such set-top systems. Neither set-top systems nor computer systems contains a robust email management system designed with home users in mind. For example, although these systems provide a
way to send and receive text information, they do not allow the user to manipulate audio-visual information. Moreover, neither the computer system nor the set-top system provides users the ability to monitor the status of transmitted email messages.
For example, a user cannot receive notification of the action taken by the receiving account on previously transmitted email messages.
There exists, therefore, a need for a versatile but simple form of electronic communication that is readily accessible to the general public. To provide versatility, the system should accommodate text, audio, video, and a robust email system; it
should also employ an open architecture so that individuals may use whatever Internet service provider they prefer. To provide simplicity, the system should be integrated, rather than having multiple components that its user needs to purchase separately
and then assemble together; it should also employ familiar hardware that requires simple commands.
The present invention helps to satisfy this need and solve the problem of providing a simple but versatile form of electronic communication. It provides methods and apparatus that allow its users to manipulate, send, and receive audio/visual
information easily by using familiar devices such as an interactive receiver and a remote control device. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for employing certified email messages; this allows its users to receive
notification of the action taken upon their previously transmitted email messages by the recipients of the messages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consistent with this invention, one method for providing certified email comprises the steps of using an interactive receiver to generate a certified email message from the sending account and sending the certified email message to a mail server. The mail server delivers the certified email message to the receiving account, and receives, from the receiving account, notification of the action taken upon the certified email message. The server then notifies the interactive receiver of the action
taken on the certified email message by the receiving account.
Although this method has been described here as an example, one skilled in the art will recognize that there exist other methods and apparatus that are consistent with the claimed invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional computer system for electronic communication;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional set-top system for electronic communication;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system, consistent with the claimed invention, for certified email;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram, consistent with the claimed invention, of an interactive receiver;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a remote control device that may be used in conjunction with the claimed invention;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram, consistent with the claimed invention, of a mail server;
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the information flow between a sending account, a mail server, and a receiving account;
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram, consistent with the claimed invention, of the steps performed to employ a certified email system;
FIG. 9 is a sample list of notifications that a sender of certified email may receive; and
FIG. 10 is an exemplary list of types of notifications that the sender of certified email may obtain.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to an implementation of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to
refer to the same or like parts.
A. Overview
Systems consistent with the claimed invention overcome the limitations associated with the computer and set-top systems and provide a simple yet versatile way to employ a certified email system. A sender uses an interactive receiver to compose
an email message containing text, audio, video data, or any combination thereof. The sender designates it for certified delivery and transmits it to an ISP. A proprietary mail server attached to the ISP recognizes the message as being certified and
stores it for delivery to the recipient. Upon request, the mail server transmits the message to the recipient. When the recipient takes some action upon the message--such as opening, deleting, or forwarding the message--the recipient also transmits to
the mail server notification of the action taken. The mail server stores this information in a database, and, upon request, notifies the sender of the action taken upon the certified email message by the recipient.
B. System Diagrams
One example of such a system is shown in FIG. 3. This system consists of an interactive receiver 300 and ISP 330, each of which has other components interfaced to it. In a preferred embodiment, interactive receiver 300 may be similar to a
conventional television receiver, with additional features as described below. Connected to interactive receiver 300 are an input source 310, a storage 315, a remote control device 320, and an audio microphone 325. Examples of input source 310 include,
but are not limited to, a VCR, a digital still camera, or a camcorder. Examples of storage device 315 include, but are not limited to, a hard disk drive, a digital video drive, an analog tape drive, or a random access memory. Examples of remote control
device 320 include, but are not limited to, a television remote control device, or a conventional QWERTY keyboard.
The system also contains a server 340 that is connected to ISP 330. Attached to server 340 is a storage device 350, examples of which include a hard disk, an analog tape drive, or a random access memory. Server 340 is a conventional network
mail server computer but contains the software and hardware necessary to manage a system consistent with the claimed invention. This includes, for example, database software to track the status of certified email messages. Server 340 and storage device
350 operate in conjunction with ISP 330 to manage the certified email messages, which includes delivering the message and notifying the sender of any action taken on it by the recipient.
The system shown in FIG. 3 allows the user to simply compose, transmit, and track certified email messages. Moreover, as the system shown in FIG. 3 also demonstrates, a user of such a system is not limited to a specific ISP, as is the case with
conventional systems. Any ISP that chooses to use proprietary server 340 may provide its users with this system's capabilities. This open architecture approach provides significant flexibility to users, who may select any ISP of their liking, so long
as that ISP supports this system.
Although FIG. 3 shows one example of a system that allows a user to compose and transmit certified email messages, those skilled in the art will recognize that there exist other systems that are also consistent with the claimed invention. For
example, although FIG. 3 shows server 340 and storage device 350 as being separate from ISP 330, any number of these components may be combined.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram, consistent with the claimed invention, of the portion of the system responsible for composing a certified email message, namely, interactive receiver 300. Interactive receiver 300 shown in this diagram contains a
multimedia processor 410, examples of which include the Pentium MMX.TM. processor commercially available from Intel Corporation and the Tri-media.TM. processor commercially available from Philips Corporation. Processor 410 provides support for
audio-visual information, graphic information, a network stack, and a user interface, and is configured to carry out the steps described below in reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.
Attached to processor 410 is an analog input 490 and a digital input 440. Input 490 may receive television broadcast information from, for example, a television antenna or a cable television system. Accordingly, input 490 supports standards
such as National Television Standards Committee (NTSC). Input 440 may receive information from, for example, digital cable television systems or digital satellite systems. Accordingly, input 440 supports standards such as Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation for digital cable and Quadrature Phase Shift Keying for digital satellite systems.
Also attached to processor 410 is an output interface 430 for sending video data from interactive receiver 300 to, for example, a VCR, a digital video drive, or a video printer. In addition to output interface 430, there is attached to processor
410 a display screen 480 for displaying audio-visual and text information to the user. Examples of display screen 480 include a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma display.
Also attached to processor 410 is a remote input interface 450 for receiving commands, such as infrared or radio frequency signals, from remote control device 320. In addition, an audio input interface 455 is attached to processor 410, which
enables the user to add audio to text or graphic images. Interactive receiver 300 also contains an external interface 425 for communicating with external devices such as offline storage device 315. Examples of external interface 425 include, but are
not limited to, the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), IEEE 1394 ("Firewire"), and Electronics Industry Association Recommended Standard 232. A memory device 420 is attached to processor 410 for storing information. Examples of memory device 420
include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a random access memory, a flash memory, or a floppy disk.
Also shown in this example is a communication device 460, which represents any device capable of communicating electronic information between multimedia processor 410 and ISP 330. Device 460 may operate over telephone lines using conventional
standards such as V.34 or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Alternatively, device 460 may be a cable modem operating over coaxial cable.
Although FIG. 4 shows one example of an interactive receiver, those skilled in the art will recognize that there exist other devices that are also consistent with the claimed invention. For example, the components shown in FIG. 4 may be
integrated into a digital television receiver cabinet. Alternatively, some of the components may be integrated into a television receiver cabinet while others remain externally attached.
FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a remote control device that may be used in conjunction with the claimed invention. Remote control device 320 is powered by batteries 510 contained within the device. Remote control device 320 also contains numerous
user control keys 520. In addition to providing routine television control, such as changing television channels or volume levels, remote control device 320 also contains keys for displaying a menu, cursor control keys for selecting menu items, and keys
for initiating and ending the capture of video data. These are shown in FIG. 5 as: an "Interactive Receiver Menu" key, which is used to display a menu; arrow and "Select" keys for manipulating menu items; an "Image Capture" key for initiating a graphic
image capture; a "Video Data Capture" key for initiating a video sequence capture; and a "Stop" key for ending the capture of video data. Remote control device 320 also contains an infrared transmitter 530 for conveying commands from remote control
device 320 to interactive receiver 300. The channel of communication between remote control device 320 and interactive receiver 300 is not critical. In addition to infrared signals, one may use any other conventional technique such as RF signals or a
physical cable.
Although FIG. 5 shows one example of a remote c | | |
