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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A system for distributing at least one main message over an electronic
network comprising:
a means for providing an initial message having a script, the script
comprising transmittal instructions for initiating retrieval of the at
least one main message;
at least one server for sending the initial message and the at least one
main message over the electronic network; and
at least one subscriber computer coupled to the electronic network for
receiving the initial message, the at least one subscriber computer having
means for executing the script of the initial message and for requesting
retrieval of the at least one main message from the at least one server in
response to an action on the initial message.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the action on the initial message
comprises viewing the initial message.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one main message expands the
initial message.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the script of the initial message is
written in Javascript.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the script further comprises tracking
transmittal instructions for sending identification and tracking
information to the at least one server upon the action on the initial
message.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the action on the initial message
comprises a user viewing at least a portion of the initial message to
initiate execution of the script for retrieving the at least one main
message from the at least one server.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the script further comprises an address
for locating the at least one server.
8. A method of distributing a main message of a plurality of main messages
over an electronic network comprising the steps of:
providing an initial message having a script, the script comprising
transmittal instructions for retrieving the main message;
storing the initial message and the plurality of main messages on at least
one server;
sending the initial message to at least one subscriber computer coupled to
the electronic network;
performing an action upon the initial message at the at least one
subscriber computer to initiate execution of the script; and
retrieving the main message from the at least one server in response to the
action upon the initial message.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of performing an action upon the
initial message comprises a user viewing the initial message.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of performing an action upon
the initial message comprises viewing a portion of the initial message.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the script further comprises an address
for locating the at least one server.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the script further comprises tracking
transmittal instructions for transmitting tracking information to the at
least one server from the at least one subscriber computer, the method
further comprising the steps of:
processing the tracking transmittal instructions on the at least one
subscriber computer; and
sending the tracking information to the at least one server in response to
the action upon the initial message.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of retrieving a
second main message of the plurality of main messages in response to a
subsequent action upon the initial message, wherein the subsequent action
re-initiates execution of the script.
14. A method for distributing a main message from at least one server
computer to at least one subscriber computer over a communications
network, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the main message to the at least one server computer;
providing an initial message to the at least one server computer, the
initial message comprising a script program having content transmittal
instructions for retrieving the main message from the at least one server
computer;
sending the initial message to the at least one subscriber computer over
the communications network;
performing an action on the initial message at the at least one subscriber
computer, the action for initiating execution of the script program; and
retrieving the main message from the at least one server computer upon
execution of the script program.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the script program of the initial
message further comprises tracking transmittal instructions for sending
identification and tracking information to the at least one server over
the communications network upon execution of the script program.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of performing an action on the
initial message comprises viewing the initial message.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the script of the initial message
further comprises message identifier transmittal instructions for
transmitting a message identifier from the at least one subscriber
computer to the at least one server computer, the method further
comprising the step of:
processing the message identifier transmittal instructions on the at least
one subscriber computer and sending the message identifier to the at least
one server computer.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the script of the initial message
further comprises subscriber identifier transmittal instructions for
transmitting a subscriber identifier from the at least one subscriber
computer to the at least one server computer, the method further
comprising the step of:
processing the subscriber identifier transmittal instructions on the at
least one subscriber computer and sending the subscriber identifier to the
at least one server computer.
19. A system for distributing at least one main message over a
communications network comprising:
a server computer means comprising:
a sender client means for transmitting an initial message to at least one
subscriber computer over the communications network, the initial message
comprising transmittal instructions for sending the at least one main
message from a main message server means to the at least one subscriber
computer over the communications network; and
the main message server means for storing the at least one main message and
for sending the at least one main message in response to a request from
the at least one subscriber computer; and
the at least one subscriber computer for receiving the initial message and
the at least one main message, the at least one subscriber computer
comprising:
means for processing the transmittal instructions of the initial message;
and
means for requesting the main message server means to transmit the at least
one main message from the main message server means to the at least one
subscriber computer over the communications network.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the initial message further comprises
message identifier transmittal instructions for transmitting a message
identifier from the at least one subscriber computer to the server
computer means.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one subscriber computer
further comprises:
means for processing the message identifier transmittal instructions; and
means for sending the message identifier to the server computer means over
the communications network.
22. The system of claim 19, wherein the initial message further comprises
subscriber identifier transmittal instructions for transmitting a
subscriber identifier from the at least one subscriber computer to the to
the server computer means.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one subscriber computer
further comprises:
means for processing the subscriber identifier transmittal instructions;
and
means for sending the subscriber identifier to the server computer means
over the communications network. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to communication networks, and more
particularly to networks providing electronic mail to a multiplicity of
users.
A recent development is the wide use of network communications over the
Internet, on which a wide variety of information is available in massive
volumes using local telephone connections and personal computers. The
Internet is actually a collection of networks and gateways that use the
Transport Control Protocol/Interface Program (TCP/IP) suite of protocols
that was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. The local telephone
connections are typically to nearby network server computers (servers)
that have connections to other servers. Documents and other information
are commonly stored on the Internet using Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
(HTTP) in HTML or ASP format in web sites that are implemented at
associated servers, the sites being addressed and navigated by using
"browser" software of user's computers, HTML being the language typically
interpreted by web browsers to generate displaying using display files
known as web pages. The Internet "address" of a file, known as a URL, is
typically of the form "http://www/[x][/y]", where [x] is a main address
and [/y] is a directory path to a web page which may be located in a
directory accessible to the server.
A great advantage of this technology is that a large segment of the general
population has access to the Internet from home. However, although much of
that information is provided free of charge, locating information relevant
to a particular user's needs can be a daunting task that involves sifting
through great volumes of extraneous records. So it is with advertisements
and product catalogs that may be accessible in the Internet, that
potential customers are discouraged from seeking sources of goods and
services that they desire.
Electronic mail, in addition to being implemented within particular local
networks and organizational entities (Intranet), is also widely used on
the Internet, the mail being typically held temporarily on the mass
storage device of a mail server typically hosted by an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) to which the user subscribes. An Email Client, hosted by
the user's computer, may download, open, and display to the user the
user's electronic mail.
One result of the wide use of the Internet is a large volume of electronic
mail traffic in the form of advertisements that are distributed to
targeted users. However, advertisements in the form of electronic mail are
expensive to provide to a large audience, particularly when the content is
formatted together with a personalized message to each recipient. Also,
many users will delete mail that is perceived to be advertising before
actually viewing it, especially if it is the form of an attachment to a
short message.
Thus there is a need for an efficient and inexpensive way to provide
communications including large volumes of predefined information to a
multiplicity of user destinations. There is a further need for an
inexpensive and reliable means for tracking actual receipt of the
information.
SUMMARY
The present invention meets this need by providing a network data
distribution system wherein predefined blocks of information can be
transmitted to a multiplicity of users in connection with small electronic
messages, but without being contained in the messages or being attachments
of the messages. Instead, when the small message is opened by the user, a
predetermined web page is automatically retrieved into the message,
greatly expanding the message. Features that can be included in the system
are visual notification that the expansion is complete without either
being taken to a different web page if in a web page environment or
without invoking a web browser if in an e-mail environment.
In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a server computer
having means for receiving source files, and means for transmitting email
files to a computer network for access by remote computers having email
client computer software for displaying the email files; means for storing
a script program as a portion of a first source file; means for storing a
predefined message as a second source file; means for including in the
script program a command that displays the predefined message by
retrieving the second source file; and means for directing the first
source file to an email address of a user.
The system can further include means for including tracking information in
the first source file; and means for including in the script program a
command for transmitting the tracking information to the server computer.
The tracking information can include the user's email address.
The system can further include means for including in the script program a
command for passing information to the server computer; means for
including in the script program a command for replacing a first image with
a second image; means at the server computer for receiving the transmitted
information; means at the server computer for transmitting a reply in
response to the transmitted information; and means for including in the
script program a command to execute the command for replacing in response
to the reply. The command for passing the information can be executed in
response to a user action directed to the first image. The reply can be
transmitted upon completion of a task initiated in response to the user
action.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for distributing a
predetermined main message to a multiplicity of users includes the steps
of:
(a) providing the main message at a main address;
(b) providing a script program including a command for retrieving the main
message from the main address;
(c) inserting the script program in respective secondary messages;
(d) addressing the secondary messages to the multiplicity of users; and
(e) receiving the main message into each of the secondary messages upon
execution of the script program.
The step of providing a script program can include a command for
transmitting tracking information to the server computer upon execution of
the script program.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for distributing a plurality
of main messages to a user includes the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of main messages;
(b) locating one of the main messages at a main address;
(c) providing a script program including a command for retrieving from the
main address the located message;
(d) inserting the script program in a secondary message;
(e) addressing the secondary message to the user;
(f) receiving the located message into the secondary message upon execution
of the script program; and
(g) locating a different one of the main messages at the main address,
whereby the different main message is received into the secondary message
upon a subsequent execution of the script program.
The locating step can be periodically repeated, thereby facilitating
subscription to periodical publications based on a single secondary
message.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, a method for distributing from a
first location a predetermined message to a user at a second location and
signaling completion of a user-initiated transaction includes the steps
of:
(a) providing the message, the message containing a first image;
(b) providing a script program segment having a command for replacing the
first image with a second image, and a command for passing information to
the first location in response to user input at the second location;
(c) inserting the script program into the message;
(d) addressing the message to the user at the second location from the
first location;
(e) at the first location, receiving information passed in response to the
user input at the second location;
(f) transmitting a reply from the first location to the second location in
response to the passed information; and
(g) executing the command for replacing the first image with the second
image, thereby graphically displaying at the second location receipt of
the passed information at the first location.
The method can include the further step of completing a task at the second
location in response to receipt of the passed information, and wherein the
step of transmitting the reply is performed upon completion of the task,
thereby providing visual confirmation of task completion.
DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention
will become better understood with reference to the following description,
appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of a communication network incorporating an
electronic mail distribution system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart for a computer process of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a screen diagram showing a portion of an e-mail containing a
functional image transmitted by system of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a screen diagram as in FIG. 3, showing substitution of a
different image following processing of a transaction by the system of
FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION
The present invention is directed to a system for deploying email using
short email messages, which when opened call a large body of information
from another location.
With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a network communication system 10
includes a server computer 12 for receiving, processing, and transmitting
data relative to a distributed computer,network 14, a subscriber computer
16 being connectable to the network 14. In an exemplary implementation,
the computer network 14 has connected thereto a multiplicity of
communication lines 18, a plurality of the server computers 12, and a
multiplicity of the subscriber computers 16. The server computer 12 has an
operator interface 20 including a screen display 21, a keyboard 22, and a
pointing device or mouse 23. The computer 12 also includes a memory 24 and
a modem interface 25 that is suitably connected to the network 14 for
bidirectional communication therewith. The memory 24 typically includes
volatile random access memory (RAM) and non-volatile memory such as
read-only memory (ROM) and random access disk memory. As used herein,
storage in non-volatile memory can include temporary storage in volatile
memory. It will be understood that a single server may communicate with
more than one of the subscriber computers 16. In the exemplary
implementation described herein, the communication network 14 is the
Internet, with at least some of the communication lines 20 being
conventional telephone utility lines, each computer having a suitable
modem or digital port (not shown) for interfacing with the telephone
utility lines. The server computer 12 has in its memory 24 a
conventional-web server program 28, and a similarly conventional
electronic mail server program 30, each of the programs 28 and 30 having
access to mass data storage 32. As further shown in FIG. 1, the subscriber
computer 16 has counterparts of the operator interface 20 including the
screen display 21, the keyboard 22, and the mouse 23, as well as the
memory 24 and the modem interface 25. Also, the subscriber computer 16 has
in its memory 24 a web browser program 34 and an electronic mail client
program 36, the programs 34 and 36 having access to a mass storage device
38. The server computer 12 can be suitably implemented running Windows NT
4.0 and one or more of Microsoft Internet Information server 4.0,
Microsoft Index server, Microsoft Site-server Express, Microsoft Active
Server Pages, Microsoft SQL-Server 6.5, and Microsoft Transaction Server
that are commercially available programs of Microsoft of Redmond, Wash.
According to the present invention, the network 10 is provided with an
e-mail distribution system 40 that includes a distribution program 42 for
dispatching short secondary messages that incorporate script programs as
described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution program 42
is a "submarine" program that sends the secondary messages as email to a
list of email addresses. The emails themselves are of a specific design to
allow them to be very small, and when opened they contact an Internet
server and pull in the content, which can be anything that is displayable
on a web page. It will be understood that in a web page there are several
methods for retrieving information that are more efficient than the method
of the present invention; however, they are not suitable for retrieving
information into e-mail messages, the problem addressed by this invention.
Preferably the submarine program 42 inserts tracking information in each
email that it sends. The tracking information includes the email address
and optionally an "adcode" (a 6 to 10 character name that identifies a
particular email campaign). The initial email has no content other than
the. tracking information and instructions on what to do if the email
fails to display. Because the initial email is so small, and upon arrival
gets really big (sort of explodes) so is called a "torpedo". The content
that is pulled by the torpedo is called the "payload". The payload can be
changed at any time, and the next time a previously sent torpedo is opened
it will display the new payload. Thus a newsletter can be sent one time
and can be updated repeatedly.
With further reference to FIG. 2, the submarine program 42 initiates a
distribution process 50 with an initialization step 51, loading an email
list from the mass data storage 32 in a load list step 52, and loading the
torpedo information including the first script file 44 in a load script
step 54. Then a connect host step 56 connects to an Internet Email Server
(a.k.a. email host). For each email address the program inserts the email
address (much like a mail merge) in an insert address step 58, and sends
it out via the Internet Email Server in a send message step 60. Next, a
counter previously reset in the initialization step 51 is incremented in a
count step 62. Thus the program 42 keeps an up to date log of how many
messages it has processed so that in the event of a system failure the
process can pickup where it left off without missing anyone or sending
duplicate emails. Following the update count step 62, a done test step 64
determines from the count whether all of the messages have been sent,
passing control to a tracking portion of the program as described below;
otherwise, control is returned to the insert address step 58 for
dispatching further messages. The submarine program 42 can be written in
PERL, a programming language commonly used on servers and other personal
computers (PCs). (In PERL, comments begin with "#" and end at the end of
the line.)
Script Design
In an exemplary configuration of the system 40, the script files are
written in Javascript, a programming language that is available in web
browser programs such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet
Explorer. Using Javascript, the script file 44 must have a filename ending
in ".js", the first line of the file must be "<!--", and the last line
must be "//--". Comments, if present, begin with "//" and end at the end
of the line. (If present, comments in HTML begin with "<!--" and end
with "-->".) Javascript has a command, called "write(`?`)", for
displaying information by passing the information to a program that is
interpreting HTML. Thus the information to be passed must be in HTML
format, and the question mark is replaced with a full URL to a server file
containing the information. The Javascript command for retrieving the file
and running the program is <script language="javascript"
src="?"></script>, the question mark being replaced with the full
URL as described above. The following is an exemplary and preferred
implementation of the script, in this case displaying "Hi There" in large
letters:
1. The script file 44 contains the following three lines:
document.write(`<h1>Hello There,</h1>)
2. Assuming the Server name is "something.com" and the script file 44 is in
a directory "stuff" and named "hello.js", the command included with the
email message would be:
<script language="javascript" [sp]
src="http://something.com/stuff/hello.js" ></script>
Although the above example is quite simple, a major application of the
present invention is to deliver large quantities of information into the
short e-mail messages automatically upon opening (and viewing) of the
e-mail by the user.
Message Tracking
The script file 44 also preferably includes a command for transmitting the
user's e-mail address back to the server, the distribution program 44 also
including instructions for recording successful opening of the secondary
message and receipt of the main message at a suitable destination on the
mass data storage 32 or other suitable destination. Thus the process 50
includes a process tracking step 66 following the test done step 64. The
preferred inclusion of the campaign code as indicated above facilitates
tracking of multiple campaigns in separate files of the data storage 32,
and/or to separated destinations associated with each campaign.
Functional Images
A preferred feature of the distribution system 40 of the present invention
is the use of functional images. As used herein, an image is simply a
picture displayed to the user. This feature allows an email or web page to
pass information entered by the user to a program on a server and allows
the program to display the results as an image. The information entered by
the user may be as simple as selecting a link, or as complex as filling in
a form. The information can be passed in Secure Mode if needed. Secure
Mode is a method of sending information to a server in an encrypted
format, to prevent the informatio | | |
