Patent EP0739115A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0739115A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Electronic messaging in a wide area network
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A method for electronic communication using wide area network (WAN) storage and signalling capabilities. The method and apparatus provides for deposit of a message in message stores in the WAN, storage of the message such that the message is uniformly accessible throughout the WAN and notifying the recipient of the message of the availability and address of the message in the message stores in the WAN so that he can access the message.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Scott Baldwin
- 👤 Paul C. Lustgarten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/224
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: allocating storage in a WAN having an address in the WAN; depositing a message into the allocated storage; identifying persons authorized to have access to the message; and instructing the WAN to signal persons authorized to have access to the message of an available message and the address of the message in the allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein allocating storage in a WAN comprises selecting a message store from available message stores in the WAN.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein identifying persons authorized to have access to the message comprises identifying at least one intended recipient of the message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein identifying persons authorized to have access to the message comprises identifying characteristics of a class authorized to have access to the message.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: a means for allocating storage in a WAN having an address in the WAN; a means for depositing a message into the allocated storage; a means for identifying persons authorized to have access to the message; and a means for instructing the WAN to signal persons authorized to have access to the message of an available message and the address of the message in the allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for allocating storage in a WAN comprises a means for selecting a message store from available message stores in the WAN.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for identifying persons authorized to have access to the message comprises a means for identifying at least one intended recipient of the message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for identifying persons authorized to have access to the message comprises a means for identifying characteristics of a class authorized to have access to the message.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: identifying an available message and an address of the message in allocated storage in a WAN; and using the address of the message in allocated storage in the WAN to interactively access the message in allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 9 wherein identifying an available message and an address of the message in allocated storage in a WAN comprises accessing a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN for storing a notification of the availability of the message and the address of the message in allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the allocated storage on the WAN comprises a message store.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: a means for identifying an available message and an address of the message in allocated storage a WAN; and a means for using the address of the message in allocated storage in the WAN to interactively access the message in allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for identifying an available message and an address of the message in allocated storage in a WAN comprises a means for accessing a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN for storing a notification of the availability of the message and the address of the message in allocated storage in the WAN.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the allocated storage on the WAN comprises a message store.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: providing storage in a WAN for receiving a message and for receiving an identification of persons authorized to have access to the message; signalling the persons authorized to have access to the message of an available message and an address of the message in the storage in the WAN; and providing interactive access to the message in the storage in the WAN through the use of the address of the message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the storage in a WAN network for receiving a message and for receiving an identification of the persons authorized to have access to the message comprises a message store.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the identification of the persons having access to the message comprises the identity of at least one intended recipient of the message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the identification of the persons having access to the message comprises identifying characteristics of a class authorized to have access to the message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15 wherein signalling the intended recipients of an available message and an address of the message comprises storing in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN a notification of the availability and address of the message.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) signalling and storage capabilities, comprising: a means for providing storage in a WAN for receiving a message and for receiving an identification of persons authorized to have access to the message; a means for signalling the persons authorized to have access to the message of an available message and an address of the message in the storage in the WAN; and a means for providing interactive access to the message in the storage in the WAN through the use of the address of the message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for providing storage in a WAN for receiving a message and for receiving an identification of persons authorized to have access to the message comprises a message store.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for receiving an identification of the persons having access to the message comprises a means for identifying of at least one intended recipient of the message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for identification of the persons having access to the message comprises a means for identifying characteristics of a class authorized to have access to the message.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for signalling the intended recipients of an available message and an address of the message comprises a means for storing in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN a notification of the availability and address of the message.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
30 words
A method of electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) storage and signalling capabilities, comprising instructing a WAN to signal a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 25 wherein instructing the WAN to signal a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN comprises instructing the WAN to signal the virtual mailbox of an available message and an address of the message.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus or electronic messaging using wide area (WAN) network storage and signalling capabilities, comprising a means for instructing a WAN to signal a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the means for instructing a WAN to signal a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in the WAN comprises a means for instructing the WAN to signal the virtual mailbox of an available message and an address of the message.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
26 words
A method of electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) storage and signalling capabilities, comprising signalling a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 wherein signalling a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN comprises signalling the virtual mailbox of an available message and an address of the message.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) storage and signalling capabilities, comprising a means for signalling a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the means for signalling a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN comprises a means for signalling the virtual mailbox of an available message and an address of the message.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
29 words
A method for electronic messaging using wide area (WAN) network storage and signalling capabilities, comprising retrieving information stored in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 33 wherein retrieving information stored in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN comprises retrieving information regarding an available message and an address of the message stored in the WAN.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for electronic messaging using wide area network (WAN) storage and signalling capabilities, comprising a means for retrieving information stored in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the means for retrieving information stored in a virtual mailbox comprised of storage elements in a WAN comprises a means for retrieving information regarding an available message and an address of the message stored in the WAN.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
A virtual mailbox comprising storage elements in a wide area network (WAN).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The virtual mailbox of claim 37 wherein the signalling information stored comprises information regarding an available message and an address of the message stored in the WAN.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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