US5875302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication management system having communication thread structure including a plurality of interconnected threads
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1997-05-06
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2017-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A communication management system and method of operation includes a structure registration interface, a user registration, a submission interface, a communication server and an access interface. The structure registration interface receives structure data and establishes a communication thread structure having a plurality of interconnected threads based upon the structure data. The user registration interface receives user data and establishes user information based upon the user data, the user information linking a user with at least one thread of the plurality of interconnected threads. The submission interface receives communications and at least one desired thread of the plurality of interconnected threads and links the communications with at least some of the plurality of interconnected threads. The communication server establishes links between communications and user information based upon threads of the plurality of interconnected threads. Finally, the access interface receives a communication access request from a user, receives communications from the communication server based upon the communication access request, the user information and thread linkages between the communications and the user information and provides the received communications to the user. The communication management system may also include a notification interface that notifies a user when a communication is received that is linked to the user by at least one thread. The notification interface may notify a user when a communication has been received that is linked to the user by at least one thread and has a notification priority greater than or equal to a notification priority respective to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Prem A. Obhan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/224; H04L51/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A communication management system comprising: a structure registration interface that receives structure data and establishes a communication thread structure having a plurality of interconnected threads based upon the structure data; a user registration interface that receives user data and establishes user information based upon the user data, the user information linking a user with at least one thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; a submission interface that receives communications and at least one desired thread of the plurality of interconnected threads and links the communications with at least some of the plurality of interconnected threads; a communication server that establishes links between communications and user information based upon threads of the plurality of interconnected threads; and an access interface that receives a communication access request from a user, receives communications from the communication server based upon the communication access request, the user information and thread linkages between the communications and the user information and provides the received communications to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A communication management system comprising: a structure registration interface that receives structure data and establishes a communication thread structure having a plurality of interconnected threads based upon the structure data; a user registration interface that receives user data and establishes user information based upon the user data, the user information linking a user with at least one thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; a submission interface that receives communications and at least one desired thread of the plurality of interconnected threads and links the communications with at least some of the plurality of interconnected threads; a communication server that establishes links between communications and user information based upon threads of the plurality of interconnected threads; and an access interface that receives a communication access request from a user, receives communications from the communication server based upon the communication access request, the user information and thread linkages between the communications and the user information and provides the received communications to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication management system of claim 1, further comprising: a notification interface that notifies a user when a communication is received that is linked to the user by at least one thread.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The communication management system of claim 2, the notification interface notifying a user when a communication has been received that is linked to the user by at least one thread and has a notification priority greater than or equal to a notification priority respective to the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The communication management system of claim 2, the notification interface notifying a user when a communication has been received that is linked to the user by at least one thread, the notification interface notifying the user according to respective user notification information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the notification interface and the access interface allowing a user to direct receipt of a communication upon notification of the communication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the communications comprising voice mail communications, electronic mail communications, facsimile communications and electronic files.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the communication thread structure organized according to a business structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the user information including user identity, user password, user notification information, user security level, user notification priority, user delivery information and thread participation information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the submission interface appending communication information to communications, the communication information including communication content, communication time, communication source, communication priority, communication security level and related threads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the access interface communicating with a user via one communication medium and delivering a communication to the user via another communication medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the access interface communicating with the user via a voice connection and delivering a communication to the user via a non-voice connection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the access interface and submission interface operable as on-line interfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the user registration interface providing submission protocol information to added users.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the communication server generating submission protocol information based upon available resources.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the submission interface precluding unauthorized submissions of communications.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the communication server closing threads based upon closure criteria and preventing precluding submissions of communications to closed threads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communication management system of claim 1, the notification interface providing suggested threads to users for submission of communications.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of operating a communication management system comprising the steps of: receiving communication thread structure data; establishing a communication thread structure having a plurality of interconnected threads based upon the structure data; receiving user data; establishing user information based upon the user data, the user information linking a user with at least one thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; receiving communications and at least one desired thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; linking the communications with at least some of the plurality of interconnected threads; establishing links between communications and user information based upon threads of the plurality of interconnected threads; receiving a communication access request from a user; receiving communications from the communication server based upon the communication access request, the user information and thread linkages between the communications and the user information; and providing the received communications to the user.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of operating a communication management system comprising the steps of: receiving communication thread structure data; establishing a communication thread structure having a plurality of interconnected threads based upon the structure data; receiving user data; establishing user information based upon the user data, the user information linking a user with at least one thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; receiving communications and at least one desired thread of the plurality of interconnected threads; linking the communications with at least some of the plurality of interconnected threads; establishing links between communications and user information based upon threads of the plurality of interconnected threads; receiving a communication access request from a user; receiving communications from the communication server based upon the communication access request, the user information and thread linkages between the communications and the user information; and providing the received communications to the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: notifying a user when a communication is received that is linked to the user by at least one thread.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of: notifying a user when a communication has been received that is linked to the user by at least one thread and has a notification priority greater than or equal to a notification priority respective to the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of: notifying a user when a communication has been received that is linked to the user by at least one thread, the notification interface notifying the user according to respective user notification information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of allowing a user to direct receipt of a communication upon notification of the communication.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, the communications comprising voice mail communications, electronic mail communications, facsimile communications and electronic files.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18, the communication thread structure organized according to a business structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, the user information including user identity, user password, user notification information, user security level, user notification priority, user delivery information and thread participation information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: appending communication information to communications, the communication information including communication content, communication time, communication source, communication priority, communication security level and related threads.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: communicating with a user via one communication medium and delivering a communication to the user via another communication medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: generating submission protocol information based upon available resources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |