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US6157954A
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Communication control device including business card database with associated business card agents for controlling communicated electronic mail between user and card provider
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-29
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2017-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A communication control software application is used in a user communication device having a processor and associated memory. The processor controls a display and a user input device. A communications terminal transmits and receives electronic mail. The communication control software application includes a phone application stored in the memory, the phone application including a business card database storing plural business cards. Each business card identifies characteristics of a particular card provider who electronic mail is to be sent to or received from. One or more of the business cards includes an associated business card agent defined by an agent software routine controlling how electronic mail is communicated between the user and the particular provider. A messaging application initiates communications to transmit or receive electronic mail. The phone application and the messaging application determining if a business card agent is associated with a business card of a provider to whom electronic mail is to be sent or is received from by the phone dialer application, and in response thereto implement the agent software routine to control how the electronic mail is communicated.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy G. Moon
- 👤 Tammy A. Wooldridge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/60; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4557; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a user communication device having a processor and associated memory, the processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, a communication control software application comprising: a phone application stored in the memory of the communication device, the phone application including a business card database storing plural business cards, each business card identifying characteristics of a particular card provider whom electronic mail is to be sent to or received from, one or more of the business cards including an associated business card agent defined by an agent software routine controlling how electronic mail is communicated between the user and the particular provider; a messaging application for initiating communications to transmit or receive electronic mail; and control means operatively associated with the phone application and the messaging application for determining if a business card agent is associated with a business card of a provider to whom electronic mail is to be sent or to whom electronic mail is received from by the messaging application, and in response thereto implementing the agent software routine to control how the electronic mail is communicated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a user communication device having a processor and associated memory, the processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, a communication control software application comprising: a phone application stored in the memory of the communication device, the phone application including a business card database storing plural business cards, each business card identifying characteristics of a particular card provider whom electronic mail is to be sent to or received from, one or more of the business cards including an associated business card agent defined by an agent software routine controlling how electronic mail is communicated between the user and the particular provider; a messaging application for initiating communications to transmit or receive electronic mail; and control means operatively associated with the phone application and the messaging application for determining if a business card agent is associated with a business card of a provider to whom electronic mail is to be sent or to whom electronic mail is received from by the messaging application, and in response thereto implementing the agent software routine to control how the electronic mail is communicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the characteristics of the card provider include one or more fax numbers and/or E-mail addresses and the agent software routine automatically selects one of the fax numbers or E-mail addresses for the control means, the selection being made according to time or date that electronic mail is to be sent to the particular provider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication control software routine of claim 2 wherein the control means includes means for permitting the user to override the automatic selection of one of the fax numbers or E-mail addresses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the agent software routine comprises a private encryption routine and the control means encrypts each message to the particular provider using the private encryption routine prior to transmission via the messaging application.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the agent software routine comprises a private decryption routine and the control means decrypts each message from the particular provider using the private decryption routine after receipt from the messaging application.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the agent software routine selects time of day or date that electronic mail is to be sent to the particular provider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the characteristics of the card provider include a network address for the particular provider and the agent software routine is adapted to automatically retrieve available information from the network address.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The communication control software routine of claim 7 wherein the control means implements the agent software routine to retrieve the select information form the network address when communication is initiated by the messaging application.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication control software routine of claim 8 wherein the select information is stored in the business card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communication control software routine of claim 1 wherein the agent software routine further includes a user display control panel accessible by select other software applications in the user communication device and the control means implements the agent software routine using the display control panel to control communication of electronic mail from the other software applications.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communication control software routine of claim 10 wherein the display control panel comprises a display menu to be filled in by the user and then transmitted to the card provider.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of controlling the receipt or transmission of electronic mail using a user communication device having a processor and associated memory, the processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, the method comprising the steps of: storing a phone application in the memory of the communication device; associating with the phone application a business card database storing plural business cards, each business card identifying characteristics of a particular card provider whom electronic mail is to be sent to or received from, one or more of the business cards including an associated business card agent defined by an agent software routine controlling how electronic mail is communicated between the user and the particular provider; initiating communications to transmit or receive electronic mail; and determining if a business card agent is associated with a business card of a provider to whom electronic mail is to be sent or to whom electronic mail is received from, and in response thereto implementing the agent software routine to control how the electronic mail is communicated.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of controlling the receipt or transmission of electronic mail using a user communication device having a processor and associated memory, the processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, the method comprising the steps of: storing a phone application in the memory of the communication device; associating with the phone application a business card database storing plural business cards, each business card identifying characteristics of a particular card provider whom electronic mail is to be sent to or received from, one or more of the business cards including an associated business card agent defined by an agent software routine controlling how electronic mail is communicated between the user and the particular provider; initiating communications to transmit or receive electronic mail; and determining if a business card agent is associated with a business card of a provider to whom electronic mail is to be sent or to whom electronic mail is received from, and in response thereto implementing the agent software routine to control how the electronic mail is communicated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the characteristics of the card provider include one or more fax numbers and/or E-mail addresses and further comprising the step of automatically selecting one of the fax numbers or E-mail addresses, the selection being made according to time or date that electronic mail is to be sent to the particular provider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of permitting the user to override the automatic selection of one of the fax numbers or E-mail addresses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the agent software routine comprises a private encryption routine and further comprising the step of encrypting each message to the particular provider using the private encryption routine prior to transmission of the electronic mail.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the agent software routine comprises a private decryption routine and further comprising the step of decrypting each message from the particular provider using the private decryption routine after receipt of the electronic mail.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the agent software routine specifies time of day or date that electronic mail is to be sent to the particular provider.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the characteristics of the card provider include a network address for the particular provider and the agent software routine is adapted to automatically retrieve available information from the network address.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 comprising the step of implementing the agent software routine to retrieve the select information form the network address when communication is initiated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the select information is stored in the business card.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the agent software routine further includes a user display control panel accessible by select other software applications in the user communication device and further comprising the step of implementing the agent software routine using the display control panel to control communication of electronic mail from the other software applications.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the display control panel comprises a display menu to be filled in by the user and then transmitted to the card provider.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |