MXPA00002995A - Messaging application having a plurality of interfacing capabilities - Google Patents

Abstract

A messaging application is provided for use in a user communications device having a processor controlling a display and a user input device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different types of electronic messages. The messaging application includes a mail provider program operated by the processor. The mail provider program includes a mail provider module for automatically controlling the transmittal and/or receipt of electronic messages by a user accessing the display and the user input device, a mail source module operatively associated with the mail provider module for receiving of electronic messages including a plurality of mail source protocols each associated with a different mail service provider, and a mail sink module operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting of electronic messages including a plurality of mail sink protocols each associated with a different mail service provider. The mail source module selecting one of the mail source protocols for controlling the receipt of incoming electronic mail messages to the mail provider module based on the mail service provider from which the electronic message is received. The mail sink module selecting one of the mail sink protocols for controlling the transmission of the outgoing electronic message from the mail provider module based on select criteria.

Description

APPLICATION OF MESSAGING THAT HAS A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTION CAPACITIES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards e-mail resources and more particularly to a messaging application for transmitting and receiving e-mail items in various formats. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the current business world, communications for email resources such as email, fax mail, voice mail, etc., are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, several communications companies have seen a growing market in this industry and have configured systems for the transmission of email items. These companies will be referred to below as "mail service providers". In general, a user opens an account with the mail service provider (s) of their choice. The user then receives software (software) from the mail service provider that the user must upload to their computer in order for the computer to interconnect, ie receive and transmit email items, with the mail server used by the provider of mail service. The user also receives a address or "mailbox" within the mail service provider's network in which e-mail items addressed to the user are received and stored. When a user wishes to send an email message, the user must access the software or program of the appropriate mail service provider. The user can then send the message to a desired destination through the network of the selected mail service provider. If the user has more than one account with mail service providers, the user must manually choose which mail service provider to use to transmit the email message. Since there are numerous mail service providers in the market today, various discounts can be offered in order to attract the business. A user who manually chooses a first mail service provider to transmit an email message may not be aware that a second or third mail service provider offers a drastically reduced rate at that particular time. In addition, the user may also be unaware that the mail service provider is experiencing a high volume of traffic that may delay the transmission of electronic mail.

When receiving email messages, a user must register with the appropriate email service provider and verify the mailbox that is provided to the user by the particular mail service provider. The user can then retrieve the message from the mailbox and see the message. If the user has more than one account with mail service providers, the user must manually access each mailbox that is provided by each mail service provider. This is a consumer of time since the user has to register with each particular mail service provider in order to interconnect with the mailbox that is provided by the private mail service provider. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the aforementioned problems. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A messaging application is provided for use in a user communications device having a processor controlling a merchandiser and a user feeder device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different types of communications. emails. The messaging application includes a mail provider program that is operated by the processor. A mail provider module automatically controls the transmission and / or reception of electronic messages by a user accessing the merchandiser and the user feeding device. A mail source module is operatively associated with the mail provider module to receive electronic messages including a plurality of mail source protocols., each one associated with a different mail service provider. A mail collector module is operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting electronic messages, including a plurality of mail collector protocols, each associated with a different mail service provider. The mail source module selects one of the mail source protocols to control the reception of incoming e-mail messages to the mail provider module, based on which of the mail service providers the electronic message is received. The mail collector module chooses one of the mail collector protocols to control the transmission of the electronic mail message from the mail provider module based on the selected criteria. In another aspect of the present invention, the mail source module includes a mail source operatively associated with the mail provider module and an associated mail source protocol handler operatively with the mail source to receive electronic messages, including a plurality of mail source protocols, each associated with a different mail service provider. The main source protocol handler chooses one of the mail source protocols to control the reception of incoming e-mail messages to the mail provider module by means of the mail source based on which of the mail service providers the message is received. . In another aspect of the present invention, the mail collector module includes a mail collector protocol handler operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting electronic messages, including a plurality of mail collection protocols, each associated with a different provider. of mail service. The mail collector protocol handler chooses one of the mail collector protocols to control the transmission of outgoing email messages from the mail provider module based on selection criteria. A mail collector operatively associated with the mail collector protocol handler receives the outgoing e-mail message with the select mail collector protocol and transmits the outgoing e-mail message to a predetermined address by the mail service provider. mail associated with the select mail collector protocol. In another aspect of the present invention, the mail collector module transmits the outgoing e-mail message to the predetermined address via the mail service provider's network and transmits a notification signal to the display of the user's communications device, notifying to a user that the outgoing email message has been transmitted. In another aspect of the present invention, the source source module transmits the incoming e-mail message to the processor by the mail provider module and transmits a notification signal to the user communications device, notifying a user that a message of Email entry has been received. In another aspect of the present invention, the mail provider program further includes a mail filter module operatively associated with the mail provider module, including a plurality of different types of mail filters, wherein the mail filter module selects one. of mail filters to apply to the outgoing email message or of input, based on the type of outgoing or incoming email messages. In another aspect of the present invention, a business card agent associated with an assigned address in the processor is applied to the incoming or outgoing email message. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the assigned address includes an address accessed by a business card stored in the processor, wherein the business card agent is previously stored in the mail filter module upon receipt of the business card including the business card agent for the user communications device. In still another aspect of the present invention, the business card agent includes a filter. An object of the present invention is to provide a user communications device with an ability to interconnect with a plurality of mail servers used by different mail service providers, during the reception and transmission of email resource messages. A further objective of the present invention is to automatically provide the user communications device with the "best" provider of mail service to transmit a message of email resources. A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a user communications device with the ability to receive and send business cards including business card agents. Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the application, the drawings and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a user communications device that operates a messaging application that includes a mail provider program of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the messaging application; Figure 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating the method by which the mail provider program transmits e-mail resources from the user communications device; Figure 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating the method by which the mail provider program receives e-mail resources in the user communications device; Figure 5 is a block diagram of the mail collector module included in the mail provider program of the present invention; Figure 6 is a block diagram of the mail source module included in the mail provider program of the present invention; Figure 7 is a block diagram of the user communications device that includes a business card file for storing electronic business cards; Figure 8 is a process flow diagram illustrating the method by which the mail provider program uses a business card including a business card agent in the transmission of email resources from the user communications device, and Figure 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating the method by which the mail provider program uses a business card including a business card agent in receiving e-mail resources in the user communications device . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY An intelligent user communications device is generally illustrated at 10 in Figure 1. The user communications device 10 includes a processor 12, which accesses a memory 13, with the processor 12 that controls a display 14 and a user feeding device 16. The user communication device 10 also includes a communication terminal 18 for communicating externally, such as for transmitting and receiving different types of email messages via a telephone network 20. The communications terminal 18 can be cellular, PSTN or IRDA depending on the communications mode required by a user. According to this, the telephone network 20 can be a cellular network, PSTN network or IRDA. A messaging application referred to in 22 is stored in the memory 13. The messaging application 22 is accessible by a user of the user communications device 10, to effect the reception and / or transmission of various types of email messages by and / or of the user communications device 10. The messaging application 22 provides interconnection capabilities with various mail servers used by various mail service providers, to allow the reception / transmission of electronic mail messages by the mail communications device. user 10 The messaging application 22 includes a mail provider program referred to in 24 that provides the user communication device 10 with simple user interface capabilities for multiple mail servers. More specifically, the mail provider program 24 provides a user the flexibility to transmit and receive various types of email resources through various mail service providers, without having to manually register in each of the service providers of the mail service. individual mail With reference to Figure 2, the messaging application 22 is illustrated in more detail. Particularly, the user communication device 10 referred to as the "mail client" includes a user interface 25 and is operated by a user 36. The user 36 has a mailbox 50 for storing electronic mail. The mail provider program 24 can be written in Java and includes numerous modules functionally interconnected as described to implement the characteristics of the messaging application 22 relating to transmitting and receiving mail. The mail provider program 24 includes a mail provider module 32 operatively associated with the user interface 25, to automatically control the transmission and / or receiving electronic messages by a user 36 accessing the display 14 and a user feeding delay 16. A mail source module 26 is operatively associated with the mail provider module 32., to receive emails. A mail collector module 28 is operatively associated with the mail provider module 32 for transmitting e-mail messages. A mail filter module 30 functionally connects to the mail provider module 32 to provide appropriate filters for receiving mail or mail to be transmitted. Each of the modules 26, 28 and 30 are connected to external email resource networks by the communications terminal 18 and the telephony network 20, see Figure 1. The user 36 by the user feed device 16 and the exhibitor 14, generates a mail packet in the user communications device 10 and provides a command to "send mail", which transmits the mail packet to a waiting list of the mail provider 38. The user communications device 10 it also notifies the sending observer 40 that an email packet is being sent. Upon this notification, the sending observer 40, creates and adds an email event to a programmer 42, the observer of Shipment 40, essentially is the watchman to ensure that all outgoing mail packages are transmitted. When an email packet reaches the start of the waiting list, the mail provider module 32 passes the outgoing mail packet to the mail collector module 28. The mail collector module 28 includes a plurality of collector protocols (protocol- 1 - protocol-n), with each collector protocol that refers to a different mail server or mail service provider. These collector protocols may include, but are not limited to, SMS and SMCP protocols. Based on the various selection criteria, the mail collector module 28 chooses the appropriate collector protocol for the outgoing mail packet, applies it to the outbound mail packet and transmits the mail packet to the mail server selected from the mail provider. select mail service in the external email resource network via the communications terminal 18 and the telephony network 20. The selection of a collection protocol for the outgoing mail package can occur in one of three ways. First, a user can select the mail service provider to use in transmitting the mail package. The mail collector module 28 applies the appropriate collector protocol for the provider of Select mail service to the mail package and transmit the mail package. Second, a user can allow the mail provider program 24 to automatically choose an appropriate mail service provider. The mail provider program 24 negotiates with the various mail service providers with which the user has an account, and chooses the "best" to transmit the mail package. In deciding which mail service provider is "best" at that particular time, the mail provider program 24 sees various selection criteria such as, but not limited to, the type of mail package being sent, the availability of Each mail service provider, traffic in the mail service provider network at that particular time and the cost of sending the mail package. The third option is to make the mail provider program 24 see the same selection criteria as mentioned above but before transmitting the outgoing mail packet, allowing the user to see the various options by the display 14 and authorize the transmission. Since most business people have at least two mail service provider accounts, the mail provider program 24 of the present invention is particularly useful since It will analyze each mail service provider and determine the "best" available to transmit the outgoing mail package. After transmission of the outgoing mail packet, the mail collecting module 28 passes a notification signal to the sending observer 40, that the mail packet has been transmitted. The sending observer 40 in turn removes the mail item from the provider 42, and notifies the user 36 via a sending observer interface 44, that the mail packet has been transmitted. Now with reference to Figures 2 and 4, the receipt of email resources by the mail provider program 24, is as follows. The user communications device 10 can be conventionally programmed to periodically poll the mail servers of the mail service providers, with which the user 36 counts for a new mail. According to this, the mail source module 26 polls the mail server of each mail service provider with which the user 36 counts for new mail. If the new mail destined to the user 36 has been received in the mail server, the mail source module 26 receives the new mail from the mail server. The mail source module 26 includes a plurality of mail source protocols (protocol-1 - protocol-n) with each source protocol referring to a different mail server or mail service provider. These source protocols may include, but are not limited to, the FAX, ITAP, P0P3 protocols. MSS and SMTP. The mail source module 26 analyzes the incoming mail and determines the appropriate source protocol to apply based on the mail service provider, of which the message was required. The mail source module 26 applies the appropriate source protocol allowing the user communications device 10 to interconnect with the mail server from which the mail pack was retrieved. The mail source module 26 then sends the mail packet to the mail filter module 30. The mail filter module 30 determines which filter, if any, will have to be applied to the incoming mail packet. The mail filter module 30 applies the appropriate filter, sends the mail packet to the mail provider module 32 for temporary storage and creates a mail event to notify the observer of a notification 46 again mail. The various filters applied by the mail filter module 32 include, but are by no means intended to be limited to, encryption, decryption and auto-sending. The notification observer 46 provides a warning via a notification interface 48 to the user 36, that new mail has been received by the user communications device 10. The user 36 upon receiving this notification provides a command to "retrieve the mail". The mail provider module 32 upon receiving this command, stores the mail in the mailbox 50 to be accessible with the user 36. The mail provider program 24 of the present invention is particularly useful for people who have at least two provider accounts of mail service. The mail provider program 24 avoids the need to access and verify each mail server of each individual mail service provider account to receive email resources. The mail provider program 24, upon retrieving the mail, verifies the mail server of each mail service provider account for mail packets and applies the appropriate source protocol allowing the user communication device 10 to interface with the mail server. mail from which the mail package was retrieved. Also, with the mail provider program 24, a user does not have to think about which mail service provider to use when transmitting mail. The mail provider program 24 negotiates with each mail service provider, with which user has an account and is able to automatically choose the "best" provider of mail. mail service to use at that particular time, to transmit the outgoing mail package. The mail provider program 24 applies the appropriate collector protocol to the outgoing mail packet, allowing the user communications device 10 to interconnect with the mail server to which the mail packet is transmitted. As illustrated in Figure 5, the mail collector module 28 may include a mail collector protocol handler 52, operatively associated with a mail collector 54. The mail collector protocol handler 52 includes the plurality of mail collector protocols. mail (protocol-1 - protocol-n) each corresponding to a different provider of * mail service. The particular protocol for any mail service provider is designated by that provider. Based on the type of mail packet that is transmitted, the mail collector protocol handler negotiates with the various mail service providers with whom the user has an account. The mail collector protocol manager 52 chooses an appropriate mail service provider considering the same criteria as previously indicated, and applies the select collector protocol to the outgoing mail. The outgoing mail is sent to the mail collector 54 that transmits the mail to the network of the selected mail service provider. As illustrated in Figure 6, the mail source module 26 may include a mail source protocol handler 56 operatively associated with a mail source 58. The retrieved mail is received by the mail source protocol handler 56 which includes the mail source. plurality of mail source protocols (protocol-1-protocol-n) each corresponding to a different mail service provider. Depending on the type of mail received and the mail service provider from which it was received, the mail source protocol handler 56 applies the appropriate source protocol and sends the mail packet to the mail source 58. The mail source 58 transmits the incoming mail packet to the mail provider module 32, wherein it can be accessed and viewed by the user 36 of the user communication device 10. The present invention has particular utility when the user 36 of the user communications device 10 is using electronic business cards to receive or transmit mail. An electronic business card includes all the information on standard paper business cards currently used, stored in an appropriate site or directory within the user communication device 10. In addition to providing general information such as name of the person, company name, position, business address, work telephone number, fax number at work, email address, etc., e-mail cards also include other personal or business information and a greeting, if desired. A user can transmit his electronic business card then simply referred to as "business card", such as email to various companies and / or individuals. The transmission of a business card follows the same steps as illustrated in the process flow diagram of Figure 3. When creating the mail package, ie the business card, a user first creates the business card including all the desired information. The business card is then saved as an email attachment and sent as an email with an attachment to various desired sites. The receipt of a business card generally follows the same steps as illustrated in the process flow diagram of Figure 4. The only difference is that instead of the mail provider module 32 simply storing the mail package in the mailbox 50, mail provider module 32 determines whether the mail package contains a business card and if so, stores the business card in a business card file 60 (Figure 7). The business card file 60 is a form of an email address book. The business cards, generally shown at 62 in Figure 7, can include various agents or personal filters to the business card file. Filters or business card agents may include, but are not limited to, filters such as encryption, decryption, and auto submission. These various agents are used by the mail filter module 30 in the reception and transmission of email resources. With reference to Figures 7 and 8, the use of a business card in transmitting email resources is as follows. The user 36, by the user feed device 16 and the display 14, generates a mail packet in the user communication device 10. The user 36 then accesses the business card file 60 and chooses a person, by the business card 62 to whom the mail package is intended. The mail packet is then directed to the mail provider module 32 in the same manner as previously described with respect to the Figure 3. The mail module 32 sends the mail packet to the mail filter module 30. The mail filter module 30 applies the appropriate filter and / or the business card agent obtained from the business card 62 in the card file 60. The mail filter module 30 then sends the outgoing mail packet to the mail collector module 28, which transmits the outgoing mail packet in the same manner as previously described with respect to Figure 3 intended for the stored email address. Various information may be included in a business card 62 contained in the business card address file 60, the information of which is taken into account by the mail collector module 28 to transmit the outgoing mail packet. This information may include, but is not limited to, the type of mail the recipient wishes to receive at that particular time, the address at which the recipient wishes to receive the mail at that particular time, etc. For example let's say that the business card 62 includes an encryption agent, or "public key", the business card 62 is automatically added prior to the business card file of the user 60, together with other information contained in the business card. business 62. The public encryption key includes information Regarding what type of encryption or decryption algorithm will be used. Accordingly, when the business card 62 is accessed to transmit mail to the business card holder, the mail filter module 30 recognizes from the business card 62 that the business card holder wishes the mail the appropriate encryption algorithm is encrypted and applied before sending the mail packet to the mail collector module 28 to transmit it. The business cardholder or final recipient allegedly has a decryption key or "private key" to decrypt the received mail package. While public and private keys are mathematically related, the private decryption key can not be derived from the public encryption key. The encryption key is specific to the holder of the business card and can not be changed by the user 36 of the user communications device 10. Now with reference to Figure 9, the reception of a mail package that requires application of an agent of business card is as follows. The mail source module 26 polls, retrieves and sends new mail to the mail filter module 30 in the same way as previously described with respect to Figure 4. The mail filter module 30, upon receiving the mail, applies the appropriate filter and / or business card agent. The mail filter module 30 then sends the new mail to the mail provider module 32 in the same manner as previously described with respect to Figure 4. As an example, let's say that the mail packet of receipt is received from a sender whose business card 62 is stored in the business card file 60 and who for any reason, encrypts all sent messages. The business card of the sender 62 will contain a decryption business card agent, such that the incoming encrypted mail packet can be decrypted and understood by the user 36. Accordingly, the mail filter module 30 applies The decryption business card agent included in the business card 62 of the sender to decrypt the incoming mail package. Furthermore, the present invention allows a business cardholder whose business card 32 is stored in the business card file 60 of the user communication device 10, to update his business card 62. The business cardholder transmits an updated business card 62a, by email to the user communications device 10. The updated 62a business card is stored in the business card file 60 and is returns the new 62a business card for that particular business card holder. Updating a business card is particularly useful when a business cardholder knows that he will be at a different address than the one indicated on business card 62 and wants the mail to be sent to the different address. The business cardholder simply transmits an updated business card 62a with a new address to the user communications device 10. Accordingly, all mail sent to the business cardholder, through the updated 62a business card, It will be automatically sent to the updated address. While the invention has been described with particular reference to the drawings, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS 1.- In a user communications device having a processor controlling an exhibitor and a user feeder device, and a communication terminal for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different types of electronic messages, a message application is characterized in that it comprises: a mail provider program operated by the processor, the mail provider program includes: a mail provider module for automatically controlling the transmission and / or reception of electronic messages by a user accessing the display and power supply device; user, a mail source module operatively associated with the mail provider module to receive electronic messages that include a plurality of mail source protocols each associated with a different mail service provider, the mail source module selects one of the protocols mail source to control the reception of e-mail messages to the mail provider module based on the mail service provider from which the message is received, and a mail collector module operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting electronic messages including a plurality of protocols mail collectors, each associated with a different mail service provider, the mail collector module selects one of the mail collector protocols, to control the transmission of the electronic mail message from the mail provider module to a predetermined address based on selection criteria.
2. 2. The messaging application according to claim 1, characterized in that the mail collector module transmits the outgoing e-mail message to the predetermined address via the communication terminal and transmits a notification signal to a user that the message of outgoing email is transmitted.
3. 3. The messaging application according to claim 1, characterized in that the mail source module transmits the incoming e-mail message to the processor via the mail provider module and transmits a notification signal to a user that a message of Email entry has been received.
4. 4. The messaging application according to claim 1, characterized in that the mail provider program further comprises: a mail filter module operatively associated with the mail provider module including a plurality of different types of mail. mail filters, the mail filter module selects one of different types of mail filters to apply to the email message based on the type of email messages.
5. 5. - The messaging application according to claim 4, characterized in that it also comprises a business card agent associated with a predetermined address that is applied to the email message.
6. 6. The messaging application according to claim 5, characterized in that the business card agent comprises a mail filter.
7. 7. The messaging application according to claim 4, characterized in that the predetermined address comprises an address accessed by a business card stored in the processor, and wherein the select mail filter comprises a previously stored business card agent. in the mail filter module upon receipt of the business card including the business card agent by the user communications device.
8. 8. The messaging application according to claim 1, characterized in that the mail source module comprises: a mail source associated with the mail provider module for receiving messages electronic devices and a mail source protocol handler, operatively associated with the mail source to receive electronic messages including the plurality of mail source protocols, each associated with a different mail service provider, the mail source protocol handler selects one of the mail source protocols to control the reception of email messages entering the mail provider module by means of the mail source with base on the mail service provider from which the electronic message is received.
9. 9. The application of messages according to claim 1, characterized in that the mail collector module comprises: a mail collector protocol handler operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting electronic messages, including a plurality of mail collection protocols. mail, each associated with a different mail service provider, the mail collector protocol handler chooses one of the mail collector protocols to control the transmission of outgoing email messages from the mail provider module to a predetermined address with based on selection criteria; and a mail collector operatively associated with the mail collector protocol handler, which receives the outgoing e-mail message with the select mail collector protocol and transmits the outgoing e-mail message to the default address.
10. 10. Method for automatically controlling the reception of email messages from a plurality of different mail service providers by a user communications device, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: storing a plurality of mail source protocols , each associated with a different mail service provider, in the user communications device; operating the user communications device to retrieve mail from the plurality of different mail service providers; probing the plurality of different mail service providers for email messages; receiving an email message on the user communications device of one of the plurality of different mail service providers; upon receiving an email message, determining which of the plurality of mail service provider the email message was received; selecting a source protocol associated with the mail service provider from which the e-mail message is received with the received e-mail message; process the e-mail message with the selected source protocol; and storing the processed email message in a site in the user communications device accessible to a user.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of: analyzing the received e-mail message; determining which of a plurality of mail filters, if any, should be applied to the received email message; and apply an appropriate mail filter to the received email message.
12. 12. - The method according to claim 11, wherein the mail filter applied comprises a business card agent previously stored in the communications device, upon receipt of a business card including the business card agent by the device of user communications.
13. 13. - The method according to claim 10, characterized in that in the step of polling the plurality of different mail service providers for email messages comprises the steps of: receiving a command on the user communications device to recover email; probing a plurality of mail servers used by the plurality of mail service providers with which the user has an account for email messages; and retrieving email messages addressed to the user from the plurality of mail servers.
14. 14. A method for automatically controlling the transmission of email messages by a plurality of mail service providers by a user communications device, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: storing a plurality of mail collection protocols , each associated with a different mail service provider with which a user has an account, in the user communications device; operate the user communications device; create an email message on the user communications device intended for a selected address; analyze the plurality of mail service providers; select one of the mail service providers based on selection criteria; recover a collector protocol associated with the select mail service provider; process the email message with the select collector protocol; and transmit the processed email message to the selected address by the selected mail service provider.
15. 15. - The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of: analyzing the generated e-mail message; determining which of a plurality of mail filters to have, must be applied to the received email message; and apply an appropriate mail filter to the email message generated before transmission.
16. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the selected address comprises an address that is provided in a business card stored in the user communications device, and the appropriate mail filter comprises a business card agent. associated with the business card.
17. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that storing the business card agent in the user communication device, comprises the steps of: receiving a receiving a business card including a business card agent by the user communications device; locate the business card agent on the business card; assign a mail filter to the business card agent; and store the business card in a appropriate address in the user communications device accessible by a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A messaging application is provided for use in a user communications device having a processor controlling an exhibitor and a user feeder device, and a communications terminal for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different types of electronic messages. The messaging application includes a mail provider program that is operated by the processor. The mail provider program includes a mail provider module for automatically controlling the transmission and / or reception of electronic messages by a user accessing the merchandiser and the user feed device, a mail source module operatively associated with the provider module of mail. mail to receive electronic messages including a plurality of mail source protocols, each associated with a different mail service provider and a mail collector module operatively associated with the mail provider module for transmitting electronic messages including a plurality of mail collection protocols. mail, each one associated with a different mail service provider. The mail source module selects one of the mail source protocols to control the reception of mail messages 3 e electronic input to the mail provider module based on the mail service provider from which the electronic message is received. The mail collector module selects one of the mail collector protocols to control the transmission of the electronic output message from the mail provider module based on selection criteria. 18076