CA2440502A1 - Electronic mail - Google Patents
Electronic mail Download PDFInfo
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- CA2440502A1 CA2440502A1 CA002440502A CA2440502A CA2440502A1 CA 2440502 A1 CA2440502 A1 CA 2440502A1 CA 002440502 A CA002440502 A CA 002440502A CA 2440502 A CA2440502 A CA 2440502A CA 2440502 A1 CA2440502 A1 CA 2440502A1
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- Prior art keywords
- template
- sender
- data
- location
- new subscriber
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/06—Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
- H04L51/063—Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
Abstract
A method of transmitting an electronic message composing at a sender location an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data; sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding respectively to a plurality of message senders; each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender;
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location; sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data; employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location; sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data; employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
Description
ELECTRONIC MAIL
The present invention relates to electronic mail and is useful, in particular, for e-mail incorporating images.
Conventional e-mail messaging has the disadvantage that the e-mail messages which appear on a recipient's screen are in text format only and, therefore, lack attractive visual information which can be incorporated in a graphical images.
It has been previously proposed to transmit messages via the Internet which incorporate graphical information and display images on the recipient's screen. This has the disadvantage that the graphical information may be very large in size and may cause various problems for those that receive it. For example, a recipient's e-mail box may be filled to its maximum, thus rendering it unusable until e-mail including a large image file has been deleted. Another danger is that the e-mail may be automatically rejected by a recipient's e-mail software program as being too large to handle, in which case the e-mail will not reach the intended recipient.
Attempts have previously been made to address this e-mail size problem by compressing and/or manipulating the graphics in other ways to reduce the file size of the graphical component of an e-mail message.
For example, United States Patent Application No. 2002/0029250 discloses a method and apparatus for distributing computer-enhanced artwork for use in electronic messaging which can create and distribute electronic stationery incorporating a computer-enhanced logo. First, a customer can register to access the host artwork distribution system.
Following registration, the customer can provide a logo or other artwork to the host system. The logo can be combined with a marketing logo. Preferably, the marketing logo is a graphically anchored hyperlink to the host artwork distribution system. The combined logo can be resized and 3 optimized for transmission in a data communications network. Subsequently, the combined logo can be embedded into e-mail stationery. The e-mail stationery then can be distributed to the customer whose e-mail client can be automatically configured to cause the e-mail stationery to be combined with subsequent electronic messages.
This prior method and apparatus, however, have the disadvantage that the e-mail stationery, and the software required to combine the e-mail stationery with subsequent electronic messages, has to be installed on the recipient's computer, which requires relatively large files to be stored on the recipient's computer.
The present invention provides a method of transmitting an electronic message, which comprises composing, at a sender location, an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data, sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding, respectively, to a plurality of message senders, each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender, employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender, sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data, employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient and combining the downloaded graphical data file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
Therefore, the template and the graphical data are not stored in the sender's or recipient's computer but, instead, are stored in the messaging service location. When the electronic message is sent to the recipient, the template, together with the initial message and the placeholder/s associated with the sender, are sent to the recipient's computer, without the graphical data, and the graphical data is only uploaded from the messaging service location when the electronic message is opened at the recipient's computer.
A new subscriber is required to initially register by signing up for a messaging service employing the present invention.. This signing up is effected in a conventional manner by making a payment by credit card" and the new subscriber is then confirmed by e-mail, with a user name and a password, to the new subscriber from the service..
To create a customized template for a new subscriber, so that the new subscriber can subsequently function as the message sender, the new subscriber sends its user name and password to the messaging service location. The new subscriber then employs the Web page to store, at the messaging service location, graphical data specific to that subscriber. This graphical data may, for example, comprises a portrait of the new subscriber and a company logo. In addition, the Web page may also be employed to store, at the messaging service location, text data, for example an address and telephone numbers, and also an electronic signature, of the subscriber.
The graphical data is stored as a data file, and a customized copy template specific to the new subscriber is created, the text data being incorporated in this copy template.
In addition, the template is provided with at least one placeholder identifying the data file.
This template is then stored at the messaging service location with a plurality of other templates specific to the other subscribers.
The graphical data may be provided by the new subscriber and sent, by e-mail or otherwise, to the messaging service location.
Alternatively, the new subscriber may select the graphical data, e.g. a business logo, from any one of a number of graphic files stored at the messaging service location.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the template specific to the new subscriber is created as a specific or customized copy of a template which is common to all of the subscribers, and the creation of this template copy includes the step of automatic re-sizing of an image provided by the new subscriber.
Also, the adaptation of the common template to the new subscriber may include generating an automatic signature for the new subscriber if the new subscriber does not provide a signature, this signature being added to the new subscriber's template.
The images are all resident on a central Web server and therefore the sizes of the e-mail messages are kept extremely small. Only recipients that are on line see the full templated e-mail.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the customized templates, i.e. the copies of the common template which are specific to respective subscribers, are dynamically generated into HTML pages with tags calling for text and images. The images are stored in home directories each of which is associated with a respective one of the subscribers, and the e-mailing is effected using SMTP to send HTML-formatted e-mail.
The present invention will more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows an e-mail message generated by a method embodying the present invention:
Figure 2 shows a registration form to be completed by a new subscriber;
Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates the registration of a new subscribers by uploading data from the new subscriber's Web browser to a messaging service location;
Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates the sending of an e-mail message to a recipient via the messaging service location; and Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates the reception of the e-mail The embodiment of the present invention which is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings relates to a method of generating e-mail which is particularly designed and adapted for use by realtors as subscribers. It is, however, to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to use by realtors but may, for example, be used by any other profession, business, individual, group, team or commercial enterprise.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, which illustrates an e-mail message generated in accordance with the present invention for a realtor named Linda Noton, as it 1 S appears on a recipient's screen, it will be seen that this message incorporates a text message indicated generally by reference numeral 10, a signature indicated generally by reference numeral 12, a portrait 14 of the realtor, an area 16 including the name of the realtor and a slogan, an e-mail address 18, a Web site address 20, a logo 22, and the name, address, telephone number, etc. of the realtor, indicated by reference numeral 26.
As will be apparent, this e-mail message incorporates a substantial amount of graphical information which is in addition to the text message and which would not appear in a conventional e-mail message.
In order to be able to send an e-mail such as that shown in Figure 1, the realtor is required to register as a new subscriber of an e-mail messaging service and to receive by e-mail from the messaging service a confirmation of the subscriber's username and password.. The new subscriber can then use this username and password to access the Mets and the messaging service so as to firstly to download onto his or her computer, from a central location or messaging service location, a registration or sign-up form indicated generally by reference numeral 28 in Figure 2. This form is for use in setting up a template which, as described in greater detail below, is customized to that new subscriber.
Using the form 28, the new subscriber firstly enters business information, i.e. the name and address 26, the e-mail address 18 and the website address 20, in text boxes indicated generally by reference numeral 30.
In the next step, in order to insert the logo 22 into the template, the new subscriber either clicks on a button 31 entitled "Search for Your LOGO" and then selects one of a plurality of logos stored as image files at a messaging service server or alternatively clicks on a button 32 and then uploads an image file from the new subscriber's computer for addition to the template.
Next, to add the portrait 14, the new subscriber either clicks on a button 33 entitled "Upload Your PHOTO!" and uploads an image file containing the portrait from the subscriber's computer or, by clicking on a button 34 entitled "Just mail it to Us", indicates that a photographic portrait will be mailed to the messaging service.
The new subscriber then likewise either clicks on a button 25 entitled "Upload Your SIGNATURE!" and uploads an image file containing the signature 12 or, by clicking on a button 36 entitled "Just Mail it to Us", indicates that a copy of the signature will be mailed to the messaging service.
The new subscriber can then click on a button 37 to preview the template, which will appear on the new subscriber's screen without the text message 10, and, if all is in order, can confirm by an ORDER button 38.
_7_ Referring now to Figure 3, which shows a flow chart diagrammatically illustrating the creation or updating of a customized copy template, reference numeral 40 indicates generally a personal computer of the subscriber, which may optionally be provided with a store 42 containing a plurality of graphic files. The subscriber firstly accesses a computer, indicated generally by reference 44, and it's Web server 46, which are located at a messenger service location remote from the new subscribers computer 40, through the Internet, using the subscriber's user name and password.
The form illustrated in Figure 2 is then opened in the subscribers computer 40, and the subscriber completes this form, as described above, to provide to the messaging service location the information required for registering the new subscriber.
More particularly, at step 50, the subscriber accesses the messaging service server 46 and the user name and password of the new subscriber are checked. In step 54, the subscriber is then allowed to access the messaging service system, and in step 56 the creation or updating of a customized template for the subscriber is enabled.
The text information entered by the subscriber in the form illustrated in Figure 2, as described above, is then entered and saved in step 58 and a correspondingly customized the template is saved in a subscribers template store 49 in step 60. The saving of the subscriber's textual information is then confirmed in step 62, after which, if the subscriber has selected buttons 32, 33 and 35, in step 64, graphic files selected by the new subscriber from the graphics file store 42 are sent in step 66 by e-mail to the computer 44 at the messaging service location, and are saved in a graphics file store 67 in step 68.
Alternatively, if the subscriber, by pressing button 31 at step 70, elects to employ a graphic file stored at the message service server 46, the selected graphic file is uploaded in step 72.
In either case, at step 74 the creation of the subscribers customized template is complete.
- g -The customized template may be created initially in this way. At a later time, the subscriber may wish to update the information associated with the subscriber's template.
This can be effected in a manner similar to that described above in connection with Figure 3.
Referring now to Figure 4, which is a flowchart illustrating the sending of an e-mail message from the subscriber's computer 40, the sender firstly keys into the subscribers computer 40 the text message indicated in Figure 1 by reference numeral 10, together with the address of a recipient in step 80, and transmits this information, in step 82, by SMTP as a plain text e-mail message through the Internet to the messaging service server 46, which then intercepts this e-mail message in step 84, identifies the subscriber in step 86 and locates and copies the subscriber's template in step 88, including at least one placeholder for the subscriber's graphical data, as a template copy 83. In step 90, the e-mail is parsed to obtain the subject and message body content, which are then inserted into the template copy 83 in step 92.
1 S Next, "sent from"and "reply to" e-mail addresses are applied to this template copy in step 94, and the template copy 83 is then forwarded to the recipient via SMPT at step 96, and at step 98 the e-mail has been sent.
Figure 5 shows, by way of example, a flowchart illustrating the reception of the e-mail, with the personal computers of four potential recipients indicated generally by reference numerals 101, 102, 103 and 104, which are each connected to the Internet. When the e-mail is received by one of these recipients, in step 106, it can be opened as a customized copy template in step 108. The sender's graphic files on then retrieved by the placeholders in the thus-opened copy template, from the messaging service server 46 in step 110 and they are added to the customized copy template in step 112 and appear in step 114 on the recipient's display.
More particularly, the sender's template, as received by the recipient, does not include the graphic information saved in the above-described manner by the subscriber, but only includes placeholders corresponding to this graphic information. When the e-mail is opened by the recipient, these placeholders send a request to the messaging service server 46, through the Internet, to retrieve the corresponding graphics into the sender's template by HTTP from the messaging service server 46. These graphics are then received by the e-mail display of the recipient and appear to the recipient to be embedded as part of the e-mail display in a manner which is completely transparent to the recipient and which is only restricted by the speed of the Internet connection between the messaging service server 46 and the recipient's computer 101 - 104.
Figure 5 also diagrammatically illustrates four other potential recipients, indicated generally by reference numerals 120, 121, 122 and 123, which are not connected to the Internet. When these recipients receive the e-mail sent from the messaging service server 46, at step 124, the e-mail opened by the recipients in step 126 and displayed on the displays of these recipients in step 128 contains all aspects of the letterhead in the template of the sender, but without any graphics.
The above-described method according to the present invention for sending electronic messages, or e-mail, has a number of advantages, in comparison to prior art methods. In particular, the present invention does not require the use of file compression to minimize the size of e-mails sent to a recipient and, consequently, the present invention does not require either compressed files or large file sizes to be sent to a recipient.
Instead, the present invention employs basic file formats which are readily available and, instead ofincorporating graphics into the e-mail, the present invention requires only placeholders to be included in the e-mail, which when the e-mail is opened by the recipient caused the graphics to be uploaded from the messaging service server 46 to the recipients display. Since the present invention does not require specialized software to be installed on the recipient's computer, the method according to the present invention can be utilized from any computer, either via the Internet or by setting up an account on that computer's e-mail client. The present method employs a Web based application, which is used by the subscriber to customize the subscribers template. The only manipulation of the graphics is of the graphic size, in order to ensure that it fits within the template. Also, by the present method, each time an e-mail is sent, there is an interaction with the messaging service and all processing of the e-mail is effected at the messaging service server 46 and not at the sender or the recipient.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications may be made to the about-described method within the scope of the appended claims.
The present invention relates to electronic mail and is useful, in particular, for e-mail incorporating images.
Conventional e-mail messaging has the disadvantage that the e-mail messages which appear on a recipient's screen are in text format only and, therefore, lack attractive visual information which can be incorporated in a graphical images.
It has been previously proposed to transmit messages via the Internet which incorporate graphical information and display images on the recipient's screen. This has the disadvantage that the graphical information may be very large in size and may cause various problems for those that receive it. For example, a recipient's e-mail box may be filled to its maximum, thus rendering it unusable until e-mail including a large image file has been deleted. Another danger is that the e-mail may be automatically rejected by a recipient's e-mail software program as being too large to handle, in which case the e-mail will not reach the intended recipient.
Attempts have previously been made to address this e-mail size problem by compressing and/or manipulating the graphics in other ways to reduce the file size of the graphical component of an e-mail message.
For example, United States Patent Application No. 2002/0029250 discloses a method and apparatus for distributing computer-enhanced artwork for use in electronic messaging which can create and distribute electronic stationery incorporating a computer-enhanced logo. First, a customer can register to access the host artwork distribution system.
Following registration, the customer can provide a logo or other artwork to the host system. The logo can be combined with a marketing logo. Preferably, the marketing logo is a graphically anchored hyperlink to the host artwork distribution system. The combined logo can be resized and 3 optimized for transmission in a data communications network. Subsequently, the combined logo can be embedded into e-mail stationery. The e-mail stationery then can be distributed to the customer whose e-mail client can be automatically configured to cause the e-mail stationery to be combined with subsequent electronic messages.
This prior method and apparatus, however, have the disadvantage that the e-mail stationery, and the software required to combine the e-mail stationery with subsequent electronic messages, has to be installed on the recipient's computer, which requires relatively large files to be stored on the recipient's computer.
The present invention provides a method of transmitting an electronic message, which comprises composing, at a sender location, an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data, sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding, respectively, to a plurality of message senders, each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender, employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender, sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data, employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient and combining the downloaded graphical data file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
Therefore, the template and the graphical data are not stored in the sender's or recipient's computer but, instead, are stored in the messaging service location. When the electronic message is sent to the recipient, the template, together with the initial message and the placeholder/s associated with the sender, are sent to the recipient's computer, without the graphical data, and the graphical data is only uploaded from the messaging service location when the electronic message is opened at the recipient's computer.
A new subscriber is required to initially register by signing up for a messaging service employing the present invention.. This signing up is effected in a conventional manner by making a payment by credit card" and the new subscriber is then confirmed by e-mail, with a user name and a password, to the new subscriber from the service..
To create a customized template for a new subscriber, so that the new subscriber can subsequently function as the message sender, the new subscriber sends its user name and password to the messaging service location. The new subscriber then employs the Web page to store, at the messaging service location, graphical data specific to that subscriber. This graphical data may, for example, comprises a portrait of the new subscriber and a company logo. In addition, the Web page may also be employed to store, at the messaging service location, text data, for example an address and telephone numbers, and also an electronic signature, of the subscriber.
The graphical data is stored as a data file, and a customized copy template specific to the new subscriber is created, the text data being incorporated in this copy template.
In addition, the template is provided with at least one placeholder identifying the data file.
This template is then stored at the messaging service location with a plurality of other templates specific to the other subscribers.
The graphical data may be provided by the new subscriber and sent, by e-mail or otherwise, to the messaging service location.
Alternatively, the new subscriber may select the graphical data, e.g. a business logo, from any one of a number of graphic files stored at the messaging service location.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the template specific to the new subscriber is created as a specific or customized copy of a template which is common to all of the subscribers, and the creation of this template copy includes the step of automatic re-sizing of an image provided by the new subscriber.
Also, the adaptation of the common template to the new subscriber may include generating an automatic signature for the new subscriber if the new subscriber does not provide a signature, this signature being added to the new subscriber's template.
The images are all resident on a central Web server and therefore the sizes of the e-mail messages are kept extremely small. Only recipients that are on line see the full templated e-mail.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the customized templates, i.e. the copies of the common template which are specific to respective subscribers, are dynamically generated into HTML pages with tags calling for text and images. The images are stored in home directories each of which is associated with a respective one of the subscribers, and the e-mailing is effected using SMTP to send HTML-formatted e-mail.
The present invention will more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows an e-mail message generated by a method embodying the present invention:
Figure 2 shows a registration form to be completed by a new subscriber;
Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates the registration of a new subscribers by uploading data from the new subscriber's Web browser to a messaging service location;
Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates the sending of an e-mail message to a recipient via the messaging service location; and Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates the reception of the e-mail The embodiment of the present invention which is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings relates to a method of generating e-mail which is particularly designed and adapted for use by realtors as subscribers. It is, however, to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to use by realtors but may, for example, be used by any other profession, business, individual, group, team or commercial enterprise.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, which illustrates an e-mail message generated in accordance with the present invention for a realtor named Linda Noton, as it 1 S appears on a recipient's screen, it will be seen that this message incorporates a text message indicated generally by reference numeral 10, a signature indicated generally by reference numeral 12, a portrait 14 of the realtor, an area 16 including the name of the realtor and a slogan, an e-mail address 18, a Web site address 20, a logo 22, and the name, address, telephone number, etc. of the realtor, indicated by reference numeral 26.
As will be apparent, this e-mail message incorporates a substantial amount of graphical information which is in addition to the text message and which would not appear in a conventional e-mail message.
In order to be able to send an e-mail such as that shown in Figure 1, the realtor is required to register as a new subscriber of an e-mail messaging service and to receive by e-mail from the messaging service a confirmation of the subscriber's username and password.. The new subscriber can then use this username and password to access the Mets and the messaging service so as to firstly to download onto his or her computer, from a central location or messaging service location, a registration or sign-up form indicated generally by reference numeral 28 in Figure 2. This form is for use in setting up a template which, as described in greater detail below, is customized to that new subscriber.
Using the form 28, the new subscriber firstly enters business information, i.e. the name and address 26, the e-mail address 18 and the website address 20, in text boxes indicated generally by reference numeral 30.
In the next step, in order to insert the logo 22 into the template, the new subscriber either clicks on a button 31 entitled "Search for Your LOGO" and then selects one of a plurality of logos stored as image files at a messaging service server or alternatively clicks on a button 32 and then uploads an image file from the new subscriber's computer for addition to the template.
Next, to add the portrait 14, the new subscriber either clicks on a button 33 entitled "Upload Your PHOTO!" and uploads an image file containing the portrait from the subscriber's computer or, by clicking on a button 34 entitled "Just mail it to Us", indicates that a photographic portrait will be mailed to the messaging service.
The new subscriber then likewise either clicks on a button 25 entitled "Upload Your SIGNATURE!" and uploads an image file containing the signature 12 or, by clicking on a button 36 entitled "Just Mail it to Us", indicates that a copy of the signature will be mailed to the messaging service.
The new subscriber can then click on a button 37 to preview the template, which will appear on the new subscriber's screen without the text message 10, and, if all is in order, can confirm by an ORDER button 38.
_7_ Referring now to Figure 3, which shows a flow chart diagrammatically illustrating the creation or updating of a customized copy template, reference numeral 40 indicates generally a personal computer of the subscriber, which may optionally be provided with a store 42 containing a plurality of graphic files. The subscriber firstly accesses a computer, indicated generally by reference 44, and it's Web server 46, which are located at a messenger service location remote from the new subscribers computer 40, through the Internet, using the subscriber's user name and password.
The form illustrated in Figure 2 is then opened in the subscribers computer 40, and the subscriber completes this form, as described above, to provide to the messaging service location the information required for registering the new subscriber.
More particularly, at step 50, the subscriber accesses the messaging service server 46 and the user name and password of the new subscriber are checked. In step 54, the subscriber is then allowed to access the messaging service system, and in step 56 the creation or updating of a customized template for the subscriber is enabled.
The text information entered by the subscriber in the form illustrated in Figure 2, as described above, is then entered and saved in step 58 and a correspondingly customized the template is saved in a subscribers template store 49 in step 60. The saving of the subscriber's textual information is then confirmed in step 62, after which, if the subscriber has selected buttons 32, 33 and 35, in step 64, graphic files selected by the new subscriber from the graphics file store 42 are sent in step 66 by e-mail to the computer 44 at the messaging service location, and are saved in a graphics file store 67 in step 68.
Alternatively, if the subscriber, by pressing button 31 at step 70, elects to employ a graphic file stored at the message service server 46, the selected graphic file is uploaded in step 72.
In either case, at step 74 the creation of the subscribers customized template is complete.
- g -The customized template may be created initially in this way. At a later time, the subscriber may wish to update the information associated with the subscriber's template.
This can be effected in a manner similar to that described above in connection with Figure 3.
Referring now to Figure 4, which is a flowchart illustrating the sending of an e-mail message from the subscriber's computer 40, the sender firstly keys into the subscribers computer 40 the text message indicated in Figure 1 by reference numeral 10, together with the address of a recipient in step 80, and transmits this information, in step 82, by SMTP as a plain text e-mail message through the Internet to the messaging service server 46, which then intercepts this e-mail message in step 84, identifies the subscriber in step 86 and locates and copies the subscriber's template in step 88, including at least one placeholder for the subscriber's graphical data, as a template copy 83. In step 90, the e-mail is parsed to obtain the subject and message body content, which are then inserted into the template copy 83 in step 92.
1 S Next, "sent from"and "reply to" e-mail addresses are applied to this template copy in step 94, and the template copy 83 is then forwarded to the recipient via SMPT at step 96, and at step 98 the e-mail has been sent.
Figure 5 shows, by way of example, a flowchart illustrating the reception of the e-mail, with the personal computers of four potential recipients indicated generally by reference numerals 101, 102, 103 and 104, which are each connected to the Internet. When the e-mail is received by one of these recipients, in step 106, it can be opened as a customized copy template in step 108. The sender's graphic files on then retrieved by the placeholders in the thus-opened copy template, from the messaging service server 46 in step 110 and they are added to the customized copy template in step 112 and appear in step 114 on the recipient's display.
More particularly, the sender's template, as received by the recipient, does not include the graphic information saved in the above-described manner by the subscriber, but only includes placeholders corresponding to this graphic information. When the e-mail is opened by the recipient, these placeholders send a request to the messaging service server 46, through the Internet, to retrieve the corresponding graphics into the sender's template by HTTP from the messaging service server 46. These graphics are then received by the e-mail display of the recipient and appear to the recipient to be embedded as part of the e-mail display in a manner which is completely transparent to the recipient and which is only restricted by the speed of the Internet connection between the messaging service server 46 and the recipient's computer 101 - 104.
Figure 5 also diagrammatically illustrates four other potential recipients, indicated generally by reference numerals 120, 121, 122 and 123, which are not connected to the Internet. When these recipients receive the e-mail sent from the messaging service server 46, at step 124, the e-mail opened by the recipients in step 126 and displayed on the displays of these recipients in step 128 contains all aspects of the letterhead in the template of the sender, but without any graphics.
The above-described method according to the present invention for sending electronic messages, or e-mail, has a number of advantages, in comparison to prior art methods. In particular, the present invention does not require the use of file compression to minimize the size of e-mails sent to a recipient and, consequently, the present invention does not require either compressed files or large file sizes to be sent to a recipient.
Instead, the present invention employs basic file formats which are readily available and, instead ofincorporating graphics into the e-mail, the present invention requires only placeholders to be included in the e-mail, which when the e-mail is opened by the recipient caused the graphics to be uploaded from the messaging service server 46 to the recipients display. Since the present invention does not require specialized software to be installed on the recipient's computer, the method according to the present invention can be utilized from any computer, either via the Internet or by setting up an account on that computer's e-mail client. The present method employs a Web based application, which is used by the subscriber to customize the subscribers template. The only manipulation of the graphics is of the graphic size, in order to ensure that it fits within the template. Also, by the present method, each time an e-mail is sent, there is an interaction with the messaging service and all processing of the e-mail is effected at the messaging service server 46 and not at the sender or the recipient.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications may be made to the about-described method within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (8)
1. A method of registering a new subscriber in an electronic messaging system, which comprises the steps of:-sending a new subscriber identity and password from the new subscriber to a messaging service location to open a Web page for the new subscriber;
using the Web page to store at the messaging service location graphical data specific to the new subscriber;
storing the graphical data as a data file;
creating a template specific to the new subscriber;
adding to the template a placeholder identifying the data file; and storing the template with a plurality of other templates specific to other subscribers.
using the Web page to store at the messaging service location graphical data specific to the new subscriber;
storing the graphical data as a data file;
creating a template specific to the new subscriber;
adding to the template a placeholder identifying the data file; and storing the template with a plurality of other templates specific to other subscribers.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes composing text data specific to the new subscriber, transmitting the text data to the messaging service location after creating the template specific to the new subscriber, and storing the text data in the template.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the step of using the Web page to store the graphical data includes sending the graphical data from the new subscriber to the messaging service location, storing the graphical data as a graphical data file and adding to the template a placemaker identifying the graphical data file.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the step of using the Web page to store graphical data comprises selecting a graphical data file from a plurality of graphical data files stored at the messaging service location and adding to the template a placemarker identifying the selected graphical data file.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes sending the new subscriber identity and password to the messaging service location, after the creation of the template and the storing of the graphical data, to open an update Web page, and using the update Web page to replace the stored graphical data.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the step of creating template comprises copying an existing master template and adding to the copy data identifying the new subscriber.
7. A method of transmitting an electronic message, which comprises the steps of -composing at a sender location an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data;
sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding respectively to a plurality of message senders;
each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender;
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location;
sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data;
employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding respectively to a plurality of message senders;
each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender;
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location;
sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data;
employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
8. A method of operating an electronic mail system, which includes the steps of :-registering a new subscriber in an electronic messaging system by sending a new subscriber identity and password from the new subscriber to a messaging service location to open a Web page for the new subscriber; using the Web page to store at the messaging service location graphical data specific to the new subscriber; storing the graphical data as a data file; creating a template specific to the new subscriber; adding to the template a placeholder identifying the data file; and storing the template with a plurality of other templates specific to other subscribers;
and transmitting an electronic message by composing at a sender location an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data; sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding respectively to a plurality of message senders; each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender;
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location; sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data; employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
and transmitting an electronic message by composing at a sender location an initial message containing sender identification data, recipient identification data and text data; sending the initial message from the sender location to a messaging service location at which are stored a plurality of templates and graphical data files corresponding respectively to a plurality of message senders; each of the templates containing at least one placeholder corresponding to the respective message sender;
employing the sender identification data to select that one of the templates which corresponds to the message sender at the sender location; sending the selected template and the initial message to a recipient location identified by the recipient identification data; employing the placeholder in the selected template to download the respective graphical data file to the recipient; and combining the downloaded graphical file and the initial message as a display containing graphical and text information at the recipient location.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002440502A CA2440502A1 (en) | 2003-09-11 | 2003-09-11 | Electronic mail |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002440502A CA2440502A1 (en) | 2003-09-11 | 2003-09-11 | Electronic mail |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2440502A1 true CA2440502A1 (en) | 2005-03-11 |
Family
ID=34230754
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002440502A Abandoned CA2440502A1 (en) | 2003-09-11 | 2003-09-11 | Electronic mail |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2440502A1 (en) |
-
2003
- 2003-09-11 CA CA002440502A patent/CA2440502A1/en not_active Abandoned
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