Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
  • H04L67/30—Profiles
  • H04L67/306—User profiles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
  • G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• • 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
  • H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
  • H04L51/224—Monitoring or handling of messages providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Definitions

• the present invention pertains to a system and method for signaling receipt of data on a visual display. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an automated system and method for receiving email and other internet information and displaying a notice of receipt of that information on a visual display vehicle. As such, the present invention allows downloading of email and other internet information, having a variety of protocols, without the need for user intervention. Background of the Invention There are various systems and methods for receiving email and other internet information.
• email and other information such as advertising is continually and automatically updated and displayed, using a screen saver or icon format, on a single computer screen or other display vehicle.
• the system is a combination of client software and server-side services to allow a client computer to automatically connect to an online service provider, and any number of independent content providers, and retrieve data, in the form of email and other information, to be displayed. Email notifications and advertising content is then displayed without end-user intervention.
• the system utilizes a computer, or other similar mechanism, commonly known in the art to be comprised of computer processors, storage units, software configurations or programs, and display vehicles.
• a computer processor commonly known in the art for processing data and information is utilized throughout the system.
• a first software configuration (or program) for creating and utilizing user information profiles to be used in the access of communication networks, is stored on a storage unit, one example of which is a computer hard drive.
• the user information profiles can contain a variety of information.
• the user information profile will contain information directed towards an Internet email account, which may include passwords for accessing the accounts and various security preferences.
• the communication networks accessed can be a variety of networks known in the art, one example of which is the World Wide Web.
• the communication networks can be comprised of a variety of Internet information service providers, such as America Online (AOL) .
• AOL America Online
• the system is capable of retrieving information that utilizes a variety of protocols, from the various service providers and communication networks.
• a protocol is commonly known by those skilled in the art as a set of standards that computers use to communicate with each other and to exchange information.
• One such example of a protocol is Post Office Protocol (or POP3) .
• POP3 Post Office Protocol
• the system also utilizes a transmission unit that is connected to the communication networks.
• the transmission unit can be any one of a variety of units known in the art for allowing computers to access the Internet, one example of which is a modem.
• the transmission unit allows the computer to transmit information to and from the computer and the communication networks, utilizing the user profile information contained in the first storage unit.
• a second storage unit such as a hard drive or portion of a hard drive, stores any information retrieved from the communication networks.
• a second software configuration (or program) automatically processes the information stored on the storage unit into a visual format, and displays the information on a display vehicle.
• the display vehicle can be one of any number of devices known in the art for displaying information from a computer processor, examples of which are a computer monitor, a television, or other similar device.
• the system is preconfigured by a user, or multiple users, with email account information. This account information includes which service providers each account is directed to, any appropriate passwords for accessing the accounts, and the manner in which the service providers are accessed.
• the system communicates with an information service provider, or if necessary establishes a connection to the service providers, for automated downloading of the email and other information previously configured, at predetermined intervals.
• the system displays rotating advertisements and indicates whether or not any of the configured email accounts have new messages on the screen saver or icon. This information is periodically updated at set intervals, so as to periodically update the information displayed on the screensaver or icon.
• the system enters a screen saver mode when the client computer is idle, and communicates with an information service provider, or if necessary establishes a connection to the service providers, for automated downloading of the email and other information previously configured. This connection occurs at predetermined intervals regardless of whether the system is in a screen saver mode.
• the system displays rotating advertisements and indicates whether or not any of the configured email accounts have new messages on the screen saver.
• This information is periodically updated at set intervals, so as to periodically update the information displayed on the screensaver.
• the system displays a notice of new email and information as an icon, rather than a full screen saver.
• the configuration process includes user security preferences that allow a user to determine what information displayed on the screensaver is accessible by other users.
• the security preferences can include but are not necessarily limited to displaying number of emails received, displaying subject fields of emails, and showing email information, wherein the email information is comprised of an email sender, a subject field, and a text field.
• FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the process used to retrieve email and other information from the various service providers.
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the overall execution of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the display cycle for displaying updated information on the screensaver.
• FIG. 6 is an example of a screen saver display that integrates the email and other information obtained from the various information service providers.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a flow diagram illustrating the configuration of the system to retrieve data from the information service providers. Each block in FIG. 1 identifies the operations required of a user to provide the information necessary for the present invention to perform its function of retrieving information from an information service provider.
• step (101) a user inputs email account information, comprising an email address, a user name, and email server information.
• the email account information is then stored on a local storage unit in step (102) .
• the user then inputs various security preferences and passwords in step (103) , which are stored on the local storage unit in step (104) .
• the process repeats in step (105) , until such time as all users have entered the appropriate information, wherein the configuration process ends in step (106) .
• FIG. 2 there is shown a flow diagram illustrating the automated connection process for connection to a communication network.
• the connection begins in step (201) , in which the system determines whether or not the connection method is an online service.
• step (202) If a NO result is obtained, indicating the system is not connected to the internet by an online service connection method, the system utilizes an OS-level networking to connect to the internet in step (202) . If a YES result is obtained, indicating an online service is the connection method, the system enters step (203) in which a user name and password is retrieved from the storage unit containing the information configured in steps (101-106) . The information retrieved in step (203) is then used in step (204) to use the exposed functionality of the online service to connect the modem to the online service and sign on.
• the exposed functionality of the online service provider is the means by which the online service provider allows access to its system, and is well known by those skilled in the art.
• the connection process is then completed in step (205) . Referring now to FIG.
• step (301) where the user email information previously configured in steps (101-106) is retrieved from the local storage unit described in step (102) .
• a determination is then made in step (302) as to whether or not the local system is connected to the appropriate network. If the determination is NO, then the system connects to the appropriate network in step (303) , disconnecting from the current network if necessary. If the determination is YES, then the system retrieves email in step (304) , from the accounts configured in steps (101-106) .
• User email security preferences, previously entered in step (103) are retrieved in step (305) .
• a notice of information received is then displayed in step (306) based on preferences entered in step (103) .
• step (401) a determination is made in step (401) as to the completion of an update interval since the last content update, wherein the content is data retrieved by the system from the information service providers.
• An update interval is a predetermined time interval that defines a time span in which the system is not retrieving data. When that time span has expired, the system repeats the necessary steps for retrieving data by communicating with the information service providers.
• the length of the time interval may be preconfigured into the software itself during manufacture, or set by the user. If the determination made in step (401) is NO, a further determination is made in step (402) as to whether the screen saver mode is enabled. If the determination of step (402) is NO, the system enters step (404) , wherein the system waits until one complete interval has passed before connecting to an online service provider or ISP in step (405) . If the determination of step (402) is YES, the display cycle is reset in step (403) , until such time as one complete interval has passed in step (404) .
• step (401) If the determination made in step (401) is YES, a connection is made in step (405) to an online service using OS networking or online service providers, as described in steps (201-205) . Promotional information, such as advertisements, news, weather, sports, or financial information, are then retrieved in step (406) , which are then stored in the local storage unit for use between updates in step (407) . All email accounts are then checked for new messages in step (408) , as described in steps (301-308) . A determination is then made in step (409) , as to whether any new messages are on the email server. If the determination is NO, then another determination is made in step (402) as to whether the screen saver mode is enabled.
• Promotional information such as advertisements, news, weather, sports, or financial information
• step (409) If the determination of step (409) is YES, the new messages are appended to a local inbox of the email account in step (410) .
• the system then disconnects from the online service provider in step (411) .
• FIG. 5 there is shown a flow diagram illustrating the cycle for displaying notice of received email and information.
• the cycle begins in step (501) wherein inbox icons for appropriate email accounts are updated according to information received in steps (301-308) .
• the icons are automatically updated by utilizing an appropriate program segment, or software configuration.
• Static of the display features, such as advertising banners are initialized in step (502) .
• the static features of the display are those features that do not change between update intervals, and can include information such as advertising banners or other information.
• a consecutive advertisement and display effect is selected in step (503) , which is subsequently displayed on the display vehicle in step (504) .
• the system waits, in step (505) until one complete interval has passed, described in steps (401- 411) , at which time step (506) repeats steps (503-505) .
• FIG. 6 there is shown an example of one embodiment of the screen saver display which integrates notice of email messages received (602) , advertisements (603) , and other information (604) .
• various email accounts are shown as icons (601) , which further comprise indications of user accounts (605) and recipients of email (606) .

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=27383756

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2000
  • 2000-04-07 EP EP00928142A patent/EP1192526A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-04-07 CA CA002366482A patent/CA2366482A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-04-07 WO PCT/US2000/009292 patent/WO2000062145A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2000-04-07 AU AU46421/00A patent/AU4642100A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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