WO2003098502A2 - Systeme de communications - Google Patents

Systeme de communications Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003098502A2
WO2003098502A2 PCT/GB2003/002205 GB0302205W WO03098502A2 WO 2003098502 A2 WO2003098502 A2 WO 2003098502A2 GB 0302205 W GB0302205 W GB 0302205W WO 03098502 A2 WO03098502 A2 WO 03098502A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
message
web server
website
communications system
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2003/002205
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2003098502A3 (fr
Inventor
Richard Read
Simon Bargate
Mark Jones
Michael Korecki
Ashley Chadwick
Original Assignee
Yates Web Marketing Limited
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yates Web Marketing Limited filed Critical Yates Web Marketing Limited
Priority to AU2003227962A priority Critical patent/AU2003227962A1/en
Publication of WO2003098502A2 publication Critical patent/WO2003098502A2/fr
Publication of WO2003098502A3 publication Critical patent/WO2003098502A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION 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
    • G06Q10/00Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10Office automation; Time management
    • G06Q10/107Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/21Monitoring or handling of messages
    • H04L51/224Monitoring or handling of messages providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a communications system, and particularly to a communications system which utilises the Internet.
  • Internet communications are conventionally sent using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) and/or using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). It is anticipated that other mobile Internet connection technologies will be used in the future, including the forthcoming IPV6 protocol.
  • TCP Transmission Control Protocol
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • WAP Wireless Application Protocol
  • an email message bearing the address of an intended recipient is sent from a user's computer to a mail server, and from the mail server onto the Internet.
  • the email message travels through the Internet to the mail server of the intended recipient.
  • a user may be a private subscriber to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Where this is the case, when he wishes to check his messages he connects his computer via a telephone link to the mail server of the ISP. The mail server will inform the user if he has any new email messages; the new email messages are downloaded onto the user's computer so that he may read them.
  • ISP Internet Service Provider
  • a user may be an employee of a company that has an intranet. Where this is the case, his computer may be connected during working hours via that intranet to a mail server. Whenever the mail server receives an email message addressed to the user, it sends the email message to the user's computer. If the email message is from another employee of the company, then the email will travel from the sender to the recipient via the intranet, and will not travel via the Internet. An email message from outside of the company will be received via the Internet.
  • Email messages may be sent and received from any suitable electronic device, for example it is possible to send email messages from mobile telephones using the Wireless Application Protocol.
  • a disadvantage of conventional Internet communication systems is that it is difficult to determine with certainty whether an electronic communication has reached its destination and has been opened by the intended recipient.
  • a first user of the website described in WOO 1/93069 may compose a message by logging onto the website and writing the message.
  • the user addresses the message to another user that is a member of the website.
  • the message does not pass via the Internet after it has been composed, but is retained at the website.
  • the second user logs onto the website, he is informed that he has a new message from the first user, and may open this message by selecting it at the website.
  • the message is displayed to the second user from the website.
  • the website retains data which indicates the date and time at which the message was opened. This information is accessible by the first user and may in addition be accessible to the second user. This means that the first user can determine whether the message has been opened, and if so when it was opened.
  • the website allows both parties to be assured of what messages have been read and when they were read. This is a significant advantage over conventional email systems, in which it may occasionally be the case that emails are lost in the Internet and never reach their intended recipient, so that the intended recipient is not aware that a message has been sent to him whereas the sender believes that the recipient has received the message.
  • a disadvantage of the website described in WO01/93069 is that it only allows communication between subscribers to the service provided by the website.
  • a web server hosting a website accessible via the Internet by first and second users, the web server being configured to receive message data from the first user and to retain the message data in a database, the web server further being configured to receive from the first user an email address of the second user and to send a notification email to the email address of the second user, wherein the notification email includes a hyperlink to the web server together with information relating to the location of the message data in the database, to allow the second user to access the message data by accessing the website via the hyperlink, the web server being configured to retain status information which relates to the message data.
  • the invention is advantageous because the second user is not required to register at the website in order to access the message data, yet the first user knows with certainty if the second user has accessed the message data.
  • the web server is configured to allow second user to access the message data without the second user being required to provide identification information.
  • the message data is displayed to the second user as a message page of the website.
  • the web server may be configured such that the second user cannot access other pages of the website starting from the message page of the website.
  • the web server may be configured such that the second user may access other pages of the website starting from the message page of the website, if the second user provides identification information.
  • the identification information may comprise an identifier and a password.
  • the identification information may comprise registration information, the server being configured to retain the registration information in a database.
  • the web server may be configured to allow the second user to compose a message addressed to the first user, the message being retained in a database to allow it to be accessed by the first user.
  • the web server may be configured to allow the second user to compose a message addressed to the first user, the message comprising a conventional email which is addressed to an email account of the first user.
  • the notification email identifies the first user.
  • the notification email identifies the subject matter of the message.
  • the status information retained by the web server comprises whether or not the message has been viewed by the second user.
  • the status information retained by the web server comprises the date and time upon which the message was opened by the second user.
  • the system may be arranged such that status information retained by the web server may be accessed only by the first user.
  • the system may be arranged such that the status information retained by the web server may be accessed by the first user or the second user.
  • a method of communication performed by a web server hosting a website accessible via the Internet by first and second users, the method comprising receiving message data from the first user and retaining the message data in a database, receiving from the first user an email address of the second user and sending a notification email to the email address of the second user, wherein the notification email includes a hyperlink to the web server together with information relating to the location of the message data in the database, to allow the second user to access the message data by accessing the website via the hyperlink, the method further comprising retaining status information which relates to the message data.
  • the second aspect of the invention may include preferred or alternative features of the first aspect of the invention.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the invention
  • Figures 2 to 8 are screen prints from a website which embodies the invention.
  • the Internet may be considered to be a cloud comprising many interconnections which carry data between computers.
  • the nature of the design of the Internet is such that there is no central entity or hub through which all data passes.
  • Data is broken into packets using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and is delivered to its destination via routers in accordance with an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
  • TCP Transmission Control Protocol
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • IPN6 Internet Protocol
  • a first user operates a computer 1 which is connected via a server 2 to the Internet 3.
  • a second user operates a second computer 2 which is connected via a second server 4 to the Internet 3.
  • a website which embodies the invention is set up on a website server 6.
  • the first user runs a known Web browser, for example Microsoft Internet Explorer (proprietary trademark), on his computer 1.
  • the first user enters the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the website server 6 into the Web browser, which transfers the request via a server 2 onto the Internet.
  • URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • the website server 6 sends the 'login' page of the website to the Web browser of the first computer 1 via the server 2.
  • the login page is shown in figure 2.
  • the first user may already be registered at the website. Where this is the case the first user enters his identification together with a password.
  • the user selects the 'logon' button, or presses the 'enter' key in order to log onto the website.
  • the first user If the first user has not previously registered at the website, he must provide information in order to do so. To register at the website, the first user selects the 'join POR' button. The first user is then presented with a web page which requests information, as shown in figure 3. h order to register, the first user is required to enter a password, a name and an email address. These are stored in a database. If any of these is not provided then the first user will not be registered at the website. In addition to the obligatory information, the first user may also provide additional optional information, for example postal address, telephone number, mobile telephone number and time zone. Once the first user has entered the obligatory information, and any of the optional information that the first user wishes to enter, the first user then selects the 'join POR' button.
  • the first user's details are saved at the website server 6, to allow the user to access the website at a later date without having to resubmit the information already provided.
  • the first user is provided with an identification wliich is used to identify the first user for subsequent log-ins.
  • To compose a message the first user is presented with a 'compose message' screen, as shown in figure 4.
  • Other users that are registered at the website, and which have authorised the first user to send messages to them, are listed in the upper left hand box of the compose screen.
  • the list of users may be held in a folder system which may be browsed by the first user.
  • the first user When the first user wishes to send a message to a registered user, the first user selects the name of the intended recipient, composes the message, and selects the 'send message' button.
  • the message is retained at the web server to allow the recipient to view the message when he next logs on to the website.
  • the first user may wish to compose a message which is to be sent to a user that has not registered at the website.
  • a message which is to be sent to a user that has not registered at the website.
  • an email address of the intended recipient is entered in the 'email' box as shown.
  • the subject and the message itself are written in the 'subject' and 'message' boxes as shown.
  • the message is sent by selecting the 'send message' button.
  • the web server When the user selects the 'send message' button, the web server sends an email to the email address that was entered by the user. However, the email does not contain the message from the message box of the compose screen (the contents of the email are described below). In addition to sending the email, the web server retains the message in a database to allow it to be accessed at a later time. The address location of the message is used to generate a hyperlink (described below).
  • the outbox screen displays sent messages, including the subject of the message, and the time at which the message was sent.
  • the identity of the intended recipient is also displayed (this may be in the form of the email address of the intended recipient).
  • the outbox also includes a status indicator which indicates whether sent messages have been read, and if so the times and dates upon which the sent messages were read.
  • the email that is sent from the website to the second user is shown in figure 6.
  • the email is opened using conventional software, in this case Microsoft Outlook Express (proprietary trademark).
  • the email that has been sent from the website is shown in figure 6 as the most recently received email (received at 10.49 on 29 April 2002).
  • the email identifies the name of the user that sent the message, together with the subject matter of the message. However, the email does not include the text of the message. Instead, the email informs the second user that there is a message for him, and that the sender of the message will be notified when the second user opens the message.
  • the email invites the second user to open the message by selecting a View message' hyperlink.
  • the hyperlink includes the Intemet address of the website, and in addition indicates the address location of the message in the database at the web server.
  • the second user Upon selecting the 'view message' hyperlink, the second user is connected to the website via an Internet browser and the server 2.
  • the web server reads the message from the database, constructs a web page which displays the message, and sends the web page to the second user's computer 2.
  • the web server records the date and time that the message was read from the server. The recorded date and time are recorded in the database in association with the message.
  • the web page sent to the second user's computer is shown in figure 7.
  • the text of the message is visible to the second user. In this instance the message simply says 'Hello'.
  • the message is opened by the second user at the website, as shown in figure 7.
  • This is very different from conventional email messaging, in which the message is opened at a local server by a user. Since the message is opened at the website, this allows the time and date at which the message was opened to be recorded at the website server, as described above.
  • This information can be accessed by the first user.
  • the outbox of the first user indicates that the message was read by the second user, together with the time and date upon which the message was read.
  • the second user cannot read the text of the message without going to the website, and as such a record that the message has been opened will always be retained at the web server.
  • neither the first user nor the second user can modify the message, or its status. This means that the website provides a clear an unambiguous record of messages sent from the first user to the second user, together with the status of the messages.
  • the website may be configured to allow the first user to specify whether the second user may reply to the message. This is done via selection from a menu (not shown in figure 4) when composing the message. If the first user does not wish to receive a reply, then this is specified when composing the message. When this is done, the second user is unable to reply to the message, since he will not be presented with an address (email address or otherwise) to which he can send a reply.
  • the first user may wish to authorise the second user to reply to the message via email only. To do this the first user selects a 'reply by email only' button (not shown in figure 4), when composing the message.
  • the message web page presented to the second user will include a 'reply by email' button (not shown in figure 6).
  • the second user is presented with a conventional 'compose screen' which allows composition of a conventional email (for example Microsoft Outlook Express (proprietary trademark)).
  • the email address of the first user was provided by the first user when the first user registered at the website (described above), and stored in a database.
  • the web server retrieves the email address from the database and inserts it into the compose screen.
  • the email is sent as a conventional email. Allowing the second user to reply by email, but not via the web server controlled messaging system, may be advantageous to the first user in circumstances in which the first user wishes to restrict the number of people that can send messages to him via the web server controlled messaging system.
  • the first user may wish to authorise the second user to reply to the message via the web server controlled messaging system described above. This may be the case if for example it is essential that the first user receives a reply to the message, or if the first user wishes to keep a copy of the reply at the web server. To do this the first user selects a 'reply only once by POR' button (not shown in figure 4), when composing the message.
  • the message web page presented to the second user will include a 'reply by POR' button (not shown in figure 6).
  • the second user On selecting the 'reply by POR' button, the second user is presented with a compose screen similar to that shown in figure 4.
  • the compose screen will automatically indicate the name of the first user as the recipient of the message. The second user cannot alter this. In addition, the second user cannot change the subject matter of the message, or add a conventional email address with the message.
  • the second user is authorised only to write text into the message box.
  • the second user selects the 'send message' button, whereupon the message is retained at the web server to allow the first user to view the message when he next logs on to the website. The second user is not authorised to send any further messages to the first user.
  • the first user may wish to authorise the second user to reply to the message via the web server controlled messaging system as described above, and in addition to send further messages to the first user via the web server controlled messaging system.
  • the first user selects an 'authorise future messages via POR' button (not shown in figure 4), when composing the message.
  • the message web page presented to the second user will include a 'logon to POR' button (not shown in figure 6).
  • the second user On selecting the 'logon to POR' button the second user is directed to the 'login' page of the website (shown in figure 2). If the second user is already registered at the website, the second user enters identification details to log on to the website.
  • the first user When the second user goes to the 'compose message' screen, the first user will be included in the list of registered users to whom the second user is authorised to send messages.
  • the second user may compose a message to the first user using the web server controlled messaging system. If the second user is not registered at the website, then the second user may register by selecting the 'join POR' button and following the procedure described above.
  • the email address may be used for an intended recipient who is already registered at the website, to notify the user that there is a message addressed to him at the proof of read website. When this is done the user may access the message directly by selecting the 'view message' link on the notification email. Where this is done the user will not be able to access other pages of the website apart from the message page, until the user has entered his identification and password.
  • Notification of the presence of unread messages may be via email as described above, and may be at any device capable of receiving emails, for example a computer of wireless application protocol (WAP) mobile telephone.
  • WAP wireless application protocol
  • Messages sent between users using the described embodiment of the invention may include any type of data which may be presented via a web page, for example text, image or audio.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Operations Research (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de communications comprenant un serveur web hébergeant un site web auquel un premier et un deuxième utilisateur peuvent accéder par l'Internet. Le serveur web est configuré pour recevoir des données de message provenant du premier utilisateur et retenir ces données dans une base de données ; ledit serveur est en outre configuré pour recevoir du premier utilisateur une adresse de courriel du deuxième utilisateur et envoyer un courriel de notification à ladite adresse. Le courriel de notification comprend un lien hypertexte vers le serveur web ainsi que des données relatives à l'emplacement des données de message dans la base de données, afin que l'utilisateur puisse accéder aux données de message en accédant au site web par l'intermédiaire du lien hypertexte. Le serveur web est configuré pour retenir des données d'état relatives aux données de message.
PCT/GB2003/002205 2002-05-22 2003-05-21 Systeme de communications WO2003098502A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003227962A AU2003227962A1 (en) 2002-05-22 2003-05-21 Eletronic messaging system with acknowledgement of receipt

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0211733.1 2002-05-22
GBGB0211733.1A GB0211733D0 (en) 2002-05-22 2002-05-22 Communications system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003098502A2 true WO2003098502A2 (fr) 2003-11-27
WO2003098502A3 WO2003098502A3 (fr) 2004-01-08

Family

ID=9937155

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2003/002205 WO2003098502A2 (fr) 2002-05-22 2003-05-21 Systeme de communications

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003227962A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB0211733D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003098502A2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007056822A1 (fr) * 2005-11-17 2007-05-24 Steven Begley Systeme de notification d’etat de courrier electronique
WO2018037307A1 (fr) * 2016-08-25 2018-03-01 Mredis, Lda Procédé de confirmation de communication de messages électroniques

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000051034A2 (fr) * 1999-02-26 2000-08-31 Click2Send.Com, Inc. Procede et dispositif destines au transfert de fichiers par reseau
WO2001050229A2 (fr) * 1999-12-30 2001-07-12 B4Bpartner, Inc. Coffre electronique
US20010037460A1 (en) * 2000-04-26 2001-11-01 Damian Porcari Web-based document system
WO2001093069A2 (fr) * 2000-05-27 2001-12-06 Yates Web Marketing Limited Communication via l'internet

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000051034A2 (fr) * 1999-02-26 2000-08-31 Click2Send.Com, Inc. Procede et dispositif destines au transfert de fichiers par reseau
WO2001050229A2 (fr) * 1999-12-30 2001-07-12 B4Bpartner, Inc. Coffre electronique
US20010037460A1 (en) * 2000-04-26 2001-11-01 Damian Porcari Web-based document system
WO2001093069A2 (fr) * 2000-05-27 2001-12-06 Yates Web Marketing Limited Communication via l'internet

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007056822A1 (fr) * 2005-11-17 2007-05-24 Steven Begley Systeme de notification d’etat de courrier electronique
WO2018037307A1 (fr) * 2016-08-25 2018-03-01 Mredis, Lda Procédé de confirmation de communication de messages électroniques

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0211733D0 (en) 2002-07-03
WO2003098502A3 (fr) 2004-01-08
AU2003227962A8 (en) 2003-12-02
AU2003227962A1 (en) 2003-12-02

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