HK1029406B - Electronic mail gateway - Google Patents

Description

E-mail gateway

The present invention relates generally to communication technologies such as electronic mail (e-mail), voice mail, and facsimile (Fax) mail messaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic mail gateway (gateway) for integrated communications to facilitate the retrieval of electronic mail, voice mail and fax mail messages.

Today's communication technology allows individuals to send messages to others from any region of the world at any time of day. The diversity of communication means (e.g., telephone, computer) and communication media (e.g., email, voice mail, fax mail) available today allows an individual to select a communication means that is appropriate for the environment.

In summary, today's message senders may choose among a wide variety of communication media, while message recipients are limited by the options chosen by the message sender. If the sender leaves a voicemail message with a telephone, the message recipient is required to also use the telephone to retrieve the voicemail message. If the sender uses a computer to send an email message, the message recipient is required to use the computer to recover the email message. Sometimes, a message recipient may not be able to recover a certain message because the communication means utilized cannot be used to recover the message. In other cases, even if a message recipient already has a telephone, computer, or some other communication device, he may prefer to use one device over another. For example, the recipient may spend most of his workday on a computer, and thus would prefer to use his computer to recover all inbound messages (inbound messages) regardless of the original communication media of the messages.

The inability to change the message media after the message is sent (or the inability to use non-sender selected communication means) places an unnecessary burden on both the sender and the recipient of the message. The sender and receiver are required to select a communication mode prior to communication, which ensures both parties receive information in a timely manner. If at any time after the media is selected, the recipient's environment changes and the recipient cannot notify the sender of the change, the recipient may risk losing the sender's information because the message cannot be obtained with another communication means. Furthermore, the message receiver cannot use a single communication means or device to recover all inbound messages, which results in additional burden. For example, the recipient may feel inconvenienced when the recipient is required to switch between a telephone for retrieving voicemail messages and a computer for retrieving email messages.

The technology that has been introduced suggests that the widespread use of different communication media adds a number of inconveniences. For example, text-to-speech (TTS) technology allows a message recipient to hear an electronic text message. However, often message recipients are required to incorporate this technology into their own customized telecommunications/computer environment. Messages in different media (e.g., email, voicemail, fax mail) also cannot be seamlessly incorporated such that the message recipient can select only one preferred messaging media and thus all incoming or inbound messages can be processed.

The present invention addresses the limitations in the prior art of communication that require a recipient to retrieve a message based on a predetermined communication medium or based on a communication method selected by the sender. The present invention is a seamlessly integrated communication system that combines email, voicemail, and fax mail messaging. The cross-media messaging system of the present invention allows messages to be exchanged between email and telecommunication service offerings so that the message recipient can recover all inbound messages using a telephone or computer-regardless of the original communication media of the message.

The present invention is an email gateway that allows electronic messages to be exchanged between an email service and a telecommunications service. Messages forwarded by an email service to a telecommunications service may be recovered using a telephone. The recipient can use a standard telephone to receive the voicemail message, redirect the fax mail to a fax machine, or "listen" to the email message, which was originally a text message and sent by the email service to the telecommunication service exchange. The message may also be forwarded by the telecommunication service to an email service. Users can use computers and modems to playback voicemail messages, browse fax mail messages, or read email messages that were originally voice or fax messages. Messages or message attachments exchanged using email messaging techniques are automatically reformatted or automatically converted into a suitable format (e.g., the XING protocol, TIFF format). The reformatting or format conversion of the message is automated within the telecommunications or email service offering of the inbound message so that the message recipient need only specify a preferred communication medium to utilize the features and functionality of the present invention.

An email gateway for facilitating cross-media communication between an email messaging system and a telecommunications switch, in accordance with the present invention, comprises: a first host in communication with the email messaging system, the first host adapted to store and forward a plurality of email messages; within the first host, an e-mail distributor for selectively altering e-mail messages routed to a plurality of electronic mailboxes associated with the telecommunications switch; and a second host communicatively coupled to the telecommunications switch, the second host adapted to receive email messages from the electronic mailbox coupled to the telecommunications switch.

According to the invention there is provided a method for forwarding an e-mail message to a telecommunications exchange, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic mail message from an electronic messaging system according to a first format; (b) searching for a document associated with the e-mail message recipient, the document including a forwarding instruction; (c) altering the email message in accordance with the forwarding instruction in order to route the email message to an electronic mailbox associated with the telecommunications switch, (d) forwarding the altered email message to the telecommunications switch.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main components of the system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the main steps for the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a common message format in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

the present invention is a sophisticated computer system that facilitates communication of e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail messages between a sender and a recipient. The system consists of an application set and services hosted on different computers (or servers) and different devices connected by an infrastructure or gateway that supports email communication between participating entities. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the application and services and hardware support components of the present invention are developed and maintained by different service providers that cooperate with each other to provide the features and functionality of the present invention. With this configuration, each service provider can devote development of technology suitable for its professional field. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the features and functionality of the invention are developed and maintained by a single service offering or accessing a service. A message recipient relies on a service offering or accessing service to deliver voice mail, e-mail, and fax mail messages, which service offering or accessing service has knowledge of the recipient's preferences defined in a series of rules stored in the message recipient's or user's document database so that all messages can be delivered to the recipient according to his or her preferences. The invention is unique in that it enables electronic message exchange between service providers based on rules defined according to user preferences.

The present invention provides a number of features for the "sender" and "recipient" of a message. The sender is a user making an access communication to the message recipient. The sender sends the message using a special communication means (e.g. telephone, computer/modem). Initially, the message is routed to and stored in a mailbox compatible with the sender's communication means/media. For example, messages sent over the telephone are stored in a voice mailbox. Messages sent through the computer and modem are stored in an electronic mailbox.

The recipients are users of accessed personal voicemail, fax mail, and email messages. The recipient is preferably a subscriber or user of a telecommunications and/or email service. The email service may be provided by a presence information service, such as a compuseserver information service. Online information services, such as the compuseserver information service, may provide internet access and access to private databases in addition to email services. Such information services consist of a large number of network nodes or servers located around the world and which are capable of communicating with each other in order to create a global network.

Connection software provided by an email service allows a message recipient to connect and communicate with the service. The connection software is preferably implemented as a graphical user interface that allows a user to interact with the service using a graphical display and pointing device, such as a mouse. An example of connectivity software is the CompuServe Windows communication interface Module version3.0 (CompuServe's WinCIM version3.0), which supports access to and interaction with email services. In order to communicate with the service, a subscriber or user establishes a connection with a network node or server belonging to the information service.

The connectivity software, in addition to providing access to and interaction with the email service, allows the user to define rules or filters and can send instructions to manage incoming (inbound) and outgoing (outbound) messages. The message recipient may indicate a preferred communication medium by selecting an option that defines one or more rules that are automatically applied to inbound messages by the email service offering, among other rules or filters and send instructions. For example, the recipient may define a rule by selecting certain options, request that the message initiated by the phone be stored in a voice mailbox, and forward it to an electronic mailbox for later viewing. Alternatively, the recipient may define a rule by selecting certain options, requesting that messages (e.g., email messages) initiated by the computer/modem be stored in an email mailbox and forwarded to a voice mailbox for later retrieval.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the message recipient interacts with a telephone voice response unit to select options that define rules that are applied to incoming voice and fax mail messages. The rules are stored in a database of the telecommunication service and applied to the incoming message.

Obviously, the preferences of the user are selected and stored in a database of an email service or a telecommunications service. When a message accessing a recipient reaches a telecommunications or email service (any service that facilitates the sending of the message), an email dispatcher (distributor) or other message dispatcher applies the rules of the recipient so that all messaging and conversion (if necessary) can be performed automatically. The message recipient can then retrieve the inbound message using the appropriate communication means. For example, the recipient may dial into a voice mailbox using a standard telephone and listen to voice mail messages, redirect fax mail to a local fax machine, or "listen" to email messages. Alternatively, the user may dial into an email mailbox with a computer, and play back voicemail messages, browse fax mail messages, and read email messages.

Referring to fig. 1, the present invention is an email gateway that facilitates the exchange of electronic messages between an email service 10 and a telecommunications service 12 to support cross-media messaging. Messages are exchanged according to a common message format. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the messages between the email service 10 and the telecommunications service 12 are email messages including voicemail or fax mail attachments. Based on the preference of the user in the system, the message is exchanged between the services. In the preferred embodiment where email messages are sent to a telecommunications service, an email distributor 14 at the email service 10 examines incoming messages 16 from users (e.g., message senders) 18 of the email service 10 who may use dial-up access 20 to send messages to other users (e.g., message recipients) of the service. Alternatively, the incoming message may be forwarded to the service from another email service or the internet. The e-mail distributor 14, more specifically an application operating on a server located in an e-mail service, can determine the message recipient and access the message recipient document database 22 to determine whether the message recipient has a rule 24 in his or her document, the rule 24 indicating that it would like to send the message to the telecommunication service 12 for later retrieval by telephone. If the recipient has specified preferences for receiving incoming messages within the telecommunication service 12 (via a rule stored in his or her message recipient profile), the e-mail distributor 14 modifies the incoming message 16 to include telecommunication service routing information 26. The telecommunication service routing information is preferably stored in a telecommunication service routing information database 28 that is readable by the e-mail distributor 14. For example, the information is stored in database 28 as pairs of service route naming information. The message recipient's document includes a telecommunications name, which is the destination to which the email is sent. The telecommunication service routing information database 28 includes service routing name information pairs so that the distributor can look up in the database based on the service name found in the message recipient's document 22.

The email distributor 14 then forwards the modified electronic message 30 to an electronic mailbox 34 that communicates with an email service network node 32 within the email service 10 and that is specifically created for the telecommunications service 12. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the email service network node 38 located within the telecommunications service 12 periodically queries the email service network node 32 within the email service 10 to determine if any modified messages to be forwarded to the telecommunications service 12 are contained in the telecommunications service mailbox 34. The query operation and the exchange of messages between the services are preferably accomplished using an x.25 link 36 that has been established between the services. The modified message 30 from the telecommunication service mailbox 34 is then transmitted from the email service network node 32 located at the email service to the email service network node 38 located at the telecommunication service via the x.25 link 36.

Within the telecommunication service 12, incoming messages are examined to identify individual message recipients. The private message of each message recipient is then stored in an electronic mailbox 40 located at the email service network node 38. In this way, messages are made available through the telephone switch 46 within the telecommunication service 12 and the message recipient can recover the message 30 via telephone. When the message recipient calls the telephone switch 46 to retrieve the message, the telephone switch 46 communicates with the email service network node 38 through the switching node 44 connected by the local network 42. A text-to-speech conversion operation performed within the telecommunications service allows a message recipient to hear an email message when he or she calls the switch to request the message. Alternatively, the message recipient may arrange to receive the email message on a fax machine designated by the recipient.

Alternatively, if the message recipient does not specify preferences for accepting messages within the telecommunication service, the e-mail distributor 14 forwards the electronic message 16 to a recipient mailbox 48 within the e-mail service 10 or to one or more electronic mailboxes 50 specified for use by other members of the e-mail service, based on other preferences or message recipient actions. Eventually, the message 16 is forwarded to the internet or another email service 52.

Referring to fig. 2, a flow chart of the main steps of the present invention is shown for a preferred embodiment in which an electronic message is forwarded by an email service to a telecommunications service. The steps or operations shown in fig. 2 are preferably performed by the e-mail distributor of the present invention. When the e-mail distributor receives an incoming message, it first checks for message recipient preferences or filters and forwarding instructions, as defined by the message recipient documents stored in the message recipient documents database 60. The incoming message preferably consists of a message header and a message body that include an identifier of the recipient or recipient of the message. The e-mail distributor then looks up the recipient document based on the identifier in the header of the message. Next, the e-mail distributor determines whether the message recipient would like to forward the electronic message to the telecommunication service 62 based on information or instructions stored in the document. If the message recipient does not wish to forward the e-mail message to the telecommunications exchange, the e-mail distributor arranges for the message to be forwarded to a message recipient mailbox located at the e-mail service, or to another service subscriber, or to the internet or another e-mail service 64. If the message recipient wishes to forward the email message to a telecommunications switch, the email dispatcher modifies the message to include telecommunications service mailbox routing information located at the email service 66. The message is then forwarded to the telecommunication service mailbox 68. At the telecommunications service mailbox, when an email service network node located at the telecommunications service queries the mailbox 70, a message stored at the mailbox is sent to the email service network node located at the telecommunications service. Thus, within the telecommunication service, the message recipient can recover the message by telephone.

Referring to fig. 3, a common message format for exchanging messages between an email service and a telecommunications service is shown. The message preferably consists of an envelope 80 and a body 82. The body of the common message format is preferably the original message sent by the message sender. The original message preferably contains a message header 84 portion that identifies the subject, recipient, sender of the original message, and the date and time the original message was sent. The original message also contains the text of the original message 86. In the common message format, the envelope 80 is preferably composed of a message header 88 containing several fields with information that allows the message to be processed by a telecommunications service or an email service. The first field 90 may identify the telecommunications or email service provider to which the message is forwarded. The header of the envelope 88 may also include a field having a subject line 92 relating to a telecommunications or email service and a field 94 having the date and time the original message was modified. Finally, the header of the envelope 88 also includes a field 96 that identifies the message sender as a telecom or email service rather than the original message sender.

The original message is modified to include a new envelope, the modification allowing electronic messages to be exchanged between an email service and a telecommunications service. Messages are exchanged between mailboxes designated for service usage. One or more distributors located at each service route electronic messages to a central repository within the service so that messages may be exchanged between services. Upon arrival of the messages at the designated service, they are sent to or stored in a mailbox associated with the individual message recipient for later retrieval by the message recipient. Additional devices located at the service and/or at the message recipient site may convert the above recovery messages as needed.

The common message format and the central message repository for each service are used to facilitate the exchange of messages between email services and telecommunications services. The common message format is based on a known e-mail format, whereby messages can be forwarded from an e-mail service to a telecommunication service and vice versa using standard e-mail protocols. Using this approach, the telecommunication service appears to the email service to be part of the email service global network and another member of the service to which the message is forwarded. Telecommunication services can receive all types of messages, including multi-binary and binary messages, which can be processed by email services. For example, after an email service processes a message, the telecommunications service may thus include some attachments such as voicemail attachments (e.g., XING protocol) and fax mail attachments (e.g., TIFF files). The devices within the telecommunications service are then adapted to understand the common message format so that e-mail messages composed of the original text can be processed within the telecommunications exchange. For example, converting an original text message by text-to-speech processing enables the message recipient to hear the original message over the telephone. The original text may also be converted to a TIFF image, making the message available for processing by a facsimile machine.

Using the common message format approach, the telecommunication service appears to the email service as another email service from which email messages may be obtained. A voicemail message originating from a telecommunication service may be forwarded to an email service in an email format with an attached audio file containing the original voicemail message. The computer user then uses the connection software to retrieve the email message containing the email message relating to the audio file. The connection software with the audio file player is installed, and voice mail messages can be played for computer users under the requirements of the users. Alternatively, a fax mail message originating from a telecommunication service may be forwarded to an email service in an email format with an attached TIFF file containing the original fax mail message. Computer users use the connection software to retrieve email messages containing those with fax documents. The facsimile document can be viewed using a facsimile browser (viewer) provided by the connection software.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to a single preferred embodiment and certain alternate embodiments, the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments or alternate embodiments. For example, the components providing the features and functions of the present invention may be changed and cut within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the invention is to be determined by the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. An email gateway for facilitating cross-media communication between an email messaging system and a telecommunications switch, comprising:

a first host in communication with said email messaging system, said first host adapted to store and forward a plurality of email messages:

an email distributor within said first host for selectively altering email messages sent to a plurality of electronic mailboxes associated with said telecommunications switch; and

a second host in communication with said telecommunications switch, said second host adapted to receive email messages from said electronic mailbox associated with said telecommunications switch.

2. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said email messaging system is part of an online information service.

3. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said e-mail distributor selectively alters said e-mail message routed to said e-mail box associated with said telecommunications switch based on an e-mail message recipient document.

4. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said e-mail distributor selectively alters said e-mail messages according to a common message format.

5. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said e-mail distributor selectively alters said e-mail messages by linking new routing information to some of said plurality of e-mail messages.

6. The e-mail distributor of claim 5 wherein the new routing information comprises a sender field identifying the e-mail service provider and a recipient field identifying the telecommunications service provider.

7. An electronic mail gateway for facilitating cross-media communication between an electronic mail messaging communication system and a telecommunications switch, comprising:

a first host computer in communication with said telecommunications switch, said first host computer adapted to store and forward a plurality of electronic mail messages having voice mail or fax mail attachments;

a second host in communication with said email messaging system, said second host adapted to receive email messages with said attachment from said first host;

an email distributor for distributing the email message with the attachment to a plurality of electronic mailboxes; and

a graphical user interface for use by the email message recipient, the graphical user interface adapted to communicate with the email box and including an audio player to play the voicemail attachment and a fax browser to display the fax mail attachment.

8. The gateway of claim 7, wherein said email messaging system is part of an online information service.

9. A method for forwarding an e-mail message to a telecommunications switch, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an electronic mail message from an electronic messaging system according to a first format;

(b) searching for a document associated with the e-mail message recipient, the document including a forwarding instruction;

(c) for routing an e-mail message to an electronic mailbox associated with said telecommunications switch, altering said e-mail message in accordance with said forwarding instruction,

(d) forwarding the modified email message to the telecommunications switch.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said e-mail message is modified according to a common message format.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises concatenating the new routing information into the email message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the new routing information includes a sender field identifying an email service provider and a recipient field identifying a telecommunications service provider.