USOO7765263B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Alfke
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROCESSINGELECTRONIC MESSAGES
`
`2004/001561.0 A1
`2004/0039630 A1
`
`1/2004 Treadwell ................... TO9,246
`2/2004 Begole et al.
`
`Jens Peter Alfke, San Jose, CA (US
`:
`(75) I
`nventor: Jens Peter Alfke, San Jose, CA (US)
`(73) Assignee: Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 755 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/741,948
`
`4/2004 Malik et al.
`2004/0078448 A1
`2004/0078596 A1* 4/2004 Kent et al. .................. T13 201
`2004/O128356 A1* 7/2004 Bernstein et al. ............ TO9,206
`2004/015861.0 A1* 8, 2004 Davis et al. ................. TO9,206
`2004/0158611 A1* 8, 2004 Daniell et al. ............... TO9,206
`2004/0172455 A1
`9, 2004 Green et al. ................ 709f2O7
`2004/0186896 A1* 9, 2004 Daniell et al. ............... 709f2O7
`2004/0215721 A1* 10, 2004 Szeto et al. ................. TO9.204
`2004/0254998 A1 12, 2004 Horvitz
`
`(56)
`
`Dec. 19, 2003
`
`(22) Filed:
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 5/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 709/206; 709/205; 709f2O7
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 709/205,
`709/206, 207
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`37:6 A
`; : Histors al.
`5,854,893 A 12/1998 Ludwig et al.
`5,880,731 A 3, 1999 Liles et al.
`5,896,500 A
`4/1999 Ludwig et al.
`6,121,533 A
`9/2000 Kay
`6,237,025 B1
`5/2001 Ludwig et al.
`6,351,762 B1
`2/2002 Ludwig et al.
`6,437,818 B1
`8/2002 Ludwig et al.
`6,583,806 B2
`6/2003 Ludwig et al.
`6,594,688 B2
`7/2003 Ludwig et al.
`6,763,226 B1
`7/2004 Mczeal, Jr.
`7,152,093 B2 12/2006 Ludwig et al.
`7,164,423 B1
`1/2007 Westen
`7,206.809 B2
`4/2007 Ludwig et al.
`7,234,117 B2
`6, 2007 Zaner et al.
`7,421,470 B2
`9/2008 Ludwig et al.
`7,433,921 B2 10/2008 Ludwig et al.
`2002/0152877 A1 10/2002 Kay
`2003/00 16658 A1
`1/2003 Creamer et al. ............. 370,352
`2003/O135659 A1
`7/2003 Bellotti et al.
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Gordano Messaging Suite Data Sheet, Gordano Limited 1994-2003,
`pp. 1-6, North Somerset UK.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner John Follansbee
`Assistant Examiner Nghi V Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor &
`Zafman LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Methods and apparatuses for processing electronic messages
`are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, for an
`outgoing message addressed to a mail address of a recipient,
`the mail client determines whether is an alternative messag
`ing system available to the mail address of the recipient. If
`there is an alternative messaging system available, the mail
`client determines whether the recipient’s alternative messag
`ing system is online. If so, the mail client sends the mail
`message to the recipient via the alternative messaging system.
`Otherwise, the mail client sends the message via normal mail
`system. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
`
`90 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`Allamative message
`delvary cleft (e.g.,
`instantlessaging)
`204
`
`25
`
`
`
`Mai Sarver
`SMTP, Pop, or MAP
`26
`
`Alternative massage
`delivery sewer
`(e.g., IM server
`208
`
`Network
`(e.g., irtemeinbanet, or
`wireless network
`
`
`
`Mail Seyer I)
`skit, Pop, or IMAP)
`28
`
`area,
`y
`instant Msssaging
`
`429
`---4
`
`March
`Matt
`
`
`
`LG Elecs. Ex. 1006
`LG Elecs. v. Pantech Corp.
`IPR2023-01271 Page 1
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`

`

`US 7,765,263 B1
`Page 2
`
`2005/008O852 A1
`2005/008O867 A1*
`2005/OO94621 A1*
`2007/013O259 A1*
`2008.OO98O78 A1*
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4/2005 Kelley et al.
`4/2005 Malik et al. ................. 709f2O7
`5/2005 Acharya et al. ...
`... 370,352
`6, 2007 Daniellet al. ..
`... 709.204
`4/2008 Daniell .......
`709,206
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Fastmobile.com. Fastmobile's fastchat Instant Communications
`Application is Coming to Thousands of Mobile Phone Retail Stores
`Nations wide. Sep. 2003.
`Ljungstrand, Peter. Awareness of Presence, Instant Messaging and
`WebWho. SIGGSROUP Bulletin. Dec. 2000.
`Venolia, Gina D. Understanding Sequence and Reply Relationships
`Within Email Conversations: A mixed-Model Visualization ACM
`Apr. 2003.
`Liam Bannon, et al., “Evaluation and Analysis of Users' Activity
`Organization.” CHI '83 Proceedings, Dec. 1983, pp. 54-57.
`Peter C. S. Wong, et al., “Flair-User Interface Dialog Design Tool.”
`Computer Graphics vol. 16, No. 3, Jul. 1982, pp. 87-98.
`David R. Cheriton, “Man-Machine Interface Design for Timesharing
`Systems.” University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, pp. 362-366.
`Michael Good, "Etude and the Folklore of User Interface Design.”
`Laboratory for Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Tech
`nology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, ACM 1981, pp. 34-43.
`D. Austin Henderson, Jr. et al., “Rooms: The User of Multiple Virtual
`Workspaces to Reduce Space Contention in a Window-Based
`Graphical User Interface.” ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 5,
`No. 3, Jul. 1986, pp. 211-243.
`Stuart K. Card, et al., “A Multiple Virtual-Workspace Interface to
`Support User Task Switching.” CHI + GI 1987, ACM, pp. 53-59.
`Eugene Ball, et al., "A Test-Bed for User Interface Designs.”
`Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, ACM 1981, pp.
`85-88.
`Warren Teitelman, “Ten Years of Window Systems- A Retrospective
`View.” Methodology of Window Management, Proceedings of an
`Alvey Workshop at Cosener's House, Abingdon, UK, Apr. 1985. 13
`pageS.
`
`Eve M. Schooler et al., “Multimedia Conferencing: Has It Come of
`Age?”, Reprinted from the Proceedings 24" Hawaii International
`Conference on System Sciences, vol. 3, pp. 707-716 (Jan. 1991) pp.
`1-10.
`Eve M. Schooler, "A Distributed Architecture for Multimedia Con
`ference Control.” ISI Research Report, Nov. 1991, University of
`Southern California Information Sciences Institute, Title page, pp.
`1-18.
`Eve M. Schooler, “The Connection Control Protocol: Architecture
`Overview.’ Version 1.0, USC/Information Sciences Institute, Jan.
`1992, pp. 1-6.
`Joseph D. Touch, "Zoned Analog Personal Teleconferencing
`(ZAPT). USC/Information Sciences Institute, pp. 1-19.
`Eve M. Schooler, “Case Study: Multimedia Conference Control in a
`Packet-Switched Teleconferencing System'. USC/Information Sci
`ences Institute, pp. 1-17.
`Terrence Crowley, et al., “MMConf: An Infrastructure for Building
`Shared Multimedia Applications' CSCW '90 Proceedings, Oct.
`1990, pp. 329-342.
`Harry Forsdick, "Explorations into Real-time Multimedia
`Conferencing.” Computer Message Systems—85, IFIP, 1986, pp.
`331-347.
`Robert W. Root, “Design of a Multi-MediaVehicle for Social Brows
`ing.” Bell Communications Research, Morristown, NJ. USA, ACM
`1988, pp. 25-38.
`S.R. Ahuja et al., “A Comparison of Application Sharing Mechanism
`in Real-Time Desktop Conferencing Systems.” AT&T Bell Labora
`tories, Holmdel, NJ,USA, ACM 1990, pp. 238-248.
`Hiroshi Ishi, “TeamWorkStation: Towards a Seamless Shared
`Workspace.” NTT Human Interface Laboratories, Japan, CSCW '90
`Proceedings, Oct. 1990, pp. 13-26.
`Thomas Kaeppner et al., Architecture of HeiPhone: A Testbed for
`Audio/Video Teleconferencing, IBM European Networking Center,
`Heidelberg, pp. 1-17.
`Kankanahalli Srinivas et al., “MONET: A Multi-media System for
`Conferencing and Application Sharing in Distributed Systems.”
`CERC Technical Report Series Research Note, Feb. 1992, 10 pages
`(2-sided).
`* cited by examiner
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`
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`Client Computer
`System
`102
`
`Client Computer
`System
`104
`
`
`
`Gateway System
`110
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Client
`Computer
`118
`
`Network
`Interface
`16
`
`Client
`Computer
`120
`
`1 OO
`
`Fig. 1
`
`Internet
`122
`
`Web Server
`System
`128
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
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`
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`
`
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`
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`Alternative message
`delivery client (e.g.,
`instant Messaging)
`204
`
`215
`- 4
`
`Client
`20
`
`Mail Client
`205
`
`200
`
`as as a
`
`a
`
`a
`
`---------------------------------------------------------------------
`
`f
`I
`f
`
`214
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`
`
`Mail Server
`(SMTP, PoP, or IMAP)
`207
`
`Allie age
`Ivery
`(e.g., IM Server)
`206
`
`Network
`(e.g., internet, Intranet, or
`wireless network)
`2O2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Routing
`Server(s)
`208
`
`Mail Server
`(SMTP, Pop, or IMAP)
`209
`
`
`
`
`
`Alternative message
`delivery client (e.g.,
`Instant Messaging)
`210
`
`Mail Client
`211
`
`--4
`
`Client
`203
`
`:
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 4
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`220
`
`
`
`
`
`Alternative
`message delivery
`client (e.g., instant
`Messaging)
`204
`
`Communication
`Medium
`215
`
`Mail Client
`205
`
`
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`
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`Alternative message
`delivery server
`(e.g., IM server)
`206
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`
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`Mail Server
`(SMTP, PoP, or IMAP)
`2O7
`
`Network
`(e.g., Internet, Intranet, or
`wireless network)
`2O2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Routing
`Server(s)
`208
`
`Mail Server II
`(SMTP, PoP, or IMAP)
`209
`
`
`
`
`
`Alternative message
`delivery client (e.g.,
`instant Messaging)
`210
`
`Communication
`Mem
`
`Mail Client
`211
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Fig. 2B
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`250
`
`Unified User
`interface
`262
`
`User interface
`261
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`process Module
`257
`
`Mail Client
`252
`
`Network
`
`O
`
`Fig. 2C
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 Of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`Launch a mail client application and
`optionally log onto a mail server
`3O
`
`3OO
`ra
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Establish a Connection with at least
`One of One or more alternative
`message delivery systems (e.g., Mor
`chatting systems)
`302
`
`
`
`303
`
`At least One of the alternative
`(essage delivery mechanism
`
`
`
`Optionally launch at least one of the
`alternative message delivery
`applications
`307
`
`The alternative message
`delivery mechanism(s) online 2
`
`308
`
`NO
`
`Mail client registers with the alternative
`message delivery mechanism(s)
`304
`
`Mail client processes incoming and
`outgoing mail messages via its mail
`Server
`309
`
`The alternative message delivery
`mechanism(s) broadcasts the
`capability of delivering mail messages
`in its associated community
`305
`
`Mail client processes incoming and
`outgoing mail messages via the
`alternative message delivery system(s)
`306
`
`Fig. 3
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`400
`
`A mail client receives an outgoing mail
`message addressed to a recipient's
`mail address
`401
`
`Determine an alternative delivery
`address associated with the recipient's
`mail address (e.g., an IM or chatting
`address)
`402
`
`
`
`Does the recipient has an
`alternative delivery address 2
`
`Deliver the mail message via normal
`mail server (e.g., SMTP, POP, or
`IMAP)
`404
`
`ls the recipient's alternative
`delivery application online 2
`
`Does the recipient's alternative
`delivery application have maj
`capability ?
`
`Optionally tag the mail message to
`indicate the message being sent is a
`mail message
`407
`
`instruct the alternative delivery
`application to send the mail message
`via its mail capability
`408
`
`Delivery success 2
`409
`
`DOne
`
`Fig. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 8
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 7 Of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`500
`O
`
`Receive an incoming message at a
`client via a non-mail messaging
`system of a recipient (e.g., Mor
`chatting systems)
`501
`
`Determine whether the message is a
`mail message (e.g., examine an
`identification tagged with the
`message)
`502
`
`Mail message?
`503
`
`
`
`u
`
`No
`
`Deliver the message to a display
`associated with the non-mail
`messaging system
`504
`
`
`
`is mail client running?
`505
`
`Yes
`
`Deliver the incoming message to the
`mail client, where the message is
`displayed at the mail client as if it is
`received from a mail Server
`506
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Optionally launch the mail client
`508
`
`Return Success status to the Sender of
`the incoming message via the non-mail
`messaging System
`507
`
`Smail client launched
`successfully ?
`
`No
`
`Return an error to the Sender of the
`incoming message via the non-mail
`messaging System
`510
`
`Fig. 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`IPR2023-01271 Page 9
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Third party
`applications, such as,
`Electronic Organizer
`(e.g., Calendar), or a
`browser, etc.
`
`
`
`60
`
`Ya
`
`N
`N
`N
`Ya
`
`N
`N
`N
`
`6OO
`
`Non-mail messaging
`System client (e.g.,
`IM or Chat client)
`
`M
`
`Mail Client
`
`603
`
`Mail Server
`
`604
`
`Non-mail
`messaging System
`server (e.g., IM
`server)
`606
`
`Network
`(e.g., internet, intranet, or
`wireless network)
`605
`
`ear
`
`
`
`1.
`Network Community
`(e.g., peer-to-peer
`network)
`611
`
`
`
`
`
`Mail Server
`
`6O7
`
`609
`
`Non-mail messaging
`System clientil (e.g.,
`IM client)
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`Mail Client
`
`608
`
`610
`
`Third party
`applications, Such as,
`Electronic Organizer
`(e.g., Calendar), or
`Web services
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 10
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 27, 2010
`
`Sheet 9 Of 9
`
`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`704
`
`700
`
`
`
`
`
`Microprocessor
`
`Volatile
`RAM
`
`Nonvolatile
`Memory
`(e.g. hard drive)
`
`Display Controller
`& Display Device
`
`f0
`Controller(s)
`
`
`
`
`
`710
`
`
`
`f0
`Device(s)
`(e.g. mouse, or
`keyboard, or
`modern, or
`network interface,
`or printer)
`
`Fig. 7
`
`IPR2023-01271 Page 11
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`

`

`US 7,765,263 B1
`
`1.
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROCESSINGELECTRONIC MESSAGES
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to data processing.
`More particularly, this invention relates to electronic message
`processing.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In computer network systems such as local-area networks
`(“LANs'), wide-area networks (“WANs”), and the Internet
`and the worldwide web (“WWW) which operates thereon,
`email systems and associated protocols are often utilized to
`facilitate communication between two users of the network or
`email system. Each user has a unique network address which
`may be used for routing and identifying purposes in deliver
`ing an email message from one user (the "sender) to another
`user (the “recipient') on the network.
`Email messages are typically sent from a senderto a recipi
`ent by the sender typing or otherwise preparing an email
`message on a PC (personal computer), which is itself typi
`cally coupled to a server coupled to a communications net
`work such as the Internet. The email contains both a body or
`content portion, which contains the message itself, and the
`network email address(es) of the recipient(s). Email mes
`sages can also include more complex information Such as
`attached files. In general, however, each email transmission
`from a sender to a recipient over a network includes some
`body or message portion and the network addresses of the
`sender and recipient. The email transmission may be referred
`to, in general, as an email message, which is transmitted via a
`network from a sender to a recipient.
`The email message is thus transmitted from the sender PC
`to the local network router or server (e.g., an email server),
`which delivers the email message in packetized form to the
`network. The packets are each routed from one node of the
`network to another, in accordance with the recipient address
`information associated with the packets. These packets are
`received by a recipient server of the network, which can then
`assemble the received packets into the original email message
`and deliver the email message to the recipient’s PC, which is
`attached to the recipient server. The email message may be
`routed through one or more routing servers between the send
`er's server and the recipients server. These routing servers
`may be different types of servers provided by different ven
`dors. The routing servers may queue and schedule the routing
`the email message according to its own schedule. As a result,
`the delivery of the email message may be delayed by the
`routing servers and Such delays are sometimes unacceptable.
`In addition, Such delay prevents the recipient from providing
`the sender an instant confirmation of arrival of the email
`message at the recipient, even if the sender enables a return
`receipt option on the outgoing email message.
`For many users, the send and receive email server functions
`are performed by a service provider Such as an Internet Ser
`vice provider (ISP). In order to receive email, a user must first
`“login' to his ISP typically by use of a modemand telephone
`line or other communications channel Such as a cable system
`cable. Any email messages which have been received by the
`ISP for the user since the last time the user logged into his ISP
`may then be delivered to the user-recipient. If the user keeps
`his PC continually logged on to his ISP and is present at his
`PC, he can receive email as soon as it is received by his ISP.
`The user's own PC may be configured to alert the user when
`it receives the email message from the ISP. However, many
`
`2
`users log in only periodically to check for email messages.
`Thus, if an important email message arrives while the user is
`not logged in or is away from his PC terminal, the user will not
`be aware of this.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
`
`Methods and apparatuses for processing electronic mes
`sages are described herein. In one aspect of an exemplary
`embodiment of the invention, for an outgoing message
`addressed to a mail address (e.g., an Internet email address) of
`a recipient, the mail client of a sender determines whether
`there is an alternative messaging system (e.g., an instant
`messaging system or a chat system) available to the mail
`address of the recipient. If there is an alternative messaging
`system available, the mail client determines whether the
`recipient's alternative messaging system is online. If so, the
`mail client sends the mail message to the recipient via the
`alternative messaging system. Otherwise, the mail client
`sends the message via a normal mail system.
`In one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the inven
`tion, when an incoming message is received at an alternative
`messaging System of a recipient, such as an instant messaging
`(IM) client, the message is examined whether the message is
`a mail message. If it is determined that the message is a mail
`message, the message is then forwarded to the corresponding
`mail client of the recipient and displayed as an ordinary mail
`message as if it is received from the corresponding mail
`SeVe.
`According to yet another aspect of an exemplary embodi
`ment of the invention, when a mail client is launched, it
`registers with an alternative messaging client, Such as an IM
`client. The alternative messaging client then advertises in its
`associated community that it is capable of processing mail
`messages.
`According to yet another aspect of an exemplary embodi
`ment of the invention, an alternative messaging server, Such
`as an IM server, receives a message from a first messaging
`client of a first user, which is sent by a first mail client of the
`first user. The first mail client is communicatively coupled to
`the first messaging client of the first user. In response to the
`message, the alternative messaging server Substantially
`instantly sends the message to a second messaging client of a
`second user, which is communicatively coupled to a second
`mail client of the second user. The message is then forwarded
`from the second messaging client to the second mail client
`and the second mail client processes the message as an ordi
`nary mail message as if it is received from the first mail client
`of the first user via a mail server.
`The present invention also discloses machine readable
`media which may be executed by a processor to perform the
`above processes. Other features of the present invention will
`be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the
`detailed description which follows.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
`not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in
`which like references indicate similar elements.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network of computer systems
`in which electronic messages may be processed, according to
`one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary sys
`tem for processing electronic messages, according to one
`embodiment of the invention.
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`US 7,765,263 B1
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`FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary sys
`tem for processing electronic messages, according to an alter
`native embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary mail
`client and an alternative delivery client according to one
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process
`for processing electronic messages, according to one embodi
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process
`for processing electronic messages, according to another
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process
`for processing electronic messages, according to yet another
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system
`for processing electronic messages, according to another
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a data processing system
`which may be used to process electronic messages, in accor
`dance with one embodiment of the invention.
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`general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfig
`ured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a
`computer program may be stored in a computer readable
`storage medium, Such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk
`including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and mag
`netic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random
`access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic
`or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing
`electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer sys
`tem bus.
`The algorithms and displays presented hereinare not inher
`ently related to any particular computer or other apparatus.
`Various general purpose systems may be used with programs
`in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove
`convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to per
`form the required method steps. The required structure for a
`variety of these systems will appear from the description
`below. In addition, the present invention is not described with
`reference to any particular programming language. It will be
`appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be
`used to implement the teachings of the invention as described
`herein.
`A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for
`storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a
`machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable
`medium includes read only memory (“ROM); random
`access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; opti
`cal storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical,
`acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier
`waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); etc.
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a network of computer systems in
`which an email may be processed via an alternative message
`delivery system other than an email system, according to one
`embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a
`network 100 includes a number of client computer systems
`that are coupled together through an Internet 122. It will be
`appreciated that the term “Internet” refers to a network of
`networks. Such networks may use a variety of protocols for
`exchange of information, such as TCP/IP, ATM, SNA, SDI,
`etc. The physical connections of the Internet and the protocols
`and communication procedures of the Internet are well
`known to those in the art. It will be also appreciated that such
`system may be implemented in an Intranet within an organi
`Zation.
`Access to the Internet 122 is typically provided by Internet
`service providers (ISPs), such as the ISP 124, and the ISP 126.
`Users on client systems, such as the client computer systems
`102,104,118, and 120, generally obtain access to the Internet
`through Internet service providers, such as ISPs 124 and 126.
`Access to the Internet may facilitate transfer of information
`(e.g., email, text files, media files, etc.) between two or more
`digital processing systems, such as the client computer sys
`tems 102,104,118, and 120 and/or a Web server system 128.
`For example, one or more of the client computer systems 102,
`104, 118, and 120 and/or the Web server 128 may provide
`document presentations (e.g., a Web page) to another one or
`more of the client computer systems 102,104,118, and 120
`and/or Web server 128. For example, in one embodiment of
`the invention, one or more client computer systems 102,104,
`118, and 120 may request to access a document that may be
`stored at a remote location, such as the Web server 128. In the
`case of remote storage, the data may be transferred as a file
`(e.g., download) and then displayed (e.g., in a window of a
`browser) after transferring the file. In another embodiment,
`the document presentation may be stored locally at the client
`computer systems 102, 104, 118, and/or 120. In the case of
`local storage, the client system may retrieve and display the
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Method and apparatus for processing electronic messages
`are described herein. In the following description, numerous
`details are set forth to provide a more thorough explanation of
`the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one
`skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced
`without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
`structures and devices are shown in block diagram form,
`rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present
`invention.
`Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow
`are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic represen
`tations of operations on data bits within a computer memory.
`These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the
`means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most
`effectively convey the substance of their work to others
`skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, con
`ceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a
`desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipu
`lations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,
`these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals
`capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared,
`and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,
`principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these
`signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms,
`numbers, or the like.
`It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and
`similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physi
`cal quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to
`these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as
`apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that
`throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such
`as “processing or “computing or “calculating or “deter
`mining or “displaying or the like, refer to the action and
`processes of a computer system, or similar electronic com
`puting device, that manipulates and transforms data repre
`sented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer
`system's registers and memories into other data similarly
`represented as physical quantities within the computer sys
`tem memories or registers or other Such information storage,
`transmission or display devices.
`The present invention also relates to apparatus for perform
`ing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially
`constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a
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`5
`document via an application, such as a word processing appli
`cation. Without requiring a network connection.
`The Web server 128 typically includes at least one com
`puter system to operate with one or more data communication
`protocols, such as the protocols of the World WideWeb, and
`as such, is typically coupled to the Internet 122. Optionally,
`the Web server 128 may be part of an ISP which may provide
`access to the Internet and/or other network(s) for client com
`puter systems. The client computer systems 102, 104, 118,
`and 120 may each, with appropriate Web browsing software,
`access data, such as HTML document (e.g., Web pages),
`which may be provided by the Web server 128.
`The ISP 124 provides Internet connectivity to the client
`computer system 102 via a modem interface 106, which may
`be considered as part of the client computer system 102. The
`client computer systems 102, 104, 118, and 120 may be a
`conventional data processing system, Such as a Power Mac
`G5 or iMac computer available from Apple Computer, Inc., a
`“network' computer, a handheld/portable computer, a cell
`phone with data processing capabilities, a Web TV system, or
`other types of digital processing systems (e.g., a personal
`digital assistant (PDA)).
`Similarly, the ISP 126 provides Internet connectivity for
`the client computer systems 102,104,118, and 120. However,
`as depicted in FIG. 1, such connectivity may vary between
`various client computer systems, such as the client computer
`systems 102, 104, 118, and 120. For example, as shown in
`FIG. 1, the client computer system 104 is coupled to the ISP
`126 through a modem interface 108, while the client com
`puter systems 118 and 120 are part of a local area network
`30
`(LAN). The interfaces 106 and 108, shown as modems 106
`and 108, respectively, may represent an analog modem, an
`ISDN modem, a DSL modem, a cable modem, a wireless
`interface, or other interface for coupling a digital processing
`system, Such as a client computer system, to another digital
`processing system. The client computer systems 118 and 120
`are coupled to a LAN bus 112 through network interfaces 114
`and 116, respectively. The network interface 114 and 116 may
`be an Ethernet-type, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), or
`other type of network interface. The LAN bus is also coupled
`to a gateway digital processing system 110, which may pro
`vide firewall and other Internet-related services for a LAN.
`The gateway digital processing system 110, in turn, is
`coupled to the ISP 126 to provide Internet connectivity to the
`client computer systems 118 and 120. The gateway digital
`processing system 110 may, for example, include a conven
`tional server computer system. Similarly, the Web server 128
`may, for example, include a conventional server computer
`system.
`Client computers 102, 104, 118, and 120 may be able to
`send and receive email messages from each other. The email
`systems used by client computers 102,104,118, and 120 may
`be proprietary email systems, such as IBM Lotus Notes.
`Alternatively, the email systems used by the client computers
`may be standard email systems, such as email systems using
`POP3 (post office protocol), SMTP (simple mail transport
`protocol), or IMAP (Internet message access protocol) pro
`tocols. According to one embodiment, the email client run
`ning at the client computers 102, 104, 118, and 120 may
`determine whether there is an alternative message delivery
`mechanism, such as, for example, instant messaging (IM)
`system, to deliver the email message quicker. If the senders
`email client determines that there is an alternative (e.g., a
`better alternative) available, the email client may interact with
`an application of the alternative delivery mechanism. The
`alternative delivery mechanism may deliver the email mes
`sage to the recipient via the alternative delivery system,
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`instead of going through the normal email server which routes
`the email message (via one or more routing servers) to the
`recipient’s email server, and thereafter, the recipient’s email
`server forwards the message to the recipient.
`According to another embodiment, the alternative delivery
`mechanism, such as an IM system, may be able to detect
`whether the counterpart application of the recipient is enabled
`(e.g., online). The email client of the sender may interrogate