WO1998053624A1

WO1998053624A1 - Electronic mail notification and access

Info

Publication number: WO1998053624A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/002349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael C. Park
Original assignee: Seiko Communications Of America, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-05-22
Filing date: 1998-02-05
Publication date: 1998-11-26
Also published as: AU6148998A

Abstract

A radio paging system (14) which includes a number of paging receivers (28), each receiver (28) being associated with a subscriber (30). The subscriber (30) also receives electronic mail (34) from a separate computer network (12). The system provides a device (20) for sending paging messages (26) when an electronic mail message (34) is received from the separate network (12). During a system configuration step, an example electronic mail message is displayed to a subscriber (30). The subscriber (30) identifies information in the example by use of a pointing device to designate selected portions of a message. Rules are thereby established which are applied to subsequent electronic mail messages (34) to extract similar information. Each time an electronic message is received, a paging message (26) is sent to the paging receiver (28) which includes the information obtained by applying the previously established rules to the subsequent message.

Description

ELECTRONIC MAIL NOTIFICATION AND ACCESS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to communication, and particularly to devices and

systems receiving and providing access to information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As computer systems and computer networks evolve, information in and of itself becomes an

important commodity. In the context of computer network systems, persons receive

information daily by indirect interaction with other users on a computer network. For example, one person sends electronic mail (e mail) to another person by way of a computer

network mail server. Computer networks include a variety of configurations from local area

networks (LAN) to global communication networks such as the Internet. E mail provides a

common mechanism delivering information from one computer network user to another

computer network user. A typical e mail message includes an "electronic address" field

specifying a destination for the e mail item and an "electronic address" field specifying the

origin of the e mail item. The e mail item enters the computer network and the various

computing devices operating on the network reference the "electronic address" destination

field to determine how the e mail item is to be handled. The Internet, as a global

communications network, allows a unique electronic address for an individual whereby that

individual receives e mail messages from virtually any source anywhere having access to the

Internet. Many e mail delivery systems also include an ability to automatically "forward" copies of messages to another address. The sending party need not be aware of the forwarding feature.

A user establishes forwarding of e mail messages locally, i.e., at his or her mail server, for delivery of copies of e mail items to selected destinations, i.e., selected "electronic addresses."

E mail messages typically arrive unpredictably. Users must access an information provider,

e.g., Internet service provider, to determine whether any new e mail messages have arrived.

Some people check their e mail once a day or even less frequently. Other people find need to check more frequently, e.g., several times each day, as e mail messages may be vitally important and thereby making immediate notification of new e mail messages desirable. In

some systems, if the user is currently logged onto the mail server then an e mail notification

appears at the user's terminal. Generally, each user must occasionally access the e mail server,

or remain logged onto the e mail server, to maintain ongoing and current notification of

incoming e mail messages.

E mail notification also occurs by remote wireless communication devices, e.g., paging

receivers. Under such schemes, a user receives an "e mail notification" paging message

whenever new e mail messages arrive at his or her mail server. For example, the user

establishes a forwarding feature reacting to receipt of incoming e mail messages by causing

transmission of an "e mail notification" paging message to the user's paging device. The user, upon receiving an "e mail notification" paging message, accesses his or her Internet service

provider e mail server to review the content of the just-received e mail message.

Unfortunately, the user does not always have convenient access to a network computer

terminal for purposes of reviewing the newly received e mail message. For persons having ready access to their e mail server, a paging message indicating new e mail is useful. For

others, however, such an "e mail notification" paging message is of lesser value. For example,

a user may receive an "e mail notification" paging message, but have no indication of its value, e.g., need to review immediately, or no way to immediately review the pertinent content of the

just-received e mail message.

As Internet activity and quantity of information available proliferate, e mail becomes increasingly

popular as a mechanism delivering "pushed" data to users. Users subscribe to a variety of

information content as "pushed" data. In addition to vitally important or critical e mail messages, users also receive numerous additional low priority e mail messages. Users sort through several, or

in many cases, 10 or 20 or more, e mail messages daily to identify and review high priority items

and only peruse lesser priority items. Among the "pushed" data arriving constantly by way of e

mail, users often find little interest in many e mail messages from a given source, but occasionally find particular interest in e mail messages from that particular source when such e mail messages

contain particular content. Knowing only the source of the e mail message, i.e., the "electronic

address" origin field, the user must access a mail server and review the entire content of that e mail

message to satisfy that specific user's particular interest.

A user receiving an "e mail notification" paging message may receive a great number of such

paging messages, especially when each and every new e mail item triggers transmission of a paging

message to his or her paging device. Such overwhelming number of paging messages with little or

no additional guidance as to the nature, source, or particular content reduces the value of and

makes a nuisance of an "e mail notification" paging message. Thus, receiving an "e mail

notification" paging message may be of limited value if the person carrying the paging device has no indication of the particular nature of the just-received e mail message. Many e mail

messages have little value to the user and the user does not wish to even be notified of, let

alone immediately review, such e mail messages. On the other hand, some e mail messages

may be vitally important to the user and the user always wants to review such messages immediately at the first opportunity to do so, i.e., following an "e mail notification" paging

message.

Some e mail notification schemes with an "e mail notification" paging message also include a

predetermined portion of the e mail message to indicate to the user the subject or source of the just-received e mail message. For example, in addition to receiving an indication that e mail

has just arrived, i.e., receiving an "e mail notification" paging message, the paging system may

also forward a predetermined system-selected portion, e.g., the "electronic address" origin

field or the "subject" field, of the e mail message. The paging device user thereby has a limited

basis, i.e., knowledge of source or subject field, for determining whether it is worth the effort

to find access to the e mail server and retrieve the entire message. The user must still respond

to the notification by accessing the e mail server network, i.e., find an Internet terminal and log

onto the Internet, to review the specific content of particular interest of just-received e mail

message. Just knowing the "subject" field or the "electronic address" origin field does not always

provide sufficient information to make a determination as to the value of or interest for a given e

mail item. In many cases, the user only finds interest in an e mail item, e.g., a "pushed" e mail item,

when such e mail item contains specific information or may only be interested if a specific portion

of the e mail item is relevant. Thus, users need more information than the origin or subject field to make determination as to the worth of a given e mail message. Some computers have an ability to present text information e.g., ASCII data or data converted

to ASCII data, by conversion to audible or voice presentation. Algorithms for reading text

and converting text to voice presentation are known and commonly available.

While it would be desirable to send an entire e mail message to a remote wireless device, e.g., a paging device, to avoid need for accessing the e mail server, such arrangement is impractical

because paging devices typically cannot store significant amounts of data and often have

limited display capabilities. Diverting an entire e mail messages through a paging system

broadcast protocol for receipt at remote wireless paging devices taxes not only the ability of

the paging devices themselves, but also the bandwidth of the paging system.

Thus, e mail recipients making use of paging devices to receive notification of new e mail

messages have been and continue to be burdened by a need to react to e mail notification by

finding access to their e mail service provider, i.e., logging onto the Internet and retrieving the

e mail message via computer terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is applicable to a radio signal paging system which includes a number of

paging receivers, each receiver being associated with a subscriber. The subscribers also

receive electronic mail on a separate computer network. The system provides means for

sending paging messages when an electronic mail message is received on the separate system.

During a system configuration step, an example electronic mail message is displayed to a

subscriber. The subscriber identifies information in said example electronic mail message by

use of a pointing device to designate selected portions of the message. Rules are thereby established which can be applied to subsequent electronic mail messages to extract similar information from subsequent electronic mail messages. Each time an electronic message is

received, a paging message is sent to the paging receiver. The paging message includes the

information obtained by applying the previously established rules to the subsequent message.

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in

the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of

operation of the invention, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be

understood by reference to the following description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into

effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system including e mail delivery to a paging system

clearinghouse and text-to-voice retrieval of paging messages by way of conventional touch

tone telephone following an "e mail notification" paging message including subscriber-defined

message sub-content.

FIG. 2 illustrates a subscriber file maintained by the paging system to associate forwarded e

mail with paging device subscribers and maintain subscriber-defined message sub-content

rules. FIG. 3 illustrates an e mail message including a sub-content portion selected by a subscriber based

on a position within the e mail message.

FIG. 4 illustrates an e mail message including a sub-content portion established by a subscriber based on a tag identifying string and an associated sub-content string.

FIG. 5 illustrates by flow chart processing conducted by the paging system clearinghouse

interacting with a subscriber to establish subscriber-defined sub-content rules for forwarded e mail

messages.

FIG. 6 illustrates by flow chart processing conducted by the paging system clearinghouse

when receiving forwarded e mail for its paging device subscribers and sending notification

messages with paging system subscriber-defined message sub-content.

FIG. 7 illustrates a voice response unit (VRU) menu presented by the paging system and

making available text-to-voice access for forwarded e mail messages.

FIG. 8 illustrates a VRU menu allowing a subscriber to review and manage forwarded e mail

messages using text-to-voice conversion over a conventional telephone line and by use of a

conventional touch tone telephone.

FIG. 9 illustrates by flow chart processing conducted by a VRU of the paging system during

subscriber access and audible review of forwarded e mail messages. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates generally a communication system including a computer network 12 and a paging system 14. Computer network 12, as illustrated in this particular embodiment of the

present invention, comprises a global communication network 16, i.e., the Internet 16. For the

present discussion, Internet 16 will be taken as a collection of network service providers, e.g.,

Sl...Sn, interconnected to establish a global communication system network. Each service

provider supports users and, as relevant to the present invention, provides an "Internet

address" for its users. Each service provider also operates an e mail server allowing its associated network users to receive and send e mail messages from and throughout Internet 16. Thus, it will

be understood that a variety of users interact on Internet 16 and each has an ability to address

e mail messages to and receive e mail messages from other users on Internet 16. A data

source 18, for example, submits e mail 18 to Internet 16 bearing an Internet electronic

addresses and Internet 16 operates to deliver and make available such e mail messages to the

appropriate user of Internet 16, i.e., e mail messages collect at the appropriate one of the

Internet service providers' mail servers.

Paging system 14 includes a paging system clearinghouse 20 coupled to a public switch

telephone network (PSTN) 22 and to a radio signal transmission facility 24. Paging system

portion 14 receives information from various sources and provides in radio signal 26 paging

messages addressed to subscribers 30 of paging system portion 14, only one such subscriber

30 being illustrated herein. Thus, a paging device 28 carried by a paging system subscriber 30

receives paging messages for display to subscriber 30. Each subscriber 30 operates a

conventional telephone 36 and interacts via PSTN 22 with clearinghouse 20 for various subscriber services, and as relevant to the present invention, to retrieve and review e mail messages forwarded

to and stored at clearinghouse 20 and made available to subscriber 30 by virtue of a text-to- voice

conversion.

Paging system 14 maintains a subscriber files data base 32. Subscriber files data base 32

allows paging system 14 to maintain information on behalf of its paging system subscribers 30.

In addition to conventional information maintained in subscriber files data base 32, e.g.,

conventional paging messages and voice messages, clearinghouse 20 also maintains for each

subscriber 30 a collection of forwarded e mail messages. Subscribers 30 establish a

forwarding function relative to their Internet 16 e mail whereby clearinghouse 20 receives forwarded e mail 34 from Internet 16, i.e., receives copies of e mail originally addressed to subscribers 30 of paging system 14. More particularly, subscribers 30 have access to a personal

computer terminal 39 coupled to Internet 16. By means of such Internet 16 access, subscribers 30

establish a forwarding feature for their Internet 16 e mail whereby copies of their e mail arrive as

forwarded e mail 34 at clearinghouse 20. Forwarded e mail 34 is collected according to its

original recipient, i.e., according to each subscriber 30, and stored in an associated subscriber file of data base 32.

Thus, each subscriber 30 has his or her Internet 16 e mail forwarded to paging system 14 as

forwarded e mail 34 for storage at clearinghouse 20. Each subscriber 30 accesses his or her

Internet 16 e mail in conventional fashion by means of computer terminal 39 and interaction on

Internet 16. The present invention provides, however, an alternative mechanism for accessing

Internet 16 e mail without requiring subscriber 30 to make use of an Internet 16 computer

terminal 39. Because computer terminals are not always available for immediate use, subscriber 30 may not always be in position to immediately review just-received e mail

messages. Under the present invention, a subscriber 30 interacts with clearinghouse 20 via

PSTN 22 and a conventional touch-tone telephone 36. Clearinghouse 20 includes a voice

response unit (VRU) 38 including a text-to-voice conversion function. When a subscriber 30

accesses clearinghouse 20 in this manner, a variety of information held in subscriber files data

base 32 may be obtained. In particular, a subscriber 30 accesses and reviews stored e mail

messages as forwarded from Internet 16 and stored in data base 32 via the text-to-voice conversion capability of VRU 38.

Thus, when computer network 12 provides forwarded e mail 34 associated with a particular subscriber 30, clearinghouse 20 issues by way of radio signal 26 an e mail notification paging

message 40 displayed on paging device 28. As discussed more fully hereafter, an e mail notification paging message 40 may also include a subscriber-selected sub-portion of or information

concerning the associated e mail message. The subscriber 30 receives not only notice that new e

mail has arrived, but also receives by display at paging device 28 a subscriber-selected

representation of sub-content from the e mail message. Subscriber 30 then better determines

whether to access and review the entire e mail message. Because the representation or sub-content

as presented on paging device 28 is a subscriber-selected portion of e mail message, the subscriber

30 has ability to control precisely what is displayed on paging device 28 and therefore has a

personalized basis for determining whether access to the entire e mail message is necessary,

whether such access is by way of voice-to-text presentation via telephone 36 or by way of

traditional Internet 16 access using computer terminal 39. FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a subscriber file in data base 32 for a particular subscriber

30. For each paging system 14 subscriber 30 a separate file, generally as structured in FIG. 2,

provides information concerning that subscriber 30 and stores information to be made

available to that subscriber 30, e.g., paging messages, voice messages, and, under the present

invention, e mail messages via text-to-voice conversion. In FIG. 2, each subscriber 30 has a

unique subscriber ID 32a and a password 32b allowing the subscriber 30 access to messages

stored by paging system 14. An e mail address 32c for each paging system subscriber 30 provides a basis for associating each item of forwarded e mail 34 with a particular subscriber

30. Profile 32d holds a variety of information specific to a particular subscriber 30, but not

relevant to the present invention. A paging messages section 32e stores a set of most-recent

paging messages transmitted to the paging device 28 of this particular subscriber 30.

Similarly, voice messages section 32f stores a set of most recent voice messages received for this particular subscriber 30. Subscribers 30 access clearinghouse 20 by way of telephone 36,

PSTN 22 and VRU 38 to review the content of paging messages section 32e and voice messages section 32f in conventional fashion.

Under the present invention, a e mail messages section 32g stores a set of most-recent e mail

messages, i.e., e mail messages received from Internet 16 as forwarded e mail 34, associated

with a particular subscriber 30 by means of e mail address 32c. Subscribers 30 may not wish for

all e mail messages to be forwarded to paging system 14. Thus, each subscriber 30 also establishes

a filter criteria 32h to be stored in their subscriber file of database 32 and determine whether or not

clearinghouse 20 will keep a given e mail item. Each subscriber 30 also establishes one or more

content subset rules 32i which identify a subscriber-defined portion of or information concerning e mail messages to be forwarded to the associated subscriber 30 in conjunction with an e mail

notification paging message.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate example e mail messages as originally intended for presentation to a subscriber 30, e.g., a screen image as composed by data source 18. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two

suggested methods for identifying by subscriber-definition sub-content within e mail messages

whereby a subscriber-defined portion of an e mail message appears on a paging device 28. In FIG. 3, e mail message 50 includes a recipient field 52, a sender field 54, and a subject field 56. Recipient field 52 identifies a subscriber 30, i.e., matches an e mail address 32c in one of the

subscriber files in database 32. The sender field 54 identifies the original source of e mail message

50. Subject field 56 identifies in some fashion the nature of e mail message 50, but not necessarily

the content thereof. In other words, subject field 56 is a general reference to the content of e mail message 50, but does not necessarily convey to a subscriber 30 sufficient information to determine its value to subscriber 30. Subscriber 30 may receive one such e mail message 50 daily from this

particular source on this particular subject, but may not be interested in reviewing the entire content

of a given e mail message 50.

In this particular example, e mail message 50 includes a table 58 and within table 58 a particular cell

60 is of particular interest to subscriber 30. Because cell 60 occurs at a fixed location within e mail

message 50, cell 60 may be identified by a horizontal locator 62 and a vertical locator 64. Thus,

cell 60 represents a fixed location sub-content portion of e mail message 50 which a subscriber 30

finds of particular interest and which may dictate whether or not subscriber 30 has sufficient interest

in reviewing the entire content of that e mail message 50. FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mechanism identifying sub-content in an e mail message 66. E mail

message 66 includes a recipient field 68 identifying one of subscribers 30, a sender field 70

identifying the original source of e mail message 66, and a subject field 72. As with e mail message

50, the recipient field 68 identifies one of subscribers 30 by correlation with the e mail address 32c

(FIG. 2) in that subscriber's subscriber file in database 32. Clearinghouse 20 thereby associates a

given forwarded e mail message 32, e.g., one of e mail messages 50 or 66, with one of subscribers

30. In this example, subscriber 30 finds interest in the occurrence of a particular character string in

e mail message 66 and wishes to receive that character string by paging message, i.e., have that sub-string displayed on that subscriber's paging device 28 in connection with an e mail notification

paging message. Subscriber 30 identifies a tag or identifier string 74 and a content string 76.

Identifier string 74 is specified by its content, i.e., clearinghouse 20 looks for the occurrence or

match with string 74 in a just-received e mail message. Content string 76 is specified by its location

relative to identifier string 74. For example, content string 76 may be defined as the next ten

characters following identifier string 74. As may be appreciated, however, a variety of relative

positioning may be established for content string 76, including concurrence with string 74.

Thus, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate subscriber-defined sub-content designations for e mail messages.

Whenever an e mail message arrives from a particular source or bearing a particular subject field,

then a content subset rule may be invoked to extract from that e mail message a small but

particularly meaningful sub-portion for transmission to the subscriber 30 and display on paging

device 28.

The present invention proposes that sub-content rules such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 be

established by "screen highlighting" and "point and click" interaction with clearinghouse 20. For

example, a subscriber 30 makes use of computer terminal 39 to interact with clearinghouse 20 via Internet 16. Computer terminal 39 includes a pointing device 51 with buttons 51a-51c.

Pointing device 51 couples to terminal 39 and causes presentation and movement of a pointer

53 on the screen of terminal 39. Subscriber 30 uses pointing device 51 to move pointer 53

about a screen display and, by activation of buttons 51a-51c, highlight portions of the screen display, and thereby highlight portions of e mail messages 50 and 66. Clearinghouse 20

presents an e mail message to a subscriber 30 and subscriber 30 uses screen highlighting and button

51a-51c activation to designate various portions of a given e mail message and establish a content

subset rule. It will be understood that e mail messages come in a great variety of standard formats,

e.g., ranging from plain ASCII text to HTML to spreadsheet. Under the illustrated embodiment,

clearinghouse 20 presents any given e mail message to a subscriber 30 as a screen image and allows subscriber 30 to designate sub-content relative to such screen image. Subscriber 30 thereby deals

with the e mail message in the most familiar form, i.e., a screen image, and need not be concerned with the particular underlying message formatting.

FIG. 5 illustrates by flow chart interaction between a subscriber 30 and clearinghouse 20 in

establishing content subset rules. Generally, the flow chart in FIG. 5 allows a subscriber 30 to

sequentially pass through the e mail messages stored in e mail messages portion 32g for that

subscriber 30 and, if desired, designate a content subset rule. Processing begins in block 80 where

clearinghouse 20 points to the first e mail message stored for subscriber 30. In block 81,

clearinghouse 20 retrieves and displays that particular e mail message on subscriber 30 computer

terminal 39. Decision block 82 provides opportunity for subscriber 30 to delete the e mail message.

If the subscriber chooses to delete the e mail item, then processing passes through blocks 83 and 84

where clearinghouse 20 deletes the e mail message from that particular subscriber file and points to

the next e mail item, respectively. Processing then returns to block 81 where the next e mail

message is retrieved and displayed on a subscriber 30 computer terminal 39. Decision block 85 represents an opportunity for subscriber 30 to establish a content subset rule for

the current e mail message, i.e., the message being displayed on terminal 39. If the user declines, then processing passes to block 84. Otherwise, processing advances to block 86 where

clearinghouse 20 obtains a source identifier string from the current e mail message, e.g., copies the

sender field 54 from the currently displayed e mail message. The subject field 56 may also be used

as an identifier, i.e., establish a class or set of e mail messages subject to this content subset rule. Processing then advances to decision block 87 where the user has opportunity to designate this

content subset rule as a fixed location content subset. If the subscriber 30 chooses to define the

content subset rule as a fixed location rule, then processing passes to block 88 where clearinghouse

20 prompts subscriber 30 to mark by highlighting the particular sub-content of interest. Processing iterates at decision block 89 until subscriber 30 activates a mouse button. In block 90,

clearinghouse 20 stores the source identifier string as taken in block 86 in conjunction with the

coordinates of the character string highlighted at the time subscriber 30 activated a mouse button. In other words, subscriber 30 highlights a sub-portion of the e mail message displayed and clicks a

mouse button whereupon clearinghouse 20 stores the location, e.g., horizontal locator 62 and

vertical locator 64, of that highlighted material. This establishes a content subset rule whereby

clearinghouse 20, upon receiving an e mail message from that particular source, employs the

location information to extract therefrom a character string and deliver that character string to that

subscriber 30 paging device 28. Processing then advances from block 90 to block 99 where clearinghouse 20 determines whether additional e mail messages are to be reviewed and

offered to subscriber 30 for deletion or marking with a content subset rule.

Returning to decision block 87, if the user declines opportunity to establish a fixed location subset

rule, then decision block 91 provides opportunity to establish a relative location content subset rule. If the user chooses to establish a relative location content subset rule, then processing advances to

block 92 where clearinghouse 20 prompts subscriber 30 for a tag mark, i.e., asks that the user

highlight an identifier string 74 (FIG. 4). Clearinghouse 20 then iterates at decision block 93 until subscriber 30 activates a mouse button. In block 94, clearinghouse 20 reacts to the mouse button activation by capturing the currently highlighted string as a tag string 74. Processing then advances to block 95 where clearinghouse 20 prompts subscriber 30 for an associated content subset string

76. Processing iterates at decision block 96 until subscriber 30 has activated a mouse button.

Advancing to block 97, clearinghouse 20 reacts to the mouse button activation by storing the

relative location of the currently highlighted item in relation to the previously marked tag string obtained in block 94. Subscriber 30 thereby establishes a relative location content subset rule including a source identifier string, tag field string, and the location of a sub-content field in relation

to the tag field string. When clearinghouse 20 receives an e mail message from that particular

source, it searches the e mail message for occurrence of a character string matching the tag field 74 and then extracts from the e mail message a character string in the designated relative location in

relation to the tag field 74. In block 98, the relative location content subset rule is stored as a

source identifier string, a tag string, and a relative location value. Processing then advances to

block 99 where clearinghouse 20 determines whether additional e mail messages are to be reviewed

and offered to subscriber 30 for deletion or marking with a content subset rule.

Returning to decision block 91, if the user declines opportunity to establish a fixed location

subset rule, then decision block 71 provides opportunity to establish a comparison-based

content subset rule, i.e., a content subset rule referencing a comparison between specified

content in the e mail message and a subscriber-defined reference value. In block 73, paging

system 20 obtains indication of content in the e mail message to be compared. Such content

may be indicated by subscriber 30 by a variety of methods, e.g., fixed location or relative location to a tag value. In any event, subscriber 30 identifies sub-content within the e mail message to be applied under this particular content subset rule. Continuing to block 75,

clearinghouse 20 obtains a reference value and a comparison rule from subscriber 30. For

example, subscriber 30 provides a threshold or reference value and specifies a comparison function, e.g., equals, greater than, or less than, to establish a comparison function for use under this content subset rule. Processing then advances to block 99 where clearinghouse 20

determines whether additional e mail messages are to be reviewed and offered to subscriber 30

for deletion or marking with a content subset rule.

As may be appreciated, content subset rules may assume a variety of structures, including a mixture of fixed, relative location, and comparison functions. As illustrated herein, three such structures shown include fixed location, relative location, and comparison separately, but such

rules may be used in combination or in combination with other similar such rules identifying

message sub-content or representation of message content.

FIG. 6 illustrates by flow chart processing conducted by clearinghouse 20 in response to a

given forwarded e mail 34 message. In FIG. 6, processing begins in block 100 where

clearinghouse 20 analyses the e mail message to identify the original recipient as a subscriber

30. More particularly, the e mail message arrives as a forwarded e mail 34 message addressed

to the clearinghouse 20 Internet address, but bears indication of the original recipient. Thus,

in block 100 clearinghouse 20 identifies the e mail address in the e mail message indicating the

original recipient and attempts to match this original recipient e mail address with one of its

paging system subscribers 30. More particularly, clearinghouse 20 analyses the e mail

addresses 32c of subscriber files data base 32 to find a match. If a match occurs, then clearinghouse 20 has received a copy of an e mail message originally directed to one of its paging system subscribers 30.

Continuing to block 102, clearinghouse 20 applies filter criteria 32h to the just-received e mail

message. Such filtering may be used to avoid e mail notification paging messages for each and every occurrence of new e mail. Thus, the application of a filter in block 102 represents opportunity to "toss out" certain e mail messages with respect to storage at clearinghouse 20

and thereby avoid annoying the subscriber 30 with an e mail notification paging message in

each and every occurrence of a forwarded e mail 34 message to that particular subscriber 30. The just-received e mail message is thereby associated with a paging system subscriber 30 ID, i.e., a field 32c, as taken from a subscriber file of data base 32.

If the just-received e mail message fails to satisfy the filter criteria field 32h for this particular

subscriber 30, then the message is not kept and processing branches at decision block 103 and

terminates. Otherwise, the message is to be kept, the associated subscriber 30 is to be

notified by paging message, and processing advances to decision block 104. In decision block

104, clearinghouse 20 determines whether this particular subscriber 30 has a maximum

allowed number of e mail messages presently stored in data base 32. If a maximum number of e mail messages are presently stored, then processing passes through block 106 where

clearinghouse 20 deletes the oldest e mail message presently stored in portion 32g for that

particular subscriber 30. In block 110, clearinghouse 20 stores the just-received e mail

message in association with the particular subscriber's ID, i.e., subscriber ID field 32a, in the e

mail messages 32g for that particular subscriber 30. In this manner, a copy of Internet 16 e mail for this particular subscriber 30 is stored in subscriber files data base 32. Block 112 represents application of a subscriber-defined content subset rule to this particular e mail

message and, if applicable, represents capture of the rule outcome, e.g., capture of message sub-

content or information concerning the message as designated by that rule. More particularly, each

content subset rule for a given subscriber 30 will include a source identifier string, e.g., a copy of

the sender field or a copy of the subject field, to identify a class of e mail messages. Once an e mail

message is identified as having a content subset rule, a portion of the e mail message is extracted or information concerning the messages is generated. For a fixed location content subset rule,

clearinghouse 20 uses the location information to extract a portion, e.g., character string, of the e

mail message. For a relative location rule, clearinghouse 20 searches the e mail message for occurrence of a match with the tag field and if such match occurs then clearinghouse 20 extracts a

portion of the e mail message found at the location designated relative to the tag field. For

comparison functions, clearinghouse 20 generates information concerning the message, e.g., a

representation that a certain value has occurred or that a certain value has occurred in a given range or magnitude relative to a reference value.

Content subset rules may vary according to a variety of implementations. For example, a

content subset rule may reference a comparison between content within the electronic mail

message relative to given reference content defined by the associated paging system subscriber 30. For example, a subscriber 30 may be interested in receiving notification of just-received e

mail when a particular stock value exceeds or falls below a subscriber-defined threshold or

reference value. As may be appreciated, content subset rules may be based on a variety of

subscriber-defined criteria, including selected combinations of location, tag values, relative

location, and comparison functions. Content subset rules may, in addition to selecting sub-content from an e mail message,

determine whether or not an e mail notification paging message will or will not be sent to the associated paging system subscriber 30. Decision block 113 represents a case where the

content subset rule inhibits transmission of an e mail notification paging message. Thus, if the

content subset rule indicates no notification paging messages to be sent, then processing

branches at decision block 113 and exits.

Otherwise, information concerning or content taken from the e mail message is to be delivered

to the associated subscriber 30 by way of paging message and display on the associated paging

device 28. The rule outcome is typically a character string extracted from the e mail message or

provided as a representation of the e mail message content, e.g., the result of a comparison

function, as established according to the subscriber-defined content subset rule.

Continuing to block 114, clearinghouse 20 issues by way of radio signal 26 an e mail

notification paging message 40. Such paging message 40 indicates to that particular

subscriber 30 that clearinghouse 20 has just received a forwarded e mail message and stands

ready to make such e mail message available for review by way of VRU 38 and its text-to-

voice conversion capability. When clearinghouse 20 successfully applies a content subset rule to

the associated e mail message, then the e mail notification paging message also includes the

subscriber-defined content subset. Subscriber 30 not only has notification of new e mail, but also

an indication of the content of that e mail according to that particular user's particular interests in e

mail originating from that particular source. The user then has basis for determining whether need

exists to then access the full content of that particular e mail message. Subscriber 30 has, under the present invention, opportunity to review the e mail message by text-to-voice conversion via

telephone 36.

Upon receiving e mail notification paging message 40, subscriber 30 uses conventional touch-

tone telephone 36 to interact with clearinghouse 20 by way of PSTN 22. Subscriber 30

interacts with VRU 38 to access a subscriber services VRU menu 200 illustrated in FIG. 7. In

addition to conventional message access options available under menu 200, e.g., pressing "1" on telephone 36 to review page messages and pressing "2" on telephone 36 to review voice

messages, the present invention provides an additional option for subscriber 30 to review e

mail messages by pressing "3" on telephone 36. Upon selecting an option to review e mail messages, VRU 38 then presents review e mail messages VRU menu 202 as presented in FIG.

8. VRU menu 202 allows a variety of access and management options relative to stored e

mail messages. For example, pressing "1" on telephone 36 repeats e mail message

presentation via the text-to-voice capability of VRU 38, pressing a "2" allows the user to skip

to a next e mail message presentation, pressing a "8" allows the user to delete from data base

32 an e mail message currently being presented, press a "9" to skip ahead within a given e mail message, and press "0" to exit e mail message presentation.

FIG. 9 illustrates by flow chart operation of VRU 38 in implementation of menu 202. In FIG.

9, it is assumed that the user has previously provided a valid user ID and password, i.e., as found in a subscriber file 32 in fields 32a and 32b respectively.

Processing illustrated in FIG. 9 represents user review and manipulation of e mail messages

stored in portion 32g of a particular subscriber's file maintained in subscriber files data base 32

by clearinghouse 20. In FIG. 9, processing begins in block 300 where VRU 38 points to a first e mail message stored in portion 32f for this particular paging system subscriber 30.

Advancing to block 302, VRU 38 begins play of the current e mail message by means of the

text-to-voice capability of VRU 38. As may be appreciated, each e mail message may be composed of a collection of fields, e.g., a sender field, a subject field, a body field, a date field,

etc. It will be understood that VRU 38 begins conversion of an e mail message and presentation of the e mail message as voice information to subscriber 30. The voice

presentation of the e mail message may be interrupted, however, by user operation of

particular keys on telephone 36 as previously described in VRU menu 202, i.e., the user can

repeat, skip, delete, and advance through a particular e mail message in addition to exiting the

e mail messages review procedure. Thus, during play of a given e mail message, the user may invoke a "delete" function, i.e., press "8" during playback whereupon processing advances to block 304 and VRU 38 deletes the current e mail message. Processing then continues to block

306 where VRU 38 points to a next e mail message for this particular paging system

subscriber 30. Processing then advances to decision block 306 where VRU 38 determines

whether additional e mail messages are stored for this particular subscriber 30. If not, then

processing terminates. If additional e mail messages remain, however, then processing advances to block 308 where VRU 38 points to the next e mail message stored for this

particular paging system subscriber 30. Processing then returns from block 308 to block 302

where the next e mail message is presented to the subscriber 30 by means of text-to-voice

conversion and presentation via telephone 36.

If, during e mail message presentation in block 302, the user invokes a "skip" function, i.e.,

presses "2" on telephone 36, then processing branches from block 302 to decision block 306.

If additional e mail messages remain for this particular subscriber 30, then processing advances

through block 308 and returns to e mail message presentation in block 302, i.e., the next e mail message stored for that particular. paging system subscriber 30 is presented by means of text-to-voice presentation. If a particular e mail message is completely presented in block 302,

then processing branches from block 302 to block 306 where VRU 38 determines whether

additional messages are to be presented and if such additional e mail messages are available, processing branches through block 308 and returns to the presentation procedure of block

302. If the subscriber 30 invokes the "exit" feature, i.e., presses a "0" on telephone 36, then processing branches at block 302 and terminates. While not specifically illustrated in FIG. 6, it

will be understood that e mail message presentation may be advanced from field to field or by

fixed increments, e.g., fast forward, by operation of a "skip-ahead" feature, i.e., pressing "9" on telephone 36.

Thus, subscriber 30 has virtually immediate notification of new e mail messages but need not

obtain immediate access to Internet 16 to review the content of such messages. Under the present invention, subscriber 30 simply obtains access to a conventional telephone and

interacts with clearinghouse 20 of paging system portion 14 to obtain access to the content of

the new e mail message. Subscriber 30 receives in conjunction with the e mail notification paging

message 40 an indication of the content of the particular e mail message. More particularly, by

virtue of the subscriber-defined content subset rules established by subscriber 30, subscriber 30

receives specific information extracted from the e mail message for display on his or her paging

device 28. The subscriber 30 receives more valuable information then just the source of the e mail

message, the subscriber 30 receives a specific portion of the e mail message and may be either

satisfied with that particular sub-portion without resorting to accessing the entire content of the e

mail message, or may wish to access the entire content of the e mail message by voice-to-text

conversion or by screen display on computer terminal 39. The present invention thereby provides opportunity for subscribers 30 to receive "pushed" data,

i.e., great volumes of information, by way of e mail and also receive immediate notification of such

e mail messages, but not be burdened by need to react to all such e mail notifications by accessing and reviewing entire e mail messages in every case. Subscriber 30 has the advantage of defining

content subset rules and the advantage of receiving selected sub-portions of e mail messages to

make determination as to whether the e mail message has value and whether the entire e mail message need be reviewed immediately.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment

that has been described and illustrated, and that variations may be made therein without

departing from the scope of the invention as found in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of delivering information to a paging receiver, said method comprising the

steps: displaying an example electronic mail message to a subscriber associated with said

paging receiver;

identifying by the subscriber information in said example electronic mail message, said step of identifying by the subscriber including screen display of said message and use of a pointing device to designate selected portions of the message; establishing a rule based on said identifying step, said rule being applicable to a

subsequent electronic mail message to obtain a rule outcome, said rule outcome including at least one of information selected from and information concerning said subsequent electronic

mail message; receiving said subsequent electronic mail message; applying said rule to said subsequent electronic mail message to obtain said rule

outcome ; and

sending a paging message to said paging receiver, said paging message including said

rule outcome as obtained upon application of said rule to said subsequent electronic mail

message.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of receiving said subsequent

electronic mail message comprises the step of receiving said subsequent electronic mail message as forwarded from a computer network, said subsequent electronic mail message being originally addressed to said subscriber within said computer network.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said rule references a location within said

subsequent electronic mail message, said location being defined by said subscriber.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said rule identifies presence of given content within said subsequent electronic mail message, said given content being defined by said subscriber..

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said rule compares content within said subsequent electronic mail message with a given content reference value defined by said subscriber.

6. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of paging devices, each paging device being associated with at least

one of a plurality of paging system subscribers; and

a paging system adapted to receive electronic mail messages forwarded from a computer network, each forwarded electronic mail message being associated with at least one of said paging system subscribers, said paging system upon receiving a forwarded electronic

mail message providing an electronic mail notification paging message at a paging device

associated with said paging system subscriber, said paging system providing access to the

content of said electronic mail message by means of text-to-voice presentation, said paging system providing at said paging device a representation of sub-content taken from said electronic mail message, selection of said sub-content being a function of a content subset rule

established by said paging system subscriber.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said paging system includes a voice response

unit with text-to-voice conversion capability whereby said access to the entire content of said

electronic mail message is available to said paging system subscriber by conventional

telephone and said voice response unit.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said content subset rule references a location

within said electronic mail message.

9. A system according to claim 6 wherein said content subset rule references presence of given content within said electronic mail message as defined by said paging system subscriber.

10. A system according to claim 6 wherein said content subset rule references a

comparison of content within said electronic mail message with a given content reference

value defined by said paging system subscriber.

11. A system according to claim 6 wherein said content subset rule is received by said paging system by interaction between said paging system and said paging system subscriber.

12. A system according to claim 6 wherein said communication system includes a

computer terminal including a screen and communication linking said paging system and said computer terminal, and said interaction includes presentation of screen information and said

paging system subscriber identifying sub-content relative to said screen presentation.

13. A communication system comprising: a plurality of paging devices, each paging device being associated with at least one of a plurality of paging system subscribers; and

a paging system adapted to receive electronic mail messages forwarded from a

computer network, each forwarded electronic mail message being associated with at least one

of said paging system subscribers, said paging system upon receiving a forwarded electronic mail message providing an electronic mail notification paging message at a paging device associated with said paging system subscriber, said paging system providing at said paging

device a representation of sub-content taken from said electronic mail message, selection of

said sub-content being a function of a content subset rule established by said paging system

subscriber.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said content subset rule references a location within said electronic mail message.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein said content subset rule references presence of

given content within said electronic mail message as defined by said paging system subscriber.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein said content subset rule references a

value defined by said paging system subscriber.

17. A system according to claim 13 wherein said content subset rule is received by said

paging system by interaction between said paging system and said paging system subscriber.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said communication system includes a computer terminal including a screen and communication linking said paging system and said

computer terminal, wherein said interaction includes screen presentation and said wherein said

paging system subscriber identifies sub-content relative to said screen presentation.

19. A system according to claim 13 wherein said subscriber identifies portions of said electronic mail message by screen highlighting said portions as presented on said screen.