
US Patent Application No: 2001/0012,286
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER ALERT OF DEVICE INDEPENDENT MESSAGES
Stats
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Aug 9, 2001
Publication date -
Mar 29, 1999
filing date -
09/280,641
serial no -
ABAN
status
Importance
Abstract
An apparatus and method for alerting a user upon receipt of selected messages, independent of the type of device generating the message is provided. Message generating devices include telephony devices (telephone, fax machine, etc.), or data devices such as a computer or PDA. All messages are converted into a format compatible with a data network for delivery to a web server. The web server includes a message notification system with message alert type selection and incoming message filtering. A user designates from a computer the types of messages for which s/he wishes to be alerted, and designates how the alert is to be presented on his/her computer. When messages are received by the web server, they are distinguished by message type, and filtered according to the user defined criteria. Selected messages cause a message indication to be generated provided to a program on the user's computer. The program alerts the user, either visually or audibly, depending on user defined criteria, of the number and type of received messages. One alert type of the present invention includes a flashing icon or LED on the user's computer system.
First Claim
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