The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Stephen C. O'Neal, San Francisco, CA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
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, either from a computer, or from a telephone, the types of messages for which s/he wishes to be alerted, and designates one or more device types (email address, fax machine, pager number, or telephone number) to receive the alert. 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 alert to be generated to the user configured devices.