Method and apparatus for disseminating messages to unspecified users in a data processing system
US5555426A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/23
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The method and apparatus of the present invention permit users to associate conditions of interest, such as keywords or originator identities. In response to the sending of a message, the data processing system determines which user conditions are met by the message input into the system and may associate the identities of such users with the message. In one embodiment, the system returns to the sender of the message the identities of users whose conditions are met by the message. In another embodiment, the system routes the message to users whose conditions are met by the message and, optionally, returns a confirmation of the delivery of the message to the sender. In either embodiment, a user can designate himself as "invisible", so that the system will not report the invisible user's identity to the sender.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.