System and method for personalizing electronic mail messages
US6779178B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F40/186
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an e-mail customization system that incorporates personalized images, including handwritten signatures, into existing e-mail messages. Specifically, the e-mail customization system generates customized software that integrates with existing e-mail systems that provides the ability to select different hand-written signatures. Once a signature is selected, the signature may be included in all e-mail sent from the user. A recipient capable of displaying HTML e-mail messages, views the e-mail message with the signature. This signature provides a readily discernable visual queue indicating the sender of the e-mail message. In case the recipient's e-mail system does not recognize HTML formatted messages, a clean copy of the e-mail message and an alternate text version of the image is added to the top of the HTML message. In addition, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention include handwritten signatures into web-based e-mail systems and electronic greeting cards.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.