E-mail program capable of transmitting, opening and presenting a container having digital content using embedded executable software

Abstract

An E-mail message enhancement apparatus is preferably implemented through a sequence of program instructions. On the sender side, creation software implements a data format that allows for differing types of content, such as visual images, audio, multimedia, and functional attributes such as links to a sender's home page on the world wide web. Furthermore, in addition to such content in the E-mail message, there is included header information, including the E-mail address of the sender, and recipient executable embedded software that ensures the recipient will be able to view contents and perform the functional attributes that make up the E-mail message.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 329,122 filed Jun. 9, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 845,722 filed Apr. 25, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,688.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an E-mail software program enhancement, and, more particularly, an e-mail program capable of transmitting, opening and presenting a container having digital content (e.g. visual images, audio) using embedded executable software. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Conventional E-mail systems transmit textual messages from a sender to a receiver. It is also customary to send attachments with messages, the attachments containing files that the sender desires forwarding to the receiver. [0004] Despite the vast usage of E-mail and E-mail systems, certain drawbacks still exist. Among these drawbacks include lack of privacy and verification of message receipt. While encryption systems exist that can provide for privacy and verif...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an E-mail message enhancement apparatus that allows for privacy and verification of message receipt.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an E-mail message enhancement apparatus that can be reliably transmitted from one E-mail platform to another E-mail platform.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an E-mail message enhancement apparatus that allows for the transmission, reception and layout of interesting different types of content.

[0012] Through the use of a data structure that allows for a plurality of component objects to be included in a single E-mail message, as well as a plurality of sub-component objects to be associated with each component object, an E-mail message having robust content and functional attributes can be achieved.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the vast usage of E-mail and E-mail systems, certain drawbacks still exist.

Among these drawbacks include lack of privacy and verification of message receipt.

While encryption systems exist that can provide for privacy and verification of message receipt, such encryption systems become tedious to properly use, and are, therefore, avoided in many circumstances due to the fact that they are difficult to use.

Since typical E-mails are not secure in a heterogeneous environment and there is no verification of message receipt, E-mail messages are typically used only for low priority communications.

Furthermore, messages that are sent via one E-mail platform cannot be reliably transmitted to another E-mail platform and still ensure that different types of content appear as desired.

For this and other reasons, E-mail messages typically lack interesting different types of content, such as visual images, audio, multimedia, and other functional attributes, such as, for instance, links to a sender's home page on the world wide web.

Accordingly, since only text based content can be easily transmitted and received in a reliable manner, most E-mail transmissions tend to use textual content that looks similar, with attachments of files that are similarly uninteresting.

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