Systems and methods for electronically distributing information
AssigneeQuest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated
InventorsDouglas Menkedick, David Rapperport, Maheswar Putta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for transmitting messages related to certain information while maintaining the confidentiality of that information. A potential recipient may register one or more devices for receipt of such messages while specifying rules regarding when different messages may be delivered to the various devices. To keep sensitive information confidential, the messages may include only a link to such sensitive information, but exclude the sensitive information itself. An authorized recipient may then use the link to access the sensitive information via a password-protected Web site.
Claims13
A method of routing electronic messages in a data network comprising a plurality of sender computer systems and a plurality of user devices, the method being performed by a routing computer system that comprises a database and participates in the data network, the method comprising:
- storing in the database
- (a) mapping data that associates each of a plurality of sender-user identifiers respectively with exactly one of a plurality of users and further associates each of the sender-user identifiers respectively with exactly one of a plurality of senders,
- (b) device data that associates each of the user devices respectively with exactly one of the users, and
- (c) a plurality of routing criteria, each of the routing criteria being associated respectively in the database with exactly one of the users;
- receiving from one of the sender computer systems, via the data network, a message from one of the senders to one of the users, the message comprising text, a reference to additional information, and one of the sender-user identifiers, the one of the sender-user identifiers being associated with both the one of the senders and the one of the users, and the text, the reference, and the sender-user identifier each being distinct from each other;
- responsive to receipt of the message and based on the one of the sender-user identifiers, retrieving one or more of the routing criteria associated with the one of the users and, applying one or more of the retrieved routing criteria, identifying for receipt of the message one or more of the user devices associated with the user;
- transmitting via the data network information to cause the identified one or more of the user devices to present information comprised by the message;
- receiving from one of the identified one or more of the user devices an acknowledgement message;
- and
- transmitting the acknowledgement to the one of the senders.
A routing computer system for routing electronic messages in a data network that comprises a plurality of sender computer systems and a plurality of user devices, the routing computer system comprising a database, wherein:
- the database comprises
- (a) mapping data that associates each of a plurality of sender-user identifiers respectively with exactly one of a plurality of users and further associates each of the sender-user identifiers respectively with exactly one of a plurality of senders,
- (b) device data that associates each of the user devices respectively with exactly one of the users, and
- (c) a plurality of routing criteria, each of the routing criteria being associated respectively in the database with exactly one of the users;
- and
- the routing computer system is programmed to carry out a method comprising:
- receiving from one of the sender computer systems, via the data network, a message from one of the senders to one of the users, the message comprising text, a reference to additional information, and one of the sender-user identifiers, the one of the sender-user identifiers being associated with both the one of the senders and the one of the users, and the text, the reference, and the sender-user identifier each being distinct from each other;
- responsive to receipt of the message and based on the one of the sender-user identifiers, retrieving one or more of the routing criteria associated with the one of the users and, applying one or more of the retrieved routing criteria, identifying for receipt of the message one or more of the user devices associated with the user;
- transmitting via the data network information to cause the identified one or more of the user devices to present information comprised by the message;
- receiving from one of the identified one or more of the user devices an acknowledgement message;
- and
- transmitting the acknowledgement to the one of the senders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.