Computerized mail notification system and method which detects calls from a mail server

An electronic mailing system having at last a main host computer, for transferring mail between a sending subscriber and a recipient subscriber, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, comprising:

• a. a dialing unit connected to said host computer for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at the host computer;
• b. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• c. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating arrival of a mail message at said host computer.

A mail notification system for notifying an addressee that mail has been deposited in an addressee mailbox, the system comprising:

• a. a processing unit for processing mail operations;
• b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox;
• c. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call from said dialing unit identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• c. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.

A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in an addressee subscriber's mailbox, the system comprising:

• a. a processing unit for processing mail operations;
• b. a sensing device, connected to said addressee subscriber's mailbox and said processing unit, for sensing whenever mail is deposited in or removed from said addressee subscriber's mailbox;
• c. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox;
• d. a receiving unit comprising a call intercept unit associated with the recipient subscriber's telephone, for intercepting said telephone call, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• e. a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said call intercept unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mailbox.

A mail notification system for notifying an addressee subscriber that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box, comprising:

• a. a processing unit for processing incoming mail;
• b. a dialing unit connected to said processing unit for calling a telephone number associated with said addressee subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box;
• c. a receiving unit comprising a modem communicator associated with the addressee subscriber's telephone, for receiving said telephone call from said dialing unit, identifying it as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• d. a computer system comprising a display unit for displaying said indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box.

A method for notifying a subscriber that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox, comprising the steps of:

• a. processing incoming mail;
• b. depositing mail addressed to said subscriber in said subscriber's mailbox;
• c. dialing a telephone number associated with said subscriber whenever mail is deposited in said addressee subscriber's mail box;
• d. intercepting a dialed call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone;
• e. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• f. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that mail has been deposited in said subscriber's mailbox.

A method for transferring mail between a sensing subscriber and a recipient subscriber via a host computer, said sending subscriber and said recipient subscriber not being continually connected to each other or to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. dialing a telephone number associated with said recipient subscriber whenever a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer;
• b. intercepting a dialed telephone call by means of an unit associated with said subscriber's telephone;
• c. identifying said dialed call as a telephone call from said dialing unit and providing an indication that said dialing unit has called said receiving unit without requiring completion of said call;
• and
• d. displaying said indication that said dialed call has been intercepted, thereby indicating that a mail message for said recipient subscriber arrives at said host computer.