Communications system and method of operation for electronic messaging using structured response objects and virtual mailboxes

In a communication system using action messages and virtual mailboxes in electronic transactions, a method of conducting electronic transactions between a sender and at least one receiver comprising the steps of:

• a) forming in an electronic template an action message identifying at least one receiver for response to the action message in the transaction between the sender and the at least one receiver;
• b) receiving and storing the action message in a virtual mailbox contained in a processor means;
• c) generating and sending to the at least one receiver an indicator or pointer message identifying the action message at the virtual mailbox in the processor means;
• d) tracking and recording the response(s) by the at least one receiver to the action message in the processor means;
• e) updating the action message according to the response(s) or lack of response(s) by the at least one receiver in the processor means;
• f) summarizing and displaying the status of the responses or lack of responses upon in the processor means upon inquiry by the sender;
• g) automatically generating and sending to the at least one receiver a status reminder of the action message;
• and
• h) receiving the indicator or pointer and sending a response in the pointer to the action message at the virtual mailbox in the processor means.

An article of manufacturing, comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for performing and controlling electronic messaging in conducting electronic transactions between a sender and at least one receiver using an action message and a virtual mailbox, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
• a) computer readable program code means for forming in an electronic template an action message identifying at least one receiver for response to the action message in a transaction between the sender and the at least one receiver;
• b) computer readable program code means for receiving and storing the action message in a virtual mailbox contained in a processor means;
• c) computer readable program code means for generating and sending to the sender and the at least one receiver an indicator or pointer message identifying the action message at the virtual mailbox in the processor means;
• d) computer readable program code means for tracking and recording the response(s) by the at least one receiver to the action message in the processor means;
• e) computer readable program code means for updating the action message according to the response(s) or lack of response(s) by the at least one receiver in the processor means;
• f) computer readable program code means for summarizing and displaying the status of the responses or lack of responses in the processor means upon inquiry by the sender;
• g) computer readable program code means for automatically generating and sending to the at least one receiver a status reminder of the action message;
• and
• h) computer readable program code means for receiving the indicator or pointer and generating and sending in the pointer a response to the action mail at the virtual mailbox in the processor means.

An apparatus for conducting electronic transactions between a sender and at least one receiver in a communications system comprising:

• means for incorporating an electronic transaction in an predetermined electronic template as a structured response object;
• processor means for receiving and storing the structured response object in a virtual mailbox;
• and
• means for providing the at least one receiver with a pointer indicator for response in lieu of the structured response object.

A method of conducting electronic transactions between a sender and at least one receiver in a communications system comprising the steps of:

• forming a predetermined electronic template including a structured response object for conducting an electronic transaction;
• storing the structured response object in a virtual mailbox in a processor means;
• and
• providing the at least one receiver with a pointer indicator for response in lieu of the structured response object.