Method and system for dynamically generating electronic communications

Abstract

The present invention relates to generating time relevant content for electronic communications, such as electronic mail (e-mail). The time relevant content is delivered when the electronic communications are acknowledged by the recipient based upon receipt of an electronic indicator, such as a returned request(s), at a home server. In the case of electronic mail, the time relevant content is dynamic, as it is assembled at the time the e-mail is opened, as opposed to the time when the e-mail is sent, as is the case with conventional or static e-mail and other similar electronic communications.

1 . A method for providing content into electronic communications comprising: 
 sending an electronic communication to a recipient;    receiving at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient; and    providing content to the opened electronic communication in response to receiving the at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing content to the opened electronic communication includes assembling the content for the electronic communication at a time proximate to the time the electronic communication was opened.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic communication includes at least one electronic mail.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein sending the electronic communication includes, sending data for a body when the electronic communication is opened and at least one request.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one indicator includes at least a portion of the at least one request.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one indicator includes the at least one request.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein assembling the content for the electronic communication includes extracting at least one keyword from the at least one request and obtaining the content for the opened electronic communication based on the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein obtaining the content for the opened electronic communication based on the at least one keyword includes obtaining at least one listing in text format from at least one source, the at least one listing associated with at least one entity.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one listing includes data for directing a browser associated with the opened electronic communication to at least one target web site.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing in text format includes, obtaining at least one listing from at least one predetermined source in accordance with at least one rule or policy applied to the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing in text format includes, linking to at least one search engine to obtain the at least one listing based on the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one listing in text format is converted into at least one image and the at least one image is sent to the open electronic communication for placement therein.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data includes a string for accessing a redirect uniform resource locator for the browser, the redirect uniform resource locator including at least one address for at the least one target web site.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one target web site includes at least one web site associated with the at least one entity associated with the at least one listing.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one keyword is selected from the group consisting of single and multiple words.  
     
     
         16 . A method for providing content into electronic communications comprising: 
 sending an electronic communication to a recipient;    receiving at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient; and    providing content to the opened electronic communication in response to receiving the at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened, the content determined from at least one keyword that is taken from the at least one indicator.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing content to the opened electronic communication includes, assembling the content for the electronic communication at a time proximate to the time the electronic communication was opened.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic communication includes at least one electronic mail.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sending the electronic communication includes, sending data for a body when the electronic communication is opened and at least one request.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one indicator includes at least a portion of the at least one request.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one indicator includes the at least one request.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the content to the opened electronic communication includes obtaining at least one listing in text format from at least one source based on the at least one keyword, the at least one listing associated with at least one entity.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one listing includes data for directing a browser associated with the opened electronic communication to at least one target web site.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one target web site includes at least one web site associated with at least one entity associated with the at least one listing.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing includes, obtaining at least one listing from at least one predetermined source in accordance with at least one rule or policy applied to the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing includes, linking to at least one search engine to obtain the at least one listing based on the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one listing is converted into at least one image, and the at least one image is sent to the open electronic communication.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the data includes a string for accessing a redirect uniform resource locator for the browser, the redirect uniform resource locator including at least one address for at the least one target web site.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one target web site includes at least one web site associated with the at least one entity associated with the at least one listing.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one keyword is selected from the group consisting of single and multiple words.  
     
     
         31 . A method for providing content into electronic communications comprising: 
 sending an electronic communication to a recipient;    receiving at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient; and    providing content to the opened electronic communication in response to receiving the at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened, the content including data, that upon being activated, provides a browsing application associated with the opened electronic communication with at least one uniform resource locator for at least one target web site.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein providing content to the opened electronic communication includes assembling the content for the electronic communication at a time proximate to the time the electronic communication was opened.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the electronic communication includes at least one electronic mail.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein sending the electronic communication includes, sending data for a body when the electronic communication is opened and at least one request.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one indicator includes at least a portion of the at least one request.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one indicator includes the at least one request.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein assembling the content for the electronic communication includes, extracting at least one keyword from the at least one request and obtaining the content for the opened electronic communication based on the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein obtaining the content for the opened electronic communication based on the at least one keyword includes, obtaining at least one listing in text format from at least one source.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one listing includes data for directing a browser associated with the opened electronic communication to the at least one target web site.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing in text format includes obtaining at least one listing from at least one predetermined source in accordance with at least one rule or policy applied to the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein obtaining the at least one listing includes linking to at least one search engine to obtain the at least one listing based on the at least one keyword.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one listing is converted into at least one image, and the at least one image is sent to the open electronic communication.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one keyword is selected from the group consisting of single and multiple words.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one targeted web site includes at least one web site associated with the provider of the content of the at least one listing.  
     
     
         45 . A method for providing content into electronic communications comprising: 
 sending an electronic communication to a recipient;    receiving at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient; and    providing content to the opened electronic communication in response to receiving the at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened, including: 
 obtaining at least one keyword from the at least one indicator;  
 obtaining content associated with content providers for the at least one keyword in an order based on a predetermined priority of the content providers at the time the content is obtained; and  
 providing the content associated with at least one content provider to the opened electronic communication in accordance with the order based on the predetermined priority,  
 the content associated with each content provider including data, that upon being activated, provides a browsing application associated with the opened electronic communication with at least one uniform resource locator for at least one target web site.  
   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the predetermined priority of the content providers is based on monetary amounts that each content provider will pay if the data in their content is activated to provide a browsing application, associated with the opened electronic communication, with at least one uniform resource locator for the at least one target web site.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one target web site includes at least one web site associated with the content provider.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein providing content to the opened electronic communication includes, assembling the content for the electronic communication at a time proximate to the time the electronic communication was opened.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the electronic communication includes at least one electronic mail.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein sending the electronic communication includes, sending data for a body when the electronic communication is opened and at least one request.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one indicator includes at least a portion of the at least one request.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one indicator includes the at least one request.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the content associated with the content provider includes at least one listing in text format from at least one source.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one listing in text format is converted into at least one image, and the at least one image is sent to the open electronic communication.  
     
     
         55 . A system for providing content to electronic communications comprising: 
 at least one means for sending an electronic communication, the electronic communication including at least one request;    means for receiving at least a portion of the at least one request from the electronic communication once the electronic communication has been opened;    means for providing content to the opened electronic communication, including: 
 means responsive to the receipt of at least a portion of the request;  
 means for obtaining content from at least one source based on at least one keyword obtained from the at least a portion of the received request, the content including data, that upon being activated, provides a browsing application associated with the opened electronic communication, with at least one uniform resource locator for at least one target web site; and  
 means for sending at least a portion of the obtained content including the activatable data to the opened electronic communication.  
   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , additionally comprising: means for converting at least a portion of the obtained content into at least one image.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the means for sending the at least a portion of the content to the opened electronic communication includes means for receiving and sending images.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the means for obtaining content includes a policy processor for analyzing the at least one keyword to obtain content from at least one source.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the means for obtaining content includes a rules processor for analyzing the at least one keyword to obtain content from at least one source.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the means for obtaining content includes means for directing the at least one keyword to a search engine.  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one means for sending an electronic communication includes an electronic mail application.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the means for sending the at least a portion of the obtained content to the opened electronic communication includes an electronic mail application.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one means for sending an electronic communication, the means for receiving at least a portion of the request from the electronic communication once it has been opened, and the means for providing content to the opened electronic communication are included in a first server.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the content converting means are included in a second server.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the second server includes an imaging server.  
     
     
         66 . An apparatus for providing content to electronic communications comprising: 
 at least one storage media; and    a processor programmed to: 
 send an electronic communication to a recipient;  
 receive a first indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient;  
 respond to receiving the first indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by obtaining content including a plurality of listings from at least one source as determined from at least one keyword that is taken from the first indicator, each of the listings associated with at least one entity, and including first data that directs a browsing application to at least one target web site;  
 store the plurality of listings in the at least one storage media; and  
 send at least one image representing the at least one listing of the plurality of listings and second data for the at least one listing being sent, the second data such that when it is activated accesses the first data for the at least one listing, to the opened electronic communication.  
   
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the processor is additionally programmed to: 
 receive a subsequent indicator that the electronic communication has been opened;    search for at least one listing corresponding to the subsequent indicator in the at least one storage media; and    send at least one image representing the at least one listing of the plurality of listings corresponding to the subsequent indicator and second data for the at least one listing being sent, the second data such that when it is activated accesses the first data for the at least one listing corresponding to the subsequent indicator, to the opened electronic communication.    
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the electronic communication includes an electronic mail.  
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the first data includes a uniform resource locator.  
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the second data includes at least one link to the at least one storage media for accessing the first data.  
     
     
         71 . An apparatus for providing content to electronic communications comprising: 
 means for sending an electronic communication to a recipient;    means for receiving at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened by the recipient; and    means for providing content to the opened electronic communication in response to receiving the at least one indicator that the electronic communication has been opened, the content including data for directing a browser associated with the opened electronic communication to at least one target web site, the content providing means including: 
 means for obtaining at least one keyword from the at least one indicator; and  
 means for obtaining content based on the at least one keyword.  
   
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , additionally comprising: 
 means for sending at least a portion of the content including the data for directing a browser to at least one target web site, to the opened electronic communication.    
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the means for sending at least a portion of the content includes: means for receiving and sending images.  
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the means for obtaining content based on the at least one keyword includes a policy processor for analyzing the at least one keyword to obtain content from at least one source.  
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the means for obtaining content based on the at least one keyword includes a rules processor for analyzing the at least one keyword to obtain content from at least one source.  
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the means for obtaining content based on the at least one keyword includes means for directing the at least one keyword to a search engine.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the at least one means for sending an electronic communication includes an electronic mail application.  
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the means for sending the at least a portion of the obtained content to the opened electronic communication includes an electronic mail application.