Methods, Systems, and Products for Indicating Receipt of Electronic Mail

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for delivering an indication of an email message's arrival. The email message is received and identifies at least an addressee. The addressee is looked up in a database that associates multiple addressees to a shared Internet Protocol address. The shared Internet Protocol address is retrieved and a message is sent to the shared Internet Protocol address. The message identifies the addressee of the email message and includes instructions for indicating arrival of the message at the addressee.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an email message to an addressee;   retrieving a shared Internet Protocol address associated with multiple addressees; and   sending a message to the shared Internet Protocol address, the message identifying the addressee of the email message, and the message comprising instructions for particularly indicating the email message to the addressee from amongst the multiple addressees sharing the Internet Protocol address.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising filtering a particular addressee such that only the particular addressee causes retrieval of the shared Internet Protocol address. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sending the message only when the email message hi priority. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sending the message only when the email message is urgent. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a directory number associated with the addressee. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising routing a call to the directory number to alert of the email message. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sending caller identification information identifying the addressee. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a directory number associated with the shared Internet Protocol address. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , fixer comprising retrieving a user name associated with the addressee. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a distinctive ring tone associated with the addressee. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sending an email address of a sender of the email message. 
   
   
       12 . A system, comprising:
 means for receiving an email message to an addressee;   means for retrieving a shared Internet Protocol address associated with multiple addressees; and   means for sending a message to the shared Internet Protocol address, the message identifying the addressee of the email message, and the message comprising instructions for particularly indicating the email message to the addressee from amongst the multiple addressees sharing the Internet Protocol address.   
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 12 , flirter comprising means for filtering a particular addressee such that only the particular addressee causes retrieval of the shared Internet Protocol address. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for sending the message only when the email message has priority. 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for sending the message only when the email message is urgent. 
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 retrieving a directory number associated with the addressee;   retrieving a user name associated with the addressee;   retrieving a distinctive ring tone associated with the addressee;   routing a call to the directory number to alert of the email message; and   sending caller identification information identifying the addressee.   
   
   
       17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a message addressed to a shared Internet Protocol address that is shared amongst multiple addressees, the message identifying an addressee of an email message received at an email server, the message comprising instructions for indicating the email message to the addressee; and   causing a notification that indicates the email message to the addressee.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a user name associated with the addressee. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising causing display of an icon associated with the addressee. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a call to a directory number associated with the shared Internet Protocol address, the call comprising caller identification information identifying the addressee.