Abstract:
A posthumous message delivery system provides an online means to leave messages after death. The system utilizes inspirations to help the user prepare messages for each of the individuals on their recipient list, and the user can select from a variety of messaging platforms in which the message will be sent, including e-mail systems and social media systems, and the system automatically incorporates the inspirations into a message or selects a completed message. At the time of the user&#39;s death, the messages are authorized for release by an appointed trustee using a pin or password. The messages may be immediately released at the time of authorization or the messages may be configured for release at various milestones. The user has the capability of adding, deleting, and editing messages. Messages can be sent to groups of recipients, including social media contacts, or the messages may be limited to selected recipients.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/642,528 filed on May 4, 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable. 
     APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a messaging system, and more particularly to a posthumous messaging system. 
     2. Related Art 
     Often a person facing death and/or preparing for their death wishes to leave messages for those who survive them. This is commonly done through video messages that may be viewed during a funeral service and/or at the reading of the individual&#39;s last will and testament. Currently, there are some websites that provide services for leaving messages to a deceased&#39;s survivors. Some of these websites are utilized to merely leave photos and videos that may be uploaded to the site. Other sites provide an opportunity for the user to share stories regarding their lives. At least one website provides a forum for victims of cancer to share their stories regarding their disease. After death, these stories remain on the website for others to read. Some websites provide a means to leave personal messages to specific individuals. Such websites may also be used to supplement a last will and testament and/or to organize a person&#39;s final affairs. 
     Unfortunately, many of these websites do not allow the user to appoint a trustee who is responsible for the release of messages and information on the site after the person&#39;s death. Rather, these websites are reliant on any particular survivor for providing notice of the user&#39;s death. As a result, the notice may not be provided and the messages are never sent. Additionally, the notice may be inadvertently provided, thereby authorizing the release of information and messages before the user&#39;s death. Some websites do not require any notice of the user&#39;s death, but rather, send emails during the user&#39;s life indicating to other&#39;s that a message will be available upon the user&#39;s death. Accordingly, these emails may be ignored and/or forgotten by the time of the user&#39;s death. As a result, the messages may never be received. At least one website operates using a set time period for release of the messages. If the user does not log in to the website within the set time period, the user is assumed dead and the messages are automatically generated. As such, inadvertent death messages may be sent during the user&#39;s life. A need remains for a posthumous or other time capsule messaging system that requires the authorization of a trustee to release messages, information, and/or documents. 
     Another downfall to existing messaging systems is that they do not provide catalysts for inspiration of the messages. Often, when an individual is sick and nearing death, they may not recall much of their lives and, therefore, have difficulty preparing messages to leave at the time of their death. As a result, the individual may not properly express their feelings, resulting in dissatisfaction with their messages. Another need remains for a messaging system that provides inspiration so that the user is capable of fully expressing their feelings shortly before their death. 
     Moreover, existing messaging services merely send messages at the time of the individual&#39;s death. However, some people may wish to leave messages that are delivered at particular milestones. For example, a grandparent may wish to leave messages for their grandchildren on the grandchild&#39;s birthday or a user may wish to offer congratulations to a family member on an upcoming graduation day. As another example, a spouse may desire for their husband or wife to receive a message each year on their wedding anniversary. Current messaging systems are not capable of sending milestones messages well into the future. 
     Additionally, current messaging systems are only offered to individuals. Accordingly, the messages must be recorded and uploaded to the website at a time when an individual is relatively healthy and has access to a computer. Existing systems do not allow corporate accounts, for example, hospital accounts. At the present time, individuals who have become bed-ridden within a hospital or healthcare setting do not have access to a computer to record their final statements to loved ones. 
     Prior art systems include the use of a webpage to collect the memories related to a deceased person, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,921, a posthumous communication system as described in US Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0072925 and a posthumous communication system and gifting system as described in US Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0265382. There are also systems that describe the delivery of greeting cards at some future known date, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,200, and that describe the posthumous delivery of greeting cards, such as described in US Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0082817. However, none of these references teaches or suggests a delayed messaging system, posthumous or otherwise, which allows a user to select a message from predefined listing of message options to create a message within the delayed messaging system while also giving users the option of automatically connecting to their e-mail programs or connecting with their social media pages to post their messages or linking to particular messages and items available by electronic greeting cards or e-commerce sites which are related to the message topics that are of most interest to the user. Each one of these references are incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an online system for leaving messages after death. The system allows for individual or group (i.e. family or corporate) pricing. On the corporate level, the system may be used within the health care industry to provide access to posthumous messaging for individuals who may be incapacitated and/or bed-ridden in a hospital or hospice setting. The messaging service of the present invention preferably includes the appointment of at least one trustee to control the release of content on the webpage. The trustee ensures the release of information at the appropriate time and thereby avoids premature messaging. A user of the present invention may store any number of message recipients. These recipients are left individual messages by the user. Alternatively, the user may also opt to leave group messages. The user may also leave media, i.e. photos, video, audio, or the like, for various recipients. At the time of the user&#39;s death, the trustee authorizes the release of messages to the various recipients. The recipients may receive the messages via email or may receive an email directing them to the user&#39;s account where the messages and media may be opened. 
     At least one novel feature of the present invention is the use of “inspirations”. The inspirations are statements and/or phases that inspire the user&#39;s messages. As many users may be forgetful of their lives and/or otherwise incapable of writing freeform messages, the inspirations provide a means to respond to statements or questions to form the user&#39;s message. For example, a user may be inspired to write a message to their spouse based on the inspiration “my favorite place we traveled to was . . . . ” Accordingly, the present invention aids the user in preparing the statements that will be shared after their death. The messages may be configured for delivery immediately upon authorization of the trustee at the time of the user&#39;s death or the statements may be delayed to mark a milestone. For example, the user may send a message to their spouse each year on their wedding anniversary. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of the inventive message delivery system. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the message delivery system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a screenshot of a home webpage. 
         FIG. 4  is a screenshot of a registration webpage. 
         FIG. 5  is a screenshot of an account summary webpage. 
         FIG. 6A  is a screenshot of an inspiration category webpage. 
         FIG. 6B  is a screenshot of an inspiration and application selection webpage. 
         FIG. 7  is a selection of a screenshot from an affirming inspirations webpage. 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B &amp;  8 C are screenshots of messages created by the inventive system within the word processing application within the system, in a networked social media system, and in a user&#39;s networked e-mail program, respectively. 
         FIG. 9  is a screenshot of a greeting card webpage with alternative e-cards. 
         FIG. 10  is a screenshot listing messages and items stored for a system user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The present invention provides an online messaging system with a host computer system that guides users through the creation of their messages using inspirations, catalyst statements or other suggestions. The host system collects and preserves the messages, and then delivers the messages to the intended recipients when it is authorized to do so, such as when a trustee verifies that the author of the messages is deceased or when some other event or milestone may occur in a person&#39;s life journey. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system includes a centralized computer server which has a computer processor and a database. Using a computer or mobile device, the user accesses the host system through a computer system which may be the internet or an entity&#39;s intranet. The host system is also in networked communication with the computer systems of social media services and electronic greeting card services and other e-commerce services. 
     As generally shown in  FIG. 2 , the user creates an account on the system and loads the trustee and recipient information into the system for their user profile. As shown in  FIGS. 3-8 , the user preferably accesses the system through a web browser application although other networked software applications could also be used for the networked communications between the user and the system. The user may then create messages and upload media for the recipients. The account information, trustee information, recipient information, messages, and media are then stored in the database which is operated by the system administrator. The information in the database can be accessed by the computer or a mobile communication device for edits and/or deletions. Additional information may also be added at any time. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , variable pricing options are available. One option includes pricing for a single user. Another option includes pricing for multiple users. As an example, a family may register with the online system thereby providing each family member an opportunity to prepare messages that can be placed in the user&#39;s time capsule or may be sent immediately. In another embodiment, entities may register with the messaging system. For example, the system may be available for hospital systems, life insurance companies, hospice, pharmaceutical companies, the funeral industry, the military, or the like. 
     While many users of the inventive system may be an individual preparing for their death and/or any individual contemplating mortality and seeking an engaging or affirming experience to reflect on their life, there are other uses of the time capsule messaging system. For example, as a bride and groom prepare for their wedding day, they may purchase a membership to the system for each one of the people in their wedding party and for their close family members as a bridal gift. They could ask their loved ones to enter their thoughts, messages, and prayers for the newlywed couple that will be locked away in the time capsule system until their delivery date, such as several future anniversaries of their wedding, such as their first, fifth, tenth and twenty-fifth wedding anniversaries. An example of storing such a time capsule message for a friend is shown on  FIG. 10 . Similarly, when a baby is born or when a young adult graduates high school, the parents may provide gift memberships to close family and friends and ask them to put their messages for the newborn or graduate into the time capsule system for future events in the person&#39;s life. Accordingly, the system may not only be made available by hospital systems, it may also be made available to individuals through schools, places of worship, and event planners. 
     The ability to purchase family, corporate, or other entity memberships is currently not an option for existing messaging systems and is at least one of the novel features of the present invention. In a hospital or hospice setting, patients are very frequently bed-ridden and without access to the internet. The messaging system disclosed herein may be provided on a tablet computer or other mobile device and made accessible to the user or persons who are helping the user put their affairs in order. For example, using the mobile device, individuals who are concerned that their death may be imminent may work with a family member, friend, nurse or other hospital staff member to prepare their posthumous message. As another example, an account may be provided by life insurance companies at the time that insurance is purchased. Additionally, entities that require potentially dangerous work, such as the military, fire departments, and police departments, may provide access to the messaging system as a part of their benefits package. 
     In one embodiment, the system provides a separate user page for each user accessing the entity or group account. Through the user page, the user may prepare messages for recipients entered into the user page. Additionally, an administrator page may be provided to monitor each account. Through the administrator page, a staff member within the group or entity may authorize the release of messages from any user page. 
     In one embodiment, membership cards may be provided. The membership cards may be purchased for oneself and/or as a gift. When presenting a membership as a gift, the membership card may be physically presented. The card may include information for logging onto the system and starting an account. 
     As with previous posthumous messaging systems, the present system requires a trustee to authorize the release of a decedent&#39;s messages and ensure the delivery of the messages that are stored within the system. However, prior posthumous messaging systems did not consider the possibility that the user may want a broader distribution of some messages than the messages directed to particular individuals and that are sent directly to the recipients using their e-mail address. For example, some users of the system may want to place some messages on their social media sites or they may want their trustees to take this action after they have passed. As discussed in detail below, the present invention provides interfaces with social media systems and e-commerce systems so that a person may be able to coordinate messages through many of their various communication systems. Since the present system provides an interface between the host time capsule messaging system and other communications systems, particularly including social media services, the present invention allows the trustee to automatically send out messages to the deceased user&#39;s social media groups through the interface. 
     Even if users of prior known posthumous messaging systems had wanted to post onto their social media services one or more of the messages that they had created on the posthumous messaging system (before they have passed) or had provided instructions for their trustees to send out certain messages through the decedent user&#39;s social media accounts, there was nothing in the known systems that would allow the users to automatically launch their own social media accounts or for the trustees to automatically launch the decedent user&#39;s social media accounts using the messaging systems. Instead, the users and trustees would have to manually launch and log into each one of the social media sites using the user&#39;s social media account information and copy the messages into a social media&#39;s messaging application. In comparison, with the linkage between the present system and social media services and other systems according to the present invention, the messages can be automatically populated into the social media&#39;s messaging application and sent out by either the user when alive or the trustee when the user has passed. Therefore, the linkage between the host messaging system of the present invention and social media systems provides unexpected advantages that had not previously been considered in any of the known posthumous messaging systems. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the host time capsule messaging system includes a registration page where new users can register for the service. The user provides profile information, trustee information, and unique account information which can include billing information. The user also provides recipient information. With the interface linkage between the inventive system and the user&#39;s e-mail application and social media services to which the user has accounts, the user can grant the inventive system permission to query the user&#39;s accounts in these social media services to obtain the user&#39;s contacts and automatically populate these contacts in the host system as potential recipients. Once the user information is entered into the system, users can review and edit their account information as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     After purchasing an account, the user profile webpage is provided. The user profile webpage requests that the user provide identifying information, as well as, contact information. The identifying information may be used in the future to identify the source of a message when the user is deceased. The contact information enables the system administrator to contact the user if questions or concerns regarding the user&#39;s account arise. The user profile webpage is capable of being updating at anytime by logging onto the messaging system. 
     Once the user profile is entered, the user is requested to provide the name and contact information for a designated trustee. The designated trustee is the only person capable of authorizing the release of the user&#39;s messages. Many current messaging systems enable any individual to contact the messaging provider with notice of the user&#39;s death. Other systems release the user messages after a set time period wherein the user does not log onto the website. Each of these methods may result in either inadvertent release of the messages and/or failure to release the messages all together. By using a designated trustee, the present system ensures that the messages will be released and at the appropriate time. 
     The trustee is provided with a unique authorization code that is required to release the user&#39;s messages. The trustee may be any individual trusted by the user, i.e. a family member. Alternatively, the user may appoint their attorney or other legal representative to act as trustee. In an entity setting, the entity may be named as the trustee. For example, if a life insurance company is named as the trustee, the life insurance company will have authorization to release the messages at the time that they are contacted regarded to life insurance policy after the user&#39;s death. As another example, hospitals or the military may have authorization to release the messages at the time of the user&#39;s death. The trustee may be changed at any time by logging onto the system. Additionally, multiple trustees may be named with one named as the primary trustee and the other named as a secondary trustee. In the event that the primary trustee is unavailable, for example, has predeceased the user, the secondary trustee may authorize the release of the messages. 
     Upon the user&#39;s death, the trustee enters the authorization code to authorize the release of the messages and media. The messages and media are then delivered to the recipients at a third party computer or mobile device through the internet or intranet. The messages may be delivered as emails. Alternatively, the messages may be sent to the linked social media systems on which the user has accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and any other linked social media service. In one embodiment, the messages may be delivered as text messages. Optionally, audio recordings may be sent to a recipient&#39;s voice mail. In yet another embodiment, the recipient may be directed to a webpage where media and messages are posted. 
     A recipient entry webpage enables the user to add recipients for future messaging. The recipient entry webpage may be updated at any time to add or delete recipients. Additionally, recipient contact information may also be updated. The recipients that have been entered are listed on a separate recipient page. The user may consult this page in determining who to prepare a message for. A recipient is selected from this page and the user is given the option to create a message for this individual. In one embodiment, multiple recipients may be selected for creating a group message. As indicated above, some messages may be intended to be delivered through a message on the user&#39;s social media account(s) so that there is a broad distribution to all of the user&#39;s contacts within their social media circles as the recipients. 
     Preparing messages may be done in one of two fashions. First, the user may create the message using a freeform text box that provides no guidance to the user. As another option, the user may create a message based on inspirations which are catalyst statements or other suggestions for preparing the message that are provided by the system. Generally, people prefer to have a catalyst for initiating a message. The inspirations and other suggestions are provided in categories on a category webpage. Some examples of inspiration categories may include “children messages”, “encouragement”, “military” or the like. The categories of inspirations and a partial listing of inspirations are shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , respectively. 
     The inspirations and categories can change over time, but once a message uses one of the inspirations and it is stored as an unsent message under the user&#39;s profile, the user&#39;s message will not change even though the inspiration on which it was based may change at some future date. Each category provides various inspirations and suggestions for beginning a message. Some examples include “if life has taught me anything . . . ”, “you were right about . . . ”, “my favorite place in our home was . . . ” Additionally, when the user places a cursor over the inspiration, the system can automatically display a commentary or “progenitor” that may encourage, question, or verify that the user could or should use that particular inspiration. In the preferred embodiment, the commentary is a popup text block, and other options may include a hyperlink to a related webpage, a gadget or widget. A popup text block commentary is shown on  FIG. 7  in conjunction with the cursor moving over the “You were a good man . . . ” inspiration (“He&#39;ll be so thankful you said this”) along with additional commentary examples. 
     The inspirations, catalysts or other suggestions are intended to make the user reflect on their lives and the recipient of the message. By providing suggestions in several selectable categories, the user may find it easier to prepare an appropriate message. Additionally, the categorized suggestions may be beneficial to individuals who lack the ability to recall much of their life or the people in their life. Often, individuals who are sick and/or dying are incapable of reflecting on their life without the help of another. The suggestions are provided to spark memories and thoughts. In a hospital setting, a user may work with a staff member using the suggestions to recollect the past to aid in creating messages. In one embodiment, suggestions may be automatically populated and emailed to the user, tweeted, or posted on linked social networking systems. These suggestions may be delivered by an administrator of the system to spark a user&#39;s interest in creating a message. Alternatively, the suggestions may be sent by other users who believe that the suggestion may be helpful to an individual. 
     In the preferred embodiment, there is a link between the selectable applications and the selectable inspirations. The computer processor in the host system runs scripts which can automatically produce an electronic document with an initial block of text that prompts the user to complete their thoughts. Depending on the user&#39;s optional selection of the message-type corresponding with the message suggestions, the scripts may bring the user to a word processing section of the system in which the initial block of text is pre-populated and the user can complete the message within the system, or the scripted instructions may launch another program, such as the user&#39;s e-mail program or a social media site. 
     The system can alternatively pre-populate the message body in the e-mail program or the social media site with the text that corresponds with the message suggestion. For example, the selected inspiration in  FIG. 7  (“If life has taught me anything”) can be populated into the word processing application within the system as shown in  FIG. 8A  when the word processing option is selected. Similarly, the selected inspiration can be populated into a networked social media system or the user&#39;s networked e-mail program as respectively shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C  depending on the respective selection of the social media option and the e-mail program option. 
     It is also possible for the system to have links to a selection of completed messages, electronic greeting cards or other audio-visual communications that correspond to an inspiration category and which have prepared messages that the user could use in whole or modify for a unique statement. For example, when a greeting card application is selected, the system can execute scripts which automatically launch the greeting card website in a browser window, and the selection of the inspiration can be linked to a particular card available on the greeting card website. As shown in  FIG. 9 , there may be different cards in the greeting card website that may fit with an inspirational message. However, the particular tone of the inspirational message will likely be known based on the category from which the inspiration has been selected. For example the selection of the “If life has taught me anything” inspiration under the Edgy/Irreverent or Funny/Lighthearted categories could automatically be linked to the top card in  FIG. 9  whereas the selection of the “If life has taught me anything” inspiration from the Affirming, Inspiring/Religious or Proclamation/Life&#39;s Statement categories could automatically be linked to the bottom card in  FIG. 9 . 
     Accordingly, the selection of one of the message suggestions causes the system&#39;s computer processor to run scripted instructions which may take one of a number of actions, such as launching the word processing portion of the system, launching a user&#39;s local messaging application or connecting the user&#39;s web browser to a networked website, and the script either pre-populates a portion of a message using information that is stored within the system itself or otherwise identifies a preexisting message that can be incorporated into the user&#39;s message. 
     Each message is stored on a message webpage. The messages may be edited or deleted at any time. Once the message has been drafted and saved, an anonymous email is sent to the recipient notifying them that someone has sent them a message. This initial email is a teaser email until the actual message itself is sent. The delivery time of any given message may be dictated by the user. As a default, messages are sent after the user&#39;s death when the trustee enters the authorization code. As another option, a user who feels that time is of the essence may log into the system and choose messages to be sent at that moment using a “send it now” feature. 
     As another unique feature if the present invention, messages may be sent to mark particular milestones. For example, if a user is concerned about passing before a loved one&#39;s graduation, a message may be prepared for delivery on the graduation day. As another example, a user may prepare a message to be sent to their spouse every year on their spouse&#39;s birthday or on their wedding anniversary. The system could also include a monetary deposit that could be used to purchase flowers or some other gift for the spouse on the anniversary and provide a corresponding card with the message that has been selected for the anniversary. 
     The user also has the option to upload various forms of media, ranging from video, to audio, to photos and the like. At the time of the user&#39;s death the media may be delivered to intended recipients. Optionally, the recipients may be directed to a webpage where the media is stored. The media may be sent exclusively to specific recipients or the media may be sent to all recipients or groups of recipients. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to persons who are skilled in the art. As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, as explained in the preceding paragraphs, the time capsule aspects of the present invention could be used to collect and preserve messages for a person when they reach a particular milestone even when the people creating the message are still alive, such as a time capsule of messages that a family may create when a child is born into the family and the messages are delivered to the child on a certain event (such as a first communion) or reach a certain age. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.