Patent ID: 7487157

Claim:
A computer implemented method for determining a delivery form of a message to be delivered from a sending party to a receiving party, the method comprising the steps of: A) receiving a data stream defining the message wherein the received data stream is adapted for printing, B) retrieving information from a recipient database, C) investigating the received data stream and comparing the retrieved database information with the received data stream to detect a match between the retrieved database information and the received data stream, D) determining a form for delivering the message based on the investigation and comparison, wherein steps A)-D) are performed automatically in a message delivery unit at the sending party, the message delivery unit being implemented by a combination of hardware and software; E) delivering the message in an e-mail if a match is detected between the retrieved database information and the received data stream, the match being detected by finding an identification of the receiving party in both the retrieved database information and the received data stream; and F) printing the message if the form for delivering the message is determined to be one of a post mail or a fax.