Patent ID: 7627640

Claim:
A communication system that transmits electronic mail having a message content component and a message data component relating to the message content and/or its transmission, among multiple Sender and Recipient terminals and which both uses and augments the Internet, comprising: an ePostal server and ePostal server software, links connecting the Sender and Recipient terminals and said ePostal server and ePostal server software to the Internet, and Sender ePostal software (i) operable on at least the Sender terminal and (ii) operable with conventional electronic mail application software also operating on the Sender terminal to (iii) selectively provide access by the Sender terminal and said Sender Postal software to said ePostal server and ePostal server software for managing and processing the electronic mail transmitted from the Sender terminal in order to provide the communication system's premium mail services to the electronic mail, (iv) begin processing of said premium mail services to the electronic mail, and (v) facilitate the Sender terminal and said Sender ePostal software and said Postal server and ePostal server software communicating with one another, at least in part, using direct communications.