Method and system for screening electronic messages
US6829631B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/212
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method, system, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed for screening electronic messages, wherein a sentry determines whether electronic messages to a receiver include respective passes from the receiver. Responsive to such a message having a pass, the receiver is notified about the message. Responsive to the message not having a pass, a notice for the sender is generated about a pass for the message. Ultimately the pass is generated and sent, on behalf of the designated receiver of the message, to the sender. Unless the sender of the electronic message receives the pass which was returned to the sender by a screening agent for the designated receiver, and the sender returns the pass to the receiver, then the screening agent discards the message and the receiver will not ever be burdened with the message. Thus, if the sender's message has an invalid electronic message reply address, as is frequently the case for mass marketing senders, the sender will never receive the pass, and the receiver's screening agent will discard the message. Both the pass generation and sender notification may be without regard for the identity of the sender. That is, responsive to every m…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.