Automated system and method for routing undeliverable e-mail messages and otherwise managing e-mail
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for routing an otherwise undeliverable e-mail message to an intended recipient, comprising the steps of:
- electronically mailing an initial e-mail message from a first machine associated with a sender to an outgoing e-mail processor associated with the first client (sender) machine, the outgoing e-mail processor communicating with a domain name server to check the validity of a domain portion of the e-mail message, and in the event that the domain portion is not valid, the outgoing e-mail processor notifies the first machine of the invalid domain portion;
in the event that the domain portion of the e-mail message is valid, the outgoing e-mail processor forwards the initial e-mail message to an initial e-mail address of the intended recipient at a second machine associated with the intended recipient;
parsing the initial e-mail message at the second machine to determine whether the initial e-mail address remains valid;
in the event that the initial e-mail address is no longer valid, creating an error message at the second machine and forwarding it to an incoming e-mail processor associated with the first machine and then forwarding at least the initial e-mail message to a designated server; and
processing the initial e-mail message at the designated server in accordance with at least one prescribed criterion;
the designated server being configured to search for a current e-mail address of the intended recipient and facilitate delivery of the initial e-mail message to the intended recipient, whereby a preferred method for rerouting the undelivered message is determined based on user preference.
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Abstract
An improved system and method are provided for routing an otherwise undeliverable e-mail message to an intended recipient as a part of a full-featured, integrated, user-preference driven (1) automatic, reactive, and (2) proactive, user initiated e-Mail Management System using characteristics of the e-mail process, including addressing, content, distribution, and error messages.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for routing an otherwise undeliverable e-mail message to an intended recipient, comprising the steps of:
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electronically mailing an initial e-mail message from a first machine associated with a sender to an outgoing e-mail processor associated with the first client (sender) machine, the outgoing e-mail processor communicating with a domain name server to check the validity of a domain portion of the e-mail message, and in the event that the domain portion is not valid, the outgoing e-mail processor notifies the first machine of the invalid domain portion;
in the event that the domain portion of the e-mail message is valid, the outgoing e-mail processor forwards the initial e-mail message to an initial e-mail address of the intended recipient at a second machine associated with the intended recipient;
parsing the initial e-mail message at the second machine to determine whether the initial e-mail address remains valid;
in the event that the initial e-mail address is no longer valid, creating an error message at the second machine and forwarding it to an incoming e-mail processor associated with the first machine and then forwarding at least the initial e-mail message to a designated server; and
processing the initial e-mail message at the designated server in accordance with at least one prescribed criterion;
the designated server being configured to search for a current e-mail address of the intended recipient and facilitate delivery of the initial e-mail message to the intended recipient, whereby a preferred method for rerouting the undelivered message is determined based on user preference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A method for routing an otherwise undeliverable e-mail message to an intended recipient, comprising the steps of:
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electronically transferring an initial e-mail message from a first machine associated with a sender to a first outgoing e-mail processor associated with the first client (sender) machine, the initial e-mail message including an initial e-mail address formed of a domain portion and a name address portion;
checking the validity of the domain portion with a domain name server in communication with the first outgoing e-mail processor and in the event that the domain portion is invalid, sending a first error message to an outgoing e-mail processor of the first client (sender) machine;
in the event that the domain portion of the e-mail address is valid, the first outgoing e-mail processor forwards the initial e-mail message to the initial e-mail address of the intended recipient at a second machine associated with the intended recipient;
parsing the initial e-mail message at an incoming e-mail processor associated with the second machine to determine whether the name address portion is valid;
in the event that the name address portion is no longer valid, notifying the sender that the initial e-mail message is undeliverable and providing the sender with an option of initiating a search for a current e-mail address of the intended recipient;
in the event that the sender elects to initiate the search, forwarding at least the initial e-mail message to a designated server; and
processing the initial e-mail message at the designated server in accordance with at least one prescribed criterion, whereby a preferred method for rerouting the undelivered message is determined based on user preference.
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20. A method for determining a current e-mail address of an intended recipient prior to sending message, comprising the steps of:
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electronically transferring an e-mail validation request from a first machine associated with a sender to a first outgoing e-mail processor associated with the first client (sender) machine, the e-mail validation request including at least an initial e-mail address formed of a domain portion and a name address portion;
checking the validity of the domain portion with a domain name server in communication with the first outgoing e-mail processor and in the event that the domain portion is invalid, sending a first error message to an outgoing e-mail processor of the first client (sender) machine;
in the event that the domain portion of the e-mail address is valid, the first outgoing e-mail processor forwards the e-mail validation request to the initial e-mail address of the intended recipient at a second machine associated with the intended recipient;
parsing the initial e-mail validation request at an incoming e-mail processor associated with the second machine to determine whether the name address portion is valid, in the event that the name address portion is valid, notifying the sender that the initial e-mail address is valid, and in the event that the name address portion is no longer valid, forwarding the e-mail validation request to a designated server; and
processing the e-mail validation request at the designated server in accordance with at least one prescribed criterion, the designated server being configured to search for a current e-mail address of the intended recipient and selectively notify the sender of the current e-mail address based upon the at least one prescribed criterion.
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Specification