Method for reducing the receipt of unsolicited bulk e-mail and providing anonymity to an email-user

• US 20040205173A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Momentous CA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Momentous CA Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

The amount of unsolicited bulk e-mail messages received by an e-mail user is reduced by providing the user with a temporary e-mail address and a permanent e-mail address. The temporary addresses are generated by a server on an ongoing basis. The current temporary address is linked to the permanent e-mail address such that e-mail messages sent to the current temporary address are forwarded to the permanent address and e-mail messages sent to a former temporary address are not forwarded to the permanent address and not received by the user. The method and system also provide a degree of anonymity to the e-mail user.

Claims

1. A system for enabling an e-mail user to avoid receipt of an e-mail message comprising:

a first server means for receiving an e-mail message sent to a first e-mail address associated with the user;

a second server means for linking said first e-mail address to a second e-mail address associated with the user;

a third server means for forwarding said e-mail message from said first server means to said second e-mail address; and

a fourth server means for receiving said e-mail message from said second server means and forwarding said e-mail message to the user,

wherein said second server means is capable of de-linking said first e-mail address from said second e-mail address to avoid receipt by the user of an e-mail message sent to said first e-mail address.

2. The system defined by claim 1 further comprising a means for generating a succession of first e-mail addresses and linking said generated first e-mail addresses to said second e-mail address for an interval.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said succession of first e-mail addresses are randomly generated.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said interval is a fixed period of time.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said interval is based on the receipt at said first e-mail address of a fixed number of e-mail messages.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said interval is terminated upon the request of the e-mail user or other person.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said generated e-mail addresses has a random portion and a non-random portion.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said second server means comprises a table for linking said first e-mail address to said second e-mail address.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said second server means comprises a remote lookup facility for linking said first e-mail address to said second e-mail address.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the user is notified when the first e-mail address linked to the second e-mail address is de-linked from said second e-mail address.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the user is notified of the first e-mail address generated and linked to said second e-mail address.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the user is notified by means of an e-mail message received at said second e-mail address.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the user is notified by means of an e-mail message received at said second e-mail address.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein the first e-mail address generated and linked to said second e-mail address is communicated to a register for storing e-mail addresses.

15. A method for enabling an e-mail user to avoid receipt of an e-mail message comprising:

receiving at a first server an e-mail message sent to a first e-mail address associated with the user;

linking said first e-mail address to a second e-mail address associated with the user;

forwarding said e-mail message from said first server to said second e-mail address at a second server; and

receiving said e-mail message from said second server and forwarding said e-mail message to the user,

de-linking said first e-mail address from said second e-mail address to avoid receipt by the user of an e-mail message sent to said first e-mail address.

16. The method defined by claim 15 further comprising the step of generating a succession of first e-mail addresses and linking said generated first e-mail addresses to said second e-mail address for an interval.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said succession of first e-mail addresses are randomly generated.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said interval is a fixed period of time.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said interval is based on the receipt at said first e-mail address of a fixed number of e-mail messages.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said interval is terminated upon the request of the e-mail user or other person.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein each of said generated e-mail addresses has a random portion and a non-random portion.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said first e-mail address and/or said generated first e-mail address is linked to said second e-mail address by a table means.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein said first e-mail address and/or said generated first e-mail address is linked to said second e-mail address by means of a remote lookup facility.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the user is notified when the first e-mail address linked to the second e-mail address is de-linked from said second e-mail address.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the user is notified of the first e-mail address generated and linked to said second e-mail address.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the user is notified by means of an e-mail message received at said second e-mail address.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the user is notified by means of an e-mail message received at said second e-mail address.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the first e-mail address generated and linked to said second e-mail address is communicated to a register for storing e-mail addresses.