Value-added electronic messaging services having web-based user accessible message center

• US 20050266832A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Postini, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Maggi, Brian, Irlam, Gordon Raymond, Petry, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,428,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

This disclosure provides for a unified, centralized, preprocessing electronic messaging solution that performs value-added tasks to electronic messages on behalf of the ISP or the end user, before these messages are delivered to the destination e-mail server. In some embodiments, the electronic messaging solution provides a stored user profile, associated with a user to whom an e-mail message is addressed, that has detection parameters for processing e-mail message data. In such embodiments, a processor is also provided for processing the e-mail message data to identify suspect e-mail messages according to the detection parameters in the user profile. A web page accessible by the user to set the detection parameters is also disclosed. Furthermore, various methods associated with various embodiments of the electronic messaging solution disclosed herein are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic message management system for use in an e-mail network comprising a sending mail server and a destination mail server, wherein electronic messages may be transmitted from the sending mail server to the destination mail server via an electronic message delivery path, the system comprising:

a message storage configured to store an electronic message filtered from reaching the destination mail server; and

a webpage accessible by a user via a computer network and configured to display information representing at least a portion of the filtered electronic message to the user.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises a summary of the filtered message displayed to the user and selectable by the user to display the entire filtered message to the user via the website.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of message body, message header, message attachment and message subject line.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed to the user is selectable by the user to download the stored message from the message storage such that it is delivered to the destination mail server.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed to the user is selectable by the user to download an attachment associated with the filtered message from the message storage such that it is delivered to the destination mail server.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the website is further configured to display a warning concerning the content of the attachment to the user before the delivery.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the website is further accessible by the user to create or edit a user profile having detection parameters governing the filtering of electronic messages.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the filtering is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

content of the message;

virus detected in the message;

source data associated with the message;

destination data associated with the message; and

forwarding electronic message to a user-designated mail server.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the detection parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

content filtering parameters;

virus detection parameters;

e-mail source filtering parameters; and

e-mail destination filtering parameters.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate service configured to provide the filtering of the electronic message.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate service comprises an intermediate server configured to intercept the electronic message between the sending and destination mail servers to accomplish the filtering, and to send the filtered electronic message to the message storage.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate service is further configured to notify the user that the filtered electronic message has been stored in the message storage.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate server is configured to notify the user by sending an electronic message including the information representing at least a portion of the filtered electronic message.

14. A method of providing electronic messaging service in an e-mail network comprising a sending mail server and a destination mail server, wherein electronic messages may be transmitted from the sending mail server to the destination mail server via an electronic message delivery path, the method comprising:

filtering an electronic message to prevent it from reaching the destination mail server;

storing the filtered electronic message; and

displaying information representing at least a portion of the filtered electronic message to a user through a webpage accessible by the user via a computer network.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein displaying information comprises displaying a summary of the filtered message to the user that is selectable by the user, and further comprising displaying the entire filtered message to the user in response to the selection by the user.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein displaying information comprises displaying at least one selected from the group consisting of message body, message header, message attachment and message subject line.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the information displayed to the user is selectable by the user, the method further comprising delivering the stored message from the message storage to the destination mail server in response to the selection by the user.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the information displayed to the user is selectable by the user, the method further comprising delivering an attachment associated with the filtered message from the message storage to the destination mail server in response to the selection by the user.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying a warning concerning the content of the attachment to the user before the delivering the attachment to the user.

20. A method according to claim 14, further comprising providing the user options to create or edit a user profile through the website, the user profile having detection parameters governing the filtering of electronic messages.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the filtering is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

content of the message;

virus detected in the message;

source data associated with the message;

destination data associated with the message; and

forwarding electronic message to a user-designated mail server.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the detection parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

content filtering parameters;

virus detection parameters;

e-mail source filtering parameters; and

e-mail destination filtering parameters.

23. A method according to claim 14, further comprising notifying the user of the filtering and the storing.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the notifying comprises transmitting an electronic message to the destination mail server having the at least a portion of the filtered electronic message.