Electronic message distribution system

• US 20060031328A1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method and system for distributing electronic messages, such as e-mails, using a subject-category-identifier are disclosed. A server receives electronic messages having an subject-category-identifier. The server includes logic for reading the subject-category-identifier and logic for sorting the electronic messages into a category based at least upon the subject-category-identifier. The server determines whether the electronic message is a valid electronic message for distribution; and responsive to determining that the electronic message is valid, the server distributes the electronic message according to the subject-category-identifier.

Claims

1. A method of distributing electronic message to subscribers of an electronic message distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic message having an electronic message subject-category-identifier;

determining whether the electronic message is a valid electronic message for distribution; and

responsive to the electronic message being a valid electronic message, distributing the electronic message according to the electronic message subject-category-identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an electronic mail message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the electronic message is a valid electronic message for distribution further includes the steps of:

determining whether the electronic message was sent from an authorized sender of mass electronic messages; and

responsive to a determination that the electronic message was sent from an unauthorized sender, dropping the electronic message from distribution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the electronic message further includes the steps of:

creating a link to the electronic message;

providing the link to a subscriber of the electronic message distribution system, wherein the link is provided in a designated folder that is associated with the electronic message subject-category-identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the electronic message further includes the steps of:

creating a copy of the electronic message;

providing the copy to a subscriber of the electronic message distribution system, wherein the copy is provided in a designated folder that is associated with the electronic message subject-category-identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

monitoring subscriber access to the electronic message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of monitoring subscriber access to the electronic message further at least one of:

receiving an indicator that a subscriber accessed the electronic message via a link;

receiving an indicator that a subscriber downloaded the electronic message; and

receiving an indicator that a subscriber opened the electronic message.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the step of:

providing information related to subscriber access of electronic messages to a third party.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the third party is a sender of mass electronic messages.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message includes an electronic message address associated with an intended recipient, and wherein the step of determining whether the electronic message is a valid electronic message for distribution further includes the steps of:

determining whether the intended recipient desires to receive the electronic message using the electronic message subject-category-identifier; and

responsive to determining the recipient does not desire to receive the electronic message, dropping the electronic message.

11. A method of distributing electronic message to subscribers of an electronic message distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing categories for electronic message;

registering senders of classified electronic messages, wherein a classified electronic message includes an electronic message subject-category-identifier, and wherein the senders provide sender registration information;

associating a specific electronic message subject-category-identifier with a specific electronic message category; and

associating subscribers of the electronic message distribution system with specific categories of electronic message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic message is an electronic mail message.

13. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of:

receiving a classified electronic message;

determining the specific category of electronic message associated with the electronic message classifier of the classified electronic message;

determining whether the classified electronic message came from a registered sender; and

responsive to the classified electronic message having come from a registered sender, providing at least a copy of the electronic message to a subscriber of the electronic message distribution system who is associated for the specific category of electronic message.

14. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of:

maintaining a list of subscribers who have elected to receive electronic messages having electronic message subject-category-identifiers associated with the specific electronic message category;

receiving a classified electronic message;

determining the specific category of electronic message associated with the electronic message subject-category-identifier of the classified electronic message;

determining whether the classified electronic message came from a registered sender; and

responsive to the classified electronic message having come from a registered sender, providing at least a copy of the electronic message to the subscribers included in the list.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the classified electronic message came from a specific sender and includes multiple recipient electronic message addresses having a domain that is associated with the electronic message distribution system, and further including the step of:

providing the specific sender with a second list, wherein the second list is a list of recipient electronic message addresses that were included in the classified electronic message but are not included in the first list.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the classified electronic message came from a specific sender and includes multiple recipient electronic message addresses having a domain that is associated with the electronic message distribution system, and further including the step of:

providing the specific sender with a second list, wherein the second list is a list of recipient electronic message addresses that were included in the classified electronic message and are included in the first list.

17. A server for receiving an electronic message having an electronic message subject-category-identifier the server comprising:

logic for reading the electronic message subject-category-identifier; and

logic for sorting the electronic message into a category based at least upon the electronic message subject-category-identifier.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the logic is embodied in a computer readable medium.

19. The server of claim 17, further including:

logic for determining when to deliver the electronic message.

20. The server of claim 17, further including:

logic for creating folders in an electronic message account, wherein a given folder is associated with the electronic message subject-category-identifier.

21. The server of claim 17, further including:

logic for delivering a notice to a given folder of an electronic message account that the electronic message has been received by the server, wherein the given folder is associated with the electronic message subject-category-identifier.