Sorting Electronic Messages Using Attributes of the Sender Address
First Claim
1. In a system that includes an electronic messaging server that provides electronic messaging services to one or more users, a method for sorting electronic messages for a user, the method comprising:
- for each sender that sends electronic messages to a user, assigning attributes to a sender address of each sender such that each sender address is associated with one or more attributes, wherein the sender addresses and the one or more attributes are stored in a first list, and wherein assigning the one or more attributes to the sender address does not require the one or more attributes to be user-defined;
receiving an electronic message from a particular sender at the electronic messaging server; and
sorting the electronic message into at least one folder based on the one or more attributes assigned to a particular sender address of the particular sender.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for sorting electronic messages using attributes of senders or of sender addresses. An electronic messaging server sorts electronic messages using attributes associated with the senders or sender addresses of the electronic messages. The sender addresses and associated attributes are stored in an accept list. A sorting module uses the accept list to sort the electronic messages into various folders. The sorting module can also access other data sources, such as a contact list, to assist in sorting the electronic messages. The attributes can be determined independently of the user or can be set directly by the user. The attributes can also identify a status of a sender such as whether the sender is authorized, unauthorized, or unconfirmed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a system that includes an electronic messaging server that provides electronic messaging services to one or more users, a method for sorting electronic messages for a user, the method comprising:
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for each sender that sends electronic messages to a user, assigning attributes to a sender address of each sender such that each sender address is associated with one or more attributes, wherein the sender addresses and the one or more attributes are stored in a first list, and wherein assigning the one or more attributes to the sender address does not require the one or more attributes to be user-defined;
receiving an electronic message from a particular sender at the electronic messaging server; and
sorting the electronic message into at least one folder based on the one or more attributes assigned to a particular sender address of the particular sender. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for sorting electronic messages of one or more users connected to the system comprising:
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a persistent storage storing a first list comprising one or more senders of electronic messages sent to a first user and attributes associated with each sender;
computer readable program code having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor, causes the system to perform the steps of;
determining a particular sender of an incoming message, accessing the first list stored on the persistent storage to determine the attributes of the particular sender, assigning an unconfirmed attribute to for the particular sender in the first list, sorting the incoming message into an unconfirmed folder if the attributes of the particular sender indicate that the sender is neither authorized nor unauthorized, sending a challenge message to the particular sender, and changing the unconfirmed attribute of the particular sender in the first list stored on the persistent storage depending on whether a reply message to the challenge message is received from the particular sender such that the user is not required to provide direct input to assign the unconfirmed attribute or change the unconfirmed attribute of the particular sender. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification