Electronic mail filtering by electronic stamp

• US 5,999,967 A
• Filed: 08/17/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barracuda Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Todd Sundsted
• Inventors: Sundsted, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/910,326
• Time in Patent Office: 842 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.36, 395/200.47, 380/25, 380/49, 705/14, 705/7, 705/10, 705/26, 705/39, 707/501, 707/513, 707/10, 358/402, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for filtering electronic mail. The method and apparatus allows the receiver of electronic mail to make a decision to accept, reject, prioritize, or expedite delivery of a piece of electronic mail based on the value of an attached electronic stamp. The apparatus consists of two complimentary parts: a sender side part with responsibility for attaching the electronic stamp; and a receiver side part with responsibility for removing the electronic stamp and filtering the electronic mail based on the value of the electronic stamp. The method and apparatus are used in a system for reducing or eliminating the amount of junk electronic mail in the electronic mail system.

Claims

1. A method of filtering electronic mail, comprising the steps:

a) attaching, on a sender'"'"'s side, electronic stamping means having intrinsic value to a piece of outgoing electronic mail;

b) sending both said electronic stamping means and said electronic mail to an intended receiver;

c) comparing, on said receiver'"'"'s side, the value of said electronic stamping means with said receiver'"'"'s desired compensation level for receiving electronic mail; and

d) processing, on said receiver'"'"'s side, said electronic mail based on the outcome of said comparison;

whereby, said receiver will be able to more effectively identify and process junk electronic mail.

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

transferring, on said receiver'"'"'s side, funds representing said value from said sender to said receiver upon acceptance of said electronic mail;

whereby, said receiver is compensated for accepting said sender'"'"'s electronic mail.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the steps:

a) encrypting, on said sender'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means before sending it to said intended receiver; and

b) decrypting, on said receiver'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means;

whereby, said electronic stamping means is protected from tampering while in transit from said sender to said receiver.

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

removing, on said receiver'"'"'s side, the indicator of value from said electronic stamping means and transferring said indicator to a third party for recordation in receiver'"'"'s account upon acceptance of said electronic mail;

whereby, said receiver is compensated for accepting said sender'"'"'s electronic mail.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the steps:

a) encrypting, on said sender'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means before sending it to said intended receiver; and

b) decrypting, on said receiver'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means;

whereby, said electronic stamping means is protected from tampering while in transit from said sender to said receiver.

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

a) encrypting, on said sender'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means before sending it to said intended receiver; and

b) decrypting, on said receiver'"'"'s side, said electronic stamping means;

whereby, said electronic stamping means is protected from tampering while in transit from said sender to said receiver.

7. An apparatus for filtering electronic mail, comprising:

a) means for attaching an electronic stamping means to a piece of outgoing electronic mail;

b) means for sending both said electronic stamping means and said electronic mail to an intended receiver;

c) means for comparing the valuation of said electronic stamping means with said recipient'"'"'s desired compensation level for receiving electronic mail; and

d) means for processing said electronic mail based on the outcome of said comparison;

whereby, said receiver will be able to more effectively identify and process junk electronic mail.

8. An attachment to an electronic mail message, comprising:

a) an indicator of value acceptable to both a sender and a receiver of electronic mail;

b) the electronic mail address of said sender;

c) the electronic mail address of said receiver;

d) a hash value computed from the contents of the electronic mail;

such that the attachment is bound to the electronic mail message.

9. The attachment of claim 8, further comprising a serial number of the attachment.

10. The attachment of claim 8, further comprising an identification number of the sending system.

11. The attachment of claim 8, further comprising a digital signature of said attachment.

12. The attachment of claim 8, further comprising:

a) a serial number of the attachment;

b) an identification number of the sending system;

c) the date of creation of said attachment;

d) a digital signature of said attachment;

such that the integrity of said attachment may be determined.