System and method for providing a proxy identifier in an on-line directory
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving listings from a database, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a request for a party'"'"'s email address;
(b) determining whether a record is present in the database that corresponds with the request; and
(c) if a record is present that corresponds to the request, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy address in lieu of the party'"'"'s actual email address;
the proxy address being displayed without requiring participation by the party and without determining whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed;
wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables a sender to send an email message to the party without knowing the party'"'"'s actual email address.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for protecting the privacy of a person'"'"'s email address that is maintained in an on-line directory service (14). The directory service includes a database (16) having actual email addresses and a processing system (20) that is available for retrieving these listings from the database. The method includes the computer implemented steps of receiving from a user a request for a person'"'"'s email address; determining whether or not a record is present in the database that corresponds with the user request; and if a record is present that includes a person'"'"'s actual email address, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy email address (38) in lieu of the person'"'"'s actual email address. The proxy email address is provided without having been requested by the person and without requiring the processing system to determine whether or not the person prefers to have a proxy email address displayed or the person'"'"'s actual email address displayed. The proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables the user to send an email message to the person without knowing that person'"'"'s actual email address.
209 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving listings from a database, the method comprising:
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(a) obtaining a request for a party'"'"'s email address;
(b) determining whether a record is present in the database that corresponds with the request; and
(c) if a record is present that corresponds to the request, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy address in lieu of the party'"'"'s actual email address;
the proxy address being displayed without requiring participation by the party and without determining whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed;
wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables a sender to send an email message to the party without knowing the party'"'"'s actual email address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 39, 40)
obtaining a selection of the selectable proxy address; and
displaying a data entry display to enable the user to prepare a message, wherein the data entry display allows the sender to prepare a message to the party corresponding to the email address.
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22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising requiring the sender to enter a return email address.
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23. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising:
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obtaining the sender message prepared on the data entry display; and
transmitting an email to the party corresponding to the email address including the sender message.
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24. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the second portion of the selectable proxy address is selectable, the method further comprising:
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obtaining a selection of the second portion of the selectable proxy address; and
displaying a list of all records corresponding to the request and having the domain name represented by the second portion of the proxy address.
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25. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the email message identifies the sender by a numeric identifier.
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26. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
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obtaining a request from a sender to view any email responses to the sender identified by a numeric identifier; and
displaying a set of responses corresponding to the unique numeric identifier of the sender.
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27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 1, 2, 6-10, or 21-26.
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28. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 1, 2, 6-10, or 21-26.
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39. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in any one of claims 3-38.
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40. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 3-38.
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3. A method for providing a proxy identifier in an on-line directory, the method comprising:
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obtaining a request for an email address, wherein the request includes one or more attributes for identifying the email address;
obtaining at least one record associated with the one or more attributes from a listing database; and
automatically displaying a selectable proxy address corresponding to the at least one record;
wherein the selectable proxy address enables a sender to send an email communication without knowing an actual email address; and
wherein the automatic display of the selectable proxy address is performed without participation by a party associated with the email address and without determining a privacy setting for any matching records. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
obtaining a selection of the selectable proxy address; and
displaying a data entry display to enable the user to prepare a message, wherein the data entry display allows the sender to prepare a message to the party corresponding to the email address.
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29. The method according to claim 5 further comprising requiring the sender to enter a return email address.
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30. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:
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obtaining the user message prepared on the data entry display; and
transmitting an email to the party corresponding to the email address including the sender message.
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31. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the second portion of the selectable proxy address is selectable, the method further comprising:
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obtaining a selection of the second portion of the selectable proxy address; and
displaying a list of all records corresponding to the request and having the domain name represented by the second portion of the proxy address.
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32. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the email message includes an additional message regarding the context under which the message is being sent.
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33. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the email message includes a marketing message.
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34. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the email message does not reveal the identity of the sender.
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35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the email message identifies the sender by a numeric identifier.
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36. The method as recited in claim 35 further comprising:
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obtaining a request from a sender to view any email responses to the sender identified by a numeric identifier; and
displaying a set of responses corresponding to the unique numeric identifier of the sender.
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37. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the email message identifies an actual email address of the sender.
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38. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the email message includes a warning message indicating that replying to the email message will cause the person'"'"'s email address to be divulged to the user.
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11. An on-line directory service comprising:
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(a) a database of information including actual email addresses;
(b) a processing system that receives a user request for a party'"'"'s actual email address and in response, determines the actual email address from the database;
upon finding the actual email address, the processing automatically provides the user with a selectable proxy email address and not the actual email address;
the proxy address being provided without having been requested by the party and without requiring the processing system to determine whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed;
wherein selection of the proxy email address enables the user to send an email message to the party without knowing the party'"'"'s actual email address. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification