System and method for re-routing of e-mail messages
First Claim
1. A method of re-routing e-mail comprising:
- a recipient registering a request to re-route the recipient'"'"'s e-mail with a re-route server;
the re-route server sending the re-route request to an old ISP;
the old ISP receiving and processing the re-route request;
the old ISP bouncing mail for the recipient to the re-route server when the recipient no longer has an e-mail address at the old ISP;
the re-route server receiving the bounced e-mail for the recipient; and
the re-route server forwarding the e-mail to a new address for the recipient.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the re-routing of e-mail sent to a prior address (or an address that is non-working, or temporarily inconvenient) to the new address of an intended recipient. E-mail that is to be sent to a recipient is sent to the former Internet Service Provider (ISP). Because the recipient is no longer a subscriber to the old ISP, or because the address at the old ISP is temporarily inconvenient, the e-mail is re-routed to a re-route server of the present invention. The re-route server then causes the e-mail to be sent to the correct address through a variety of processes. Alternatively, new e-mail addresses are made available at the old ISP. The old ISP can then forward e-mail messages directly to the new ISP.
178 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of re-routing e-mail comprising:
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a recipient registering a request to re-route the recipient'"'"'s e-mail with a re-route server;
the re-route server sending the re-route request to an old ISP;
the old ISP receiving and processing the re-route request;
the old ISP bouncing mail for the recipient to the re-route server when the recipient no longer has an e-mail address at the old ISP;
the re-route server receiving the bounced e-mail for the recipient; and
the re-route server forwarding the e-mail to a new address for the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of re-routing e-mail comprising:
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registering, at a re-route server, a request from an e-mail recipient to re-route the recipient'"'"'s e-mail;
sending the re-route request from the re-route server to an old ISP;
receiving at the re-route server e-mail for the recipient that was bounced by the old ISP when the recipient no longer has an email address at the old ISP; and
forwarding the bounced e-mail to a new address for the recipient.
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4. A method of re-routing e-mail comprising:
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receiving at an old ISP from a re-route server a re-route request by a recipient to re-route the recipient'"'"'s e-mail;
the old ISP processing the re-route request;
the old ISP bouncing mail for the recipient to the re-route server when the recipient no longer has an e-mail address at the old ISP for forwarding on by the re-route server to a new address for the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (5)
the old ISP bouncing mail for the recipient to its sender when the recipient no longer has an e-mail address at the old ISP.
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6. An apparatus for handling, through a network, an e-mail message addressed by a sender to an address at an old ISP, the apparatus comprising:
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a re-route server connected to the network, the re-route server comprising;
a processor; and
a memory, in addressable communication with the processor, the memory embodying software instructions adapted to enable the processor to perform;
registering a request from an e-mail recipient to re-route the recipient'"'"'s e-mail, sending the re-route request to an old ISP, and receiving an e-mail message for the recipient bounced by the old ISP when the recipient no longer has an email address at the old ISP. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
checking to determine if the bounced e-mail is for a recipient who is registered with the re-route server; and
forwarding the bounced e-mail message to a new address for the recipient, in the event it is determined that the bounced e-mail is for a recipient who is registered with the re-route server.
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8. The apparatus for handling as claimed in claim 6, wherein the e-mail message for the recipient bounced by the old ISP is also bounced by the old ISP to the sender.
Specification