Method and device for removing junk e-mail messages

• US 6,493,007 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Y. Pang
• Inventors: Pang, Stephen Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/116,691
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 345/329, 345/331, 345/340, 345/335, 345/839, 345/733, 345/751, 345/744, 345/781, 345/835, 709/201, 709/203, 709/205, 709/206
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A novel method for replying to unsolicited e-mail communication such as SPAM or the like. The method includes a variety of steps such as displaying an remove icon on a display, and receiving a selection of the remove icon from a user in response to the unsolicited e-mail communication. The method also includes creating an e-mail communication having a remove message, in response to the selection of the remove icon, the e-mail communication addressed to a reply e-mail address specified by the unsolicited e-mail communication. A step of sending the e-mail communication to the reply e-mail address also is included. These and possibly other steps can permanently remove a portion of unsolicited e-mail in an easy and cost effective manner.

Claims

1. A method for automatically replying to and removing an unsolicited e-mail communication from a plurality of unsolicited e-mail communications comprises:

displaying a graphical remove icon button on a display, the graphical remove icon button being a portion of a graphical user interface coupled to a browsing device;

receiving a selection of the graphical remove icon button on the display from a user in response to the unsolicited e-mail communication; and

in a response to the selection of the graphical remove icon button performing steps of automatically creating an e-mail communication having a remove message, the e-mail communication addressed to a reply e-mail address specified by the unsolicited e-mail communication that is free from selecting a reply icon button coupled to the browsing device by the user, and then automatically sending the e-mail communication to the reply e-mail address, and then automatically deleting the unsolicited e-mail communication based upon the selection of the graphical remove icon button.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically creating the e-mail communication comprises including a remove message on a subject line of an e-mail message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically creating an e-mail communication comprises including a remove message on a body of the e-mail message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the remove message is selected from the class of words:

remove, un-subscribe.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically creating the e-mail communication comprises determining the reply e-mail address in response to the unsolicited e-mail communication.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically creating the e-mail communication comprises determining the remove message in response to the unsolicited e-mail communication.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically saving a copy of the e-mail communication.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising maintaining a log of unsolicited e-mail communications.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising maintaining a log of e-mail communications.

10. A method for a computer system including a processor, a display, and a user input device, for requesting removal of a user e-mail address from an e-mail mailing list in response to a spam e-mail, the spam e-mail including removal instructions from the e-mail mailing list, the method comprising:

displaying a remove icon button on the display within an e-mail client program, the remove icon button being coupled to a browsing device;

receiving a selection of the remove icon button on the display from the user input device;

in response to the selection of the remove icon button automatically performing steps of, automatically determining removal actions in response to the removal instructions, and then automatically performing the removal actions, and then automatically deleting the spam e-mail from an e-mail in-box based upon the response to the selection of the remove icon button from the user input device from a user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically determining removal actions comprises parsing the spam e-mail to determine the removal instructions.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the removal actions comprise sending a reply e-mail to the spam e-mail requesting removal from the e-mail mailing list.

13. The method of claim 10

wherein the spam e-mail also includes another e-mail address; and

wherein the removal actions comprise sending an e-mail message to the other e-mail address including a request for removal from the e-mail mailing list.

14. The method of claim 10

wherein the spam e-mail also includes a web address;

and

wherein the removal actions comprise connecting to the web address.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically performing the removal actions includes:

using an Internet browser to connect to a web site specified by the spam e-mail in response to the removal actions; and

selecting an action button specified by the spam e-mail located at the web site.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the user input device is a mouse.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the user input device is a microphone.

18. A method for removing an e-mail address from a mailing list in response to unsolicited e-mail communications, the method comprising

displaying the unsolicited e-mail communication from a plurality of e-mail communications on a display using an e-mail system;

displaying a remove icon button coupled to a browsing device on the display;

receiving a selection of the remove icon button from a user in response to the unsolicited e-mail communication; and

automatically in response to the selection of the remove icon button, automatically creating an e-mail communication having a remove message, the e-mail communication addressed to a reply e-mail address specified by the unsolicited e-mail communication and, automatically using the e-mail system to send the e-mail communication, to the reply e-mail address based upon the selection of the remove icon button by the user.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

removing the e-mail address from the mailing list in response to the e-mail communication.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving a confirmation notice indicating that the e-mail address will be removed from the mailing list.

21. A method for operating a computer system comprises:

sending to a client computer an unsolicited e-mail communication for display on a display of the client computer;

sending to the client computer a remove instruction with the unsolicited e-mail communication coupled to a browsing device for display on the display;

receiving from the client computer, a user selection of the unsolicited e-mail communication on the display;

thereafter receiving from the client computer, a user selection based upon the remove instruction using a selection from a remove icon coupled to the display; and

automatically in response to receiving the user selection of the remove icon and to receiving the user selection of the unsolicited e-mail communication, automatically creating an e-mail message having a pre-determined message, the e-mail message addressed to an e-mail address associated with the unsolicited e-mail message and the remove instruction, automatically sending the e-mail message to the e-mail address, and automatically deleting the unsolicited e-mail message from an e-mail inbox.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein pre-determined message is placed within the e-mail message at locations selected from the group:

a subject line of the e-mail message, and a body of the e-mail message.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the pre-determined message comprises words selected from the group:

remove, un-subscribe.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the e-mail address associated with the unsolicited e-mail message comprises a default reply e-mail address.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the e-mail address associated with the e-mail message comprises a default reply e-mail address of the unsolicited e-mail communication.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the e-mail address associated with the e-mail message comprises an e-mail address other than a default reply e-mail address of the unsolicited e-mail communication.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising maintaining a log of data selected from the group:

the unsolicited e-mail communication, and the e-mail message.