System and method for electronic mail (e-mail) address management

• US 6,654,779 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tsuei, Henry T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banankhah, Majid A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Lilian
• Application Number:
  US09/291,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/100, 709/207, 709/101, 709/300, 705/41, 707/10
• US Class Current: 718/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system and methods for managing Internet e-mail address changes, particularly useful for situations where subscribers change Internet service providers. A computer system manages a database of stored records correlating a first e-mail address of an intended recipient, e.g. an old e-mail address, to a second e-mail address, e.g. a new e-mail address of the intended recipient. A program module in the computer system is responsive to an Internet query for accessing the database to determine whether a second e-mail address of the intended recipient is stored in association with a first e-mail address. Another program module is operative for providing the second e-mail address as a response to the query. The query response is communicated to the sender or to the sender'"'"'s ISP so that an undeliverable message can be resent to the new e-mail address. Also provided are security and authentication measures for ensuring that address change requests are valid and authentic.

Claims