System and method for controlling and organizing Email

• US 7,054,906 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael P. Levosky
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Levosky
• Inventors: Levosky, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osman, Ramy M.
• Application Number:
  US09/751,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709204-209, 709/219, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer

Abstract

The method resides on a standard email system including a client computer that contains a physical email address and an email server. A client control program, which resides on the client computer and an alias email server, which communicates with the client over the data communications network, are added. The method includes entering the physical email address into the client control program, together with client identification information. The alias email server then generates an alias email address, which is communicated back to the user, and additionally is stored in the alias email server. The client then makes the alias email address available to selected correspondent. Response emails are intercepted by the alias email server, and either forwarded to the client, filtered, or blocked. The client is provided with a log of all transactions, including the time and date, alias email addresses, and other user-created information.

Claims

1. In a computer data communications network, a method for a user to control and organize email messages further comprising a subject line and a message body, the method comprising the steps of:

a) Configuring a system comprising;

1) an email client program comprising a user email address, and residing on a user computer;

2) a user email server which communicates with the email client program over the data communications network;

3) an alias email server which communicates with the user email server over the data communications network; and

4) a client control system residing on the user computer which communicates with the alias email server over the data communications network;

b) entering of the user email address, corresponding identification information, and filter commands into the client control system by the user;

c) transmitting the user email address, the filter commands, and the corresponding identification information, from the client control system to the alias email server;

d) storing the user email address, the filter commands, and the corresponding identification information in the alias email server;

e) automatically generating a first alias email address by the alias email server, not generated from the user address, and not generated from a recipient address, and storing said first alias email address in the alias email server;

f) transmitting the first alias email address by the alias email server to the client control system;

g) transmitting a message comprising the first alias email address as a sender address by the alias email server to a recipient;

h) receiving by the alias email server of a reply message addressed to the first alias email address;

i) storing information regarding the reply message in the alias email server;

j) if the stored filter commands do not cause the alias email server to block the reply message, then forwarding by the alias email server of the reply message, together with the identification information, to the user address via the user email server;

k) sending a subject line prefix from the client control program to the alias email server;

l) sending user memo information from the client control program to the alias email server;

m) storing the user memo information and user subject line prefix in the alias email server;

n) inserting the user subject line prefix into the subject line of the reply message and inserting the user memo information into the message body of the reply message, so that the recipient is unaware of the user email address, and the user is apprised of the first alias email address and the corresponding identification information of said reply message, and the user can easily associate the alias email address with the reply message and recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after receiving a message from a recipient addressed to the first alias email address:

(a) selecting by the user of the Reply function of an email client program;

(b) inputting of a reply message by the user;

(c) transmitting of the user'"'"'s reply message to the Alias email server;

(d) stripping of the user'"'"'s reply message of all information which could identify the user'"'"'s physical email address by the Alias email server; and

(e) forwarding the stripped reply message to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the alias email address further comprises substantially random character generating.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering one or more additional physical email addresses into the client control program, and receiving an additional alias email address corresponding to each additional physical email address.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising entering a request by the client control program for one or more additional alias addresses corresponding to each physical address, and receiving by the client control program an additional alias email address corresponding to each such request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering a request by the client control program to suspend forwarding by the alias email server to the email client program of all email addressed to a particular alias email address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering a request by the client control program to permanently discontinue receipt by the email client program of all email addressed to a particular alias email address.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating by the client control program of an alias email address containing a user name, and filtering the email at the Alias email Server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting by the user a message to two or more recipients using the same alias first email address and the same identification information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter commands further comprise:

(a) rejecting all messages addressed to the first alias email address at the alias email server;

(b) suspending receipt of all messages addressed to the first alias email address by the alias email server; and

(c) restoring receipt of all messages addressed to the first alias email address at the alias email server.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) entering one or more additional alias email addresses and identification information associated with each such additional alias email address by the user;

(b) generating a log by the client control program, and displaying the log to the user, the log comprising, for each alias email address;

(i) the date of the generation of the alias email address;

(ii) the alias email address; and

(iii) the corresponding identification information.

12. The method of claim 1, whereby

(a) the email messages further comprise a subject and a body;

and

(b) the identification information comprises a first identification message and a second identification message, and whereby the method further comprises;

(i) appending by the alias email server of the first identification message to the subject; and

(

ii) appending by the alias email server of the second identification message to the body.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting the user subject line prefix into header fields of the email message wherein the header fields further comprise a FROM line, a CC line, and a BCC line.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) transmitting to the client control program by the alias email server of statistical information which further comprises;

1) the alias email address;

2) a time and date of the creation of the alias email address;

3) a message number;

4) the subject line prefix;

5) the user memo information; and

6) a number of messages received;

7) a number of messages forwarded;

8) a previous message received; and

b) sorting of said statistical information by the client control program by either

1)a date received;

2) a status, comprising suspension of message or resuming of messages;

3) a number of total messages received from a particular recipient;

or

4) the date of the creation of the alias email address.