System and method for e-mail alias registration

• US 7,120,927 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J., Shaffer, Shmuel, Beyda, Cathy Sue
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fields, Courtney
• Application Number:
  US09/329,089
• Time in Patent Office: 2,680 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/153, 713/162, 713/163, 709/206, 726/2, 726/11, 726/12
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

An e-mail alias registration system is provided. According to one embodiment, users may register an e-mail address and a password at an alias relay server (102). Then, when a third party attempts to reply to the registered user, the third party will be presented with a sign on screen. Only if the sender is himself or herself a registered user will e-mail be allowed to be sent directly. To ensure that spammers do not abuse the registration system, only a limited number of e-mails will be allowed to be sent by registered users per day. Also, in order to register, a credit card number or other affirmative identification may need to be provided.

Claims

1. A method for processing e-mail, comprising:

providing a user with an e-mail alias, said e-mail alias corresponding to said user'"'"'s e-mail address;

intercepting third party email directed to said user'"'"'s e-mail alias;

prompting a third-party sender to enter an authorization prior to forwarding said e-mail; and

forwarding said third party e-mail to said user'"'"'s e-mail address only if said third party is identified as an authorized user.

2. A method according to claim 1, said intercepting including transmitting a response e-mail to said third party if said third party is not an authorized user.

3. A method according to claim 2, said response e-mail identifying a web site at which said third party may register to become an authorized user.

4. A method according to claim 3 further including limiting a number of e-mails an authorized user may send to another authorized user.

5. A method according to claim 1, including providing a web-based form for said third party to enter a message, said message converted to e-mail addressed to said e-mail alias.

6. A telecommunications server, comprising;

a central processing unit (CPU) programmed to send and receive e-mail; and

a data storage unit for storing one or more e-mail aliases for one or more e-mail users, wherein said CPU is programmed to prompt a sender of email to said e-mail aliases for an authorization and said CPU is programmed to intercept e-mail sent to said e-mail aliases if a sender is not a registered user and said CPU is programmed to forward an e-mail addressed to an e-mail alias to an actual e-mail address only if the sender and recipient are registered users.

7. A telecommunications server according to claim 6, wherein said CPU is programmed to forward said e-mail sent to said e-mail alias to a user'"'"'s e-mail address if said sender is an authorized user.

8. A telecommunications server according to claim 7, wherein said CPU is programmed to send a response e-mail to said sender if said sender is not an authorized user, said response e-mail identifying a web site at which said sender may register to become an authorized user.

9. A telecommunications server according to claim 6, wherein said CPU is programmed to allow a sender to enter said email into a web page form.

10. A telecommunications server according to claim 6, including a cryptographic processor for encrypting information sent to and from said CPU.

11. A telecommunications server, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) programmed to send and receive e-mail; and

a data storage unit for storing one or more e-mail authorizations for one or more e-mail users, wherein said CPU is adapted to prompt a sender of e-mail for authorization and said CPU is programmed to intercept e-mail sent to said e-mail users if a sender is not an authorized user and said CPU is programmed to forward an e-mail addressed to an e-mail alias to an actual e-mail address only if the sender and recipient are authorized users.

12. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU is programmed to forward said e-mail to a user'"'"'s e-mail address if said sender is an authorized user.

13. A telecommunications server according to claim 12, wherein said CPU is programmed to send a response e-mail to said sender if said sender is not an authorized user, said response e-mail identifying a web site at which said sender may register to become an authorized user.

14. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU is programmed to allow a sender to enter said e-mail into a web page form.

15. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, including a cryptographic processor for encrypting information sent to and from said CPU.

16. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU intercepts said e-mail if an authorization is not included in a body of said e-mail.

17. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU intercepts said e-mail if an authorization is not included in a header of said e-mail.

18. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU intercepts said e-mail if an authorization is not included as an attachment to said e-mail.

19. A telecommunications server according to claim 11, wherein said CPU intercepts said e-mail if an authorization is not included in an e-mail accompanying said e-mail.

20. A telecommunication system, comprising:

a plurality of user terminals coupled to a network and configured to communicate with one another via e-mail, each of said plurality of user terminals having an e-mail address;

a relay server coupled to said network and having a database for storing e-mail aliases corresponding to said e-mail addresses, such that said relay server forwards e-mail directed to said e-mail aliases to said correspond in e-mail addresses if a sender of said e-mail directed to said e-mail aliases is determined to be an authorized user, wherein said relay server is adapted to require said sender to register with said relay server before said e-mail is forwarded to another registered user such that a communication to said e-mail addresses is allowed only between registered users;

wherein an e-mail is communicated between registered users only if a recipient has registered a sender as an approved party.