System and method for a subscription model trusted email database for use in antispam
First Claim
1. A method for managing a subscription over a network, comprising:
- receiving a request for a sender subscription to a trusted email database from a client address;
determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, subscribing the client address to the trusted email database, and enabling the client address to send a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame;
if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame;
monitoring information associated with the client address as reported by other address;
determining a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and
if the Universal trust rating indicates that the client message is untrustable, disabling the client sender subscription from the trusted email database.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to implementing a trust rating subscription model for email addresses and/or domains in a trust-oriented email network that is supported by a deployment of a trusted email database (TED) system. The TED maintains the trust rating for individual email addresses relative to the recipients. Also, the subscription model enables the email end users and inbox service providers to register with the TED to obtain the trust rating of a specific email sender relative to the recipient. This trust rating may then be used by the email end user or an inbox service provider to filter spam, if the sender is untrusted, or deliver the message to an inbox, if the sender is trusted. A sender (individual email address, domain, and the like) can also subscribe and obtain limited rights to email subscribers of the TED system.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for managing a subscription over a network, comprising:
receiving a request for a sender subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, subscribing the client address to the trusted email database, and enabling the client address to send a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame; if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame; monitoring information associated with the client address as reported by other address; determining a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and if the Universal trust rating indicates that the client message is untrustable, disabling the client sender subscription from the trusted email database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for managing a subscription over a network, comprising:
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receiving a request for a recipient subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, subscribing the client address to the trusted email database, if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame; and enabling the subscribed client address to query the trusted email database to determine a trust rating associated with at least one of a message address sender/client address pair, a message address sender, and the client address, wherein the trust rating for the message address sender/client address paid further comprises a rating based on at least a combination of a proximity trust relationship, and a universal rating associated with the message address sender, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and if a fee is to be charged, charging the fee for enabling the query to the trusted email database.
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15. A server for managing messages over a network, comprising:
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a database that is configured to store trust information; and a trust manager, coupled to the database, that is configured to perform actions, including; receiving a request for a subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client address to send a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame; if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame; monitoring information associated with the each message sent by the client address to a destination address; determining a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame; monitoring information associated with the each message sent by the client address to a destination address; determining a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination addresses; and if the universal trust rating indicates that the client message is untrustable, disabling the client sender subscription from the trusted email database. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A server for managing messages over a network comprising:
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a database that is configured to store trust information; and
a trust manager, coupled to the database, that is configured to perform actions, including;receiving a request for a recipient subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the subscribed client address to query the trusted email database to determine a universal trust rating associated with at least one of a message address sender/client address pair, a message address sender, and the client address, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to query the trusted email database to determine a trust rating for a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame.
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22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for managing messages over a network, the computer-executable instructions being operative to perform actions, comprising:
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enabling a receiving of a request for a recipient subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; enabling a determination of whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame; enabling the client address to query the trusted email database to determine a universal trust rating associated with at least one of a message address sender/client address pair, a message address sender, and the client address, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and determining whether to charge a fee to enable the query of the trusted email database, wherein the determination to charge the fee is based, at least in part, on a trust rating associated with the client address, if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame.
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23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for managing messages over a network, the computer-executable instructions being operative to perform actions, comprising:
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enabling a receiving of a request for a subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; enabling a determination of whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is initially trustable, enabling the client address to send a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame; enabling a monitoring of information associated with the each message sent by the client address to a destination address; enabling a determining of a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and if the universal trust rating indicates that the client message is untrustable, enabling a disabling of the client sender subscription from the trusted email database; if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for managing messages on a network, comprising:
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a means for receiving a request for a subscription to a trusted email database from a client address; a means for determining whether the client address is initially trustable, and if the client address is determined to be initially trustable, a means for enabling the client address to send a predetermined number of messages within a predetermined time frame; a means for monitoring information associated with the each message sent by the client address to a destination address; a means for determining a universal trust rating for the client address based, in part, on the monitored information, wherein the universal trust rating is a property of the client address, and not a property of the destination message address; and if the universal trust rating indicates that the client message is untrustable, a means for disabling the client message from the trusted email database, if it is indeterminate whether the client address is initially trustable, negotiating a fee payment prior to subscribing the client address to the trusted email database and enabling the client to send the predetermined number of messages within the predetermined time frame.
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Specification