Electronic message delivery using an alternate source approach
First Claim
1. A method of sending an electronic message, comprising:
- receiving and storing definitions of one or more message filters, wherein each of the one or more message filters comprises a rule and an associated action,wherein the rule specifies a match of a subject or body of the electronic message and the associated action specifies delivering from a specified source hostname when the subject or body of the electronic message matches the rule;
receiving the electronic message destined for one or more recipients;
matching the rules of the one or more message filters to the electronic message; and
when the rule of one of the one or more message filters matches the subject or the body of the electronic message, performing the associated action on the electronic message, prior to enqueuing the electronic message for delivery to the one or more recipients, by setting, in the electronic message, a particular source hostname, identified by the matching message filter, from which the electronic message is actually delivered,wherein each of the one or more message filters is associated with a different communication campaign of a sender of the electronic message;
wherein each message filter, of the one or more message filters, for a particular communication campaign specifies a different source hostname; and
wherein the steps of storing definitions of the one or more message filters, matching the rules of the message filters, and performing the associated action are performed by a message processing system that acts as a virtual gateway for the sender by receiving bulk messages from the sender, processing the bulk messages according to the one or more message filters and dispatching the bulk messages to receivers or recipients using a plurality of different source hostnames as specified by the sender in the one or more message filters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Message delivery approaches in which senders define filters with associated actions for evaluation in relation to specified messages. After creating and storing filters with specified actions, senders dispatch messages to a processing system, which evaluates the filters against the messages. If a match occurs, the processing system performs the specified actions on the messages. The processing system may send the same message multiple times to different receiving systems, and may modify the source IP address and outbound interface of the message for each receiving system. The source IP address or interface may be modified by a filter in response to external events, such as a receiving system blocking another copy of the message. A single message processing system can appear as a large number of virtual message sendingunits.
266 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of sending an electronic message, comprising:
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receiving and storing definitions of one or more message filters, wherein each of the one or more message filters comprises a rule and an associated action, wherein the rule specifies a match of a subject or body of the electronic message and the associated action specifies delivering from a specified source hostname when the subject or body of the electronic message matches the rule; receiving the electronic message destined for one or more recipients; matching the rules of the one or more message filters to the electronic message; and when the rule of one of the one or more message filters matches the subject or the body of the electronic message, performing the associated action on the electronic message, prior to enqueuing the electronic message for delivery to the one or more recipients, by setting, in the electronic message, a particular source hostname, identified by the matching message filter, from which the electronic message is actually delivered, wherein each of the one or more message filters is associated with a different communication campaign of a sender of the electronic message; wherein each message filter, of the one or more message filters, for a particular communication campaign specifies a different source hostname; and wherein the steps of storing definitions of the one or more message filters, matching the rules of the message filters, and performing the associated action are performed by a message processing system that acts as a virtual gateway for the sender by receiving bulk messages from the sender, processing the bulk messages according to the one or more message filters and dispatching the bulk messages to receivers or recipients using a plurality of different source hostnames as specified by the sender in the one or more message filters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for sending an electronic message, which when executed by one or more processors, cause:
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receiving and storing definitions of one or more message filters, wherein each of the one or more message filters comprises a rule and an associated action, wherein the rule specifies a match of a subject or body of the electronic message and the associated action specifies delivering from a specified source hostname when the subject or body of the electronic message matches the rule; receiving the electronic message destined for one or more recipients; matching the rules of the one or more message filters to the electronic message; and when the rule of one of the one or more message filters matches the subject or the body of the electronic message, performing the associated action on the electronic message, prior to enqueuing the electronic message for delivery to the one or more recipients, by setting, in the electronic message, a particular source hostname, identified by the matching message filter, from which the electronic message is actually delivered, wherein each of the one or more message filters is associated with a different communication campaign of a sender of the electronic message; wherein each message filter, of the one or more message filters, for a particular communication campaign specifies a different source hostname; and wherein the steps of storing definitions of the one or more message filters, matching the rules of the message filters, and performing the associated action are performed by a message processing system that acts as a virtual gateway for the sender by receiving bulk messages from the sender, processing the bulk messages according to the one or more message filters and dispatching the bulk messages to receivers or recipients using a plurality of different source hostnames as specified by the sender in the one or more message filters. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for sending an electronic message, comprising:
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means for receiving and storing definitions of one or more message filters, wherein each of the one or more message filters comprises a rule and an associated action, wherein the rule specifies a match of a subject or body of the electronic message and the associated action specifies delivering from a specified source hostname when the subject or body of the electronic message matches the rule; means for receiving the electronic message destined for one or more recipients; means for matching the rules of the one or more message filters to the electronic message; and means for, when the rule of one of the one or more message filters matches the subject or the body of the electronic message, performing the associated action on the electronic message, prior to enqueuing the electronic message for delivery to the one or more recipients, by setting, in the electronic message, a particular source hostname, identified by the matching message filter, from which the electronic message is actually delivered, wherein each of the one or more message filters is associated with a different communication campaign of a sender of the electronic message; wherein each message filter, of the one or more message filters, for a particular communication campaign specifies a different source hostname; and wherein the means for storing definitions of the one or more message filters, means for matching the rules of the message filters, and means for performing the associated action are comprised within a message processing system that acts as a virtual gateway for the sender by receiving bulk messages from the sender, wherein the message processing system further comprises means for processing the bulk messages according to the one or more message filters and means for dispatching the bulk messages to receivers or recipients using a plurality of different source hostnames as specified by the sender in the one or more message filters. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for sending an electronic message, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause; receiving and storing definitions of one or more message filters, wherein each of the one or more message filters comprises a rule and an associated action, wherein the rule specifies a match of a subject or body of the electronic message and the associated action specifies delivering from a specified source hostname when the subject or body of the electronic message matches the rule; receiving the electronic message destined for one or more recipients; matching the rules of the one or more message filters to the electronic message; and when the rule of one of the one or more message filters matches the subject or the body of the electronic message, performing the associated action on the electronic message, prior to enqueuing the electronic message for delivery to the one or more recipients, by setting, in the electronic message, a particular source hostname, identified by the matching message filter, from which the electronic message is actually delivered, wherein each of the one or more message filters is associated with a different communication campaign of a sender of the electronic message; wherein each message filter, of the one or more message filters, for a particular communication campaign specifies a different source hostname; and wherein the steps of storing definitions of the one or more message filters, matching the rules of the message filters, and performing the associated action are performed by a message Processing system that acts as a virtual gateway for the sender by receiving bulk messages from the sender, processing the bulk messages according to the one or more message filters and dispatching the bulk messages to receivers or recipients using a plurality of different source hostnames as specified by the sender in the one or more message filters. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification