Method and system for managing e-mails

• US 7,571,220 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kim Kwee Ng
• Original Assignee: Kim Kwee Ng
• Inventors: Ng, Kim Kwee
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sciacca; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US12/337,570
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213

Abstract

A user starts with a master password which is an authorized access key for a sender on a remote mail system to send a mail. The master password is automatically replaced by an authorized-to-reply key transmitted to the remote mail system. The mail systems are using the authorized-to-reply key and the permission-to-transmit key in a two-ways communication network to exchange mails. The master password is deleted later to prevent unauthorized use, without affecting previously established mail exchanges. An unknown sender requests an authorized-to-reply key through an interactive examination. A command flag enables the user to switch between anti-spam mode and non-antispam mode, and to rebuild the authorized-to-reply key in a security-demanding environment. The authorized-to-reply key is sub-divided to comprise a unique group name to facilitate sorting and graphic displays of the various groups. A utility program searches and matches all desired services and advertisements with the offers from other mail users.

Claims

1. A mail server system using a method for processing electronic mails, including sorting and blocking spam mails, comprising:

a) a device for generating a plurality of passwords which are comprised of a plurality of characters and numbers;

b) a first password field containing an authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely identifiable by said mail server system and assigned specifically to a mail address of a sender;

c) a second password field containing a permission-to-transmit key delivered by a remote mail server to a mail user of the said mail server system when said permission-to-transmit key is required for depositing a mail with the said remote mail server; and

d) an operations command flag for entering into an anti-spam state when said command flag is turned on, and for generating automatically at least a new authorized-to-reply key to replace said authorized-to-reply key at a time interval when desired by said mail user in a security-demanding environment;

wherein said authorized-to-reply key is required to designate an incoming mail from said sender as a non-spam mail when said operations command flag is enabled by said mail user;

said mail server system transmits an authorization packet having a plurality of password keys which is comprised of at least the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key to said remote mail server;

said mail server system accepts incoming mails having a plurality of master passwords, said master passwords are distributed to friendly senders for the permission to send mails to said mail user, each said master password is automatically replaced in all subsequent mail delivery by a new authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely defined for each sender, and said remote mail server system optionally deletes said master password for security reasons after receiving said authorized-to-reply key from said mail server system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key contained in said authorization packet of an outbound mail from said mail user are arranged consecutively in a sequential order in their password positions, whereas the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key in an incoming mail to said user have swapped their positions resulting in a reversed order, with the first password position having the said permission-to-transmit key and the second password position containing the said authorized-to-reply key, for probing said mail server system to accept said incoming mail by using the key residing in the said second password position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorized-to-reply key comprises a first component and a second component, said first component is a unique group name for sorting incoming mails into a plurality of different groups, and said second component is uniquely identifiable and assigned to each mail sender.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of mails is sorted and identified by a plurality of icons and identifiers in a separate column provided by the said mail server system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mail server system comprises a challenge-response examination and an issuance of said authorized-to-reply key after the receipt of the correct answers to a plurality of questions presented to said sender.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the e-mail address of said remote mail server is comprised of several sub-domain names identifiable by domain levels separated by a dot-separator, “

.”

, a plurality of mails originating from said remote mail server is blocked at a desired domain level elected by said mail user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a mail header of said mail comprises said password keys having at least the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a data packet having a plurality of channels, wherein a shopping list is presented by said user in a user-community based search environment among a plurality of mail users for the matching and solicitation of the services and the advertisements which are indicated by the status of the data in the said channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein an authenticity level is assigned to said incoming mail to indicate a degree of confidence in said incoming mail, the authenticity of said incoming mail is indicated by at least an allowed list, a web registration by an unknown sender, an authorized-to-reply key and an invalid access key.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a data packet to indicate if a payment is required when a specific service is delivered.

11. A mail server system using a method for processing electronic mails, including sorting and blocking spam mails, comprising:

a) a device for generating a plurality of passwords which are comprised of a plurality of characters and numbers;

b) a first password field containing an authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely identifiable by said mail server system and assigned specifically to a mail address of a sender;

c) a second password field containing a permission-to-transmit key delivered by a remote mail server to a mail user of the said mail server system when said permission-to-transmit key is required for depositing a mail with the said remote mail server;

d) an operations command flag for entering into an anti-spam state when said command flag is turned on, and for generating automatically at least a new authorized-to-reply key to replace said authorized-to-reply key at a time interval when desired by said mail user in a security-demanding environment; and

e) an authorization packet comprising of at least the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key arranged consecutively in a sequential order in an outbound mail from said mail user;

said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key have swapped their positions in an incoming mail to the said user for probing said mail server system to accept said incoming mail by using the key residing in a specific position of the said authorization packet;

wherein said authorized-to-reply key is required to designate an incoming mail from said sender as a non-spam mail when said operations command flag is enabled by said mail user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said mail server system accepts incoming mails having a plurality of master passwords, said master passwords are distributed to friendly senders for the permission to send mails to said mail user, each said master password is automatically replaced in all subsequent mail delivery by a new authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords password generator, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely defined for each sender, said remote mail server system deletes said master password for security reasons after receiving said authorized-to-reply key from said mail server system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said authorized-to-reply key comprises a first component and a second component, said first component is a unique group name for sorting incoming mails into a plurality of different groups, and said second component is uniquely identifiable and assigned to each mail sender.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said mail server system comprises a challenge-response examination and an issuance of said authorized-to-reply key after the receipt of the correct answers to a plurality of questions presented to said sender.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising a data packet having a plurality of channels, wherein a shopping list is presented by said user in a user-community based search environment among a plurality of mail users for the matching and solicitation of the services and the advertisements which are indicated by the status of the data in the said channels.

16. A mail server system using a method for processing electronic mails, including a search and match operation to match desirable resources-sharing services and advertisements while eliminating un-solicited spam mails, comprising:

a) a device for generating a plurality of passwords which are comprised of a plurality of characters and numbers;

b) a first password field containing an authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely identifiable by said mail server system and assigned specifically to a mail address of a sender;

c) a second password field containing a permission-to-transmit key delivered by a remote mail server to a mail user of the said mail server system when said permission-to-transmit key is required for depositing a mail with the said remote mail server;

d) a first data packet comprising a plurality of channels which comprise a plurality of data bits; and

e) a shopping list presented by said user for matching and solicitation in a search environment among a plurality of mail users comprising a short description of services and advertisements, with the availability of the services and advertisements represented by the status of the data in said channels;

wherein a channel in the said first data packet is turned on by said mail user to indicate an interest in the specific services and advertisements associated with said channel;

said mail user is notified when said mail server finds a match between said services and advertisements and those from said remote mail server;

said mail server system transmits an authorization packet having a plurality of password keys which is comprised of at least the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key for retrieving a shopping list from said remote mail server;

said mail server system accepts incoming mails having a plurality of master passwords, said master passwords are distributed to friendly senders for the permission to send mails to said mail user, each said master password is automatically replaced in all subsequent mail delivery by a new authorized-to-reply key generated by said device for generating passwords, said authorized-to-reply key is uniquely defined for each sender, and said remote mail server system optionally deletes said master password for security reasons after receiving said authorized-to-reply key from said mail server system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key contained in said authorization packet of an outbound mail from said mail user are arranged consecutively in a sequential order in their password positions, whereas the said authorized-to-reply key and the said permission-to-transmit key in an incoming mail to said user have swapped their positions resulting in a reversed order, with the first password position having the said permission-to-transmit key and the second password position containing the said authorized-to-reply key, for probing said mail server system to accept said incoming mail by using the key residing in the said second password position.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said mail server system comprises a challenge-response examination for directing a plurality of questions to an interested party, and an issuance of said authorized-to-reply key after the receipt of the correct answers to said questions.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising a second data packet containing a plurality of data bits to indicate payment information;

wherein a payment is required when a data bit in the said second data packet corresponding to a specific service rendered by said user is turned on.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein an authenticity level is assigned to said incoming mail to indicate a degree of confidence in said incoming mail, the authenticity of said incoming mail is indicated by at least an allowed list, a web registration by an unknown sender, an authorized-to-reply key and an invalid access key.