System and method for controlling distribution of network communications
First Claim
1. A method for controlling distribution of electronic mail messages communicated from a sender to a receiver via a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) sampling electronic mail messages received from the sender to determine a level of electronic mail messages having a certain characteristic;
(b) determining a priority value for the sender as a function of the level;
(c) identifying a processing rule for the priority value;
(d) receiving a new electronic mail message from the sender and assigning the priority value to the new electronic mail message; and
(e) delivering the new electronic mail message to the receiver in accordance with the processing rule, wherein the delivering in accordance with the processing rule comprises controlling allocation of network connections for delivery of electronic mail messages to cause other electronic mail messages having higher priority values than the new electronic mail message to be delivered before delivery of the new electronic mail message.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling distribution of network communications (messages). An incoming message either carries priority information, or is assigned priority information based on a shared characteristic with other messages. The priority information is used to determine how and/or when to deliver the message, e.g. by delaying the message for a fixed time. Preferences for receipt of messages by priority level may be communication to upstream hosts along a network path. Accordingly, an intermediary host may reject and/or delay messages that the intended recipient does not wish to receive. This pushes the burden of low-priority messages back to the sender, thereby reducing or eliminating burdens on network/system resources of the recipient and/or intermediaries between the recipient and the sender. Accordingly, it can “squelch” spam messages at or close to their source. Trusted senders complying with prescribed practices may include priority information allowing for delivery of their messages with higher priority.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling distribution of electronic mail messages communicated from a sender to a receiver via a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sampling electronic mail messages received from the sender to determine a level of electronic mail messages having a certain characteristic; (b) determining a priority value for the sender as a function of the level; (c) identifying a processing rule for the priority value; (d) receiving a new electronic mail message from the sender and assigning the priority value to the new electronic mail message; and (e) delivering the new electronic mail message to the receiver in accordance with the processing rule, wherein the delivering in accordance with the processing rule comprises controlling allocation of network connections for delivery of electronic mail messages to cause other electronic mail messages having higher priority values than the new electronic mail message to be delivered before delivery of the new electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for controlling distribution of electronic mail messages communicated from a sender to a receiver via a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sampling electronic mail messages received from the sender to determine a level of electronic mail messages having a certain characteristic; (b) determining a priority value for the sender as a function of the level; (c) identifying a prescribed delay for the priority value; (d) receiving a new electronic mail message from the sender and assigning the priority value to the new electronic mail message; and (e) delivering the new electronic mail message to the receiver after the prescribed delay, wherein the delivering after the prescribed delay comprises controlling allocation of network connections for delivery of electronic mail messages to cause other electronic mail messages having higher priority values than the new electronic mail message to be delivered before delivery of the new electronic mail message.
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5. A method for controlling distribution of network communications via a communications network, the method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of network communications, each having a respective source address; referencing a list of preferred customers'"'"' e-mail domains; identifying a priority value for a first network communication of the plurality of network communications based at least in part on whether the first network communication has a source address corresponding to an email domain on the list; identifying a priority value for a second network communication of the plurality of network communications based at least in part on whether the second network communication has a source address corresponding to an email domain on the list; and responsive to the priority value of the first network communication being higher than the priority value of the second network communication, delaying the second network communication by controlling allocation of network connections for delivery of network communications to cause the first network communication to be delivered before the second network communication.
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6. A method for controlling distribution of network communications from a sender to a receiver via a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a particular network communication intended for delivery to a recipient; identifying a priority level corresponding to the particular network communication; determining a prescribed delay for the identified priority level; and delaying delivery of the particular network communication to the intended recipient according to the prescribed delay, wherein delaying delivery of the particular network communication comprises controlling allocation of network connections for delivery of some network communications to cause other network communications having priority levels higher than the particular network communication to be delivered before delivery of the particular network communication. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification