System and method for regulating electronic messages
First Claim
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1. A method for regulating electronic messages comprising:
- maintaining, by a computer, statistics for a plurality of registered electronic message source domains;
maintaining, by the computer, target statistics for the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, wherein the target statistics for one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains are reflective of an agreement with the one registered electronic message source domain and differ from the target statistics being maintained for an other of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains that are reflective of an agreement with the other registered electronic message source domain, the agreement of the one registered electronic message source domain including an agreement to pay for delivery of electronic messages from the one registered electronic message source domain;
receiving an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, and in response to receiving the electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic source domains, determining whether the electronic message originates from more than one source based on the number of hops that the electronic message has taken and updating the maintained statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains to reflect receipt of the electronic message;
determining, by the computer, whether the updated maintained statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains comply with the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains;
determining, by the computer, whether the electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains complies with target profile characteristics established for an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, the target profile characteristics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains and the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains being different, the target profile characteristics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains and the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains being stored in a profile associated with the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains; and
if either the updated maintained statistics no longer comply with the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains or the electronic message received from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains does not comply with target profile characteristics established for an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, taking a remedial action for the received electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains.
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Abstract
A system for regulating e-mail comprises a database of information profiling legitimate e-mail usage. When an e-mail is received at the system, it is scrutinized relative to the information in the database. If the e-mail is found to be legitimate based upon this evaluation, it is delivered to the intended recipient. If, however, the e-mail appears on the basis of the evaluation to be the last in a series of illegitimate e-mails or otherwise has characteristics inconsistent with the profile of legitimate e-mail usage, the e-mail may not be delivered and the postmaster and administrator at the source of the e-mail is contacted.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for regulating electronic messages comprising:
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maintaining, by a computer, statistics for a plurality of registered electronic message source domains; maintaining, by the computer, target statistics for the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, wherein the target statistics for one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains are reflective of an agreement with the one registered electronic message source domain and differ from the target statistics being maintained for an other of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains that are reflective of an agreement with the other registered electronic message source domain, the agreement of the one registered electronic message source domain including an agreement to pay for delivery of electronic messages from the one registered electronic message source domain; receiving an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, and in response to receiving the electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic source domains, determining whether the electronic message originates from more than one source based on the number of hops that the electronic message has taken and updating the maintained statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains to reflect receipt of the electronic message; determining, by the computer, whether the updated maintained statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains comply with the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains; determining, by the computer, whether the electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains complies with target profile characteristics established for an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, the target profile characteristics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains and the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains being different, the target profile characteristics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains and the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains being stored in a profile associated with the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains; and if either the updated maintained statistics no longer comply with the target statistics for the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains or the electronic message received from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains does not comply with target profile characteristics established for an electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains, taking a remedial action for the received electronic message from the one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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3. The method of claim , wherein the maintained statistics for one of the plurality of registered electronic message source domains comprises the number of electronic messages received within a period.
Specification