Sorting electronic messages using attributes of the sender address

• US 7,945,633 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldman, Phillip Y., Landsman, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US12/414,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Systems and methods for sorting electronic messages using attributes of senders or of sender addresses. An electronic messaging server sorts electronic messages using attributes associated with the senders or sender addresses of the electronic messages. The sender addresses and associated attributes are stored in an accept list. A sorting module uses the accept list to sort the electronic messages into various folders. The sorting module can also access other data sources, such as a contact list, to assist in sorting the electronic messages. The attributes can be determined independently of the user or can be set directly by the user. The attributes can also identify a status of a sender such as whether the sender is authorized, unauthorized, or unconfirmed.

Claims

1. In a system that includes an electronic messaging server that provides electronic messaging services to one or more users, a method for sorting electronic messages for a user, the method comprising:

assigning at least one attribute to each sender address;

storing the at least one attribute of each sender address in a first list, wherein the first list includes

a) a first sender address having a first attribute explicitly set by the user as an authorized sender address,

b) a second sender address having a second attribute implied as an authorized sender address when the user performs an action using the second sender address, and

c) a third sender address having a third attribute established as one of an authorized sender address, unconfirmed sender address, or unauthorized sender address based on a response by a sender associated with the third sender address and without direct input from the user;

receiving a particular electronic message from a particular sender address at the server;

accessing the first list;

determining from the first list whether the particular sender address matches the first sender address, and, if so, sorting the particular electronic message into a high priority inbox folder;

determining from the first list whether the particular sender address matches the second sender address, and, if so, sorting the particular electronic message into an inbox folder having less priority than the high priority inbox folder;

determining from the first list whether the particular sender address matches the third sender address, and, if so,

if the third sender address is an authorized sender address, sorting the particular electronic message into the inbox folder having less priority than the high priority inbox folder;

if the third sender address is an unconfirmed sender address, sorting the particular electronic message into a temporary folder; and

if the third sender address is an unauthorized sender address, sorting the particular electronic message into an unauthorized folder; and

if the particular sender address does not match the first sender address, second sender address, or third sender address, sorting the particular electronic message into the temporary folder.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a second sender address having a second attribute implied as an authorized sender address when the user performs an action using the second sender address comprises assigning the second attribute based on the user sending an electronic message to the second sender address.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a second sender address having a second attribute implied as an authorized sender address when the user performs an action using the second sender address comprises assigning the second attribute based on the user adding the second sender address to a contact list of the user.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising setting an unauthorized attribute of the second sender if the second sender is removed from the contact list.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a response from the particular sender that received the challenge; and

setting an authorized attribute for the third sender address if the particular sender responds correctly to the challenge.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising setting an unauthorized attribute for the third sender address if the particular sender does not respond to the challenge or responds incorrectly to the challenge.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a third sender address having a third attribute established as one of an authorized sender address, unconfirmed sender address, or unauthorized sender address based on a response by a sender associated with the third sender address and without direct input from the user comprises assigning the third attribute based on issuing a challenge to the third sender address.

8. In a system that includes an electronic messaging server that provides electronic messaging services to one or more users, a method for sorting electronic messages for a user, the method comprising:

assigning a first attribute to each sender address to indicate whether each sender address is an authorized sender address or an unauthorized sender address;

when the first attribute of a particular sender address is an authorized sender address, assigning a second attribute to indicate a one or more workgroup attributes, wherein the workgroup attributes defines how to direct an electronic message associated with a particular workgroup;

storing the first attribute and the second attribute for one or more sender addresses in a first list;

receiving a particular electronic message from a particular sender address at the server;

accessing the first list;

determining from the first attribute in the first list whether the particular sender address is an authorized sender address or an unauthorized sender address;

when the particular sender address is an authorized sender address, determining from the first list whether the particular sender address has a second attribute that identifies a particular workgroup attribute; and

when the particular sender address has a particular workgroup attribute, directing the particular electronic message to a folder corresponding to the particular workgroup attribute.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein a particular workgroup is a partner, vendor, team-member, or employee.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein when the particular sender address is an unauthorized sender address, directing the particular electronic message to an unauthorized folder.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein assigning a first attribute to each sender address to indicate whether each sender address is an authorized sender address or an unauthorized sender address comprises at least one of:

the first attribute being explicitly set by the user,

the first attribute being impliedly set by the user performing an action using the sender address, or

the first attribute being set based on a response by a sender associated with the sender address and without direct input from the user.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the first attribute being impliedly set by the user performing an action using the sender address includes the user sending an electronic message to the sender address or the user adding the sender address to a contact list of the user.

13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the first attribute being set based on a response by a sender associated with the sender address and without direct input from the user includes sending a challenge to the sender address and, if the sender responds correctly to the challenge, setting the first attribute as an authorized sender attribute.

14. In a system that includes an electronic messaging server that provides electronic messaging services to one or more users, a method for sorting electronic messages for a user, the method comprising:

assigning a first attribute to each sender address to indicate whether each sender address is an authorized sender address or an unauthorized sender address;

when the first attribute of a particular sender address is an authorized sender address, assigning a second attribute to defines how to direct an electronic message associated with a sender;

storing the first attribute and the second attribute for one or more sender addresses in a first list;

receiving a particular electronic message from a particular sender address at the server;

accessing the first list;

determining from the first attribute in the first list whether the particular sender address is an authorized sender address or an unauthorized sender address;

when the particular sender address is an authorized sender address, determining from the first list whether the particular sender address has a second attribute; and

directing the particular electronic message to a folder corresponding to the second attribute.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the second attribute is a workgroup attribute and the folder corresponding to the second attribute is a workgroup folder.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the second attribute is a personal attribute and the folder corresponding to the second attribute is a personal folder.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the second attribute is a merchant attribute and the folder corresponding to the second attribute is a merchant folder.