Cost-based SMTP email routing
First Claim
1. A method of cost-based email message routing, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of email messages for a plurality of recipient domains from one or more clients;
receiving cost information associated with sending the plurality of email messages to the plurality of recipient domains from a plurality of Mail Transfer Agents (MTAs), the cost information indicating both latency associated with processing one or more email messages by one or more of the plurality of MTAs, and latency associated with receipt of the one or more email messages by one or more remote hosts;
maintaining, using a database system, a database storing data objects identifying one or more process flags for each of the MTAs, the one or more process flags for an MTA configured to indicate a status of one or more email messages processed by the MTA;
grouping, based on one or more of the process flags, ones of the plurality of email messages having the same recipient domain or having recipient domains in geographical proximity to each other to produce one or more batches of email messages;
determining, based on the cost information, using one or more processors in communication with one or more computer systems, a lowest cost MTA for sending each of the one or more batches of email messages;
sending each of the one or more batches of email messages using the lowest cost MTA; and
updating, responsive to sending each of the one or more batches of email messages, one or more of the process flags for the lowest cost MTA to reflect that each of the one or more batches of email messages have been sent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and system for cost-based email routing is provided. Such methods and systems can route high volume of email messages with improved email throughput. Such methods and systems may involve a variety of components, for example, at least one email data store for receiving, storing, and sending high volume of email message, a plurality of mail servers for routing email messages to their recipient domains based through a lowest cost associated with sending high volume of email messages to their recipient domains from the plurality of mail servers, and at least one email processing module for measuring the cost associated with sending each email messages to its recipient domain from each of the plurality of mail servers.
189 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of cost-based email message routing, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of email messages for a plurality of recipient domains from one or more clients; receiving cost information associated with sending the plurality of email messages to the plurality of recipient domains from a plurality of Mail Transfer Agents (MTAs), the cost information indicating both latency associated with processing one or more email messages by one or more of the plurality of MTAs, and latency associated with receipt of the one or more email messages by one or more remote hosts; maintaining, using a database system, a database storing data objects identifying one or more process flags for each of the MTAs, the one or more process flags for an MTA configured to indicate a status of one or more email messages processed by the MTA; grouping, based on one or more of the process flags, ones of the plurality of email messages having the same recipient domain or having recipient domains in geographical proximity to each other to produce one or more batches of email messages; determining, based on the cost information, using one or more processors in communication with one or more computer systems, a lowest cost MTA for sending each of the one or more batches of email messages; sending each of the one or more batches of email messages using the lowest cost MTA; and updating, responsive to sending each of the one or more batches of email messages, one or more of the process flags for the lowest cost MTA to reflect that each of the one or more batches of email messages have been sent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22)
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12. A system for cost-based email message routing, the system comprising:
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at least one client device configured to generate and send a plurality of email messages for a plurality of recipient domains; at least one email data store device configured to receive and store the plurality of email messages from the at least one client device; a plurality of Mail Transfer Agents (MTAs) in operative communication with the at least one email data store and configured to transfer the email messages from the at least one data store to the plurality of recipient domains; and at least one email processing module configured to; access a database maintained using a database system, the database storing data objects identifying one or more process flags for each of the MTAs, the one or more process flags for an MTA configured to indicate a status of one or more email messages processed by the MTA; group, based on one or more of the process flags, ones of the plurality of email messages having the same recipient domain or having recipient domains in geographical proximity to each other to produce one or more batches of email messages; based on cost information associated with sending the plurality of email messages to the plurality of recipient domains from the plurality of MTAs, the cost information indicating both latency associated with processing one or more email messages by one or more of the plurality of MTAs, and latency associated with receipt of the one or more email messages by one or more remote hosts, determine a lowest cost MTA for sending each of the one or more batches of email messages; send each of the one or more batches of email messages using the lowest cost MTA; and update, responsive to sending each of the one or more batches of email messages, one or more of the process flags for the lowest cost MTA to reflect that each of the one or more batches of email messages have been sent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification