System and method for handling complaints about unsolicited communications
First Claim
1. A method, executed by a hardware system, for controlling the sending of unsolicited communications via an online service, the method comprising:
- enabling, by enabling hardware circuitry, a sending user of the online service to send an unsolicited communication to a recipient user using an electronic contact form in which the recipient user is identified without allowing the sending user to view the recipient user'"'"'s contact information;
in response to receipt of a request from the recipient user to file a complaint against the sending user, generating, by generating hardware circuitry, an electronic complaint and associating the complaint with the sending user;
monitoring, by monitoring hardware circuitry, a number of complaints filed against the sending user; and
enforcing, by enforcing hardware circuitry, a complaint policy against the sending user based on the number of complaints.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to control sending of unsolicited communications over a network is provided. Typically, the network is the Internet and the system defines a SPAM prevention tool for users of an on-line service, such as an on-line bidding service. Users may contact an intended recipient with a contact form, which is forwarded to the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address by an on-line service provider. A link accessible from a Web site allows recipients of unsolicited e-mail to complain to the on-line service provider. Sanctions are implemented against the sender of unsolicited e-mail based on the frequency of complaints. When the complaint level against a sender reaches a certain threshold, the sender is unable to use the contact form for a predetermined time period.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, executed by a hardware system, for controlling the sending of unsolicited communications via an online service, the method comprising:
-
enabling, by enabling hardware circuitry, a sending user of the online service to send an unsolicited communication to a recipient user using an electronic contact form in which the recipient user is identified without allowing the sending user to view the recipient user'"'"'s contact information; in response to receipt of a request from the recipient user to file a complaint against the sending user, generating, by generating hardware circuitry, an electronic complaint and associating the complaint with the sending user; monitoring, by monitoring hardware circuitry, a number of complaints filed against the sending user; and enforcing, by enforcing hardware circuitry, a complaint policy against the sending user based on the number of complaints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for controlling the sending of unsolicited communications via an online service, the system comprising:
-
a page server electronically configured to generate, in response to a request from a sending user to communicate with a recipient user, a contact form configured to receive a message from the sending user to the recipient user, the contact form identifying the recipient user without allowing the sending user to view the recipient user'"'"'s contact information; a communications server configured to electronically forward the generated contact form including the message to the recipient user; and an unsolicited-communications inhibiting tool implemented on a programmed hardware device configured to generate, by a hardware processor executing generating instructions, a complaint responsive to a request from the recipient user to file a complaint against the sending user and associating the complaint with the sending user; monitor, by the hardware processor executing monitoring instructions, a number of complaints filed against the sending user; and enforce, by the hardware processor executing enforcing instructions, a complaint policy against the sending user based on the number of complaints. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification