Method for predelivery verification of an intended recipient of an electronic message and dynamic generation of message content upon verification

• US 9,444,647 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Email Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Message Level LLC
• Inventors: Cunningham, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): ZUNIGA ABAD, JACKIE
• Application Number:
  US12/279,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,500 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00

Abstract

A device sending electronic messages first verifies the intended recipient of the message by sending a message beacon (101) comprising data uniquely identifying the electronic message and the electronic address of the intended recipient of the message to a receiving device. The receiving device verifies that the intended recipient is serviced by the receiving device and then replies to the sending device returning the message beacon (102). The sending device thereafter sends the electronic message to the intended recipient (103). The receiving device may also reply to the sending device with a verification reply including data related to the intended recipient (108). Upon consideration of the data, the sending device may alter the electronic message prior to forwarding, forward the message or determine to withhold the message.

Claims

1. A method for predelivery verification of the intended recipient of each electronic message from a plurality of electronic messages in a network comprising at least one sending device sending the electronic messages, said sending device comprising an electronic message database, said network further comprising at least one receiving device disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages, said receiving device comprising a recipient database of recipients for which said receiving device is disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages, said recipient database comprising electronic addresses of the recipients, the method comprising:

preparing, by said sending device, a message beacon, said message beacon comprising data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said electronic message intended for an intended recipient and further comprising the electronic address of said intended recipient;

storing, by said sending device, said electronic message intended for said intended recipient as a record in said electronic message database;

transmitting, by said sending device, said message beacon to said receiving device;

receiving, by said receiving device, said message beacon;

comparing, by said receiving device, the electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon with the electronic addresses in said recipient database;

preparing, by said receiving device, a verification reply wherein said verification reply comprises an electronic message cookie and said message beacon when said receiving device finds a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon;

transmitting, by said receiving device, said verification reply to said sending device;

receiving, by said sending device, said verification reply;

locating within said electronic message database, by said sending device, said record containing said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply;

analyzing data in the electronic message cookie; and

forwarding, by said sending device, based at least on the analyzing of the data in the electronic message cookie, said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply to said intended recipient in said message beacon.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preparing, by said receiving device, a verification denial denying the verification of said intended recipient when said receiving devices fails to find a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon; and

transmitting said verification denial to said sending device by said receiving device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient of said electronic message and wherein the method further comprises:

relating to said record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

appending to said verification reply prepared by said receiving device a specified data string for said intended recipient; and

verifying by said sending device, that said verification reply contains said specified data string.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:

relating to said record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said message beacon comprises at least one of header information extracted from said electronic message, a time and date of origination of said electronic message, an electronic address of a sender, and a unique message identifier including at least one of a checksum of text in said electronic message and data prepared according to an algorithm applied to at least a portion of said electronic message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending device comprises at least one of a single computer running an email application, an email server transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a plurality of email servers transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a relay email system, a verification email system, and a centralized sending module.

12. A method for predelivery verification of the intended recipient of each electronic message from a plurality of electronic messages and dynamic generation of the electronic messages in a network comprising at least one sending device sending electronic messages, said sending device comprising an electronic message database, said network further comprising at least one receiving device disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages to at least one intended recipient, said receiving device comprising a recipient database, said recipient database comprising at least one recipient data record, each said recipient data record comprising an electronic address for the at least one intended recipient and at least one data element related to said electronic address, the method comprising:

preparing, by said sending device, a message beacon, said message beacon comprising data uniquely identifying said electronic message intended for said intended recipient and further comprising the electronic address of said intended recipient;

storing, by said sending device, said electronic message intended for said intended recipient as an electronic message record in said electronic message database;

transmitting, by said sending device, said message beacon to said receiving device;

receiving, by said receiving device, said message beacon;

comparing, by said receiving device, the electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon with the electronic addresses in said recipient data records in said recipient database;

preparing, by said receiving device, a verification reply wherein said verification reply comprises an electronic message cookie and said message beacon when said receiving device finds a recipient data record in said recipient database containing a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon;

appending to said verification reply said recipient data record containing said recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient;

transmitting, by said receiving device, said verification reply with said recipient data record to said sending device;

receiving, by said sending device, said verification reply with said recipient data record;

locating within said electronic message database, by said sending device, said electronic message record containing said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply;

altering said electronic message based upon a value of at least one data element in at least one of said recipient data record forwarded with said verification reply, said electronic message cookie, or automatically accumulated and stored data; and

forwarding, by said sending device, said altered electronic message identified by said first message beacon in said verification reply to said intended recipient in said message beacon.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

preparing, by said receiving device, a verification denial denying the verification of said intended recipient when said receiving device fails to find a recipient data record with an electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon; and

transmitting said verification denial to said sending device by said receiving device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:

relating to said electronic message record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time a verification reply was received from said receiving device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which a verification reply was received.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein by pre-arrangement between said sending device and said intended recipient, the verification reply for said intended recipient contains a specified data string and wherein the method further comprises:

appending to said verification reply prepared by said receiving device said specified data string for said intended recipient; and

verifying by said sending device, that said verification reply contains said specified data string.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:

relating to said electronic message record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said message beacon comprises at least one of header information extracted from said electronic message, a time and date of origination of said electronic message, an electronic address of a sender, and a unique message identifier including at least one of a checksum of text in said electronic message and data prepared according to an algorithm applied to at least a portion of said electronic message.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the sending device comprises at least one of a single computer running an email application, an email server transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a plurality of email servers transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a relay email system, a verification email system, and a centralized sending module.