Methods and apparatus for controlling the transmission and receipt of email messages

• US 20020181703A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Truemail Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles Call, James D. Logan
• Inventors: Logan, James D., Call, Charles G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying unwanted email messages by transmitting metadata with an outbound email message that indicates the total number of email messages sent by that sender in a predetermined time period, or alternatively indicates the total number of email messages which are equivalent to the outgoing message that have been sent. In addition the metadata may include an identification of the sender and a “pledge” made by the sender. A pledge may take the form of a binding commitment from the sender that the information contained in the metadata is accurate, and/or that the sender promises to abide by predetermined good conduct rules designed to limit unwanted email. The outgoing message may be further signed by the sender with a digital signature that provides means for verifying the content of the message and the pledge as will as the identity of the sender.

Claims

1. The method for identifying unwanted email messages comprising, in combination, the steps of:

at an email transmitting location, transmitting metadata along with a given email message, said metadata containing a unique identification of the sender of said given email message and an indication of the number of different recipients to whom an equivalent of said given email message has been addressed, and

at a receiving location, presenting said given email message to its intended recipient in a manner that distinguishes said given email from other email messages based on said metadata.

2. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indication of the number of different recipients is formed by comparing said given email messages with a plurality of messages previously transmitted by said sender to identify other email messages that are substantially equivalent to said given email message and forming a combined count of the recipients of said given message and the recipients of each of said messages that are substantially equivalent to said given email message.

3. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 2 wherein said indication specifies whether or not said combined count is less than a predetermined threshold count.

4. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 1 wherein said given email message and said transmitted metadata are encrypted using private key value known only to the sender to form a digital signature that is transmitted along with said given message and said metadata to said receiving location, and further comprising the step performed at said receiving location of decrypting said digital signature to validate said message and metadata using a public key value provided by said sender.

5. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metadata manifests an promise by said sender that said given email message conforms to one or more rules governing the distribution of said given email message.

6. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 5 wherein said given email message and said transmitted metadata are encrypted using private key value known only to the sender to form a digital signature that is transmitted along with said given message and said metadata to said receiving location, and further comprising the step performed at said receiving location of decrypting said digital signature to validate said message and metadata using a public key value provided by said sender.

7. The method for identifying unwanted email messages comprising, in combination, the steps of:

at an email transmitting location, transmitting metadata along with a given email message, said metadata containing an indication of the number of email messages transmitted by the sender of said given email message within a predetermined time interval, and

at a receiving location, presenting said given email message to its intended recipient in a manner that distinguishes said given email from other email messages based on said metadata.

8. The method for identifying unwanted email as set forth in claim 7 wherein said given email message and said transmitted metadata are encrypted using private key value known only to the sender to form a digital signature that is transmitted along with said given message and said metadata to said receiving location, and further comprising the step performed at said receiving location of decrypting said digital signature to validate said message and metadata using a public key value provided by said sender.