Pay e-mail methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- compiling a database of pre-approved e-mail addresses from which e-mail messages thereof are approved for transmission to a particular e-mail recipient;
automatically comparing a particular e-mail address to said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses, in response to transmitting an e-mail message from a sender of said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient; and
automatically offering to approve said particular e-mail address for transmission of said e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient in return for a payment thereof if said particular e-mail address of said sender does not match a pre-approved e-mail address in said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A database can be compiled, which includes a list of pre-approved e-mail addresses from which e-mail messages thereof are approved for transmission to a particular e-mail recipient. Thereafter, a particular e-mail address is automatically compared to the database of pre-approved e-mail addresses, in response to transmitting an e-mail message from the particular e-mail address to the particular e-mail recipient. Next, an automatic offering can be provided by a clearinghouse to approve the particular e-mail address for transmission of the e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from the particular e-mail address to the particular e-mail recipient in return for a payment thereof if the particular e-mail address does not match a pre-approved e-mail address in the database of pre-approved e-mail addresses.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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compiling a database of pre-approved e-mail addresses from which e-mail messages thereof are approved for transmission to a particular e-mail recipient;
automatically comparing a particular e-mail address to said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses, in response to transmitting an e-mail message from a sender of said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient; and
automatically offering to approve said particular e-mail address for transmission of said e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient in return for a payment thereof if said particular e-mail address of said sender does not match a pre-approved e-mail address in said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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compiling a database of pre-approved e-mail addresses from which e-mail messages thereof are approved for transmission to a particular e-mail recipient;
automatically comparing a particular e-mail address to said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses, in response to transmitting an e-mail message from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient;
automatically forwarding said e-mail message to a clearinghouse, which automatically offers to approve said particular e-mail address for transmission of said e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from a sender of said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient in return for said payment thereof if said particular e-mail address does not match a pre-approved e-mail address in said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses;
requiring said sender to verify an identity of said sender;
automatically forwarding said e-mail message to said particular e-mail recipient if said particular e-mail address matches a pre-approved e-mail address in said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses and if said identity of said sender is verified;
automatically debiting an account associated with said sender of said particular e-mail address, in response to an acceptance by said sender of an offer to approve said particular e-mail address for transmission of said e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient in return for said payment thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a database of pre-approved e-mail addresses from which e-mail messages thereof are approved for transmission to a particular e-mail recipient;
a comparing module for automatically comparing a particular e-mail address to said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses, wherein said particular e-mail address is automatically compared to said database in response to transmitting an e-mail message from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient; and
a clearinghouse associated with said database and said comparing module, wherein said clearinghouse automatically generates an offer to approve said particular e-mail address for transmission of said e-mail message and subsequent e-mail messages from said particular e-mail address to said particular e-mail recipient in return for a payment thereof if said particular e-mail address does not match a pre-approved e-mail address in said database of pre-approved e-mail addresses. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification