User interface for email inbox to call attention differently to different classes of email
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- verifying an association between a sender and at least one of trademarks, service marks, copyrighted data, sounds, smells, jingles, licensed data and other graphical marks;
receiving in a device capable of displaying emails operated by a receiver at least information about an email from said sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said received email for authentication and/or integrity, using a mail user agent to control said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information about said received email and use a particular graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said authenticated and integrity checked email to call attention to said email.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface for email users which calls attention to one or more categories of emails in different ways. In some species, at least three categories are used: branded senders with Trumarks; white list buddies; and fraudulent emails which are either not from the domain they purport to be from or in which the content was tampered. The preferred embodiment authenticates emails from branded senders and displays them with the sender'"'"'s Truemark. Branded sender emails have their Truemarks displayed in the sender column of a list view in the preferred embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, white list senders have either an icon or other graphic or photo they choose displayed to the left or right of the sender column with their name in the sender column. In a preferred embodiment, fraudulent emails have a fraud icon displayed to the left or right of the sender column with a warning in the sender column. Antiphishing processing is also disclosed.
179 Citations
99 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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verifying an association between a sender and at least one of trademarks, service marks, copyrighted data, sounds, smells, jingles, licensed data and other graphical marks;
receiving in a device capable of displaying emails operated by a receiver at least information about an email from said sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said received email for authentication and/or integrity, using a mail user agent to control said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information about said received email and use a particular graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said authenticated and integrity checked email to call attention to said email. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. A method, comprising:
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verifying an association between a sender and at least one of trademarks, service marks, copyrighted data, sounds, smells, jingles, licensed data, and other graphical marks;
receiving at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain a first email from a first sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, receiving at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain a second email from a second sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said first and second received emails for authentication and integrity, if said first email passes said authentication and integrity checks, but said second email did not, using a mail user agent executing on said receiver'"'"'s computer to control said receiver'"'"'s computer to display at least some information about said first received email and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said first email to call attention to said first email using said graphical mark, but not using the graphical mark in a display of at least some information associated with said second received email. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31-32. -32. (canceled)
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33. A method comprising:
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storing data and/or programming instructions on a first computer which data and/or programming instructions implement an unsubscribe service for a sender of emails;
receiving on a second computer an email from said sender who has implemented said unsubscribe service on said first computer and determining from said email that said sender has implemented an unsubscribe service; and
using said mail user agent to control said second computer to present a user interface allowing at least information associated with said email to be displayed and displaying a user interface tool which can be invoked to invoke said unsubscribe service. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system comprising:
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a collection agent executing on a computer to gather qualitative or quantitative metrics regarding the frequency of communication between sender and receiver pairs of email traffic and for sending said metrics to a server; and
a server comprising;
a data storage component for receiving communications from said collection agent containing metrics pertaining to each sender and receiver pair and storing said metrics and associating said metrics with said sender and receiver pair to which said metrics pertain;
a request fulfillment component to receive requests for said metrics pertaining to each sender and receiver pair from a mail user agent executing on a computer and responding thereto by looking up said metrics pertaining to each said sender and receiver pair and sending same to said mail user agent which requested said metrics; and
a mail user agent structured to control a computer of a receiver to receive an email from a sender and to request of said server metrics applicable to said receiver-sender pair, and having a display component structured to control said receiver computer to display at least some information regarding said received email along with some humanly perceptible user interface means to call attention to said email in a predetermined way based upon said metrics. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method comprising:
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receiving an email from a sender using a mail user agent;
accessing said sender'"'"'s fraud policy and checking said received email against said fraud policy to determine if said email is fraudulent; and
if said received email fails the requirements published as part of said fraud policy which includes as a minimum requirement that said received email pass authentication and integrity checks, controlling said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information associated with said received email and providing information indicating said email is fraudulent. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57-65. -65. (canceled)
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66. A method, comprising:
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verifying an association among at least one of a sender and one or more graphical marks;
controlling a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain using a browser or email client and a plug in to receive a first email from a first sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, controlling a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain using a browser or email client and a plug in to receive a second email from a second sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, using said browser or email client and a plug in to check said first and second received emails for authentication and integrity, if said first email passed said authentication and integrity checks, but said second email did not, using said browser or email client and a plug in executing on said receiver'"'"'s computer to control said receiver'"'"'s computer to display at least some information associated with said first received email and to use a particular one of the graphical marks somewhere in the display of information associated with said first email to call attention to said first email using said particular graphical mark, but not using one of the graphical marks in a display of at least some information associated with said second received email.
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67. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and a value added service comprised of one or more computer programs which control said computer to;
receive an email on said computer from a sender whose domain may or may not be the same as a domain of said computer; and
sending a message to a server requesting a graphic associated with said sender;
receiving said graphic and displaying said graphic in association with a display of said email to set said email apart from other emails. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
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70. A system comprising:
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a collection agent executing on a computer to gather qualitative or quantitative metrics regarding the frequency of communication between sender and receiver pairs of email traffic and for sending said metrics to a server;
a server comprising;
a data storage component for receiving communications from said collection agent containing metrics pertaining to each sender and receiver pair and storing said metrics and associating said metrics with said sender and receiver pair to which said metrics pertain; and
a request fulfillment component to receive requests for said metrics pertaining to each sender and receiver pair from a mail user agent executing on a computer and responding thereto by looking up said metrics pertaining to each said sender and receiver pair and sending the same to said mail user agent which requested said metrics;
a browser or email client and a plug structured to cooperate for controlling a computer of a receiver that receives an email from a sender and that requests said server metrics, which is applicable to said receiver-sender pair, and further having a display component structured to control said receiver computer for displaying at least some information regarding said received email along with some humanly perceptible user interface means to call attention to said email in a predetermined way based upon said server metrics.
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71. (canceled)
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72. A value added service, comprising:
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using an email client with a plug in to control a computer to receive an email;
controlling said computer with said email client and plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to;
checking each said received email for authentication and/or, integrity; and
displaying a fraud graphic in association with email which failed either said authentication or said integrity check.
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73. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a device capable of receiving emails operated by a receiver, an email from a sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said received email for authentication and/or integrity; and
using a mail user agent to control said device capable of receiving emails to display at least some information associated with said received email and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said authenticated and integrity checked email to call attention to said email. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75)
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76. An apparatus comprising:
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a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
receiving in a device capable of displaying emails operated by a receiver, at least information associated with an email from said sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said received email for authentication and/or integrity; and
using a mail user agent to control said device, capable of displaying emails, to display at least some information associated with said received email and using a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said authenticated and integrity checked email to call attention to said email.
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77-78. -78. (canceled)
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79. An apparatus comprising:
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a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
receiving an email from a sender whose domain can be different than the domain of the receiver; and
using a mail user agent to control a device capable of displaying email to display at least some information associated with said received email and to display a graphic associated with said sender somewhere in the display of information associated with said email to call attention to said email.
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80. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
receiving at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain a first email from a first sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, receiving at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain a second email from a second sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said first and second received emails for authentication and integrity, and if said first email passed said authentication and integrity checks, but said second email did not, using a mail user agent executing on said receiver'"'"'s computer to control said receiver'"'"'s computer to display at least some information associated with said first received email and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said first email to call attention to said first email using said graphical mark, but not using another graphical mark in a display of at least some information about said second received email.
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81. (canceled)
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82. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
storing data and/or programming instructions on a first computer which data and/or programming instructions implement an unsubscribe service for a sender of emails;
receiving on a second computer an email from said sender who has implemented said unsubscribe service on said first computer and determining from said email that said sender has implemented an unsubscribe service; and
using said mail user agent to control said second computer to present a user interface allowing at least information associated with said email to be displayed and displaying a user interface tool which can be invoked to invoke said unsubscribe service.
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83. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
receiving an email from a sender using a mail user agent;
accessing said sender'"'"'s fraud policy and checking said received email against said fraud policy to determine if said email is fraudulent; and
if said received email fails requirements published as part of said fraud policy which includes as a minimum requirement that said received email pass authentication and integrity checks, controlling said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information associated with said received email and provide information indicating said email is fraudulent.
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84. An apparatus comprising:
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a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
detecting an event in a device capable of displaying emails indicating a browser has or is attempting to contact a web mail service;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said device capable of displaying emails in an email account to at least one of;
1) implement a value added service associated with an email;
2) present as a display on said device a method to access the value added service pertaining to said emails being displayed; and
3) incorporate data into the display of said emails, wherein the data would not otherwise be in the display.
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85. An apparatus comprising:
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a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
detecting an event in a computer indicating a browser has or is attempting to establish a session with a web mail service to view received emails;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said computer with a browser plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display at least some information about each said received email which has passed said authentication and integrity check and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said email to call attention to said email.
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86. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
detecting an event in said computer indicating a browser has or is attempting to establish a session with a web mail service to view received emails;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said computer with a browser or email client and a plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display a fraud graphic in association with an email which failed either said authentication or said integrity check.
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87. An apparatus comprising:
a computer programmed with an operating system and further programmed to carry out the following process;
using an email client with a plug in to control said computer to receive an email;
controlling said computer to carry out value added services which cause said computer to;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display a fraud graphic in association with an email which failed either said authentication or said integrity check.
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88. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, cause said computer to carry out the following process:
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receiving, in a device capable of displaying emails operated by a receiver, at least information associated with an email from said sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and using a mail user agent to control said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information about said received email and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said authenticated and integrity checked email to call attention to said email.
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89-91. -91. (canceled)
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92. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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receiving, at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain, a first email from a first sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, receiving at a receiver'"'"'s computer in a receiver domain a second email from a second sender, wherein said receiver'"'"'s domain name may or may not be the same as sender'"'"'s domain name, checking said first and second received emails for authentication and integrity, and if said first email passed said authentication and integrity checks, but said second email did not, then using a mail user agent executing on said receiver'"'"'s computer to control said receiver'"'"'s computer to display at least some information associated with said first received email and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said first email to call attention to said first email using said graphical mark, but not using another graphical mark in a display of at least some information associated with said second received email.
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93. (canceled)
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94. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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storing data and/or programming instructions on a first computer which data and/or programming instructions implement an unsubscribe service for a sender of emails;
receiving on a second computer an email from said sender who has implemented said unsubscribe service on said first computer and determining from said email that said sender has implemented an unsubscribe service; and
using said mail user agent to control said second computer to present a user interface allowing at least information associated with said email to be displayed and displaying a user interface tool which can be activated to invoke said unsubscribe service.
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95. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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receiving an email from a sender using a mail user agent;
accessing said sender'"'"'s fraud policy and checking said received email against said fraud policy to determine if said email is fraudulent; and
if said received email fails requirements published as part of said fraud policy which includes as a minimum requirement that said received email pass authentication and integrity checks, then controlling said device capable of displaying emails to display at least some information associated with said received email and provide information indicating said email is fraudulent.
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96. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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detecting an event in a device capable of displaying emails indicating a browser has or is attempting to contact a web mail service;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said device capable of displaying emails in an email account to for at least one of;
1) to implement a value added service associated with an email;
2) to present as a display on said device a method to access the value added service pertaining to said emails being displayed; and
3) to incorporate data into the display of said emails which would not otherwise be in the display.
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97. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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detecting an event in a computer indicating a browser has or is attempting to establish a session with a web mail service to view received emails;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said computer with a browser plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to at least one of;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display at least some information about each said received email which has passed said authentication and integrity check and use a graphical mark somewhere in the display of information associated with said email to call attention to said email.
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98. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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detecting an event in said computer indicating a browser has or is attempting to establish a session with a web mail service to view received emails;
intercepting events returned to said browser by said web mail service;
controlling said computer with a browser or email client and a plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to at least one of;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display a fraud graphic in association with an email which failed either said authentication or said integrity check.
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99. A computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions that, when loaded into a computer, program said computer to carry out the following process:
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using an email client with a plug in to control said computer to receive an email;
controlling said computer with said email client and plug-in to carry out value added services which cause said computer to at least one of;
check each said received email for authentication and/or integrity, and display a fraud graphic in association with an email which failed either said authentication or said integrity check.
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Specification