ACCESS LIMITED EMM DISTRIBUTION LISTS
First Claim
1. A method of processing electronic mail messages addressed to a particular distribution list of an enterprise from a sending address external to the enterprise wherein the particular distribution list is one of a plurality of distribution lists associated with the enterprise, said plurality including internal distribution lists having only internal addresses and external distribution lists having internal and external addresses comprising:
- storing a plurality of safe sender lists, each corresponding to one of the external distribution lists of the enterprise, wherein each safe sender list identifies external addresses which are authorized to send electronic mail messages to its corresponding external distribution list;
receiving at a server of the enterprise an electronic mail message addressed to the particular distribution list from the external sending address;
determining whether the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list or an external distribution list;
blocking the received electronic mail message from being delivered to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list; and
delivering the received electronic mail message to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an external distribution list and the sending address is identified in the safe sender list corresponding to the particular distribution list.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail message (EMM) addressed to a distribution list of an enterprise is received at a server of the enterprise from a sending address outside of the enterprise. If the distribution list has no external addresses, then the EMM is blocked from being delivered to the distribution list. In an embodiment, if the distribution list has an external address and the sending address is identified in a safe sender list corresponding to the distribution list, then the EMM is delivered to the distribution list. In an embodiment, if the distribution list has an external address, the sending address is not in a safe sender list corresponding to the distribution list, and the content of the message is approved, then the EMM is delivered to the distribution list.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of processing electronic mail messages addressed to a particular distribution list of an enterprise from a sending address external to the enterprise wherein the particular distribution list is one of a plurality of distribution lists associated with the enterprise, said plurality including internal distribution lists having only internal addresses and external distribution lists having internal and external addresses comprising:
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storing a plurality of safe sender lists, each corresponding to one of the external distribution lists of the enterprise, wherein each safe sender list identifies external addresses which are authorized to send electronic mail messages to its corresponding external distribution list; receiving at a server of the enterprise an electronic mail message addressed to the particular distribution list from the external sending address; determining whether the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list or an external distribution list; blocking the received electronic mail message from being delivered to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list; and delivering the received electronic mail message to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an external distribution list and the sending address is identified in the safe sender list corresponding to the particular distribution list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for processing an electronic mail message received by an enterprise addressed to a particular distribution list of the enterprise from a sending address external to the enterprise wherein the particular distribution list is one of a plurality of distribution lists including internal distribution lists having only internal addresses and external distribution lists having internal and external addresses, said system comprising:
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a server of the enterprise for receiving the electronic mail message addressed to the particular distribution list; a plurality of safe sender lists stored on the server, each corresponding to one of the external distribution lists of the enterprise, wherein each safe sender list identifies external addresses which are authorized to send electronic mail messages to its corresponding external distribution list; and wherein the server executes instructions for; determining whether the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list or an external distribution list; blocking the received electronic mail message from being delivered to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an internal distribution list; and delivering the received electronic mail message to the particular distribution list if the particular distribution list is an external distribution list and the sending address is identified in the safe sender list corresponding to the particular distribution list. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of creating or maintaining a plurality of safe sender lists, each corresponding to an external distribution list of an enterprise, wherein each safe sender list identifies external addresses which are authorized to send electronic mail messages to its corresponding external distribution list, said method comprising:
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receiving a distribution list including a plurality of addresses; comparing the plurality of addresses of the received distribution list to an address list of the enterprise to identify addresses of the received distribution list which are external to the enterprise; and copying the identified external addresses to the safe sender list corresponding to the received distribution list. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification