Computer code for removing junk e-mail messages

• US 6,167,434 A
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stephen Y. Pang
• Inventors: Pang, Stephen Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/116,690
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/201, 709/205, 709/207, 709/228, 709/217, 345/348
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A computer program product having a variety of codes. The program is for a computer system including a processor such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, or the like. The system also includes a display, e.g., CRT, flat panel display. A user input device for replying to a SPAM e-mail message sent to e-mail addresses in a SPAM e-mail mailing list also is included. The SPAM mailing list has a user e-mail address. The SPAM e-mail message specifies a reply e-mail address. Among other features, the computer program product includes a computer-readable memory, which has a variety of codes. These include a code that directs the processor to display a reply icon on the display. They also include a code that directs the processor to receive a selection of the reply icon from the user input device. A code that directs the processor to generate an e-mail message addressed to the reply e-mail address also is included. The e-mail message has a remove message indicating a request to remove the user e-mail address from the SPAM e-mail mailing list.

Claims

1. A computer program product for a computer system including a processor, a display, and a user input device, for replying to a spam e-mail message sent to e-mail addresses in a spam e-mail mailing list, including a user e-mail address, the spam e-mail message specifying a reply e-mail address, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable memory comprising

code that directs the processor to display an e-mail client graphical user interface including a reply icon on the display;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection of the reply icon from the user input device, the selection comprising clicking upon the reply icon on the e-mail client graphical user interface on the display;

code that directs the processor to automatically generate an e-mail message addressed to the reply e-mail address in response to the selection of the reply icon, the e-mail message including a predetermined message indicating a request to remove the user e-mail address from the spam e-mail mailing list, the predetermined message comprising a remove message;

code that directs the processor to automatically send the e-mail message to the reply e-mail address via an e-mail client in response to the selection of the reply icon; and

code that directs the processor to indicate in a log file that the e-mail message has been automatically sent.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the code that directs the processor to generate the e-mail message includes code that directs the processor to include the remove message on a subject line of the e-mail message.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the code that directs the processor to generate the e-mail message includes code that directs the processor to include the remove message in a body of the e-mail message.

4. The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the remove message is selected from the class:

remove, un-subscribe.

5. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the code that directs the processor to generate the e-mail message includes code that directs the processor to determine the reply e-mail address in response to the spam e-mail message.

6. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the code that directs the processor to generate the e-mail message includes code that directs the processor to determine the remove message in response to the spam e-mail message.

7. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the e-mail client graphical user interface is adapted to display e-mail messages delivered via the Internet.

8. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable memory also comprises:

code that directs the processor to maintain a log of spam e-mail messages.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the computer-readable memory also comprises code that directs the processor to maintain a log of spam e-mail messages replied to.

10. A computer program product for a computer system including a processor, a display, and a user input device, for requesting removal of a user e-mail address from a spam e-mail mailing list in response to a spam e-mail, the spam e-mail including removal instructions from the spam e-mail mailing list, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable memory comprising;

code that directs the processor to display a remove icon on the display;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection of the remove icon from the user input device, the selection comprising clicking upon the remove icon on the display;

code that directs the processor to automatically determine removal actions in response to the removal instructions from the spam e-mail, and in response to the selection of the remove icon; and

code that directs the processor to automatically perform the removal actions in response to the selection of the remove icon.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the code that directs the processor to determine the removal actions comprises code that parses the spam e-mail to determine the removal instructions.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the removal actions comprise sending a reply e-mail to the spam e-mail requesting removal from the spam e-mail mailing list.

13. The computer program product of claim 10

wherein the spam e-mail also includes another e-mail address;

and

wherein the removal actions comprise forwarding the spam e-mail to the other e-mail address including a request for removal from the spam e-mail mailing list.

14. The computer program product of claim 10

wherein the spam e-mail also includes a web address;

and

wherein the removal actions comprise connecting to the web address.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the code that directs the processor to automatically perform the removal actions comprises:

code that directs the processor to use an Internet browser to connect to a web site specified by the spam e-mail in response to the removal actions; and

code that directs the processor to select an action button specified by the spam e-mail located at the web site.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the user input device is a mouse and clicking upon the remove icon on the display comprises a click of a button on the mouse.

17. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the user input device is a microphone.

18. An e-mail client program product for a computer system coupled to an e-mail server, the server for providing e-mail messages, the computer system including processor, a display, and a user input device, the computer program product comprising:

code that directs the processor to receive an e-mail message via the Internet;

code that directs the processor to display a graphical user interface including e-mail in-box interface and a user-selectable icon on the display, the e-mail in-box interface including at least a portion of the e-mail message;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection of the portion of the e-mail message on the display via the user input device;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection of the user-selectable icon on the display via the user input device;

code that directs the processor to automatically create an outbound e-mail message in response to the selection of the user-selectable icon, the outbound e-mail having a pre-determined message, and the outbound e-mail message addressed responsive to the Internet e-mail message; and

code that directs the processor to automatically send the outbound e-mail message to the e-mail server via the Internet, after the outbound e-mail message has been created,

wherein the codes reside on a tangible media.

19. The e-mail client program product of claim 18 wherein the predetermined message comprises a request to remove an e-mail address from an e-mail list.

20. The e-mail client program product of claim 18 further comprising:

code that directs the processor to note in a log file that an outbound e-mail message having the pre-determined message was automatically sent.