Pre test electronic mail process
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message, the method comprising:
- receiving as an input at least one e-mail address for at least one intended recipient of said e-mail message into an address accepting field of an e-mail software program;
verifying whether said at least one entered e-mail address is valid and able to receive e-mail messages, said verification being performed by said e-mail software program sending a ping/test message prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient with said e-mail software program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus which operates completely in the background (i.e., transparent to the user) to verify the validity of an addressee'"'"'s Internet e-mail address. The invention seeks to prevent the delivery of an e-mail message having an incorrect user name, server name, or a misspelling in either or both in the addressee'"'"'s Internet e-mail address. If an error is detected, it is called to the sender'"'"'s attention, where it may be corrected before the message is sent.
220 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method of sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message, the method comprising:
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receiving as an input at least one e-mail address for at least one intended recipient of said e-mail message into an address accepting field of an e-mail software program;
verifying whether said at least one entered e-mail address is valid and able to receive e-mail messages, said verification being performed by said e-mail software program sending a ping/test message prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient with said e-mail software program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying the existence of said host server prior to sending said e-mail message.
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5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said response providing verification of the existence of said host server.
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6. The method as in claim 5, wherein said act of executing is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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7. The method as in claim 6, wherein said act of executing occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a subject accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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8. The method as in claim 5 wherein receiving the response comprises receiving an affirmative response from said host server, said affirmative response verifying the existence of said host server.
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9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving no response from said host server; and
notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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10. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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11. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a message with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a test response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said test response providing verification of the status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said act of sending is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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13. The method as in claim 12, wherein said act of sending occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a message accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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14. The method as in claim 11 wherein receiving the test response comprises receiving a confirmation of test message delivery from said host server, said confirmation serving to confirm status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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15. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a test message with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving a negative response from said host server; and
in response to receipt of said negative response, notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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16. A system for sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message, the system comprising:
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a processor-based device capable of running an e-mail software program;
said e-mail software program being capable of sending a ping/test message to verify whether an e-mail address entered into an e-mail address accepting field of said software program is valid and able to receive e-mail messages; and
said e-mail software program being capable of performing said verification prior to sending said e-mail message to an intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer readable storage medium containing a computer readable code for operating a computer to perform a method of sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message, said method comprising:
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receiving as an input at least one e-mail address for at least one intended recipient of said e-mail message into an address accepting field of an e-mail software program;
verifying whether said at least one entered e-mail address is valid and able to receive e-mail messages, said verification being performed by said e-mail software program sending a ping/test message prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient with said e-mail software program. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying the existence of said host server prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient.
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40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein said method further comprises:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said response providing verification of the existence of said host server.
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41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein said method act of executing is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein said method act of executing occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a subject accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein said method act of receiving the response comprises receiving an affirmative response from said host server, said affirmative response verifying the existence of said host server.
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44. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein said method further comprises:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving no response from said host server; and
notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein said method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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46. The computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein said method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a test message with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a test response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said test response providing verification of the status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein said act of sending is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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48. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein said act of sending occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a message accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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49. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein receiving the test response comprises receiving a confirmation of test message delivery from said host server, said confirmation serving to confirm status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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50. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein said method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a test message with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving a negative response from said host server; and
notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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51. A method of transmitting computer readable code comprising the act of transmitting said computer readable code over a communication path, said code being executable by a processor as an e-mail software program to carry out a method of sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message, said sending method comprising:
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entering at least one e-mail address for at least one intended recipient of said e-mail message into an address accepting field of an e-mail software program;
verifying whether said at least one entered e-mail address is valid and able to receive e-mail messages, said verification being performed by said e-mail software program sending a ping/test message prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient with said e-mail software program. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying the existence of said host server prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient.
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55. The method of claim 51, wherein said sending method further comprises:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said response providing verification of the existence of said host server.
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56. The method of claim 55, wherein said act of executing is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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57. The method of claim 56, wherein said act of executing occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a subject accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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58. The method of claim 55, wherein receiving the response comprises receiving an affirmative response from said host server, said affirmative response verifying the existence of said host server.
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59. The method of claim 51, wherein said sending method further comprises:
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identifying a host server for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
executing a ping with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving no response from said host server; and
notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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60. The method of claim 55, wherein said sending method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient; and
verifying status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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61. The method of claim 55, wherein said sending method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a test message with said e-mail software program to said host server; and
receiving a test response from said host server before sending said e-mail message, said test response providing verification of the status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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62. The method of claim 61, wherein said act of sending is transparent to a user of said e-mail software program.
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63. The method of claim 62, wherein said act of sending occurs only after a user of said e-mail software program positions a cursor into a message accepting field of said e-mail software program.
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64. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving the test response comprises receiving a confirmation of test message delivery from said host server, said confirmation serving to confirm status of said at least one username as a valid client on said host server.
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65. The method of claim 55, wherein said sending method further comprises:
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identifying a username for said at least one intended recipient prior to sending said e-mail message to said at least one intended recipient;
sending a test message with said e-mail software program to said host server;
receiving a negative response from said host server; and
notifying a user of said e-mail software program that an error exists in said at least one e-mail address.
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Specification