Method for including a self-removing code in a self-removing email message that contains an advertisement

• US 6,701,347 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John W.L. Ogilvie
• Inventors: Ogilvie, John W. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/619,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/200, 709/249, 709/202, 707/10, 345/333, 455/415, 714/748
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload

Abstract

Methods, articles, signals, and systems are provided for providing unsolicited email message originators with default control over message removal at a message recipient'"'"'s location, regardless of whether the unsolicited message has been opened. For instance, a self-removing message is designated as such by the message'"'"'s originator, and a self-removal enhancement is added to conventional message content such as advertising before the message is transmitted over a computer network toward recipients. At a given recipient'"'"'s location, the message is automatically deleted without additional effort by the recipient, before or after being displayed, according to the originator'"'"'s instructions unless they are overridden by the recipient. Thus, the burden of removing unsolicited email messages is transferred from recipients to the message'"'"'s originators.

Claims

1. An advertising method for use by a message originator to make unsolicited email advertising from the originator more convenient for recipients of that email, the method comprising the steps by or for the originator at the message origin of:

creating a self-removing email message by placing advertising in an email message as message content and by associating a self-removal enhancement with the email message; and

transmitting the self-removing email message toward more than a few recipients, including recipients who did not ask to receive the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step comprises marking a message at the origin with a self-removing message indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step comprises including self-removing code in the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step comprises use of an email address database to determine the recipients.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting the message toward recipients who are not personally known to the originator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include a product announcement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include a press release.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include an event announcement.

9. A computer storage medium configured by software for performing an advertising method for use by a message originator to make unsolicited email advertising from the originator more convenient for recipients of that email, the method comprising the steps by or for the originator at the message origin of:

creating a self-removing email message by placing advertising in an email message as message content and by associating a self-removal enhancement with the email message; and

transmitting the self-removing email message toward more than a few recipients, including recipients who did not ask to receive the message.

10. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the creating step comprises marking a message at the origin with a self-removing message indicator.

11. The configured medium of claims 9, wherein the creating step comprises including self-removing code in the message.

12. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the creating step comprises use of an email address database to determine the recipients.

13. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting the message toward recipients who are not personally known to the originator.

14. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include a product announcement.

15. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include a press release.

16. The configured medium of claim 9, wherein the method comprises creating and transmitting a self-removing message having advertising contents which include an event announcement.

17. An advertising system for use by a message originator to make unsolicited email advertising from the originator more convenient for recipients of that email, the system comprising:

a computer;

an email address database accessible to the computer;

a creating means configuring the computer for creating self-removing email messages at an origin by placing advertising in email messages as message content, addressing the email messages to recipients listed in the database, and associating a self-removal enhancement with each email message; and

a transmitting means configuring the computer for transmitting the self-removing email messages toward more than a few recipients, including recipients who did not ask to receive such a message.

18. 1The system of claim 17, wherein the creating means comprises means for marking a message at the origin with a self-removing message indicator.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the creating means comprises means for including self-removing code in the message.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a copy of the advertising, wherein the advertising includes textual content.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a copy of the advertising, wherein the advertising includes graphical content.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a copy of the advertising, wherein the advertising includes aural content.