Priority and security coding system for electronic mail messages

• US 6,732,273 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1998
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Byers, Charles Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/176,419
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 709/103, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

The priority and security encoding system for electronic mail messages functions to ascribe a message characterization code to the electronic mail message that enables the router as well as the destination message server to more efficiently process the electronic mail message, based upon the message characterization code. The message characterization code is assigned by the message originator, or the message server that serves the message originator, to identify the nature of the electronic mail message. The message characterization code can be defined to denote any one or more message related factors, such as: message content, identification of the message originator, identification of the message recipient, or other message processing factors. The message characterizing code is used by the message routers, network nodes, and destination message server to prioritize the processing of electronic mail messages and optionally provide subscriber defined alternate routing of certain classes of messages. This message characterizing code can also be used to automatically initiate various electronic message security measures to safeguard the most sensitive classes of messages, without the need for subscriber intervention.

Claims

1. A system for processing a received electronic mail message according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising:

means for reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said received electronic mail message;

means for storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols, comprising;

means for defining a plurality of message characterizing code categories, each of which comprises at least one message characterizing code that comprises a user provided one of a threshold value and a range of threshold values;

means, responsive to said message characterizing code, for selecting a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code; and

means for processing said received electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol.

2. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 1 wherein said means for reading comprises:

means for separating a header from said received electronic mail message; and

means for excerpting said message characterizing code from said header.

3. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 1 wherein said means for storing data comprises:

means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm that define the processing of the received electronic mail message.

4. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 3, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for identifying individuals who are authorized to retrieve a received electronic mail message.

5. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 3, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for identifying a method of routing a received electronic mail message to a one of a plurality of destinations.

6. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 3, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for encrypting a received electronic mail message prior to transmission to a one of a plurality of destinations.

7. The system for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 3, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for shredding disk sectors that stored a received electronic mail message once said received electronic mail message is transmitted to a one of a plurality of destinations.

8. A system for processing a received electronic mail message according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising:

means for reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said received electronic mail message;

means for storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols;

means, responsive to said message characterizing code, for selecting a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code;

means for processing said received electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol;

means for abstracting said received electronic mail message, comprising;

a memory for storing said received electronic mail message;

means, responsive to said received electronic mail message, for extracting information from a body of said received electronic mail message that is indicative of a content of said received electronic mail message; and

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted to a recipient of said received electronic mail message.

9. A method for processing a received electronic mail message according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising the steps of:

reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said received electronic mail message;

storing data in a memory indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols, comprising;

defining a plurality of message characterizing code categories, each of which comprises at least one message characterizing code that comprises a user provided one of a threshold value and a range of threshold values;

selecting, in response to said message characterizing code, a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code; and

processing said received electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol.

10. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 9 wherein said step of reading comprises:

separating a header from said received electronic mail message; and

excerpting said message characterizing code from said header.

11. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 9 wherein said step of storing data comprises:

defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm that define the processing of the received electronic mail message.

12. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 11, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

identifying individuals who are authorized to retrieve a received electronic mail message.

13. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 11, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

identifying a method of routing a received electronic mail message to a one of a plurality of destinations.

14. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 11, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

encrypting a received electronic mail message prior to transmission to a one of a plurality of destinations.

15. The method for processing a received electronic mail message of claim 11, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

shredding disk sectors that stored a received electronic mail message once said received electronic mail message is transmitted to a one of a plurality of destinations.

16. A method for processing a received electronic mail message according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising the steps of:

reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said received electronic mail message;

storing data in a memory indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols;

selecting, in response to said message characterizing code, a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code; and

processing said received electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol;

abstracting said received electronic mail message, comprising;

storing in a memory said received electronic mail message;

extracting, in response to said received electronic mail message, information from a body of said received electronic mail message that is indicative of a content of said received electronic mail message; and

storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted to a recipient of said received electronic mail message.

17. A system for processing an electronic mail message through a communication network to a designated message recipient according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising:

means for reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said electronic mail message;

means for routing said electronic mail message through said communication network in order of priority defined by said message characterizing code;

means for storing data provided by said message recipient indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols, comprising;

means for defining a plurality of message characterizing code categories, each of which comprises at least one message characterizing code that comprises a user provided one of a threshold value and a range of threshold values;

means, responsive to said message characterizing code, for selecting a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code; and

means for processing said electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol.

18. The system for processing an electronic mail message of claim 17 wherein said means for storing data comprises:

means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm that define the processing of an electronic mail message.

19. The system for processing an electronic mail message of claim 18, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for identifying individuals who are authorized to retrieve an electronic mail message.

20. The system for processing an electronic mail message of claim 18, wherein said means for defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

means for identifying a method of routing an electronic mail message to a one of a plurality of destinations.

21. A method for processing an electronic mail message through a communication network to a designated message recipient according to a predetermined priority scheme, comprising the steps of:

reading a message characterizing code that is associated with said electronic mail message;

routing said electronic mail message through said communication network in order of priority defined by said message characterizing code;

storing data provided by said message recipient indicative of a plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols;

selecting, in response to said message characterizing code, a one of said plurality of electronic mail message processing protocols that most closely corresponds to said message characterizing code; and

processing said electronic mail message according to said selected electronic mail message processing protocol.

22. The method for processing an electronic mail message of claim 21 wherein said step of storing data comprises:

defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm that define the processing of an electronic mail message.

23. The method for processing an electronic mail message of claim 22, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

identifying individuals who are authorized to retrieve an electronic mail message.

24. The method for processing an electronic mail message of claim 22, wherein said step of defining an associated at least one of a message processing algorithm and a message access algorithm comprises:

identifying a method of routing an electronic mail message to a one of a plurality of destinations.