System for handling electronic mail

• US 7,010,572 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A PTY Ltd.
• Original Assignee: A PTY Ltd.
• Inventors: Benjamin, Dennis Andrew, Rodda, Nicholas Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/486,648
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method of conveying an email message by receiving an email message from its sender, the email message including an address field in which an account name portion of the address field is a descriptor of the intended recipient of the email message and which is different from a correct account name of the intended recipient, wherein the descriptor being a combination of one or more identifying elements associated with the intended recipient. The method further includes locating in a database of descriptors and email addresses the email address associated with the descriptor and forwarding the message to the email address yielded by the database.

Claims

1. A method of conveying an email message including an address field containing a descriptor of an intended recipient of the email message, the descriptor being different from an email account name of the intended recipient, the method comprising:

sending a database query to a database containing a plurality of identifying elements associated with the intended recipient and email addresses to search for the email address associated with the descriptor, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of the identifying elements; and

transmitting said email message to said email address found during said search of the email addresses if a unique email address is located.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said descriptor includes one or more identifying elements selected from a list including a telephone number associated with said intended recipient, a business name associated with said intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intended recipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intended recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of a name and city.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating and conveying a return email notification to the sender of said email message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said return email notification reports the status of said database search and whether or not said email message has been received.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said return email notification also reports when said email message has been received.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said return email notification includes notification of a failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said return email notification includes notification of a failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein especially formatted email messages are interpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to be readdressed and forwarded.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/or address;

at least one of the separate fields being completed for each email address.

12. A method for handling undeliverable electronic mail, comprising:

receiving an email message including an invalid destination address that includes a descriptor;

sending a database query to a database, which includes a plurality of identifying elements associated with said invalid destination address, to search for records partially or completely matching parts of said invalid destination address, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of said plurality of identifying elements; and

forwarding said email message to a valid unique email address retrieved from said database according to the result of said search for records.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said descriptor is selected from a list including a telephone number associated with said intended recipient, a business name associated with said intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intended recipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intended recipient.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of a name and city.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating and conveying a return email notification to the sender of said email message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said return email notification reports the status of said database search and whether or not the email message has been received.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said return email notification also reports when said email message has been received.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein especially formatted email messages are interpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to be readdressed and forwarded.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/or address;

at least one of the separate fields being completed for each email address.

23. A method for conveying an email message comprising:

receiving an email address forwarded by a sender, said email message including an invalid destination address that includes a descriptor;

sending a database query to a database, which includes a plurality of identifying elements associated with said invalid destination address, to search for records partially or completely matching parts of said invalid destination address, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of said plurality of identifying elements; and

sending a notification message to the sender of the results of said database search.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said descriptor is selected from a list including a telephone number associated with said intended recipient, a business name associated with said intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intended recipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intended recipient.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of a name and city.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

generating and conveying a return email notification to the sender of the email message.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said return email notification reports the status of said database search and whether or not the email message has been received.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said return email notification also reports when said email message has been received.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with a record located within said database.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with a record located within said database.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein especially formatted email messages are interpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to be readdressed and forwarded.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/or address;

at least one of the separate fields being completed for each email address.

34. A method of conveying an email message comprising:

receiving an email message from its sender, said email message including an address field containing a descriptor of the intended recipient of said email message and which is different from an email account name of said intended recipient, the descriptor being selected from a plurality of identifying elements associated with the intended recipient;

sending a database query to a database, which contains a plurality of identifying elements for a plurality of recipients and email addresses to locate a unique email address associated with said descriptor; and

forwarding the message to the email address yielded by the database.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said descriptor is selected from a list including a telephone number associated with said intended recipient, a business name associated with said intended recipient, a personal name associated with said intended recipient, and a part of a street address associated with said intended recipient.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of a name and city.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said descriptor includes a concatenation of name and telephone number.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

generating and conveying a return email notification to the sender of the email message.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said return email notification reports the status of said database search and whether or not the email message has been received.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said return email notification also reports when said email message has been received.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein said return email notification includes notification of failure to match said descriptor with an email address located within said database.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein especially formatted email messages are interpreted as database queries, and not as email messages to be readdressed and forwarded.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/or address;

at least one of the separate fields being completed for each email address.

45. A method of determining an email address comprising:

maintaining a database where email address are linked with a plurality of identifying elements relevant for a person at each email address so that a user can provide one or more of the identifying elements;

wherein upon recognition by a server that information in an address field of the email address is insufficient or not in the correct form of delivery, a search is conducted of the database to determine a relevant email address, the plurality of identifying elements including at least one of a given name, surname, address, name of business, and/or telephone number of said person.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the database is at said server.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the database is separate from said server.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said correct or complete email address is passed from the database back to the server to enable it to send said necessary message.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein said database comprises fields for email addresses, and separate fields for each of given name, surname, telephone number, name of business and/or address;

at least one of the separate fields being completed for each email address.