Automated disablement of disposable e-mail addresses based on user actions

• US 7,197,539 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NortonLifeLock Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Cooley, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US10/980,122
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for automatically disabling disposable e-mail addresses based on user actions. A method embodiment for disabling disposable e-mail addresses comprises: receiving (205) at a disposable e-mail address server (DEA server) (330) an e-mail directed to the DEA server (330) via a disposable e-mail address, wherein the disposable e-mail address is associated with an un-aliased e-mail address; adding (220) tracking information to the e-mail; directing the e-mail to a e-mail client; classifying (245) the e-mail as unsolicited e-mail; ascertaining (260) creation data associated with the disposable e-mail address; conveying the creation data for subsequent interpretation; seeking (270) authorization to disable the e-mail address; and upon gaining authorization, directing (275) the DEA server (330) to disable the disposable e-mail address.

Claims

1. A method for disabling disposable e-mail addresses based on user actions, the method comprising:

receiving at a disposable e-mail address server (DEA server), an e-mail directed to the DEA server via a disposable e-mail address, wherein the disposable e-mail address is associated with an un-aliased e-mail address;

adding tracking information to the e-mail;

directing the e-mail to an e-mail client using the un-aliased e-mail address, wherein the tracking information added to the e-mail is in addition to the un-aliased e-mail address;

in response to the e-mail being classified as unsolicited e-mail, receiving a communication from a user computer associated with the e-mail client, the communication including the tracking information and for ascertaining creation data associated with the disposable e-mail address;

using the tracking information to obtain the creation data, and conveying the creation data to the user computer thereby enabling a determination as to whether the disposable e-mail address should be disabled; and

in response to receiving authorization, disabling the disposable e-mail address.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking information comprises identification of the disposable e-mail address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking information comprises an X-header identifying the disposable e-mail address.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking information comprises data detailing a relationship between the un-aliased e-mail address and the disposable e-mail address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the e-mail is classified as unsolicited e-mail automatically by the e-mail client.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the e-mail is classified as unsolicited e-mail based on user input.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining creation data associated with the disposable e-mail address comprises validating the tracking information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the creation data identifies a network destination originally associated with the disposable e-mail address.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein conveying comprises presenting the creation data to a user, thereby identifying the network destination originally associated with the disposable e-mail address.

10. Apparatus for disabling disposable e-mail addresses based on user actions, the apparatus comprising:

an information module adapted to add tracking information to an e-mail directed to a disposable e-mail address server (DEA server) via a disposable e-mail address, wherein the e-mail is subsequently directed to an e-mail client using an un-aliased e-mail address associated with the disposable e-mail address, and the added tracking information is in addition to the un-aliased e-mail address;

an identification module adapted to identify whether the e-mail is classified as unsolicited e-mail; and

communicatively coupled to the information module and to the identification module, a communications module adapted to collect disposable e-mail address creation data from the DEA server using the tracking information and to convey the disposable e-mail address creation data to a user computer upon the classification of the e-mail as being unsolicited.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tracking information comprises identification of the disposable e-mail address used to direct the e-mail to the DEA server.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tracking information comprises an X-header identifying the disposable e-mail address used to direct the e-mail to the DEA server.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tracking information comprises data detailing a relationship between the un-aliased e-mail address and the disposable e-mail address.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the classification of the e-mail as unsolicited e-mail is accomplished automatically by the e-mail client.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein classification of the e-mail as unsolicited e-mail comprises manually categorizing the e-mail as unsolicited e-mail.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the identification module is adapted to detect tracking information contained in the e-mail.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the identification module is adapted to validate tracking information contained in the e-mail.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the communications module presents creation data of the disposable e-mail address, identifying a network destination originally associated with the disposable e-mail address.

19. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for disabling disposable e-mail addresses based on user actions, the computer program instructions performing:

receiving at a disposable e-mail address server (DEA server), an e-mail directed to the DEA server via a disposable e-mail address, wherein the disposable e-mail address is associated with an un-aliased e-mail address;

adding tracking information to the e-mail;

directing the e-mail to an e-mail client using the un-aliased e-mail address, wherein the tracking information added to the e-mail is in addition to the un-aliased e-mail address;

in response to the e-mail being classified as unsolicited e-mail, receiving a communication from a user computer associated with the e-mail client, the communication including the tracking information and for ascertaining creation data associated with the disposable e-mail address;

using the tracking information to obtain the creation data, and conveying the creation data to the user computer thereby enabling a determination as to whether the disposable e-mail address should be disabled; and

in response to receiving authorization, disabling the disposable e-mail address.

20. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the tracking information comprises identification of the disposable e-mail address.

21. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the tracking information comprises an X-header identifying the disposable e-mail address.

22. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the tracking information comprises data detailing a relationship between the un-aliased e-mail address and the disposable e-mail address.

23. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the e-mail is classified as unsolicited e-mail automatically by the e-mail client.

24. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the e-mail is classified as unsolicited e-mail based on user input.

25. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein ascertaining creation data associated with the disposable e-mail address comprises validating the tracking information.

26. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the creation data identifies a network destination originally associated with the disposable e-mail address.