Federated challenge credit system
First Claim
1. In a first server included in a first electronic messaging system capable of receiving electronic messages, the first server associated with a first database, a method of determining whether an incoming electronic message should initiate a filter mechanism, the method comprising:
- at a first server associated with a first electronic messaging system identified by a first domain name,receiving an incoming message;
identifying a first sender associated with the incoming message;
maintaining behavioral information about the first sender on a database associated with the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system;
issuing a request to a second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system, the second electronic messaging system being identified by a second domain name that is different than the first domain name of the first electronic messaging system, wherein the request includes a federated token that allows the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to respond to the request for the behavioral information without issuing a challenge to the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system;
receiving a response containing behavioral information for at least the first sender from the second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system;
parsing the behavioral information from the response;
applying predetermined criteria to the behavioral information stored in the database and the behavioral information parsed from the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to determine if the sender is approved or unapproved;
sending the incoming message directly to a recipient'"'"'s inbox if the sender is determined to be approved; and
initiating a filter mechanism if the sender is determined to be unapproved.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing the number of challenge messages that are sent in response to an incoming message in situations where the incoming message is likely not unsolicited. The systems and methods include evaluating the behavior of a sender with regard to one or more federated messaging services and determining if the sender is approved or unapproved. If the sender is approved, the incoming message is deliver to a recipient'"'"'s inbox without issuing a challenge message. Unapproved senders are required to respond to a challenge message.
171 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. In a first server included in a first electronic messaging system capable of receiving electronic messages, the first server associated with a first database, a method of determining whether an incoming electronic message should initiate a filter mechanism, the method comprising:
at a first server associated with a first electronic messaging system identified by a first domain name, receiving an incoming message; identifying a first sender associated with the incoming message; maintaining behavioral information about the first sender on a database associated with the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system; issuing a request to a second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system, the second electronic messaging system being identified by a second domain name that is different than the first domain name of the first electronic messaging system, wherein the request includes a federated token that allows the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to respond to the request for the behavioral information without issuing a challenge to the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system; receiving a response containing behavioral information for at least the first sender from the second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system; parsing the behavioral information from the response; applying predetermined criteria to the behavioral information stored in the database and the behavioral information parsed from the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to determine if the sender is approved or unapproved; sending the incoming message directly to a recipient'"'"'s inbox if the sender is determined to be approved; and initiating a filter mechanism if the sender is determined to be unapproved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
8. In a network including two or more electronic messaging systems capable of receiving electronic messages, a method of determining whether an incoming electronic message to one of the two or more electronic messaging systems should initiate a filter mechanism, the method comprising:
at a first electronic messaging system; tracking behavioral information for one or more senders that send electronic messages to two or more distinct electronic messaging systems, each electronic messaging system being defined by a distinct domain name; issuing a request for behavioral information of the one or more senders to a second electronic messaging system, wherein the request includes a federated token that allows the second electronic messaging system to respond to the request for the behavioral information without issuing a challenge to the first electronic messaging system, wherein the behavioral information is expressed as a binary indicator generated for each of the one or more senders to represent whether the one or more senders is provisionally approved or unapproved at each of the electronic messaging systems; evaluating the sender behavioral information for one or more senders to determine whether each sender is approved or unapproved, including evaluating binary indicators for two or more electronic messaging systems; sending incoming messages from a sender directly to a recipient'"'"'s inbox if the sender is determined to be approved; and initiating a filter mechanism in response to an incoming message from the sender if the sender is determined to be unapproved. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
13. A method for determining whether to initiate a filter mechanism in response to an electronic message from a sender, the method comprising:
at a first federated server associated with a first electronic messaging system identified by a first domain name, receiving an electronic message from the sender; issuing a request for behavioral information of the sender to a second federated server associated with a second electronic messaging system identified by a second domain name different from the first domain name, wherein the request includes a federated token that allows the second electronic messaging system to respond to the request for the behavioral information; evaluating the sender of the electronic message based on behavioral information received from the second federated server to determine a score for the sender, the score representing a confidence level of whether the sender is approved or unapproved; sending the electronic message from the sender directly to a recipient'"'"'s inbox if the sender is determined to be approved; and initiating a filter mechanism in response to the electronic message from the sender if the sender is determined to be unapproved. - View Dependent Claims (14)
Specification