System and method for verifying delivery and integrity of electronic messages
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient, comprising:
- adding a particular indication to a message to be sent to a recipient, the particular indication identifying the message as requiring special processing;
transmitting the message to a server remote from the recipient;
determining at the server whether the message has the particular indication before the message is transmitted from the server to the recipient;
transmitting the message from the server to the recipient through a first route if the message lacks the particular indication; and
processing the message by the server in accordance with the particular indication.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
Third party verification of the content and delivery of an electronic message such as an e-snail, is provided using a server that receives an e-mail sent or forwarded to a specified addressee, and “tags” the message to indicate that it is “registered” with the service provider. The server establishes a direct connection with the addressee'"'"'s Mail User Agent (MUA), and transmits the tagged email to the addressee'"'"'s MUA, as well as to the MUA'"'"'s of any other addressees. After receiving responses from the receiving MUA'"'"'s that the message was successfully received, the server creates and forwards an electronic receipt to the message originator. The system operators can provide independent third party verification that the receipt is a genuine product of their system and that the information pertaining to content and delivery of the message is accurate, without the need to archive either the original message or the receipt.
44 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient, comprising:
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adding a particular indication to a message to be sent to a recipient, the particular indication identifying the message as requiring special processing; transmitting the message to a server remote from the recipient; determining at the server whether the message has the particular indication before the message is transmitted from the server to the recipient; transmitting the message from the server to the recipient through a first route if the message lacks the particular indication; and processing the message by the server in accordance with the particular indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient, comprising:
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transmitting the message to a server remote from the recipient; determining by the server if there is a particular indication present in the message that identifies the message as requiring special processing before the message is transmitted to the recipient; transmitting the message from the server to the recipient through a first route if the message lacks the particular indication; and processing the message by the server in accordance with the particular indication. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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16. The method of 15, further comprising:
charging the sender a fee for transmitting the message through the second route.
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30. A system for transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient, comprising:
a server configured to receive a message from a sender, the server being remote from a recipient of the message, the server also being programmable using software commands to determine if there is a particular indication present in the message that identifies the message as requiring special processing before the message is transmitted to the recipient, to transmit the message from the server to the recipient through a first route if the message lacks the particular indication, and to process the message in accordance with the particular indication if the particular indication is present.
Specification