Sorting electronic messages using attributes of the sender address

• US 8,601,111 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldman, Phillip Y., Landsman, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US13/616,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/224, 709/206, 709/223, 709/220, 726/4, 726/26, 726/27, 707/999.007
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Systems and methods for sorting electronic messages using attributes of senders or of sender addresses. An electronic messaging server sorts electronic messages using attributes associated with the senders or sender addresses of the electronic messages. The sender addresses and associated attributes are stored in an accept list. A sorting module uses the accept list to sort the electronic messages into various folders. The sorting module can also access other data sources, such as a contact list, to assist in sorting the electronic messages. The attributes can be determined independently of the user or can be set directly by the user. The attributes can also identify a status of a sender such as whether the sender is authorized, unauthorized, or unconfirmed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications, comprising:

receiving, with at least one processor, an electronic communication sent from a sender and addressed to a recipient;

accessing a first list comprising a first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address, the first plurality of attributes comprising an authorization attribute and a workgroup attribute, wherein the plurality of attributes are configurable by the recipient;

accessing a second list comprising a second plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address, wherein the second list is distinct from the first list; and

causing, with the at least one processor, the electronic communication to be delivered to at least one of a plurality of folders associated with the recipient based on one or more attributes from the first list and one or more attributes from the second list.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise an indication of the sender'"'"'s authorization status.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise an indication of whether the sender has successfully responded to a challenge sent to the sender.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the challenge comprises entering a code at a web site.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise a confirmation attribute.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the confirmation attribute is selected by the recipient.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise a subject attribute.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the subject attribute is selected by the recipient.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, with at least one processor, a plurality of electronic communications sent from a plurality of senders addressed to the recipient; and

prioritizing an electronic communication from the plurality of electronic communications based on one or more attributes from the first list and one or more attributes from the second list.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sender'"'"'s address comprises an email address.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sender'"'"'s address comprises an instant messaging address.

12. A system for managing electronic communications, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving an electronic communication sent from a sender and addressed to a recipient;

accessing a first list comprising a first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address, the plurality of attributes comprising an authorization attribute and a workgroup attribute, wherein the plurality of attributes are configurable by the recipient;

accessing a second list comprising a second plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address, wherein the second list is distinct from the first list; and

causing, with the at least one processor, the electronic communication to be delivered to at least one of a plurality of folders associated with the recipient based on one or more attributes from the first list and one or more attributed from the second list.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise an indication of the sender'"'"'s authorization status.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise an indication of whether the sender has successfully responded to a challenge sent to the sender.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the challenge comprises entering a code at a web site.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise a confirmation attribute.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the confirmation attribute is selected by the recipient.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of attributes associated with the sender'"'"'s address comprise a subject attribute.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the subject attribute is selected by the recipient.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, with at least one processor, a plurality of electronic communications sent from a plurality of senders addressed to the recipient; and

prioritizing an electronic communication from the plurality of electronic attributes from the second list.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the sender'"'"'s address comprises an email address.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the senders address comprises an instant messaging address.