Filter-in method for reducing junk e-mail

• US RE40,804 E1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heiner, Jeffrey Nelson
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US11/448,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/202, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 370/352, 370/401, 370/353
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/12 with filtering and selective blocking capabilities

Abstract

A method is provided for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client. An original electronic mail message is first received from a source client at a destination server. Next, a reply electronic mail message is sent from the destination server to the source client requesting the source client to complete a registration process to register the source client'"'"'s electronic mail address with the destination server. The original electronic mail message is only sent from the destination server to the destination client when the source client properly registers the source client'"'"'s electronic mail address.

Claims

1. A method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an original electronic mail message from a source client at a destination server, said original electronic mail message including an email address for said source client;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to at least one of an accept list or a reject list of electronic mail addresses;

holding said original electronic mail message in a first memory that is distinct from a second memory where deleted messages are stored if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list;

sending a reply electronic mail message from said destination server to said source client requesting that said source client complete a registration process, if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list,

wherein said registration process comprises completing a form at an Internet address, and

wherein said form includes a query that is designed to be answered by a human rather than a machine;

monitoring the a response of said source client to said request to complete a registration process to determine whether said source client properly responds to said request; and

sending said original electronic mail message from said destination server to said destination client only if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

2. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 1, wherein said registration process comprises answering a question included in said reply electronic mail message.

3. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 1, wherein said registration process comprises completing a form at an Internet address.

4. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 1, wherein said registration process comprises following instructions via a telephone system.

19. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to both an accept list and a reject list of electronic mail addresses.

20. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending said original electronic mail message to said destination client when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said accept list.

21. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message, if said electronic mail address of said source client is on said reject list.

22. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event.

23. The claim as recited in claim 1, wherein said preselected event is upon instruction from said destination client.

24. The claim as recited in claim 1, wherein said preselected event is when a predetermined period of time has lapsed without receiving a response to said request that said source client complete a registration process.

25. The claim as recited in claim 1, wherein said preselected event is exceeding a predetermined number of original electronic mail messages.

26. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing said destination client to access said first memory to determine content of said original electronic mail message.

27. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said accept list if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

28. The claim as recited in claim 1, further comprising adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said reject list.

5. A method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client comprising the steps of:

receiving an original electronic mail message addressed to a destination client from a source client having an electronic mail address at a destination server;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to an accept list of electronic mail addresses;

sending said original electronic mail message to said destination client when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said accept list;

sending a reply electronic mail message from said destination server to said source client requesting that said source client complete a registration process when said electronic mail address of said source client is not on said accept list;

monitoring the response of said source client to said request to complete a registration process to determine whether said source client properly responds to said request; and

sending said original electronic mail message from said destination server to said destination client only if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

6. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, wherein said registration process comprises answering a question included in said reply electronic mail message.

7. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, wherein said registration process comprises completing a form at an Internet address.

8. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, wherein said registration process comprises following instructions via a telephone system.

9. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, further including the steps of:

storing electronic mail addresses of clients to which said destination client has sent electronic mail messages; and

automatically updating said accept list to include said electronic mail addresses of clients to which said destination client has sent electronic mail messages.

10. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, further including the steps of:

holding said original electronic mail message in a memory if said source client does not properly respond to said request to complete a registration process;

allowing said destination client to access said memory to determine the content of said original electronic mail message.

11. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 5, further including the step of:

automatically adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said accept list if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

12. A method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client comprising the steps of:

receiving an original electronic mail message addressed to a destination client from a source client having an electronic mail address at a destination server;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to an accept list of electronic mail addressees;

sending said original electronic mail message to said destination client when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said accept list;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to a reject list of electronic mail addresses when said electronic address of said source client is not on said accept list;

deleting said original message when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said reject list;

holding said original electronic mail message in a first memory that is distinct from a second memory where deleted messages are stored if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on said accept list or said reject list;

sending a reply electronic mail message from said destination server to said source client requesting that said source client complete a registration process when said electronic mail address of said source client is not on said accept list or said reject list;

said registration process includes a query that is designed to be answered by a human rather than a machine;

monitoring the response of said source client to said request to complete a registration process to determine whether said source client properly responds to said request;

and

sending said original electronic mail message from said destination server to said destination client only if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process; and

deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory when a predetermined period of time has lapsed without receiving a response to said request that said source client completed a registration process.

13. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, wherein said registration process comprises answering a question included in said reply electronic mail message.

14. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, wherein said registration process comprises completing a form at an Internet address.

15. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, wherein said registration process comprises following instructions via a telephone system.

16. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, further including the steps of:

storing electronic mail addresses of clients to which said destination client has sent electronic mail messages; and

automatically updating said accept list to include said electronic mail addresses of clients to which said destination client has sent electronic mail messages.

17. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, further including the steps of:

holding said original electronic mail message in a said first memory if said source client does not properly respond to said request to complete a registration process;

and

allowing said destination client to access said first memory to determine the content of said original electronic mail message.

18. The method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages according to claim 12, further including the step of:

automatically adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said accept list if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

29. The claim as recited in claim 12, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event, wherein said preselected event is upon instruction from said destination client.

30. The claim as recited in claim 12, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event, wherein said preselected event is exceeding a predetermined number of original electronic mail messages.

31. The claim as recited in claim 12, further comprising adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said reject list.

32. A method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an original electronic mail message from a source client at a destination server, said original electronic mail message including an email address from said source client;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to at least one of an accept list or a reject list of electronic mail addresses;

holding said original electronic mail message in a first memory that is distinct from a second memory where deleted messages are stored if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list;

sending a reply electronic mail message from said destination server to said source client requesting that said source client complete a registration process, if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list;

said registration process includes a query that is designed to be answered by a human rather than a machine;

monitoring a response of said source client to said request to complete a registration process to determine whether said source client properly responds to said request;

sending said original electronic mail message from said destination server to said destination client if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process; and

deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory when a predetermined period of time has lapsed without receiving a response to said request that said source client complete a registration process.

33. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to both an accept list and a reject list of electronic mail addresses.

34. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising sending said original electronic mail message to said destination client when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said accept list.

35. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message, if said electronic mail address of said source client is on said reject list.

36. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event, wherein said preselected event is upon instruction from said destination client.

37. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event, wherein said preselected event is exceeding a predetermined number of original electronic mail messages.

38. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising allowing said destination client to access said first memory to determine content of said original electronic mail message.

39. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising automatically adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said accept list if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

40. The claim as recited in claim 32, further comprising adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said reject list.

41. A method for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an original electronic mail message from a source client at a destination server, said original electronic mail message including an email address for said source client;

comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to at least one of an accept list or a reject list of electronic mail addresses;

holding said original electronic mail message in a first memory that is distinct from a second memory where deleted messages are stored if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list;

allowing said destination client to access said first memory to determine content of said original electronic mail message;

sending a reply electronic mail message from said destination server to said source client requesting that said source client complete a registration process, if said electronic mail address of said source client is not on at least one of said accept list or said reject list;

said registration process includes a query that is designed to be answered by a human rather than a machine;

monitoring a response of said source client to said request to complete a registration process to determine whether said source client properly responds to said request; and

sending said original electronic mail message from said destination server to said destination client if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

42. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising comparing said electronic mail address of said source client to both an accept list and a reject list of electronic mail addresses.

43. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising sending said original electronic mail message to said destination client when said electronic mail address of said source client is on said accept list.

44. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message, if said electronic mail address of said source client is on said reject list.

45. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising deleting said original electronic mail message from said first memory upon a preselected event.

46. The claim as recited in claim 41, wherein said preselected event is upon instruction from said destination client.

47. The claim as recited in claim 41, wherein said preselected event is when a predetermined period of time has lapsed without receiving a response to said request that said source client complete a registration process.

48. The claim as recited in claim 41, wherein said preselected event is exceeding a predetermined number of original electronic mail messages.

49. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising automatically adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said accept list if said source client properly responds to said request to complete a registration process.

50. The claim as recited in claim 41, further comprising adding said electronic mail address of said source client to said reject list.