Patent US1152425A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20030191969A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for eliminating unauthorized electronic mail
Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC
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Filing: 2003-03-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network analyzes the sender address of incoming email and determines whether it is to be rejected by returning a standard “no such user” error code or accepted depending upon executing processing rules and analyzing managed lists of authorized senders. This provides an advantage over existing anti-spam filtering systems by intercepting unauthorized email before it reaches an existing email server or client. The system rejects all email unless authorized by using a standard “no such user” error code, and by redirecting the unauthorized email back to the sender or to a sender evaluation site. An ASL module captures authorized sender addresses from the user's outgoing email and other sources in order to update “authorized senders” lists. The system may employ a WBM procedure that notifies senders of rejected email to go to a separate website and register as valid senders after passing an interaction test that precludes automatic registration by a mechanical program. A destination proxy email address procedure allows subscribers to use temporary proxy addresses for receiving email expected from unknown sources and instantiates senders as authorized upon receiving the expected email to the proxy addresses. The unauthorized-email rejection component can be readily configured as a hardware or software appliance used in tandem with a conventional email server, email gateway, or firewall to an intranet, or as a software extension to an existing firewall system.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Katsikas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; H04L63/00; H04L63/02; H04L63/0227; H04L63/0245; H04L63/0281; H04L63/10; H04L63/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
1 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
1 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
2 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 1 , wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned in the flow of incoming email upstream from the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
3 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 1 , wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is configured as a hardware appliance that is positioned in the flow of incoming email physically upstream from the email-receiving server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
4 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 1 , wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is configured as a software component operable in the flow of incoming email logically upstream of the email-receiving server.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
5 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 1 , further comprising an email proxy pre-processing module that allows users to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, examines incoming email and, upon recognizing the destination proxy email address of the user, accepts the email and sends it to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
6 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 1 , further comprising a WBM component for sending a message to a rejected sender inviting the sender to be validated as an authorized sender.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
7 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 6 , wherein the WBM component specifies a predetermined time period for the sender of rejected email to be validated as an authorized sender.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
8 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 6 , wherein the WBM component is installed on a separate website that can be accessed by a sender of rejected email to be validated as an authorized sender.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
9 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network according to claim 6 , wherein the WBM component requires a sender of rejected email to pass an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
10 . A system according to claim 9 , wherein the interaction procedure includes a display of a graphic image of a word or object, and an input for the sender to enter in a text word in response to the graphic image, whereby the system can confirm that the interaction procedure is not being performed by a mechanical program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
11 . A system according to claim 6 , wherein once the sender is confirmed as an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient user, the WBM component sends an appropriate update to the ASL module that allows subsequent emails from the sender to pass through normally.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
12 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ASL module includes an ASL database for storing ASL lists of processing rules and authorized sender addresses for respective users of the system, and a spam processor module for processing the ASL rules lists to determine if the sender is friend, spammer, or unknown.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
13 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein, upon the ASL module determining that incoming email has a sender address that is not that of an authorized sender, said unauthorized-email rejection component rejects the incoming email with an industry standard “no such user” error message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
14 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL lists of authorized senders.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
15 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ASL module includes a rules processor for processing authorized sender addresses for updating the ASL lists using data from an email address source selected from the group of email address sources consisting of: received email; sent email; user inputs to email service functions on the email client; inputs from user browsing of web sites; user desktop organizer and other contact lists; and third party address email management programs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
16 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ASL module includes a rules processor for processing analysis rules for updating the ASL lists using data from an analysis source selected from the group of analysis sources consisting of: user email log analysis; expiration date analysis; low/high email volume analysis; fuzzy logic analysis; and third party data analysis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
17 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ASL module maintains the ASL lists using a designation of sender-address status selected from the group of sender-address status designations consisting of: always authorized as a friend; authorized as a friend over a date range; authorized as a friend before an expiration date; authorizing all email for a given domain name; authorizing all email for a domain or any subdomain; always rejected as a spammer; rejected as a spammer matching a black list; status returned by executing a 3 rd party email software; and rejected as a spammer sent with an error message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
18 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender” by returning an industry standard “no such user” error code.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
18 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender” by returning an industry standard “no such user” error code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
161 words
19 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, and thereupon adding the validated sender's email address to the ASL list.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
19 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, and thereupon adding the validated sender's email address to the ASL list.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
155 words
20 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, and (e) allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, wherein if the destination proxy email address is recognized on incoming email, the incoming email is accepted and sent to the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
20 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, and (e) allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, wherein if the destination proxy email address is recognized on incoming email, the incoming email is accepted and sent to the user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
21 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL list of authorized senders.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
136 words
21 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user if the results of processing the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL list of authorized senders.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
123 words
22 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email if the results of processing the sender's email address with the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, wherein the rejection of the incoming email is performed in a physical or logical operation before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
123 words
22 . A method for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising the steps of: (a) receiving incoming email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (b) maintaining an authorized senders list (ASL list) of email addresses of external users authorized to send email to the user, (c) processing the sender's email address on incoming email by comparing it to the ASL list, and (d) rejecting the receipt of incoming email if the results of processing the sender's email address with the ASL list returns with a result of “unauthorized sender”, wherein the rejection of the incoming email is performed in a physical or logical operation before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
117 words
23 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is a hardware or software appliance positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream from the email-receiving server to prevent any unauthorized email from reaching the email-receiving server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
23 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is a hardware or software appliance positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream from the email-receiving server to prevent any unauthorized email from reaching the email-receiving server.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
112 words
24 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL lists of authorized senders.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
112 words
24 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL lists of authorized senders.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
139 words
25 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, and further including a proxy address module for allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, and if the destination proxy email address is used on incoming email, for accepting the incoming email and sending it to the user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
139 words
25 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, and further including a proxy address module for allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, and if the destination proxy email address is used on incoming email, for accepting the incoming email and sending it to the user.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
26 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for eliminating unauthorized email according to claim 25 , wherein upon receipt of incoming email using the destination proxy address, an entry for the email address of the sender thereof is dynamically created in the ASL module as an authorized sender.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
27 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for eliminating unauthorized email according to claim 25 , wherein said unauthorized-email rejection processes the incoming email using the destination proxy address according to rules that permit email to be accepted from a specific user, domain, and/or subdomain represented in the proxy address.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
145 words
28 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, and further including a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, whereupon the validated sender's email address can be added to the ASL list.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
145 words
28 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result, and further including a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, whereupon the validated sender's email address can be added to the ASL list.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
100 words
29 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result and returns an industry standard “no such user” error code before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
100 words
29 . An unauthorized-email rejection component for use with an email-receiving server for receiving email sent to a user on a network comprising an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains an ASL list of email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component intercepts and rejects any incoming email addressed to the email address of the user if the processing results of the ASL list returns with an “unauthorized sender” result and returns an industry standard “no such user” error code before the email can be accepted for delivery to the user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
151 words
30 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
151 words
30 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
190 words
31 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein, upon the ASL module determining that incoming email has a sender address that is not that of an authorized sender, said unauthorized-email rejection component rejects the incoming email with an industry standard “no such user” error message.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
190 words
31 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein, upon the ASL module determining that incoming email has a sender address that is not that of an authorized sender, said unauthorized-email rejection component rejects the incoming email with an industry standard “no such user” error message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
185 words
32 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL list of authorized senders.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
185 words
32 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein the ASL module includes an ASL list manager for analyzing email header information including FROM and TO addresses of email sent by users to dynamically update the ASL list of authorized senders.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
208 words
33 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component includes a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
208 words
33 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is positioned for operation in the flow of incoming email physically or logically upstream before the email-receiving server such that unauthorized email is intercepted and prevented from reaching the email-receiving server, and wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component includes a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
179 words
34 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein said system includes a proxy address module for allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, and if the destination proxy email address is used on incoming email, said unauthorized-email rejection component accepts the incoming email and sends it to the user.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
179 words
34 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein said system includes a proxy address module for allowing a user to designate a destination proxy email address for use by a sender in instances where the email address of an authorized sender is not yet known, and if the destination proxy email address is used on incoming email, said unauthorized-email rejection component accepts the incoming email and sends it to the user.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
233 words
35 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component includes a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, wherein the interaction procedure includes a display of a graphic image of a word or object, and a request to the sender to enter a text word in response to the graphic image, whereby the system can confirm that the interaction procedure is not being performed by a mechanical program, and thereupon add the validated sender's email address to the ASL list.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
233 words
35 . A system for eliminating unauthorized email sent to a user on a network comprising: (a) an email client for allowing the user to receive email sent on the network addressed to a unique email address of the user, (b) an email-receiving server connected between the network and the email client for receiving email addressed to the unique email address of the user, (c) an unauthorized-email rejection component having an authorized senders list (ASL) module which maintains email addresses of senders authorized to send email to the user, wherein the unauthorized-email rejection component is operable with the email-receiving server for intercepting and rejecting any unauthorized email addressed to the email address of the user, wherein said unauthorized-email rejection component includes a redirector module for sending a message inviting the sender of the rejected email to confirm that the sender is an authorized sender of email to the intended recipient by passing an interaction procedure to show that the sender is not a mechanical program attempting to automatically validate the sender, wherein the interaction procedure includes a display of a graphic image of a word or object, and a request to the sender to enter a text word in response to the graphic image, whereby the system can confirm that the interaction procedure is not being performed by a mechanical program, and thereupon add the validated sender's email address to the ASL list.
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