US6230188B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing a proxy identifier in an on-line directory
Assignee: SWITCHBOARD LLC
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Filing: 1998-12-08
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Granted: 2001-05-08
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Expires: 2018-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for protecting the privacy of a person's email address that is maintained in an on-line directory service ( 14 ). The directory service includes a database ( 16 ) having actual email addresses and a processing system ( 20 ) that is available for retrieving these listings from the database. The method includes the computer implemented steps of receiving from a user a request for a person's email address; determining whether or not a record is present in the database that corresponds with the user request; and if a record is present that includes a person's actual email address, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy email address ( 38 ) in lieu of the person's actual email address. The proxy email address is provided without having been requested by the person and without requiring the processing system to determine whether or not the person prefers to have a proxy email address displayed or the person's actual email address displayed. The proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables the user to send an email message to the person without knowing that person's actual email address.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin R. Marcus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/48; H04L51/21; H04L51/212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for retrieving listings from a database, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a request for a party's email address; (b) determining whether a record is present in the database that corresponds with the request; and (c) if a record is present that corresponds to the request, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy address in lieu of the party's actual email address; the proxy address being displayed without requiring participation by the party and without determining whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed; wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables a sender to send an email message to the party without knowing the party's actual email address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for retrieving listings from a database, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a request for a party's email address; (b) determining whether a record is present in the database that corresponds with the request; and (c) if a record is present that corresponds to the request, then automatically displaying a selectable proxy address in lieu of the party's actual email address; the proxy address being displayed without requiring participation by the party and without determining whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed; wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable portion that enables a sender to send an email message to the party without knowing the party's actual email address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a reference to a domain name associated with the party's email account.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing a proxy identifier in an on-line directory, the method comprising: obtaining a request for an email address, wherein the request includes one or more attributes for identifying the email address; obtaining at least one record associated with the one or more attributes from a listing database; and automatically displaying a selectable proxy address corresponding to the at least one record; wherein the selectable proxy address enables a sender to send an email communication without knowing an actual email address; and wherein the automatic display of the selectable proxy address is performed without participation by a party associated with the email address and without determining a privacy setting for any matching records.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing a proxy identifier in an on-line directory, the method comprising: obtaining a request for an email address, wherein the request includes one or more attributes for identifying the email address; obtaining at least one record associated with the one or more attributes from a listing database; and automatically displaying a selectable proxy address corresponding to the at least one record; wherein the selectable proxy address enables a sender to send an email communication without knowing an actual email address; and wherein the automatic display of the selectable proxy address is performed without participation by a party associated with the email address and without determining a privacy setting for any matching records.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the proxy address includes a selectable first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a reference to a domain name associated with the party's email account.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising: obtaining a selection of the selectable proxy address; and displaying a data entry display to enable the user to prepare a message, wherein the data entry display allows the sender to prepare a message to the party corresponding to the email address.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the email message includes an additional message regarding the context under which the message is being sent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the email message includes a marketing message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the email message does not reveal the identity of the sender.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the email message identifies an actual email address of the sender.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 9 , wherein the email message includes a warning message indicating that replying to the email message will cause the person's email address to be divulged to the sender.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
An on-line directory service comprising: (a) a database of information including actual email addresses; (b) a processing system that receives a user request for a party's actual email address and in response, determines the actual email address from the database; upon finding the actual email address, the processing automatically provides the user with a selectable proxy email address and not the actual email address; the proxy address being provided without having been requested by the party and without requiring the processing system to determine whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed; wherein selection of the proxy email address enables the user to send an email message to the party without knowing the party's actual email address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
An on-line directory service comprising: (a) a database of information including actual email addresses; (b) a processing system that receives a user request for a party's actual email address and in response, determines the actual email address from the database; upon finding the actual email address, the processing automatically provides the user with a selectable proxy email address and not the actual email address; the proxy address being provided without having been requested by the party and without requiring the processing system to determine whether the party prefers to have a proxy email address displayed; wherein selection of the proxy email address enables the user to send an email message to the party without knowing the party's actual email address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The on-line directory according to claim 11 , wherein the proxy email address includes a selectable first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a reference to a domain name associated with the party's email account.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 11 , wherein upon selection of the selectable portion of the proxy email address, the processing system provides a data entry display that enables the user to prepare a message to the party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 13 , wherein after entering the information on the data entry display, the user transmits the information to the processing system; the processing system then preparing and sending an email message to the person using the information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 11 , wherein upon selection of the selectable portion of the proxy email address, the processing system provides a data entry display that requires the user to enter their return email address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 11 , wherein the email message sent to the person includes an additional message regarding the context under which the message is being sent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 11 , wherein the email message sent to the person includes a marketing message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The on-line directory according to claim 11 , wherein the email message does not reveal the identity of the sender.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The on-line directory according to claim 11 , wherein the email sent to the party identifies an actual email address of the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The on-line directory service according to claim 19 , wherein the email message sent to the person includes a warning message indicating that by replying to the email message using the user's email return address will cause to the person's email address to be divulged to the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising: obtaining a selection of the selectable proxy address; and displaying a data entry display to enable the user to prepare a message, wherein the data entry display allows the sender to prepare a message to the party corresponding to the email address.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 21 further comprising requiring the sender to enter a return email address.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising: obtaining the sender message prepared on the data entry display; and transmitting an email to the party corresponding to the email address including the sender message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the selectable proxy address is selectable, the method further comprising: obtaining a selection of the second portion of the selectable proxy address; and displaying a list of all records corresponding to the request and having the domain name represented by the second portion of the proxy address.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the email message identifies the sender by a numeric identifier.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising: obtaining a request from a sender to view any email responses to the sender identified by a numeric identifier; and displaying a set of responses corresponding to the unique numeric identifier of the sender.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 1 , 2 , 6 - 10 , or 21 - 26 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 1 , 2 , 6 - 10 , or 21 - 26 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 5 further comprising requiring the sender to enter a return email address.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising: obtaining the user message prepared on the data entry display; and transmitting an email to the party corresponding to the email address including the sender message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the selectable proxy address is selectable, the method further comprising: obtaining a selection of the second portion of the selectable proxy address; and displaying a list of all records corresponding to the request and having the domain name represented by the second portion of the proxy address.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the email message includes an additional message regarding the context under which the message is being sent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the email message includes a marketing message.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the email message does not reveal the identity of the sender.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 34 , wherein the email message identifies the sender by a numeric identifier.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 35 further comprising: obtaining a request from a sender to view any email responses to the sender identified by a numeric identifier; and displaying a set of responses corresponding to the unique numeric identifier of the sender.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the email message identifies an actual email address of the sender.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 37 , wherein the email message includes a warning message indicating that replying to the email message will cause the person's email address to be divulged to the user.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in any one of claims 3 - 38 .
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 3 - 38 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-07 | 2004-11-06 | 2005-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-07 | 2008-11-06 | 2009-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-07 | 2012-11-06 | 2013-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |