US6671718B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Email client application incorporating an active transmit authorization request
Assignee: Mec Management LLC
•
Filing: 1999-06-28
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Granted: 2003-12-30
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Expires: 2019-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A system that monitors for an initiation of the sending of an electronic message. The user is alerted or warned that the message is about to be sent. The alert includes a list of the addressees of the message. The list includes addressee aliases where available. The sender can then verify that the addressees are correct and change or delete those on the list, or erase the message. The system also provides such an alert when a computer initiates the sending of an unauthorized message and allows the user to delete the unauthorized message.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Meister
- 👤 James Randall Beckers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
An e-mail method, comprising: recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, from a sending side to a receiving side; and alerting a system user on the sending side as to the message being sent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An e-mail method, comprising: recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, from a sending side to a receiving side; and alerting a system user on the sending side as to the message being sent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the message is not sent until approved by the system user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the alerting alerts the user as to addressees of the message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the alerting alerts the user as to an addressee of the message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said recognizing recognizes a send operation initiated by the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said recognizing recognizes a send operation initiated by an unauthorized agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: allowing the user to approve sending of the message after the alert; and sending the message to an addressee.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said alerting comprises providing a display of both alias names and fully resolved addresses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the display includes a confirmation field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising allowing the user to modify an addressee list after the alerting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the alerting is performed after the addressee list is modified.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: allowing a user on a sending side to indicate that a complete message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, from the sending side to a receiving side; and alerting the user on the sending side that the message is to be sent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: allowing a user on a sending side to indicate that a complete message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, from the sending side to a receiving side; and alerting the user on the sending side that the message is to be sent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: recognizing that a complete message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by an unauthorized agent from a sending side to a receiving side; and alerting a user on the sending side that the message is to be sent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: recognizing that a complete message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by an unauthorized agent from a sending side to a receiving side; and alerting a user on the sending side that the message is to be sent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
An e-mail method, comprising: recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by a user or an unauthorized agent from a sending side to a receiving side; alerting the user on the sending side as to the message being sent and as to addressees of the message by providing a display of both alias names and fully resolved addresses when available and a confirmation field for each address; allowing the user to approve sending of the message to an addressee after the alert by marking the confirmation field; allowing the user to modify an addressee list after the alert; allowing the user to erase the message; and sending the message after all addressees have been approved.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
An e-mail method, comprising: recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by a user or an unauthorized agent from a sending side to a receiving side; alerting the user on the sending side as to the message being sent and as to addressees of the message by providing a display of both alias names and fully resolved addresses when available and a confirmation field for each address; allowing the user to approve sending of the message to an addressee after the alert by marking the confirmation field; allowing the user to modify an addressee list after the alert; allowing the user to erase the message; and sending the message after all addressees have been approved.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus, comprising: an e-mail transmission system having a sending side and a receiving side; and an e-mail system recognizing a complete e-mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by a user via the transmission system and alerting a user on the sending side as to the addressees of the message.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus, comprising: an e-mail transmission system having a sending side and a receiving side; and an e-mail system recognizing a complete e-mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by a user via the transmission system and alerting a user on the sending side as to the addressees of the message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer including a computer program recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, and alerting a user as to the message being sent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer including a computer program recognizing whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, and alerting a user as to the message being sent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic message alert display, comprising: text alerting a user on a sending side as to a complete electronic message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, about to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, and a list of addressees.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic message alert display, comprising: text alerting a user on a sending side as to a complete electronic message having a valid recipient address for an unintended recipient, about to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, and a list of addressees.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A display as recited in claim 17 , wherein the list shows an addressee alias and a fully resolved address.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A display, as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a modify addressee control.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A display as recited in claim 17 , further comprising an erase control.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A display as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a confirmation to send field.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: determining whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address that satisfies requirements for transmission, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by detecting, on a sending side, a send operation initiated by a user and detecting a send operation initiated by an unauthorized agent; alerting an e-mail system user on the sending side as to addressees of the message by providing a display of both available alias names and fully resolved addresses and a confirmation field for each intended recipient; allowing the user to modify an addressee list after the alert with the alert being again produced after the intended recipient list is modified; allowing the user to approve sending of the message after the alert; and sending the message after approval.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic mail method, comprising: determining whether a complete electronic mail message having a valid recipient address that satisfies requirements for transmission, is to be sent, after a send function has been initiated, by detecting, on a sending side, a send operation initiated by a user and detecting a send operation initiated by an unauthorized agent; alerting an e-mail system user on the sending side as to addressees of the message by providing a display of both available alias names and fully resolved addresses and a confirmation field for each intended recipient; allowing the user to modify an addressee list after the alert with the alert being again produced after the intended recipient list is modified; allowing the user to approve sending of the message after the alert; and sending the message after approval.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for alerting a user on a sending side as to the addressees of an e-mail before sending, said method comprising: composing a complete e-mail message; addressing the e-mail message; requesting that the e-mail message having a valid recipient address that satisfies requirements for transmission, be sent, after a send function has been initiated, alerting the sender on the sending side that the e-mail is about to be sent and listing the addressees; modifying, deleting or confirming the addressees; and sending or deleting the message, if sending, connecting to a mail server.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for alerting a user on a sending side as to the addressees of an e-mail before sending, said method comprising: composing a complete e-mail message; addressing the e-mail message; requesting that the e-mail message having a valid recipient address that satisfies requirements for transmission, be sent, after a send function has been initiated, alerting the sender on the sending side that the e-mail is about to be sent and listing the addressees; modifying, deleting or confirming the addressees; and sending or deleting the message, if sending, connecting to a mail server.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 23 , wherein in said alerting, modifying, deleting or confirming addressees, the e-mail system performs: parsing the address header; selecting an address; determining whether the address is fully resolved; determining if an alias exists; resolving group or list names; adding aliases and/or fully resolved addresses to the alert list; and alerting, again, the sender that the e-mail is about to be sent and listing the addressees.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
An e-mail method, comprising: determining that a complete validly addressed electronic mail message for an unintended recipient, is to be sent from a sending side to a receiving side, after a send function has been activated; and alerting a system user on the sending side as to the message being sent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
An e-mail method, comprising: determining that a complete validly addressed electronic mail message for an unintended recipient, is to be sent from a sending side to a receiving side, after a send function has been activated; and alerting a system user on the sending side as to the message being sent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |