US7092992B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Web page filtering including substitution of user-entered email address
Assignee: Mailshell com Inc
•
Filing: 2001-02-01
•
Granted: 2006-08-15
•
Expires: 2021-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for using an intermediary to manage unwanted electronic messages is provided. The intermediary generates a unique address for each pairing of a user and an e-mail resource, such as a mail list. The intermediary maintains a database that identifies which user and which e-mail resource is associated with each unique address. When the intermediary receives messages, the intermediary identifies the user and the e-mail resource based on the database. The intermediary sorts messages for each user based on groups that are associated with each e-mail resource. The intermediary filters the messages to identify messages that are unwanted by the user, such as mass unsolicited e-mail. The intermediary identifies unwanted messages by comparing the sending address for each message to a list of authorized sending addresses for the e-mail resource, and by analyzing the content of the messages, such as identifying whether the messages contain hidden images.
Inventors
- 👤 Tonny Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; H04L51/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the identifying the first address, the replacement address in order to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource by using the replacement address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the identifying the first address, the replacement address in order to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource by using the replacement address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: generating a plurality of additional replacement addresses, wherein each of the plurality of additional replacement addresses is associated with one of a plurality of e-mail resources at the second web page.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein information provided by the intermediary is displayed in a header at the top of a page display, wherein at least a portion of the second web page is displayed below the header.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the first address is displayed in the header.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the header further includes instructions for entering the email address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a plurality of electronic messages sent to the second address; identifying whether each of the plurality of electronic messages is an unwanted electronic message; and ignoring each of the plurality of electronic messages that is identified as said unwanted electronic message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of electronic messages includes contents, and wherein the step of identifying whether each of the plurality of electronic messages is said unwanted electronic message is based on the contents of each of the plurality of electronic messages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of identifying whether each of the plurality of electronic messages is said unwanted electronic message comprises the computer-implemented steps of: determining whether the electronic message contains a hidden image; and identifying said each of the plurality of electronic messages as said unwanted electronic message when the electronic message contains said hidden image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of electronic messages includes a sending address, and wherein the step of identifying whether each of the plurality of electronic messages is said unwanted electronic message comprises the computer-implemented steps of: determining whether the sending address is included in a list of authorized sending addresses; and identifying said each of the plurality of electronic messages as said unwanted electronic message when the sending address is not included in the list of authorized sending addresses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein upon identifying the first address a log in request is provided to the user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the second address is created after a user login.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: preventing a cookie from the second web page from being stored on a computer operated by the user.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a machine-readable medium including one or more instructions executable by the processor for performing the following: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the request identifying the first address, a replacement address used to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource at the second web page.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a machine-readable medium including one or more instructions executable by the processor for performing the following: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the request identifying the first address, a replacement address used to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource at the second web page.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
A machine-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a processor for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the machine readable medium comprising one or more instructions for: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the request identifying the first address, a replacement address used to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource at the second web page.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A machine-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a processor for using a computer-implemented intermediary to provide a replacement address, the machine readable medium comprising one or more instructions for: receiving, at a first web page provided by the intermediary, a request from a user to navigate to a second web page provided by other than the intermediary; displaying at least a portion of the second web page along with information provided by the intermediary; identifying a first address entered by a user into the displayed second web page; and sending, from the intermediary in response to the request identifying the first address, a replacement address used to subscribe the user to an e-mail resource at the second web page.
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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) | 2009-08-14 | 2010-02-13 | 2010-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-14 | 2014-02-13 | 2014-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-14 | 2018-02-13 | 2018-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |