Patent ID: 8738708
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A private network processing hub that receives and processes messages submitted by a plurality of independent member networks and handles bounced messages intended for said plurality of independent member networks, said private network processing hub and said independent member networks combining to form a private network, said private network processing hub comprising: a message transfer agent that receives an original message from a member network of said plurality of independent member networks, said original message being sent from an original sender to a recipient, said message transfer agent further creating a tracking identifier indicating that said original message was routed through said private network processing hub, and inserting said tracking identifier into said original message prior to sending said original message to said recipient; and a bounce management module that receives a second message and determines that said second message is a bounced message, said bounce management module further determining that said bounced message was generated in response to said original message by examining said bounced message to ascertain if said bounced message includes said tracking identifier, if said bounced message includes said tracking identifier then said bounced message is an authenticated bounced message and is delivered to said member network, if said bounced message does not include said tracking identifier then said bounced message is considered a malicious message and is rejected by said private network processing hub and is not delivered to said member network, wherein the tracking identifier is inserted into the original message by rewriting a MAIL FROM field in the original message, wherein the MAIL FROM field is rewritten by replacing a domain name in the MAIL FROM field with a Variable Envelope Return Path (VERP) address that includes the tracking identifier, and wherein the VERP address is used to filter incoming messages, wherein the bounce management module is further configured to determine an action to take responsive to receiving the authenticated bounced message, wherein the action is specified in a policy associated with the member network of the original sender.