Patent ID: 7231427
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In an E-mail process between subscribing sender and non-subscribing receiver, an intermediate server masks the primary E-mail address of the subscribing sender, the process comprising the steps of: providing an intermediate server with an intermediate server domain name; sending an E-mail message from the subscribing sender to the receiver with the address “To” format including a first “To” E-mail address including a user identifier, a user identifier sign, and the non-subscribing receiver's domain name; before sending concatenating a second delimiter and the intermediate server domain name to the end of the receiver's address to address the E-mail to the intermediate server to generate a second “To” E-mail address, wherein the second “To” E-mail address includes the user identifier and the non-subscribing receiver's domain name along with the second delimiter and the intermediate server domain name in a format such that the E-mail is sent to the intermediate server first instead of the first “To” E-mail address; upon receipt at the intermediate server resending the E-mail; before resending removing the sender's primary E-mail address whereby the intermediate server domain name becomes the domain name address of the sender; and before resending restoring the receiver's primary address by the removal of the delimiter and the domain name of the intermediate server; whereby masking of sender's primary E-mail address is assured.