Patent ID: 6829631
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for screening electronic messages, wherein such an electronic message has a reply address for a sender and an address for a designated receiver of the message, the method comprising the steps of:a) determining, by a screening agent for the designated receiver of such a one of the electronic messages, whether the electronic message includes a pass, the pass having been generated by the screening agent from an earlier-received version of the electronic message; b) forwarding such a one of the electronic messages to the receiver by the screening agent, responsive to the message having such a pass; and c) generating a pass and notice to the sender for such a one of the electronic messages by the screening agentâ€”responsive to the message not having such a pass, wherein the notice includes information making the sass available to the sender and requesting the sender to return the passâ€”to an indicated address, wherein the pass is particularized for the sender by including in the pass an encrypted version of the sender's address received in the electronic message, and wherein step a) includes determining whether such a one of the electronic messages has such a pass and whether the encrypted address of the pass matches the message's sender address.