Patent ID: 9197591
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An improved method that is performed by a subscription-service provider, in an environment of networked computing devices which include a server operated by said subscription-service provider, for controlling a computer device user's or email sender's accessibility to an intended email recipient and service subscriber who wants to screen out spammers from using an email address link that appears on a webpage of said intended email recipient and, when said email sender requests access to said webpage, said service provider responds by providing a version of said webpage that contains a unique version of said email address link for said email sender that enables an email program of said email sender to generate an email message from said email sender to said intended email recipient and then send said email message to an email server that is capable of delivering said email message to said intended email recipient, the improvements to said method comprising the steps of: providing software configured to: (a) run on said server of said subscription-service provider, (b) generate a unique email address link that does not require said email sender to perform any actions, other than requesting said access to said webpage with said email address link of said intended email recipient, in the generation of said unique email address link which appears on said version of said webpage of said intended email recipient, (c) create a database on said server of said subscription-service provider, and, (d) upon receiving said request for access to said webpage, with said email address link of said intended email recipient, from said email sender, collect and store in said database information from said email sender that identifies said email sender and the date and time when said request, for access to said webpage with said email address link of said intended email recipient, was made, and wherein said information collection and storage steps do not require said email sender to perform any additional actions, configuring said unique email address link in said requested webpage to include a token that has a configuration adapted to uniquely identify said email sender and which for said identification does not require said email sender to perform any actions other than requesting said access to said webpage with said email address link of said intended email recipient, configuring further said token so as to cause said email message generated by the email program of said email sender, when received by said email server, to have said email server communicate with said server of said subscription-service provider for the purpose of receiving authorization from said server of said subscription-service provider to deliver said email message to said intended email recipient, and wherein said authorization is achieved without requiring said email sender to perform any actions other than requesting said access to said webpage with said email address link of said intended email recipient, establishing a set of rules that are configured for use by said server of said subscription-service provider and which utilize said database information to determine whether said email message having one of said included tokens will be authorized for delivery to said intended email recipient, applying said set of rules to determine whether said email message of said email sender is authorized for delivery to said intended email recipient, and communicating said email delivery determination to said email server so as to provide for the delivery of said email message to said intended email recipient.