Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9444647B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-09-24 00:28:41
Document Index: 378657442

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 2008', 'Application No. 07750487', 'Application No. 200780012674', 'Application No. 200780012674', 'Application No. 2008']

US9444647B2 - Method for predelivery verification of an intended recipient of an electronic message and dynamic generation of message content upon verification - Google Patents
Method for predelivery verification of an intended recipient of an electronic message and dynamic generation of message content upon verification Download PDF
US9444647B2
US9444647B2 US12279157 US27915707A US9444647B2 US 9444647 B2 US9444647 B2 US 9444647B2 US 12279157 US12279157 US 12279157 US 27915707 A US27915707 A US 27915707A US 9444647 B2 US9444647 B2 US 9444647B2
US12279157
US20090177673A1 (en )
Mcinnis William Lee Jr
The present application claims priority under 35. U.S.C. 371 and is a national phase application of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/003654, filed Feb. 13, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/773,104, filed Feb. 14, 2006.
The present invention relates to a method for verifying the intended recipient of an electronic message prior to the delivery of the message by automatically exchanging electronic information between sending and receiving systems and for facilitating the dynamic generation of electronic message content by allowing the sending system to receive information related to the intended recipient during the authentication process in order to vary message content in consideration of the information received.
Spam is unsolicited email that is typically transmitted to an extremely large number of email recipients. Spam is the electronic equivalent to “junk mail” received by traditional mail service. Generally, a Spam email is a commercial advertisement attempting to sell a product or service. Spam typically directs the recipient to take some action in order to purchase the product or service being advertised. This may be in the form of offering a phone number or a hyperlink in the text of the spam message which, when utilized by the recipient will place the recipient in contact with the seller of the goods or services. Spam is often, although not exclusively, utilized by entities marketing products or services outside the norm of traditional retailers and service providers. Some Spam messages contain information or graphics unsuitable for all email users, particularly those who are children. However, Spam offers tremendous marketing benefits as it allows a retailer, marketer, or other sender to reach an incredibly large audience with a minimal economic expenditure.
Spoofing also facilitates another undesirable practice in electronic messaging: “phishing.” Phishing is an attempt to obtain information from an email recipient by falsely representing to be a person or entity entitled to receive such information or by falsely claiming a need for such information. For example, a phisher may send an email which is spoofed with a false origination address which appears to be a legitimate email address for a financial institution, e.g. “customerservice@chase.com.” The text of the email may request that the recipient respond by providing his or her account number, social security number, address or other sensitive information which may thereafter be used illicitly by the phisher. Alternatively, the email might direct the recipient to a web site at which the recipient is requested to provide sensitive information. Accomplished phishers frequently employ brand names and marks similar to the entity whose email address is spoofed so that it is difficult for even sophisticated recipients to recognize a phishing attempt. Phishing has become so prevalent and well-known, and the consequences of phishing are so severe, that customers who receive legitimate email messages are often reluctant to respond to these because they fear that the email may be a phishing attempt.
The present invention provides a method for verifying the recipient of an electronic message before it is delivered by having a Sending System withhold delivery of the complete message and first forward only identifying information for the message and the intended recipient's electronic address, that is, a message “beacon,” to a Receiving System with a request for a verification reply. The message beacon may optionally include message header data or a unique message identifier. If the verification reply affirms that the Receiving System services the intended recipient the Sending System sends the complete electronic message to the recipient. If the verification reply is in the negative or no reply is received, alternative processing may occur.
Similarly, the present invention provides a method for sending message content which is varied depending on data related to the intended recipient which is communicated to the Sending System by the Receiving System during the verification process. More specifically, a Receiving System in the communication network maintains a data record, that is, a “message cookie” related to each intended recipient which it services. A Sending System prepares and sends a message beacon to the Receiving System. When the Receiving System verifies that the intended recipient is a user which it services, it responds to the Sending System by forwarding a verification reply containing the message beacon and the message cookie related to the intended recipient. Upon receipt of the message cookie for the intended recipient, the Sending System prepares an electronic message for the recipient. The contents of the message may be varied based on the data in the message cookie for the intended recipient.
According to the invention, when a Sending System receives an electronic message from a user for delivery to an intended recipient, the Sending Module prepares a Message Beacon. The Message Beacon includes data uniquely identifying the electronic message but does not include message body content. Preferentially, the Message Beacon comprises the header information extracted from message including the electronic addresses of the intended recipients, the time and date of message origination, and the electronic address of the sender. Optionally, the Message Beacon may contain additional data related to the electronic message such as a unique Message Identifier. For example, in the case of an email message, the unique Identifier contained in an email headers “Message-ID:” field as recommended by RFC 2822, “Internet Message Format” may be included.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a Receiving System stores and maintains a data record, that is an “Electronic Message Cookie” pertaining to each user for which the Receiving System receives and delivers electronic messages. When a Sending Module initiates a verification request by sending a Message Beacon to the Receiving System, the Receiving Module, upon verification of the intended recipient, replies to Sending System by sending the Message Beacon and the Electronic Message Cookie for the intended recipient. Upon receipt of the reply, the Sending System communicates the Message Beacon and the Cookie to the Sending Module. The Sending Module may, in consideration of the data contained in the Cookie, determine not to forward the electronic message, may forward the message or may alter the contents of the message body and then forward the altered message.
It will be appreciated that the Electronic Message Cookie may contain a variety of data about the intended recipient, including for example, whether the intended recipient is willing to receive electronic messages in regard to certain goods or services, the characteristics of offers for goods and services which the intended recipient will receive, whether the intended recipient has received similar electronic messages from other senders and the nature of such communications. It will also be appreciated that the data may be accumulated and stored automatically by the Receiving System, or it may be entered by the intended recipient or it may be a combination of both. For example, the Electronic Message Cookie may store data indicating that the intended recipient does not desire electronic messages offering real estate mortgages, but is receptive to receiving credit card offers. It may include data indicating that the number of electronic messages with “credit card” in the text that the intended recipient has received in a specified time period and may include data reflecting the electronic address from which such messages originated.
The present invention provides a method for predelivery verification of the intended recipient of an electronic message at a specified electronic address by sending an Electronic Message Beacon comprising data uniquely identifying the message but not including the message content to the address with a request for verification and, thereafter, sending the complete message only after the sender receives a reply verifying the intended recipient at the specified address. The present invention also provides a method for varying message content in consideration of data related to the intended recipient which is received in the course of the predelivery verification process. The description provided here is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and practice the invention. However, various modifications to the preferred embodiments which are described will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Additionally, although the present invention is described in relation to the processing of email messages, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system and method described may also be applied to other forms of electronic communication including, for example, text messaging by cellular telephones or voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messaging.
Prior to transmission, the message is communicated to the Sending Module (12). The Sending Module (12) generates a Message Beacon comprising data uniquely identifying the email the sender desires to transmit and stores the message in an email message database (11). Preferably, the Message Beacon includes data contained in the header of the email including the sender's address, the recipient's address and the date and time when the email was prepared. Optionally, a unique Message Identifier, that is a unique data element, such as a unique alphanumeric identifier, may be generated by the Sending Module (12) and included in the Message Beacon. For example, the unique identifier included at the header “Message-ID:” as recommended by RFC 2822 may be used as a Message Identifier. Optionally, other uniquely identifying data strings, such as a checksum for the message text, may be prepared and included in the Message Beacon.
The Sending Email System (50) receives an email message (105) prepared by user with the email address sender@qrs.com to be transmitted to a recipient with the email address recipient@xyz.com. Consistent with RFC 2822, “Internet Message Format”, the sender's email address and the recipient's email address appear in the header portion of the email message at the header fields “From:” and “To” respectively. Additionally and also consistent with RFC 2822, the date and time which the message was prepared is inserted at the header “Date:”
The invention may be used, in varying capacities, by both corporate and private entitles for the predelivery verification of the intended recipients of electronic messages and for dynamic generation of message content in response to data provided during verification. Users may implement the invention, and potentially incorporate one or more of its features, into their existing information technology infrastructure. By virtue of the invention's use, electronic mail operation would become more efficient and reliable, spam and phishing may be reduced or eliminated, and electronic mail communications between parties would be more secure.
1. A method for predelivery verification of the intended recipient of each electronic message from a plurality of electronic messages in a network comprising at least one sending device sending the electronic messages, said sending device comprising an electronic message database, said network further comprising at least one receiving device disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages, said receiving device comprising a recipient database of recipients for which said receiving device is disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages, said recipient database comprising electronic addresses of the recipients, the method comprising:
preparing, by said sending device, a message beacon, said message beacon comprising data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said electronic message intended for an intended recipient and further comprising the electronic address of said intended recipient;
storing, by said sending device, said electronic message intended for said intended recipient as a record in said electronic message database;
transmitting, by said sending device, said message beacon to said receiving device;
comparing, by said receiving device, the electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon with the electronic addresses in said recipient database;
preparing, by said receiving device, a verification reply wherein said verification reply comprises an electronic message cookie and said message beacon when said receiving device finds a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon;
transmitting, by said receiving device, said verification reply to said sending device;
locating within said electronic message database, by said sending device, said record containing said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply;
analyzing data in the electronic message cookie; and
forwarding, by said sending device, based at least on the analyzing of the data in the electronic message cookie, said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply to said intended recipient in said message beacon.
preparing, by said receiving device, a verification denial denying the verification of said intended recipient when said receiving devices fails to find a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon; and
transmitting said verification denial to said sending device by said receiving device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient of said electronic message and wherein the method further comprises:
relating to said record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.
appending to said verification reply prepared by said receiving device a specified data string for said intended recipient; and
verifying by said sending device, that said verification reply contains said specified data string.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the data related to said record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said message beacon comprises at least one of header information extracted from said electronic message, a time and date of origination of said electronic message, an electronic address of a sender, and a unique message identifier including at least one of a checksum of text in said electronic message and data prepared according to an algorithm applied to at least a portion of said electronic message.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending device comprises at least one of a single computer running an email application, an email server transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a plurality of email servers transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a relay email system, a verification email system, and a centralized sending module.
12. A method for predelivery verification of the intended recipient of each electronic message from a plurality of electronic messages and dynamic generation of the electronic messages in a network comprising at least one sending device sending electronic messages, said sending device comprising an electronic message database, said network further comprising at least one receiving device disposed to receive and deliver the electronic messages to at least one intended recipient, said receiving device comprising a recipient database, said recipient database comprising at least one recipient data record, each said recipient data record comprising an electronic address for the at least one intended recipient and at least one data element related to said electronic address, the method comprising:
preparing, by said sending device, a message beacon, said message beacon comprising data uniquely identifying said electronic message intended for said intended recipient and further comprising the electronic address of said intended recipient;
storing, by said sending device, said electronic message intended for said intended recipient as an electronic message record in said electronic message database;
comparing, by said receiving device, the electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon with the electronic addresses in said recipient data records in said recipient database;
preparing, by said receiving device, a verification reply wherein said verification reply comprises an electronic message cookie and said message beacon when said receiving device finds a recipient data record in said recipient database containing a recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon;
appending to said verification reply said recipient data record containing said recipient electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient;
transmitting, by said receiving device, said verification reply with said recipient data record to said sending device;
receiving, by said sending device, said verification reply with said recipient data record;
locating within said electronic message database, by said sending device, said electronic message record containing said electronic message uniquely identified by said message beacon in said verification reply;
altering said electronic message based upon a value of at least one data element in at least one of said recipient data record forwarded with said verification reply, said electronic message cookie, or automatically accumulated and stored data; and
forwarding, by said sending device, said altered electronic message identified by said first message beacon in said verification reply to said intended recipient in said message beacon.
preparing, by said receiving device, a verification denial denying the verification of said intended recipient when said receiving device fails to find a recipient data record with an electronic address matching said electronic address for said intended recipient in said message beacon; and
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:
relating to said electronic message record in said electronic message database data related to said verification of said intended recipient.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time a verification reply was received from said receiving device.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which a verification reply was received.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein by pre-arrangement between said sending device and said intended recipient, the verification reply for said intended recipient contains a specified data string and wherein the method further comprises:
appending to said verification reply prepared by said receiving device said specified data string for said intended recipient; and
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said electronic message database further comprises data related to the verification of said intended recipient and wherein the method further comprises:
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises the date and time said verification reply was received from said receiving device.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the data related to said electronic message record in said electronic message database related to said verification of said intended recipient comprises data identifying the receiving device from which said verification reply was received.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein said data uniquely identifying, but excluding, said message beacon comprises at least one of header information extracted from said electronic message, a time and date of origination of said electronic message, an electronic address of a sender, and a unique message identifier including at least one of a checksum of text in said electronic message and data prepared according to an algorithm applied to at least a portion of said electronic message.
22. The method of claim 12, wherein the sending device comprises at least one of a single computer running an email application, an email server transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a plurality of email servers transmitting emails from a plurality of users and serving one or more domain names, a relay email system, a verification email system, and a centralized sending module.
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US77310406 true 2006-02-14 2006-02-14
US12279157 US9444647B2 (en) 2006-02-14 2007-02-13 Method for predelivery verification of an intended recipient of an electronic message and dynamic generation of message content upon verification
PCT/US2007/003654 WO2007095159A3 (en) 2006-02-14 2007-02-13 Predelivery verification of an intended recipient and dynamic generation of message content upon verif
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US9444647B2 true US9444647B2 (en) 2016-09-13
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US20090177673A1 (en) 2009-07-09 application
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Owner name: MESSAGE LEVEL, LLC,MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CUNNINGHAM, BRIAN D.;REEL/FRAME:024540/0043
Owner name: MCINNIS, WILLIAM LEE, JR., VIRGINIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MESSAGE LEVEL LLC;REEL/FRAME:044729/0886