Patent ID: 7970836

Claim:
A method of receiving an electronic message from a sender, comprising: receiving the electronic message over a text-based communication channel in a network, the electronic message having a unique identifier for the source embedded therein; removing the unique identifier from the electronic message; passing the electronic message to a client for presentation of the electronic message to an intended recipient; sending the unique identifier, removed from the electronic message, to a host on the network for storage in a log for the intended recipient of the electronic message; and obtaining registration information associated with the sender from the host in response to a request for the registration information from a first custodian associated with the intended recipient, the registration information being selected by the host based on the unique identifier in the log, wherein the registration information includes information for contacting a second custodian associated with the sender such that the first custodian is enabled to communicate with the second custodian without compromising the identity of the sender or the intended recipient, wherein the first custodian has custodial control over the intended recipient, and wherein the second custodian has custodial control over the sender.