System and method for rule-based processing of electronic mail messages

A method for recipient targeting of electronic mail, said method comprising:

• (a) receiving aggregate recipient preference data reflecting each of a plurality of recipients' preferences relating to mail messages having certain characteristics;
• (b) identifying a mail type specifier of an electronic mail message intended for delivery to a recipient;
• (c) referencing said aggregate recipient preference data to identify preference data specific to said recipient;
• (d) processing said electronic mail message in accordance with said preference data specific to said recipient.

A method for rule-based processing of electronic mail messages, said method comprising:

• (a) identifying a rule associated with an electronic mail message intended for delivery to a recipient, said rule specifying logic for processing said electronic mail message;
• (b) receiving said electronic mail message;
• and
• (c) processing said electronic mail message as a function of said rule.

A method for rule-based processing of web browser requests, said method comprising:

• (a) identifying a rule associated with web browser requests, said rule specifying logic for processing said web browser requests;
• (b) identifying a web browser request;
• and
• (c) processing said web browser request as a function of said rule.

An electronic mail system for negotiation an electronic mail transaction, said electronic mail system comprising:

• a trusted authority computer comprising:
• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for identifying a mail type specifier associated with an electronic mail message intended for delivery to a recipient;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for referencing a data store associated with said recipient, said data store storing data specific to said recipient;
• and
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for processing said electronic mail message as a function of said mail type specifier and data retrieved from said data store.

A method for distributing electronic mail comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing acceptance criteria for delivery of electronic mail to a recipient's electronic mailbox;
• (b) identifying delivery criteria for delivering electronic mail sent by a sender;
• (c) receiving an electronic mail message sent by said sender and intended for possible delivery to said user;
• (d) comparing said acceptance criteria to said delivery criteria;
• and
• (e) processing said message to deliver said message to said mailbox only if said acceptance criteria is compatible with said delivery criteria.