# US 2008/0189372 A1 · System and method for providing business continuity through secure e-mail > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189372 A1 - Document ID: US20080189372A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/703,506 - Filed: 2007-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Assignees: AcXess Inc. - Inventors: Helge Solberg; Thomas John Elowson; Raymond Francis Leitz; Russell Scott Naples - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189372A1 ## CPC - H04L 63/0272: {Virtual private networks} - H04L 51/00: User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for processing electronic communications is described. The method includes receiving electronic communications from a plurality of sources and processing the communications for delivery to intended addressees. The processing includes ensuring validity of sender, verifying operation of exchange mailbox corresponding to said addressee and routing the communication along a particular path based on the validation and verification. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of ensuring delivery of electronic communications, said method comprising the steps of: receiving electronic communications from a plurality of sources; and processing said communications for delivery to intended addressees, wherein said processing comprises: ensuring validity of sender; verifying operation of exchange mailbox corresponding to said addressee, and routing the communication along a particular path based on said validation and verification. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic communications comprise electronic mail messages. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of sources comprise SMTP servers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the SMTP servers are accessible over a public network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the public network is the internet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of sources comprise trusted sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said trusted sources are accessible via a private network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said trusted sources are accessible via a secure connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said messages are routed via a message routing module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said message routing module validates an incoming message by comparing domain of said communication with a pre-designated collection of valid domains. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said message routing module rejects messages originating from an invalid domain. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said message routing module submits validated messages to an exchange mailbox if a server corresponding to the exchange mailbox is operational. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said message routing module submits validated messages to a message queuing module if a server corresponding to an exchange mailbox of addressee is not operational. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said messages are processed by a message screening module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the message screening module validates an incoming message by performing the further steps of: validating domain of the incoming messages; validating addressee by comparing address of the addressee with a pre-designated collection of addressees; and sending the message to a message queuing module if either of the validation steps above are not satisfied. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the message screening module sends the message to a message unwrapping module if the validation steps above are satisfied. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the pre-designated collection of addressees corresponds to at least one addressee permitted by an organization of a plurality of addresses to receive messages during an emergency. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the messages from the queuing module are processed by a message reviewing module, said processing comprising: reading a message in queue; and saving the message for later retrieval if a timestamp of said message is not older than a predetermined number of days. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said processing further comprises: discarding the message if a timestamp of said message is older than a predetermined number of days. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said message reviewing module sends a validated message to a message unwrapping module. ### Claim 21 A system for ensuring delivery of electronic communications to intended addresses, said system comprising: means for receiving electronic communications from a plurality of sources; means for ensuring validity of sender; means for verifying operation of exchange mailbox corresponding to said addressee; and means for routing the communication along a particular path based on said validation and verification. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of sources comprise SMTP servers over a network. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein said means for ensuring validity of the sender compares domain of said communication with a pre-designated collection of valid domains.