System for handling electronic mail
AssigneeI.N.C. Corporation Pty Ltd
InventorsDennis Andrew Benjamin, Nicholas Alan Rodda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of conveying an email message by receiving an email message from its sender, the email message including an address field in which an account name portion of the address field is a descriptor of the intended recipient of the email message and which is different from a correct account name of the intended recipient, wherein the descriptor being a combination of one or more identifying elements associated with the intended recipient. The method further includes locating in a database of descriptors and email addresses the email address associated with the descriptor and forwarding the message to the email address yielded by the database.
Claims49
A method of conveying an email message including an address field containing a descriptor of an intended recipient of the email message, the descriptor being different from an email account name of the intended recipient, the method comprising:
- sending a database query to a database containing a plurality of identifying elements associated with the intended recipient and email addresses to search for the email address associated with the descriptor, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of the identifying elements;
- and
- transmitting said email message to said email address found during said search of the email addresses if a unique email address is located.
A method for handling undeliverable electronic mail, comprising:
- receiving an email message including an invalid destination address that includes a descriptor;
- sending a database query to a database, which includes a plurality of identifying elements associated with said invalid destination address, to search for records partially or completely matching parts of said invalid destination address, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of said plurality of identifying elements;
- and
- forwarding said email message to a valid unique email address retrieved from said database according to the result of said search for records.
A method for conveying an email message comprising:
- receiving an email address forwarded by a sender, said email message including an invalid destination address that includes a descriptor;
- sending a database query to a database, which includes a plurality of identifying elements associated with said invalid destination address, to search for records partially or completely matching parts of said invalid destination address, wherein said descriptor comprises at least one of said plurality of identifying elements;
- and
- sending a notification message to the sender of the results of said database search.
A method of conveying an email message comprising:
- receiving an email message from its sender, said email message including an address field containing a descriptor of the intended recipient of said email message and which is different from an email account name of said intended recipient, the descriptor being selected from a plurality of identifying elements associated with the intended recipient;
- sending a database query to a database, which contains a plurality of identifying elements for a plurality of recipients and email addresses to locate a unique email address associated with said descriptor;
- and
- forwarding the message to the email address yielded by the database.
A method of determining an email address comprising:
- maintaining a database where email address are linked with a plurality of identifying elements relevant for a person at each email address so that a user can provide one or more of the identifying elements;
- wherein upon recognition by a server that information in an address field of the email address is insufficient or not in the correct form of delivery, a search is conducted of the database to determine a relevant email address, the plurality of identifying elements including at least one of a given name, surname, address, name of business, and/or telephone number of said person.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.