# US 8,751,583 B2 · System and method for providing business continuity through secure e-mail

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- Number: US 8,751,583 B2
- Document ID: US8751583B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/703,506
- Filed: 2007-02-07
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07
- Assignees: AcXess Inc.
- Applicants: Helge Solberg; Thomas John Elowson; Raymond Francis Leitz; Russell Scott Naples
- Inventors: Helge Solberg; Thomas John Elowson; Raymond Francis Leitz; Russell Scott Naples
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751583B2

## 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 computer implemented method of ensuring delivery of electronic messages during periods of business disruption from unexpected disasters, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving electronic messages from a plurality of sources; and
processing each of the received messages for delivery to intended addressees, wherein the processing comprises:
validating a domain of a sender of a received message by comparing the domain with a pre-stored list of domains;
verifying an address of an intended addressee; and
determining at least one of the validation and verification is not satisfied and storing the received message in a message queue for further processing, wherein said further processing comprises:
monitoring updates to the pre-stored domain list;
subjecting the sender domain of a message in the queue to a further validation process at a pre-determined frequency by comparing the sender domain with the updated domain list if an age of the message does not exceed a specified time threshold; and
discarding the message from the message queue if the age of the message exceeds the specified time threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
delivering the message to the intended recipient if both the validation and the verification are satisfied.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said verification of the address of the intended addressee further comprises:
determining whether the intended addressee of the received message is authorized to receives messages during business disruption by comparing an address of the intended addressee with a pre-stored list of addresses.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
verifying the address of the intended addressee; and
if the address is verified, delivering the message to the intended addressee;
if the address is not verified:
determining an age of the received message;
returning the message to the message queue if the age of the received message does not exceed the specified time threshold; and
discarding the message if the age of the received message exceeds the specified time threshold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein discarding of the message comprises storing the message in an old mail folder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sources comprise SMTP servers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the SMTP servers are accessible over a public network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the public network is the internet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sources comprise trusted sources.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein said trusted sources are accessible via a private network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said trusted sources are accessible via a secure connection.

### Claim 12

A computer implemented method of ensuring delivery of electronic messages during periods of business disruption from unexpected disasters, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving electronic messages from a plurality of sources; and
processing each of the received messages for delivery to intended addressees, wherein the processing comprises:
validating a domain of a sender of a received message by comparing the domain with a pre-stored list of domains;
if the validation is not satisfied, storing the received message in a message queue for further processing;
if the validation is satisfied, verifying an address of an intended addressee of the received message by determining whether the intended addressee is authorized to receive messages during a period of business disruption;
if the address is not verified, storing the received message in the message queue for further processing;
if the address is verified, delivering the message to the intended recipient;
wherein said further processing comprises:
determining whether the age of a message in the queue exceeds a specified time threshold;
if the age exceeds the specified time threshold, discarding the message from the message queue;
if the age does not exceed the specified time threshold:
subjecting the sender domain of a message in the queue to a further validation process at a pre-determined frequency by comparing the sender domain with an updated domain list;
subjecting the address of the intended addressee of the message in the queue to a further verification process upon satisfaction of the further validation process; and
delivering the message to the intended recipient upon satisfaction of the further verification process.