James Harlan Koenig

7415504, Aug 19, 2008

Feb 26, 2002

10/084038

Vincent J. Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James H. Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
David I. Brussin - Berwyn PA, US

Symantec Corporation - Cupertino CA

G06F 15/16

709207, 370392, 370400

A method for controlling distribution of network communications (messages). An incoming message either carries priority information, or is assigned priority information based on a shared characteristic with other messages. The priority information is used to determine how and/or when to deliver the message, e. g. by delaying the message for a fixed time. Preferences for receipt of messages by priority level may be communicated to upstream hosts along a network path. Accordingly, an intermediary host may reject and/or delay messages that the intended recipient does not wish to receive. This pushes the burden of low-priority messages back to the sender, thereby reducing or eliminating burdens on network/system resources of the recipient and/or intermediaries between the recipient and the sender. Accordingly, it can “squelch” spam messages at or close to their source. Trusted senders complying with prescribed practices may include priority information allowing for delivery of their messages with higher priority.

7543036, Jun 2, 2009

Sep 28, 2007

11/863578

Vincent J. Schiavone - Berwyn CA, US
James H. Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
David I. Brussin - Berwyn PA, US

Symantec Corporation - Cupertino CA

G06F 15/16

709207, 709227, 709228, 709229, 709249, 709204, 715733, 715759, 370260, 370265, 370393, 370431, 7042701

A method for controlling distribution of network communications (messages). An incoming message either carries priority information, or is assigned priority information based on a shared characteristic with other messages. The priority information is used to determine how and/or when to deliver the message, e. g. by delaying the message for a fixed time. Preferences for receipt of messages by priority level may be communication to upstream hosts along a network path. Accordingly, an intermediary host may reject and/or delay messages that the intended recipient does not wish to receive. This pushes the burden of low-priority messages back to the sender, thereby reducing or eliminating burdens on network/system resources of the recipient and/or intermediaries between the recipient and the sender. Accordingly, it can “squelch” spam messages at or close to their source. Trusted senders complying with prescribed practices may include priority information allowing for delivery of their messages with higher priority.

7571214, Aug 4, 2009

Sep 28, 2007

11/863567

Vincent J. Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James H. Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
David I. Brussin - Berwyn PA, US

Symantec Corporation - Cupertino CA

G06F 15/16

709207, 709219, 709224, 709227, 709203, 709232, 370230, 370231, 370232, 370233, 370237, 379309

A method for controlling distribution of network communications (messages). An incoming message either carries priority information, or is assigned priority information based on a shared characteristic with other messages. The priority information is used to determine how and/or when to deliver the message, e. g. by delaying the message for a fixed time. Preferences for receipt of messages by priority level may be communication to upstream hosts along a network path. Accordingly, an intermediary host may reject and/or delay messages that the intended recipient does not wish to receive. This pushes the burden of low-priority messages back to the sender, thereby reducing or eliminating burdens on network/system resources of the recipient and/or intermediaries between the recipient and the sender. Accordingly, it can “squelch” spam messages at or close to their source. Trusted senders complying with prescribed practices may include priority information allowing for delivery of their messages with higher priority.

7634545, Dec 15, 2009

Sep 28, 2007

11/863544

Vincent J. Schiavone - Berwyn CA, US
James H. Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
David I. Brussin - Berwyn PA, US

Symantec Corporation - Cupertino CA

G06F 15/16
G06F 15/173

709206, 709207, 709238, 709224, 709227, 709228, 709229, 709219, 370232, 370233, 370237, 370231, 379 39

A method for controlling distribution of network communications (messages). An incoming message either carries priority information, or is assigned priority information based on a shared characteristic with other messages. The priority information is used to determine how and/or when to deliver the message, e. g. by delaying the message for a fixed time. Preferences for receipt of messages by priority level may be communication to upstream hosts along a network path. Accordingly, an intermediary host may reject and/or delay messages that the intended recipient does not wish to receive. This pushes the burden of low-priority messages back to the sender, thereby reducing or eliminating burdens on network/system resources of the recipient and/or intermediaries between the recipient and the sender. Accordingly, it can “squelch” spam messages at or close to their source. Trusted senders complying with prescribed practices may include priority information allowing for delivery of their messages with higher priority.

20020120581, Aug 29, 2002

Feb 26, 2001

09/792912

Vincent Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US

G06F017/60

705/064000

A rule-based electronic mail transaction system and method for conducting predefined transactions via electronic mail messaging. An electronic mail message prescribes a reply action for confirming agreement to conduct the transaction. If the recipient performs the action, a rule for conducting the transaction is identified. The rule defines data required for the transaction. Required data is gathered from a recipient data store responsive to a confirming action on the part of the recipient. The required data is used to complete the transaction. Optionally, information may be retrieved from the sender's side to complete the transaction. Diverse transactions may be conducted in this manner, including sale and non-sale transactions, such as promotional and viral marketing, charitable donations, online bill payment, electoral voting, customer service communications, customer relationship management communications, product returns, and membership and enrollment transactions.

20020120600, Aug 29, 2002

Feb 26, 2001

09/793263

Vincent Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
Simson Garfinkel - Cambridge MA, US

G06F007/00

707/001000

A method for negotiating an electronic mail transaction. An electronic mail message's mail type specifier is identified. A data store stores data specific to the intended recipient. The data store is referenced and the electronic mail message is processed as a function of the mail type specifier and data retrieved from the data store. The mail may be processed at the recipient's mail client device and the information maintained confidential. The processing may be based upon reference to a rule applicable to that particular message. The rule includes a conditional instruction conditioned upon a result of a logic or other function of recipient profile data. Alternatively, the processing may provide for modification of the content of the message as a function of such recipient profile data. Recipient preferences from multiple recipients may be aggregated and propagated to senders and/or intermediaries to allow for pre-transmission processing of electronic mail messages.

20020120692, Aug 29, 2002

Feb 26, 2001

09/793233

Vincent Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US
Cedarampattu Mohan - Yardley PA, US

G06F015/16

709/206000

An electronic mail transaction system for rule-based processing of e-mail messages to conduct predefined transactions via an electronic mail messaging infrastructure. Rules are defined for conducting various transactions. Senders and/or receivers specify a rule selected from among a common set of accepted rules. Preferably, each rule provides for automated retrieval of at least some required data elements from a data store. The data store may be stored privately, which protects the privacy of users of the system. Senders and receivers can then conduct transactions according to the predefined rules, which standardizes and facilitates the transactions. Establishment, management and/or approval of rules by a trusted third party intermediary protects and engenders trust in users of the system and facilitates order and efficiency. The system permits users to conduct transactions without a continuous network connection, i.e., in “burst” mode or asynchronously, which conserves network resources, heightens convenience and reduces costs to users.

20020120702, Aug 29, 2002

Feb 26, 2001

09/792936

Vincent Schiavone - Berwyn PA, US
James Koenig - Philadelphia PA, US

G06F015/16

709/207000

A method for prioritization of a recipient's electronic mail messages. Messages are displayed in descending order of an associated priority bid. Messages include an initial priority bid and/or a maximum priority bid, e.g., a cash value. An incoming message's initial bid is compared to current bids of previous messages and the bid is increased if it is lower than any previous message's current bid so that it will appear first in descending sorted order, e.g. in the recipient's electronic mail inbox, and thus have priority. Prioritization may continue to permit a previous message to increase its bid until it has the highest priority bid among the messages or until the incoming message has a priority bid higher than the maximum bid of all previous messages or until the incoming mail message reaches its maximum bid. Messages may be displayed in categorized sections and prioritization performed on fewer than all sections.