Economic solution to the spam problem

Abstract

An economic-based solution is provided for regulating electronic messages (commonly referred to as spam). Analogous to a standard bond mechanism, delivering email to an inbox requires an unknown sender to place a small pledge into escrow with a third party. If the recipient expects further communication with a particular sender, they can add the sender to a list of approved senders which will allow the sender's messages to be delivered to the recipient. An innovative method for managing this list of approved senders is described in the present application. A technique for soliciting electronic messages using the underlying principles of the bond mechanism is also sent forth in the application.

1 . A method for managing a list of approved senders in an electronic message system, comprising: 
 maintaining a list of approved senders associated with a recipient;    receiving an electronic message intended for the recipient wherein the electronic message references a sender residing on the list of approved senders and at least one potential sender whom is not on the list of approved senders; and    placing the potential sender on the list of approved senders associated with the recipient.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic message was sent by the sender on the list of approved senders.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the potential sender is copied on the electronic message received by the recipient.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the potential sender is identified in a body of the electronic message.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic message was sent by the potential sender and the sender on the list of approved senders is either copied of the electronic message or identified in the body of the electronic message.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises removing the potential sender from the list of approved senders after a predefined period of time.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprises extending the predefined period of time upon further interaction between the recipient and the potential sender.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the further interaction is further defined as at least one of an electronic message received by the recipient from the potential sender and an electronic message sent by the recipient to the potential sender.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises removing the potential sender from the list of approved senders after a period of time, where the period of time is determined as a function of an amount of interaction between the recipient and the potential sender.  
   
   
       10 . A method for regulating delivery of electronic messages to a recipient in a electronic messaging system, comprising: 
 maintaining a list of approved senders associated with a recipient;    demanding a bond to be placed into escrow for delivery of an electronic message sent by a sender not on the list of approved sender;    receiving an electronic message intended for the recipient and sent by a sender residing on the list of approved senders, where the electronic message references a potential sender whom is not on the list of approved senders; and    placing the potential sender on the list of approved senders associated with the recipient.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises delivering a subsequent electronic message sent by the potential sender to the recipient.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises delivering a different electronic message to the recipient when the sender of the different electronic message is on the list of approved senders.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises delivering a different electronic message to the recipient when the sender pays the demanded fee to an escrow agent.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises notifying an escrow agent of the receipt of an electronic message from a sender not on the list of approved senders, and delivering the electronic message to the recipient upon confirming payment of demanded bond to the escrow agent.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the potential sender is either copied on the electronic message received by the recipient or identified in a body of the electronic message.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises removing the potential sender from the list of approved senders after a predefined period of time.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprises extending the period of time upon further interaction between the recipient and the potential sender.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the further interaction is further defined as at least one of an electronic message received by the recipient from the potential sender and an electronic message sent by the recipient to the potential sender.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises removing the potential sender from the list of approved senders after a period of time, where the period of time is determined as a function of an amount of interaction between the recipient and the potential sender.  
   
   
       20 . A method for soliciting electronic messages by a solicitor over a computer network, comprising: 
 posting a request for electronic messages with an market operator, the message request specifies a topic of interest to the solicitor and includes a bond for payment to at least one respondent of an electronic message sent in response to the message request;    sending, in response to the message request, at least one electronic message from a respondent to the solicitor; and    releasing the bond from the market operator to the respondent subsequent to the receipt of the electronic message by the solicitor.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprises selecting one electronic message from a plurality of electronic messages received in response to the message request, and releasing the bond to the respondent of the selected electronic message.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one electronic message is selected by either the solicitor or the market operator.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of posting a message request further includes specifying a criterion by which the bond is to be released by the market operator.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20  further comprises assessing content of an electronic message in relation to the topic specified in the message request and releasing the bond to the respondent when the content of the electronic message correlates to the topic.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the bond is released by the market operator after a specified period of time or a specified number of electronic messages have been received by the solicitor in response to the message request.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of releasing the bond further comprises allocating the bond amongst a plurality of respondents whom sent electronic messages in response to the message request.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20  further comprises posting the request for electronic messages with the market operator and posting the bond with an escrow agent independent from the market operator.  
   
   
       28 . A method for brokering exchanges of electronic messages over a computer network through the use of an escrow agent, comprising: 
 receiving a request for electronic messages from an intended solicitor, the message request specifies a topic of interest to the solicitor and includes a bond for payment to at least one respondent of an electronic message sent in response to the message request;    monitoring receipt of at least one electronic message sent from a respondent to the solicitor in response to the message request; and    releasing the bond to the respondent subsequent to the receipt of the electronic message by the solicitor.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprises receiving a plurality of electronic messages in response to the message request and releasing the bond to the respondent of an electronic message selected by the solicitor.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the message request further includes specifying a criterion by which the bond is to be released.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprises assessing content of an electronic message in relation to the topic specified in the message request and releasing the bond to the respondent when the content of the electronic message correlates to the topic.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprises releasing the bond after either a specified period of time or a specified number of electronic messages have been received by the solicitor in response to the message request.