Rapid identification of message authentication

Abstract

Techniques are presented for uniquely identifying authentication associated with messages. A message is inspected for sender or domain identifying information associated with a sender of the message or a sender's domain. The identifying information is authenticated, and if authentication, then distinctive metadata is associated with the message. The distinctive metadata is presented or played in connection with the message for purposes of readily identifying the authentication.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 identifying a message directed to a recipient;    determining when the message includes identifying information associated with a sender of the message;    requesting an external service to authenticate an identity of the sender when the identifying information is present; and    providing, when the identity is authenticated by the external service, distinctive metadata with the message to uniquely identify the sender to the recipient before the recipient opens the message.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of: 
 presenting the distinctive metadata as a unique graphical icon in a summary listing for the message;    playing the distinctive metadata as an audible jingle when the message is inserted into a message queue of the recipient;    activating a device to emit a unique vibration associated with the distinctive metadata when the message is inserted into the message queue of the recipient; and    causing a distinctive odor to be emitted in response to the distinctive metadata when the message is inserted into the message queue of the recipient.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining further includes locating the identifying information according to rules associated with at least one of the sender, the recipient, and a domain associated with the message.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein providing further includes representing at least a portion the distinctive metadata as a graphic trademark associated with the sender or the domain of the sender.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising, presenting more detailed information associated with the metadata when the graphic trademark is brought into focus by the recipient, and wherein the more detailed information includes at least one of a type of authentication used by the external service, an external service identity, a date and a time when authentication was performed by the external service, a hypertext link to additional information, and custom information defined according to one or more rules.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining further includes inspecting a header of the message for at least one of a signature, a key and a serial number, which represents the identifying information.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, adding a generic graphical icon to the distinctive metadata when the message does not include the identifying information, and wherein the generic graphical icon is presented with the message to the recipient to permit the recipient to determine that no authentication took place with the message.  
   
   
       8 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving an electronic mail (email) message from a sender;    externally authenticating the sender;    associating distinctive metadata for the authenticated sender; and    presenting the distinctive metadata in connection with one or more views of the email message provided to a recipient of the email message.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein associating further includes acquiring the distinctive metadata according to one or more rules associated with at least one of the sender, the recipient, and a domain of the sender.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein associating further includes representing the distinctive metadata as at least one of a unique graphical icon, a unique audible sound, a unique vibration, and a unique odor.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein associating further includes representing the distinctive metadata as composite data structure including custom types of information, wherein each different custom type of information is presented to the recipient according to a state associated with the distinctive metadata.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein externally authenticating further includes selecting an authentication service to perform authentication in response to a rule or policy.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein associating further includes representing different portions of the distinctive metadata to identify at least one of an identity of the sender, an identity of an external authenticator, and an identity of a domain of the sender.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein presenting further includes presenting the distinctive metadata as a custom graphical icon associated with a domain of the sender within a summary view of the recipient's email inbox.  
   
   
       15 . A system, comprising: 
 a message authentication service; and    a distinctive metadata service, wherein the message authentication service is to identify emails having identifying information and to request authentication for senders of the emails, and wherein the message authentication service is to interact with the distinctive metadata service for authenticated senders to acquire and present custom and distinctive metadata for each authenticated sender in a message client associated with a recipient.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the distinctive metadata service is external to the message authentication service.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the message authentication service interacts with one or more external authentication services to perform authentication on the emails.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the message authentication service is to intercept emails sent to the message client and request the authentication of the senders before the emails are processed by the message client and before the emails are viewable by the recipient within the message client.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the distinctive metadata service is to provide generic metadata for any senders not authenticated, and wherein the message client is adapted to present the generic metadata with the appropriate emails associated with non authenticated senders.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the custom and distinct metadata includes at least one of a custom graphical icon, a unique vibration, a unique sound, and a unique odor.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the message authentication service is to request the authentication of the senders after the emails are presented and accessible to the recipient.  
   
   
       22 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving an electronic mail (email) message from a sender;    externally authenticating the sender;    associating distinctive metadata for the authenticated sender; and    using the distinctive metadata to separate or filter other email messages and the email message provided to a recipient into categories, folders, or buckets of information.