Multi-Stage Email Processing with Upstream Mail Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing email processing systems face challenges in efficiently performing tasks like email authentication across various stages of email delivery, particularly in end-user systems which may lack resources or require frequent updates.
Innovation Solution
The multi-stage email processing system divides email processing tasks and performs them at different stages of the email delivery chain, using mail filters (milters) for upstream processing to reduce the workload on end-user systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If email processing tasks are performed at end-user systems, then email authentication can be performed, but the processing burden and resource requirements on end-user systems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The email processing system is divided into multiple stages: upstream processing at mail servers using mail filters (milters), intermediate processing during message transfer, and downstream processing at end-user systems. This segmentation allows authentication tasks to be distributed, reducing the processing burden on end-user systems while maintaining reliable email authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
Email authentication processing is performed in advance at upstream mail servers using mail filters before messages reach end-user systems. This preliminary action completes authentication tasks early in the delivery chain, eliminating the need for end-user systems to perform resource-intensive processing while ensuring authentication reliability.
2Reliability
If email processing tasks are performed at end-user systems, then email authentication can be performed, but frequent updates are required to maintain security and functionality
Solution Approach 1:
Mail servers act as intermediaries between sending and receiving systems, performing authentication processing using mail filters. This intermediary approach centralizes security logic at servers that can be updated independently of end-user systems, reducing the frequency of updates required at user endpoints while maintaining reliable authentication through centralized security management.
3Productivity
If upstream processing is performed using mail filters, then the workload on end-user systems is reduced, but the complexity of the email processing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Mail filters (milters) are designed as universal components that can be integrated with standard message transfer agents and work across different email platforms and protocols. This multi-functionality allows upstream processing to be implemented without requiring platform-specific customizations, reducing the perceived system complexity while achieving significant workload reduction on end-user systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing email processing at multiple stages along an email delivery chain. A first embodiment uses an email filter to receive information about an email message from a message transfer agent and then perform limited email pre-processing on the email message. The email filter then stores instructions and data such as the results from the email pre-processing into an internet email header added to the email message. The instructions and data placed into the email header may be encrypted for privacy and security. A later email program may extract the instructions and data from the internet email header and continue the email processing. One disclosed application of the multi-stage email processing system is email authentication.