Mail Server Bulk Email Regulation via Threshold Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for regulating bulk and unsolicited e-mails are either too complex or inadvertently block legitimate emails, especially in large organizations or for business communications, due to their reliance on predetermined thresholds for determining unsolicited emails.
Innovation Solution
A mail server system that counts emails from specific source clients over set time periods, stores client identifiers, and prevents sending emails if the count exceeds a threshold, allowing users to pre-register their preferences for receiving or blocking bulk emails without complicating the process for either senders or recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a predetermined threshold is used to determine whether e-mail is unsolicited, then bulk and unsolicited mails can be regulated, but genuine e-mails may be prevented from being received by the intended recipient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having destination mail clients pre-store their client identifiers in the mail server's client information storing means before receiving emails. This advance registration allows the mail server to identify and protect legitimate recipients from bulk emails while ensuring genuine emails are delivered, as the pre-stored identifiers enable selective filtering based on the sender's client identifier.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the number of e-mails sent from an identical source address is counted and compared to a threshold, then unsolicited mails can be identified, but the determination process becomes complicated and time-consuming for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically counting the number of emails sent from each source mail client and comparing it against the threshold without requiring user intervention. The mail server autonomously determines whether a sender has exceeded the threshold and blocks their emails accordingly, eliminating the need for users to manually track or analyze email volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the mail server continuously monitors email counts from source clients and adjusts its behavior based on whether the threshold is exceeded. This automatic feedback loop enables the system to dynamically regulate email distribution without complex user involvement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a threshold is exceeded and determination is made about whether the addressee wishes to receive mails, then bulk mails can be filtered, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having destination mail clients pre-register their client identifiers in the mail server before needing to receive emails. This advance preparation allows the mail server to quickly determine whether a recipient wishes to receive emails from a particular sender by simply checking if the sender's client identifier exists in the pre-stored information, eliminating time-consuming determination processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a technique for regulating the distribution of bulk and unsolicited e-mails without hampering convenience for both source and destination mail clients as much as possible. According to this technique, if the number of e-mails sent from either of mobile phones 10a to 10c exceeds a predetermined threshold, only e-mails which are addressed to specific mail addresses pre-stored in mail server 30 are disposed of.