System and process for updating electronic messaging accounts
View Patent ↗The present invention provides various embodiments of a system and a process for updating e-mail and other forms of electronic messages via a change of address network. In one embodiment, the system includes a Sponsor Database (containing mailbox/address information utilized by a Sponsor to send information to a recipient) connected to a Network Server which receives updates of mailbox/address changes from recipients and, in certain embodiments, other Sponsors. In other embodiments, a Reconnection Manager facilitates the exchange of information between the Sponsors and the Network Server. Also, one embodiment of the process provides updated mailbox/address information to those Sponsors which a recipient has previously identified to the Network Server as being acceptable for receiving the update information. The invention also provides various embodiments by which a recipient may register change of address information with the Network Server and processes utilized by the Network Server to verify such registrations are valid.
1. A system for updating a database containing at least one address for a recipient of an electronic message to be sent from a Sponsor to the recipient, comprising:
at least one Sponsor database containing a listing of at least one address associated with a recipient;
a Network Server containing a listing of an old address and a new address for at least one recipient; and
a reconnection manager connected to the at least one Sponsor database and the Network Server;
whereupon receiving a request from the at least one Sponsor database for a new address for a recipient, the reconnection manager queries the Network Server for an identification of addresses which have changed since a last request by the reconnection manager to the network server;
based upon a result of the query to the Network Server, the reconnection manager matches those addresses that have changed with the address requested by the at least one Sponsor database and communicates such matches to the Network Server;
whereupon receipt of those matches, the Network Server communicates to the reconnection manager an updated list for those recipients permitting the Network Server to update the at least one Sponsor Database; and
whereupon receipt of a record containing an updated address, the reconnection manager updates the at least one Sponsor database with the new addresses for each recipient permitting the Network Server to provide a new address.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the Network Server may be accessed from more than one online site by a recipient desiring to update at least one address associated with the recipient.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one web site provided by a Sponsor via which a recipient registers an old address and a new address with the Network Server.
4. A process that utilizes a clearing house to update a listing of addresses utilized by a Sponsor to send a first electronic message to at least one recipient, comprising:
receiving from a Sponsor a second electronic message containing at least one request for an updated address for a recipient associated with an old address;
receiving a listing of recipients with new addresses which have been updated from a clearing house;
matching the at least one request for an updated address against the listing of recipients with new addresses;
communicating to the clearing house those recipients identified by a result of the matching;
obtaining approvals from each recipient identified by the result of the matching to provide the new address to the Sponsor;
communicating each new address approved by each recipient to the Sponsor; and
updating a listing of recipient addresses for the Sponsor.
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the first electronic message further comprises one received via at least one mailbox selected from the group consisting of: an e-mail mailbox, a voice message mailbox, a pager mailbox, an instant message mailbox, a mobile telephone message mailbox, and a cable message mailbox.
6. A system for updating a database comprising at least one address for a recipient of an electronic message to be sent from a Sponsor to the recipient, comprising:
at least one Sponsor database comprising a listing of at least one address associated with a recipient;
a Network Server comprising a listing of an old address and a new address for at least one recipient; and
a reconnection manager in communication with the at least one Sponsor database and the Network Server,
whereupon receiving a request from the at least one Sponsor database for a new address for a recipient, the reconnection manager queries the Network Server for an identification of addresses which have changed since a last request by the reconnection manager to the network server,
wherein based upon receipt of a result of the query to the Network Server, the reconnection manager compares those addresses that have changed with the address associated with the recipient requested by the at least one Sponsor database and communicates a match to the Network Server,
whereupon receipt of the match, the Network Server communicates to the reconnection manager an updated address for the recipient if the recipient permits the Network Server to update the at least one Sponsor Database, and
whereupon receipt of a record comprising an updated address, the reconnection manager updates the at least one Sponsor database with the new address.