System and method for regulating electronic messages
A system for regulating e-mail comprises a database of information profiling legitimate e-mail usage. When an e-mail is received at the system, it is scrutinized relative to the information in the database. If the e-mail is found to be legitimate based upon this evaluation, it is delivered to the intended recipient. If, however, the e-mail appears on the basis of the evaluation to be the last in a series of illegitimate e-mails or otherwise has characteristics inconsistent with the profile of legitimate e-mail usage, the e-mail may not be delivered and the postmaster and administrator at the source of the e-mail is contacted.
1. A method for regulating electronic mail messages comprising:
maintaining, by a message server, a first profile comprising a first target statistics value associated with a first source;
receiving, by the message server, an electronic mail message from the first source;
incrementing, by the message server, an electronic mail statistics value based on receipt of the electronic mail message;
comparing, by the message server, the electronic mail statistics value to the first target statistics value to determine if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action, by the message server, with respect to the electronic mail message if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the message server, a second electronic mail message from a second source;
determining, by the message server, that the second source is unregistered;
incrementing, by the message server, a second electronic mail statistics value based on the second electronic mail message;
comparing the second electronic mail statistics value to a second target statistics value associated with unregistered sources to determine if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
registering, by the message server, the first source; and
creating, by the message server, the first profile associated with the first source.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first target statistics value specifies one of an acceptable volume of electronic mail messages that may be received, a size of an electronic mail message that may be received, a type of attachment that may be included in an electronic mail message, a number of recipients of an electronic mail message, and a number of hops that an electronic mail message received may have taken.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first target statistics value further specifies a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during normal processing hours and a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during off-peak hours.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating, by the message server, a set of statistics associated with the first source upon receiving additional electronic mail messages.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
delivering, by the message server, the electronic mail message to a recipient.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying, by the message server, a sender of the electronic mail message that the electronic mail statistic value exceeds the first target statistics value.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
maintaining a first profile comprising a first target statistics value associated with a first source;
receiving an electronic mail message from the first source;
incrementing an electronic mail statistics value based on receipt of the electronic mail message;
comparing the electronic mail statistics value to the first target statistics value to determine if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action with respect to the electronic mail message if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
receiving a second electronic mail message from a second source;
determining that the second source is unregistered;
incrementing a second electronic mail statistics value based on the second electronic mail message;
comparing the second electronic mail statistics value to a second target statistics value associated with unregistered sources to determine if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
registering the first source; and
creating the first profile associated with the first source.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first target statistics value specifies one of an acceptable volume of electronic mail messages that may be received, a size of an electronic mail message that may be received, a type of attachment that may be included in an electronic mail message, a number of recipients of an electronic mail message, and a number of hops that an electronic mail message received may have taken.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first target statistics value further specifies a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during normal processing hours and a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during off-peak hours.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
updating a set of statistics associated with the first source upon receiving additional electronic mail messages.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
delivering the electronic mail message to a recipient.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for regulating electronic mail messages, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
maintaining a first profile comprising a first target statistics value associated with a first source;
receiving an electronic mail message from the first source;
incrementing an electronic mail statistics value based on receipt of the electronic mail message;
comparing the electronic mail statistics value to the first target statistics value to determine if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action with respect to the electronic mail message if the electronic mail statistics value exceeds the first target statistics value.
17. The non-transitory computer readable computer of claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
receiving a second electronic mail message from a second source;
determining that the second source is unregistered;
incrementing a second electronic mail statistics value based on the second electronic mail message;
comparing the second electronic mail statistics value to a second target statistics value associated with unregistered sources to determine if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value; and
taking a remedial action if the second electronic mail statistics value exceeds the second target statistics value.
18. The non-transitory computer readable computer of claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
registering the first source; and
creating the first profile associated with the first source.
19. The non-transitory computer readable computer of claim 16 , wherein the first target statistics value specifies one of an acceptable volume of electronic mail messages that may be received, a size of an electronic mail message that may be received, a type of attachment that may be included in an electronic mail message, a number of recipients of an electronic mail message, and a number of hops that an electronic mail message received may have taken.
20. The non-transitory computer readable computer of claim 19 , wherein the first target statistics value further specifies a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during normal processing hours and a number of electronic mail messages that may be received during off-peak hours.