CAPABILITY-BASED COMMUNICATIONS
A capability-based communication mechanism is provided for controlling delivery of messages. A capability-based address is an address having one or more capability parameters associated therewith, where the one or more capability parameters associated with the capability-based address may be used to control delivery of messages to the capability-based address. A user or entity requests a capability-based address from a communication service provider. The communication service provider provides a capability-based address to the user or entity. The user or entity provides the capability-based address to one or more other users or entities. The delivery of messages to the user or entity with which the capability-based address is associated is controlled based on the one or more capability parameters associated with the capability-based address of the user or entity.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
process a message comprising a capability-based address, the capability-based address having associated therewith a capability parameter for use in controlling delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability parameter comprises a parameter for use in determining whether delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address is authorized.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the capability parameter comprises at least one of:
a parameter indicative of a threshold number of times the capability-based address may be used within a length of time;
a parameter indicative of a date or time at which the capability-based address expires;
a parameter indicative of a maximum permitted size of a message directed to the capability-based address;
a parameter indicative of at least one approved sender authorized to send a message directed to the capability-based address;
a parameter indicative of text to be included in a message directed to the capability-based address; or
a parameter indicative of a price for delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability parameter comprises a parameter for use in controlling a manner in which a message directed to the capability-based address is delivered.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the capability parameter comprises at least one of:
a parameter indicative of at least one temporal constraint for delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address; or
a parameter indicative of a format for delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a request to generate the capability-based address, the request to generate the capability-based address having associated therewith capability information for use in defining the capability parameter; and
generate the capability-based address based on the capability information associated with the request to generate the capability-based address.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive the message comprising the capability-based address; and
process the message comprising the capability-based address by extracting the capability-based address from the message and storing the capability-based address.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises an email message including the capability-based email address as a destination address, wherein the processor is configured to process the email message by determining, based on the capability parameter, whether delivery of the email message is authorized.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether delivery of the email message is authorized by:
determining capability parameter comparison information associated with the capability parameter; and
determining whether delivery of the email message is authorized based on a comparison of the capability parameter and the capability parameter comparison information associated with the capability parameter.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a determination that delivery of the email message is not authorized, prevent delivery of the email message.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a determination that delivery of the email message is not authorized, drop the email message.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a determination that delivery of the email message is authorized, initiate delivery of the email message. 20
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a determination that delivery of the email message is authorized:
determine an actual email address associated with the capability-based address; and
propagate the email message based on the actual email address.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises an email message including the capability-based email address as a destination address, wherein the processor is configured to process the email message by determining, based on the capability parameter, a manner in which the email message is to be delivered.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to:
initiate delivery of the email message based on the determined manner in which the email message is to be delivered.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability-based parameter is encoded within a portion of the capability-based address or maintained within a table entry associated with the capability-based address.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine the capability parameter based on at least a portion of the capability-based address.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the capability parameter based on at least a portion of the capability-based address by:
decoding a portion of the capability-based address to recover the capability parameter;
accessing a table storing the capability parameter using at least a portion of the capability-based address as a key into the table; or
parsing at least a portion of the capability-based address to identity the capability parameter.
19 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
processing a message comprising a capability-based address, the capability-based address having associated therewith a capability parameter for use in controlling delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address.
20 . A method, comprising:
using a processor for:
processing a message comprising a capability-based address, the capability-based address having associated therewith a capability parameter for use in controlling delivery of a message directed to the capability-based address.