Method and apparatus for implementing a micropayment system to control e-mail spam

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

APP PUB NO 20050182735A1
SERIAL NO

10778956

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A micropayments method and apparatus to control spam using a centralized server architecture. The central server receives requests from senders who want to send emails, and determines if the sender has a micropayments account with an adequate balance. If so, an encrypted stemp is sent back to the sender and the amount of micropayment is deducted from the account or transferred to the recipients account. The key and a serial number of the message is saved in the server. The recipient computer receives the email, sends the serial number to the server and requests the key. The key is looked up and sent back to the recipient. Many alternative embodiments are disclosed such as centralized stemp decryption, centralized white lists, decentralized key decryption, one key used all the time for a particular recipient, transfer of value to recipient only upon opening message, etc.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ICONIX INCC/O JOSE PICAZO JR 741 KALTHOFF COMMON LIVERMORE CA 94550-6489

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Ames, William San Jose, CA 14 785
Duvvoori, Vikram Salinas, CA 21 1103
Picazo, Jose Jesus JR Los Gatos, CA 8 626
Vempaty, Nageshwara Rao Palo Alto, CA 16 691
Zager, Robert Philip Saratoga, CA 17 965

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