Importance

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Abstract

A mail delivery system and method for delivery of mail to addressees are disclosed. The system is particularly suitable for implementation in the context of an email or similar electronic messaging system, and is particularly useful for managing and/or discouraging unsolicited junk mail. The system comprises a plurality of unique delivery addresses, each for a corresponding addressee, and a plurality of delivery codes. The delivery codes are generally defined or otherwise controlled by the addressees, with each addressee controlling a specific subset of the delivery codes. Any given delivery code does not comprise a unique delivery address or any essential portion thereof, and instead comprises distinct, essentially arbitrary addressee-controlled information. The method comprises addressing a selected piece of the mail with a selected delivery address, and associating a selected delivery code with the selected delivery address of the piece of mail. The selected delivery code may be (and from the mail sender's viewpoint, preferably is) one defined by the addressee of the particular piece of mail. The method further comprises delivering the piece of mail to the addressee if the delivery address is associated with a valid delivery code defined by the addressee, and dispatching the piece of mail as directed by the addressee, if it does not have a valid, addressee-defined delivery code. For example, mail lacking a valid delivery code may be deleted or destroyed without delivering to the addressee. The system further comprises means for performing steps of the method, such as an application operable in a computer memory.

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First Claim