Method and system for selective email acceptance via encoded email identifiers

摘要

A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for providing a user with the ability to limit the receipt of unwanted email messages. An encoded email identifier is generated by combining the user's local mailbox identifier along with encoded email acceptance parameter values that represent email acceptance criteria. The encoded email identifier is then used as the local-part portion of an email address in place of the user's local mailbox identifier. After receiving an incoming email message in which the encoded email identifier is a portion of the destination address of the incoming email message, an email server delivers the email message in accordance with the local mailbox identifier that is embedded in the encoded email identifier in response to a determination that one or more characteristics of the email message satisfy one or more email acceptance criteria that are encoded within the encoded email identifier.