I’ve spent the better part of my adult live engaged as an entrepreneur in what most people would consider very “hi-tech” pursuits. There is no question that I am extremely proud of the depth and breadth of what I’ve accomplished thus far, however, I am particularly proud of the technologies I’ve invented. The following are the patent applications I’ve written, each of which is currently working it’s way through the USPTO. 

GLOBAL EMAIL ADDRESS REPUTATION SYSTEM
(http://x.nd.io/gears-patent)
United States Patent Application 20100082758
Inventor: Golan, Tal (Irvine, CA, US)

Abstract

Systems and methods of filtering received messages to discard unsolicited messages using Silverlist filters and combinations of Silverlist filters and other types of filters are disclosed. In many embodiments, an appliance remote from a mail server is used to filter messages using at least a Silverlist filter prior to forwarding messages to the mail server. In a number of embodiments, a mail server applies a filtering process that includes a Silverlist filter and a challenge response filter. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of mail servers configured to maintain user mail accounts from which electronic mail messages can be exchanged via a network, a plurality of mail processing units connected to the network, where each mail processing unit acts as a gateway for at least one of the mail servers that filters incoming electronic mail messages, a global address reputation server connected to a global address reputation database and configured to communicate with the mail processing units via the network. In addition, at least one of the mail processing units is configured to track events associated with the filtering of electronic mail messages and forward tracked event information to the global address reputation server, the global address reputation server is configured to store event information received from the mail processing units in the global address reputation database, the global address reputation server is configured to develop sender reputation information concerning message senders from the event information stored in the global address reputation database, the global address reputation server is configured to provide sender reputation information concerning message senders to mail processing units, and at least one of the mail processing units that receives sender reputation information from the global address reputation server is configured to utilize the sender reputation information when filtering messages based upon the message sender.

ELECTRONIC MAIL PROCESSING UNIT INCLUDING SILVERLIST FILTERING
(http://x.nd.io/silverlist-patent)
United States Patent Application 20090307320
Inventor: Golan, Tal (Irvine, CA, US) & Cameron Brown

Abstract

Systems and methods of filtering received messages to discard unsolicited messages using silverlist filters and combinations of silverlist filters and other types of filters are disclosed. In many embodiments, an appliance remote from a mail server is used to filter messages using at least a silverlist filter prior to forwarding messages to the mail server. In a number of embodiments, a mail server applies a filtering process that includes a silverlist filter and a challenge response filter. One embodiment of the method of the invention includes receiving a message envelope sent from a sender IP address, where the message envelope includes a sender address and at least one recipient address, determining the reputation of the sender IP address, allowing the message when the sender has a reputable sender IP address, irrespective of the sender and recipient addresses, and performing a test when the sender IP address has unknown reputation. In addition, the test includes issuing a temporary failure to the sender, detecting as a retry a message envelope received within a predetermined time period, where the sender and recipient addresses of the original message envelope and the received message envelope correspond, and allowing the retry message.

ELECTRONIC MAIL PROCESSING SYSTEM
(http://x.nd.io/sav-patent)
United States Patent Application 20080104181
Inventor: Golan, Tal (Irvine, CA, US)

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing electronic messages are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a message processing system connected to a network and the message processing system includes a mail processing unit connected to the network and a mail server connected to the mail processing unit. In addition, the mail processing unit is configured to apply a challenge response process to messages addressed to the at least one user and the mail server is configured to transfer electronic messages from one user to another user. In other embodiments, processes for reformatting, storing, forwarding, and encrypting electronic messages are performed.