Tracking message senders with a token issuance log

Abstract

A communication system uses tokens in order to control communication received by the system. Tokens are generated as sets arbitrary symbols, and system operators can issue tokens to third parties by various means, including but not limited to publishing the token in a directory, printing the token on a business card, or entering the token on a website form. In each instance the token may be issued by including the token within and a system address, such as an email address or phone number. Generated tokens are stored in a token log, associated with an indication of one or more entities to whom a system operator chooses to issue the tokens, such as a directory, a business card, or a website form. When the system receives a message that contains a specific token, the token log can be consulted so that an operator provided with the associated indication.

1 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A method in a communication system operating in conjunction with a communication device, comprising:
 providing for the creation of a token as an arbitrary set of one or more symbols;   receiving from a system operator an indication of one or more entities to which the system operator chooses to issue the token;   associating the token with the received indication in a token log;   detecting an incoming communication that contains the token previously stored in the token log;   locating the token within the incoming communication;   looking up the token in the token log;   retrieving the indication associated with the token in the token log; and   presenting a system operator with a signal representing the retrieved indication.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the creation of the token is accomplished by a system operator entering the token into the communication device. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more entities to which the system operator chooses to issue the token is one of a directory, a business card, and a website. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the token log is a data structure stored within the communication system. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the token log is a data structure accessible by the communication system. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein locating the token within the incoming communication comprises extracting the token from an address used by a communication sender to direct the communication to an intended recipient. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the incoming communication is one of an email message, a text message, a voice message, and a video message. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the signal representing the retrieved indication comprises text representing the retrieved indication. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the signal representing the retrieved indication comprises a graphic symbol representing the retrieved indication. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising:
 attaching a flag to the incoming communication indicating that the incoming communication is a newly received incoming communication, which flag allows a system operator to identify newly received incoming communications; and 
 allowing the system operator to clear the flag. 
 
     
     
         58 . A communication system operating in conjunction with a communication device, comprising:
 a token creation module, wherein tokens are created by a system operator as an arbitrary set of one or more symbols;   a user interface that allows a system operator to enter an indication of one or more entities to which the system operator chooses to issue the token;   a data storage module for associating the token with the entered indication in a token log;   a communication module for receiving incoming communication that contains the token previously stored in the token log;   a token extraction module for locating the token within the received incoming communication;   a data retrieval module for looking up the token in the token log and retrieving the indication associated with the token in the token log; and   a user interface for presenting a system operator with a signal representing the indication.   
     
     
         59 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including program code for causing a computing device to perform a method, comprising:
 providing for the creation of a token as an arbitrary set of one or more symbols;   receiving from a system operator an indication of one or more entities to which the system operator chooses to issue the token;   associating the token with the received indication in a token log;   detecting an incoming communication that contains the token previously stored in the token log;   locating the token within the incoming communication;   looking up the token in the token log;   retrieving the indication associated with the token in the token log; and   presenting a system operator with a signal representing the retrieved indication for presenting a system operator with a signal representing the indication.   
     
     
         60 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the creation of the token is accomplished by a system operator entering the token into the communication device. 
     
     
         61 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the one or more entities to which the system operator chooses to issue the token is one of a directory, a business card, and a website. 
     
     
         62 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the token log is a data structure stored within the communication system. 
     
     
         63 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the token log is a data structure accessible by the communication system. 
     
     
         64 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein locating the token within the incoming communication comprises extracting the token from an address used by a communication sender to direct the communication to an intended recipient. 
     
     
         65 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the incoming communication is one of an email message, a text message, a voice message, and a video message. 
     
     
         66 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the signal representing the retrieved indication comprises text representing the retrieved indication. 
     
     
         67 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the signal representing the retrieved indication comprises a graphic symbol representing the retrieved indication.