1. The Preferences category and specific entry matched in the Preferences Set
2. The post-processing functionality and options supplied by the EPA licensee's implementation.
3. The format chosen for representation of the Preferences Set.
Each entry in a Preferences Category is unique within that category. Thus, classification of an e-mail as 'wanted' is the result of the successful match between field content and one unique entry in a Preferences Category. Classification of the mail as 'unwanted' results from failure to find a match between any entry in any Preferences Category and e-mail field content.
The mailbox owner may choose to define the associated Preferences Set using either the List or the Table Preferences Format to describe post-classification processing of 'wanted' and 'unwanted' mail.
When a 'wanted' mail is classified, the EPA Mail Clerk notes both the Category and the specific list/column row of the entry which is the basis for the classification. These identifiers are then used to select the post-classification operation that is to be initiated by the Mail Clerk. No such identifiers can be assigned to 'unwanted' mail.
If the LIST format is used, unique post-classification processing action for 'wanted' and 'unwanted' mail may be specified for each Category or for all 'wanted' e-mail.
# Tables' Processing Specifications
Using the TABLE format, the additional columns enable unique, optional processing actions to be associated with the each entry in Column 1 of each category that are independent of all other actions specified for all other entries. Moreover, the processing actions can differ depending on the (inbound or outbound) direction of e-mail movement.
Table Column 1 row entries are restricted by usage to text strings. All other column row content is defined by a licensee to support the licensee's extensions and enhancements of the basic EPA algorithms. Such row entries' content may be defined to consist of simple text and data information items, local process and 'plug-in' linkages, Web-hyperlinks or any other class of objects required, provided and supported by the licensee.
Such post-classification processing might include:
l Copying and forwarding to individuals or distribution lists with or without delivery to the addressee or author.
l Scheduling and queuing e-mail for subsequent external processors to accomplish natural language translation, content encryption and decryption, financial processing, records generation or other desired action.
An e-mail's 'unwanted' EPA classification results from failure to match any Preferences entry. There is no single specific e-mail content that results in the classification. Hence, 'unwanted' e-mail disposal must necessarily be general in nature. EPA currently defines the following disposal options:
'Burned' - accepted by the mail server and discarded without further processing.
'Rejected' - rejected by the mail server and returned to the sender.
'Forwarded' - to a specified remote or local mailbox.