Resisting the spread of unwanted code and data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing an electronic file to create a substitute electronic file containing only allowable content data, the method comprising:
- receiving an electronic file containing content data encoded and arranged in accordance with a predetermined file type;
determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data;
determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type;
extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of the content data;
creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted allowable content data;
forwarding the substitute electronic file; and
forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has pre-approved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of electronic file,wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method or system of receiving an electronic file containing content data in a predetermined data format, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the electronic file, determining the data format, parsing the content data, to determine whether it conforms to the predetermined data format, and if the content data does conform to the predetermined data format, regenerating the parsed data to create a regenerated electronic file in the data format.
86 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for processing an electronic file to create a substitute electronic file containing only allowable content data, the method comprising:
-
receiving an electronic file containing content data encoded and arranged in accordance with a predetermined file type; determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data; determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type; extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of the content data; creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted allowable content data; forwarding the substitute electronic file; and forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has pre-approved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of electronic file, wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A device for processing an electronic file to create a substitute electronic file containing only allowable content data comprising:
-
a memory; and a computer processor in communication with the memory, the processor executes a program stored in said memory to perform the steps of; receiving an electronic file, said file containing content data in a pre-determined data file type; determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data; determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type; extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of the content data; creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted at least an allowable portion of the content data; forwarding the substitute electronic file; and forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has preapproved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of the electronic file, wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code.
-
-
16. A semiconductor device comprising:
-
a memory for storing computer instructions executable by a computer to perform the steps of; receiving an electronic file containing content data encoded and arranged in accordance with a predetermined file type; determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data; determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type; extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of the content data; creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted at least an allowable portion of the content data; forwarding the substitute electronic file; and forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has pre-approved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of the electronic file, wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A network card comprising:
-
a semiconductor device configured to store computer instructions executable by a computer to perform the steps of; receiving an electronic file containing content data encoded and arranged in accordance with a predetermined file type; determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data; determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type; extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of the content data; creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted at least an allowable portion of the content data; forwarding the substitute electronic file; and forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has pre-approved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of the electronic file, wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code.
-
-
19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program executable by a computer to perform the steps of:
-
receiving an electronic file containing content data encoded and arranged in accordance with a predetermined file type; determining a purported predetermined file type of the electronic file and an associated set of rules specifying allowable content data; determining at least an allowable portion of the content data that conforms with the associated set of rules corresponding to the determined purported predetermined file type; extracting, from the electronic file, the at least an allowable portion of content data; creating a substitute electronic file in the purported predetermined file type, said substitute electronic file containing the extracted at least an allowable portion of the content data; forwarding the substitute electronic file; and forwarding the electronic file if a portion, part or whole of the content data does not conform only when an intended recipient of the electronic file has pre-approved the purported predetermined file type when associated with the sender of the electronic file, wherein the electronic file is not scanned for unwanted code.
-
Specification