JUNK ELECTRONIC MAIL DETECTOR AND ELIMINATOR
First Claim
1. A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to process electronic mail messages, the computer program code mechanism comprising;
a first computer code device configured to receive an incoming electronic mail message;
a second computer code device configured to determine a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
a third computer code device configured to send a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
a fourth computer code device configured to receive a verification response to the verification request; and
a fifth computer code device configured to block delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the response indicates that the candidate machine does not exist.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for parsing and analyzing incoming electronic mail messages to determine a confidence factor indicative of whether or not the messages are junk e-mail. The method and system utilize message services which attempt to contact the purported sender in order to verify that the identified host computer actually exists and accepts outgoing mail services for the specified user. The routing history is also examined to ensure that identified intermediate sites are also valid. Likewise, seed addresses can alert an e-mail provider to potential mass mailings by reporting when mail is received for ghost or non-existent accounts.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to process electronic mail messages, the computer program code mechanism comprising;
a first computer code device configured to receive an incoming electronic mail message;
a second computer code device configured to determine a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
a third computer code device configured to send a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
a fourth computer code device configured to receive a verification response to the verification request; and
a fifth computer code device configured to block delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the response indicates that the candidate machine does not exist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to process electronic mail messages, the computer program code mechanism comprising;
a first computer code device configured to receive an incoming electronic mail message;
a second computer code device configured to parse out an intended addressee for the incoming electronic mail message;
a third computer code device configured to compare the intended addressee to a list of seed addresses which identify possible mass mailings; and
a fourth computer code device configured to block delivery of other electronic mail messages when a message body of the other electronic mail messages is similar to a message body of the incoming electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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12. A computer-implemented method of utilizing a computer memory to perform the steps of:
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receiving an incoming electronic mail message;
determining a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
sending a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
receiving a verification response to the verification request; and
blocking delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the verification response indicates that the candidate machine does not exist.
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20. A computer-implemented method of utilizing a computer memory to perform the steps of:
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receiving an incoming electronic mail message;
parsing out an intended addressee for the incoming electronic mail message;
comparing the intended addressee to a list of seed addresses which identify possible mass mailings; and
blocking delivery of other electronic mail messages when a message body of the other electronic mail messages is similar to a message body of the incoming electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to process electronic mail messages, the computer program code mechanism comprising;
a first computer code device configured to receive an incoming electronic mail message;
a second computer code device configured to determine a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
a third computer code device configured to send a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
a fourth computer code device configured to receive a verification response to the verification request; and
a fifth computer code device configured to block delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the response indicates that the candidate user id is invalid.
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24. A computer-implemented method of utilizing a computer memory to perform the steps of:
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receiving an incoming electronic mail message;
determining a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
sending a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
receiving a verification response to the verification request; and
blocking delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the verification response indicates that the candidate user id is invalid.
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25. A system for blocking undesired e-mails, the system comprising:
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means for receiving an incoming electronic mail message;
means for determining a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
means for sending a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
means for receiving a verification response to the verification request; and
means for blocking delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the verification response indicates that the candidate user id is invalid.
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26. A system for blocking undesired e-mails, the system comprising:
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means for receiving an incoming electronic mail message;
means for determining a candidate machine and a candidate user id of a purported sender of the incoming electronic mail message;
means for sending a verification request to the candidate user id at the candidate machine;
means for receiving a verification response to the verification request; and
means for blocking delivery of the incoming electronic mail message based on the verification response when the verification response indicates that the candidate machine does not exist.
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Specification