Unwanted e-mail filtering
First Claim
1. A computer program product comprising a computer program operable to control a computer to process received e-mail messages, said computer program comprising:
- (i) filter downloading logic operable to download filter data from a remote source, said filter data specifying a plurality of tests that may be used to identify unwanted e-mail messages;
(ii) e-mail filtering logic operable to receive an e-mail message and to apply said plurality of tests to identify unwanted e-mail messages; and
(iii) unwanted message reporting logic operable to allow reporting to a filter data generator a new unwanted e-mail message received and not identified by said plurality of tests such that said filter data may be updated to identify said new unwanted e-mail message.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A filter mechanism for unwanted e-mail messages uses a downloadable central source (1, 2) of filter rule data. User reports of received unwanted e-mail messages are relayed back to the central source of the filter data and used to automatically update that filter data. An algorithmic approach to identifying characteristics of unwanted e-mail messages may be applied based upon the preponderance of predetermined words within an e-mail message or characteristics of the addressee list. If an e-mail message is identified as suspect, but not definitely unwanted, then it may be encapsulated within a HTML document and sent to its addressee together with buttons (28) allowing the recipient to provide feedback as to whether or not that email message is unwanted. This recipient feedback may be used to establish a new local rule and generate a report back to the central source of the downloadable filter data.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer program product comprising a computer program operable to control a computer to process received e-mail messages, said computer program comprising:
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(i) filter downloading logic operable to download filter data from a remote source, said filter data specifying a plurality of tests that may be used to identify unwanted e-mail messages;
(ii) e-mail filtering logic operable to receive an e-mail message and to apply said plurality of tests to identify unwanted e-mail messages; and
(iii) unwanted message reporting logic operable to allow reporting to a filter data generator a new unwanted e-mail message received and not identified by said plurality of tests such that said filter data may be updated to identify said new unwanted e-mail message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product comprising a computer program operable to control a computer to process received e-mail messages, said computer program comprising:
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(i) e-mail filtering logic operable to receive an e-mail message and to apply at least one test to identify a received e-mail message as a potentially unwanted e-mail message; and
(ii) message forwarding logic operable to forward said potentially unwanted e-mail message to its addressee together with a prompt for said addressee to provide feedback as to whether or not said received e-mail message is an unwanted email message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A computer program product comprising a computer program operable to control a computer to provide downloadable filter data for identifying unwanted email messages, said computer program comprising:
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(i) user report receiving logic operable to receive a user report of an unwanted e-mail message received by said user of said downloadable filter data; and
(ii) filter data updating logic operable in response to receipt of one or more of said user reports to modify said downloadable filter data to add a test to identify a new unwanted e-mail message.
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13. A method of processing received e-mail messages, said method comprising:
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(i) downloading filter data from a remote source, said filter data specifying a plurality of tests that may be used to identify unwanted e-mail messages;
(ii) receiving an e-mail message and applying said plurality of tests to identify unwanted e-mail messages; and
(iii) reporting to a filter data generator a new unwanted e-mail message received and not identified by said plurality of tests such that said filter data may be updated to identify said new unwanted e-mail message.
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21. A method of processing received e-mail messages, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving an e-mail message and to apply at least one test to identify a received e-mail message as a potentially unwanted e-mail message; and
(ii) forwarding said potentially unwanted e-mail message to its addressee together with a prompt for said addressee to provide feedback as to whether or not said received e-mail message is an unwanted e-mail message. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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24. A method of controlling a computer to provide downloadable filter data for identifying unwanted e-mail messages, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving a user report of an unwanted e-mail message received by said user of said downloadable filter data; and
(ii) in response to receipt of one or more of said user reports, modifying said downloadable filter data to add a test to identify a new unwanted e-mail message.
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25. Apparatus for processing received e-mail messages, said apparatus comprising:
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(i) a filter downloaderc operable to download filter data from a remote source, said filter data specifying a plurality of tests that may be used to identify unwanted e-mail messages;
(ii) an e-mail filter operable to receive an e-mail message and to apply said plurality of tests to identify unwanted e-mail messages; and
(iii) an unwanted message reporterc operable to allow reporting to a filter data generator a new unwanted e-mail message received and not identified by said plurality of tests such that said filter data may be updated to identify said new unwanted e-mail message.
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33. Apparatus for processing received e-mail messages, said apparatus comprising:
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(i) an e-mail filter operable to receive an e-mail message and to apply at least one test to identify a received e-mail message as a potentially unwanted e-mail message; and
(ii) a message forwarder operable to forward said potentially unwanted email message to its addressee together with a prompt for said addressee to provide feedback as to whether or not said received e-mail message is an unwanted e-mail message. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. Apparatus for providing downloadable filter data for identifying unwanted email messages, said apparatus comprising:
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(i) a user report receiver operable to receive a user report of an unwanted e-mail message received by said user of said downloadable filter data; and
(ii) a filter data updater operable in response to receipt of one or more of said user reports to modify said downloadable filter data to add a test to identify a new unwanted e-mail message.
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Specification