Method and system for filtering communication
First Claim
1. A method for controlling reception of messages from unknown entities in an e-mail network, each message is associated with a message source, comprising:
- providing a e-mail relay, the e-mail relay interposed along a message communication path associated with a public network and an e-mail server of the e-mail network;
the e-mail relay receiving a message intended for a recipient associated with the e-mail network;
the e-mail relay comparing the message data to message data in a SPAM database;
the e-mail relay executing at least one predetermined action in response to determining that the message is SPAM; and
the e-mail relay allowing the message to proceed to at least one recipient in response to determining that the message is not SPAM.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A e-mail relay provides message filtering services to an e-mail network. The e-mail relay monitors incoming communication and intercepts e-mail messages. The e-mail relay compares attributes of the messages to data derived from SPAM messages, which is stored in a SPAM database. The e-mail relay restricts the delivery of message based on the comparison such as by restricting the delivery of messages having attributes close to those of SPAM messages from the SPAM database. The SPAM database is constructed by responding to user or administrator indications as to whether received messages are SPAM messages.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method for controlling reception of messages from unknown entities in an e-mail network, each message is associated with a message source, comprising:
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providing a e-mail relay, the e-mail relay interposed along a message communication path associated with a public network and an e-mail server of the e-mail network;
the e-mail relay receiving a message intended for a recipient associated with the e-mail network;
the e-mail relay comparing the message data to message data in a SPAM database;
the e-mail relay executing at least one predetermined action in response to determining that the message is SPAM; and
the e-mail relay allowing the message to proceed to at least one recipient in response to determining that the message is not SPAM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for filtering unwanted messages to an e-mail network associated with an e-mail relay, comprising:
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providing a database storing a plurality of unwanted messages;
providing an e-mail relay interposed along the communication path between the e-mail network and a public network;
the e-mail relay intercepting a message from the public network to the e-mail network;
the e-mail relay comparing attributes of the intercepted message to attributes of unwanted messages stored in the database to determine whether the intercepted message is an unwanted message; and
the e-mail relay blocking message transmission to the e-mail network in response to determining that the intercepted message is an unwanted message.
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32. A method for controlling the delivery of unwanted messages to local recipients associated with an e-mail relay, comprising:
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identifying a message from a public network to the e-mail relay as possibly an unwanted message;
transmitting a notification message to an intended recipient of the message, the notification including a URL identifying the message and recipient;
receiving the URL in accordance with an HTTP protocol;
providing information about the message to the recipient in accordance with the HTTP protocol; and
receiving an indication from the recipient according to the HTTP protocol as to whether to proceed with message delivery. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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36. A system for controlling the reception of SPAM messages by resources associated with a local network, comprising:
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an e-mail relay interposed along the communication path between the resources and a public network, the e-mail relay intercepting messages transmitted between the resources and the public network; and
a SPAM database storing data associated with known SPAM messages, the e-mail relay employing the SPAM database to compare attributed of intercepted messages to attributes of known SPAM messages stored in the SPAM database, the e-mail relay comparing the message to message data from the SPAM database by performing at least one evaluation related to attributes of the intercepted message, the e-mail relay executing at least one predetermined action if matching between the message attributes and attributes from records in the SPAM database exceed a threshold.
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64. A system for controlling the reception of SPAM messages by resources associated with a local network, comprising:
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relay means interposed along the communication path between the resources and a public network, the relay means intercepting messages transmitted between the resources and the public network; and
storage means for storing data associated with known SPAM messages, the relay means employing the storage means to compare attributed of intercepted messages to attributes of known SPAM messages stored in the storage means, the relay means restricting the delivery of an intercepted message if a match score, based on comparison of message attributes and attributes of SPAM messages in the storage means, exceeds a threshold level.
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Specification