E-mail filter employing adaptive ruleset
First Claim
1. In a communications network, a method for determining whether a received e-mail message is wanted comprising:
- a) applying each rule of an adaptive ruleset to the message to obtain for each rule a weighted probability the message is wanted, wherein the weighted probability is based on statistics tracked for each rule;
b) determining a final probability the message is wanted based on the weighted probabilities obtained for each rule; and
c) adjusting statistics for each rule of the adaptive ruleset based on the final probability the message is wanted, wherein the adjustment does not require user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An e-mail filter employing an adaptive ruleset for classifying received e-mail messages. The individual rules of the ruleset are applied to all or some received e-mail messages, depending on the configuration of the filter. In some embodiments, an initial rule or filter is applied to the message to obtain an initial rating indicating whether the recipient would want the message. Statistics collected for each rule in the ruleset are used to determine a weighted probability the message is wanted. A different weighted probability is obtained if the rule is satisfied or if the rule is not satisfied. A final probability the message is wanted is obtained after applying the filter'"'"'s adaptive ruleset and using a weighted average to combine that score with any other rules and the message is processed accordingly. Statistics are updated using the machine-generated final probability, so the adaptive ruleset of the filter is constantly updated without requiring user input.
140 Citations
55 Claims
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1. In a communications network, a method for determining whether a received e-mail message is wanted comprising:
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a) applying each rule of an adaptive ruleset to the message to obtain for each rule a weighted probability the message is wanted, wherein the weighted probability is based on statistics tracked for each rule;
b) determining a final probability the message is wanted based on the weighted probabilities obtained for each rule; and
c) adjusting statistics for each rule of the adaptive ruleset based on the final probability the message is wanted, wherein the adjustment does not require user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a communications network, a method for providing and maintaining an adaptive ruleset used to determine whether received e-mail messages are wanted, the method comprising:
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a) creating an adaptive ruleset of a plurality of rules to be applied to a received e-mail message to assess whether the e-mail message is wanted;
b) based on statistics, determining a weight and probability for each rule, the weight and probability to be used when assessing whether the e-mail message is wanted, wherein the weight and probability for each rule have different values when the rule is satisfied and when the rule is not satisfied; and
c) adjusting statistics for each rule of the adaptive ruleset each time the ruleset is applied to any received e-mail message, wherein the adjustment does not require user input. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In a communications network, a system for classifying e-mail comprising:
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a) a sender of an e-mail message;
b) an intended recipient of the e-mail message in network connection with the sender; and
c) an e-mail filter associated with the intended recipient for determining whether the message is wanted by the recipient and having means for;
i) applying each rule of an adaptive ruleset to the message to obtain for each rule a weighted probability the message is wanted, wherein the weighted probability is based on statistics tracked for each rule;
ii) determining a final probability the message is wanted based on the weighted probabilities obtained for each rule; and
iii) adjusting statistics for each rule of the adaptive ruleset based on the final probability the message is wanted, wherein the adjustment does not require user input. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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- 35. A software-based adaptive ruleset for determining whether received e-mail messages are wanted comprising a plurality of rules, each of the rules to be applied to a received e-mail message to determine if the message is wanted, wherein, based on statistics collected for each rule, each rule has a weight and probability to be used to assess whether the message is wanted, wherein the weight and probability for each rule have different values when the rule is satisfied and when the rule is not satisfied, and the statistics determining the weight and probability for each rule are adjusted each time a rule is applied to any received e-mail message, wherein the adjustment does not require user input.
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41. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of determining whether a received e-mail message is wanted comprising:
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a) applying each rule of an adaptive ruleset to the message to obtain for each rule a weighted probability the message is wanted, wherein the weighted probability is based on statistics tracked for each rule;
b) determining a final probability the message is wanted based on the weighted probabilities obtained for each rule; and
c) adjusting statistics for each rule of the adaptive ruleset based on the final probability the message is wanted, wherein the adjustment does not require user input. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification