Distributed Challenge and Response Recognition System

• US 20060271629A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Donald Macdowell
• Original Assignee: Alexander Donald Macdowell
• Inventors: MacDowell, Alexander Donald
• Application Number:
  US10/908,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A computer system and method for filtering unauthorized electronic mail messages that are sent by senders to a user. The firewall intercepts any incoming email sent to the user and checks it against a master list of allowed senders. Any sender not found on the list is sent a user-configurable challenge that must be responded to within a set time limit. If the challenge is not successfully met, the sender can be blocked and the mail can be bounced, discarded, or sent a removal request.

Claims

1. A system for blocking unauthorized received messages;

having a sender send a message to a user;

sending said sender a challenge;

reviewing a response to said challenge if said response is correct then forward said message to said user'"'"'s inbox.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said system has a firewall.

3. A system according to claim 2 which includes the step of having said firewall comparing said sender to an allowed list.

4. A system according to claim 3 which includes the step of having said firewall forward said message to said user'"'"'s inbox if sender is on said allowed list.

5. A system according to claim 1 where said response is parsed to see if it has the correct answer.

6. A system according to claim 1 where said message is deleted if said response does not have the correct answer.

7. A system according to claim 1 where templates of challenges are provided to said user.

8. A system according to claim 1 where said user creates their own challenge.

9. A system according to claim 1 where a rejection is send to said sender if said response does not have the correct answer.

10. A system according to claim 1 where said message is sent over a wireless environment.

11. A system for blocking unauthorized received E-mail messages;

having a sender send a message to a user;

sending said sender a challenge;

reviewing a response to said challenge if said response is correct then forward said message to said user'"'"'s inbox.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said system has a firewall.

13. A system according to claim 12 which includes the step of having said firewall comparing said sender to an allowed list.

14. A system according to claim 13 which includes the step of having said firewall forward said message to said user'"'"'s inbox if sender is on said allowed list.

15. A system according to claim 11 where said response is parsed to see if it has the correct answer.

16. A system according to claim 11 where said message is deleted if said response does not have the correct answer.

17. A system according to claim 11 where templates of challenges are provided to said user.

18. A system according to claim 11 where said user creates their own challenge.

19. A system according to claim 11 where a rejection is send to said sender if said response does not have the correct answer.

20. A system according to claim 15 where a single location of said response is parsed to see if it has the correct answer.