Filter and a Method of Filtering Electronic Messages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A filter for filtering electronic messages, said filter comprising:
- storage space for an allowed list comprising identification insignias of senders which have been approved for sending messages to a recipient,means for receiving a first electronic message from a sender,means for capturing from the message an identification insignia of the sender,means for capturing from the message an identification insignia of the recipient,first check means for comparing the identification insignia with the allowed list for determining either to withhold the message or to forward the message to the recipient,means for storing the message and insignia,means for generating a return message to the sender in case the identification insignia is not included in the allowed list, the means for returning the message being adapted to include in the returned message a unique code, and a message for the sender to reply to the returned message by sending it back without changing the unique code,means for storing the unique code and relating it to the insignia, andsecond check means for receiving a second electronic message and for recognizing the second message being a reply to the returned message, wherein the filter further comprises;
prioritizing means which, in response to recognition of the second message being a reply to the returned message, assigns a priority to each of the identification insignias of the senders of the first messages, andmeans for selecting identification insignias and adding the selected insignias to the allowed list, wherein the means for selecting are adapted to carry out the selection according to the priorities assigned to the identification insignias.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a filter for filtering out spam mails before they arrive at a recipient'"'"'s computer. Upon receiving a mail, the filter checks an associated insignia, e.g. the e-mail address of the sender, and if the sender is not yet in the allowed list, a reply mail is generated for the sender. When the sender responds to the reply, a priority is assigned to the insignia and the firstly forwarded message is held back until the insignia is selected to the allowed list. The filter could be implemented in standard computer systems. The invention further provides a method of filtering messages.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A filter for filtering electronic messages, said filter comprising:
-
storage space for an allowed list comprising identification insignias of senders which have been approved for sending messages to a recipient, means for receiving a first electronic message from a sender, means for capturing from the message an identification insignia of the sender, means for capturing from the message an identification insignia of the recipient, first check means for comparing the identification insignia with the allowed list for determining either to withhold the message or to forward the message to the recipient, means for storing the message and insignia, means for generating a return message to the sender in case the identification insignia is not included in the allowed list, the means for returning the message being adapted to include in the returned message a unique code, and a message for the sender to reply to the returned message by sending it back without changing the unique code, means for storing the unique code and relating it to the insignia, and second check means for receiving a second electronic message and for recognizing the second message being a reply to the returned message, wherein the filter further comprises; prioritizing means which, in response to recognition of the second message being a reply to the returned message, assigns a priority to each of the identification insignias of the senders of the first messages, and means for selecting identification insignias and adding the selected insignias to the allowed list, wherein the means for selecting are adapted to carry out the selection according to the priorities assigned to the identification insignias. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for filtering electronic messages, said method comprising the steps of:
-
assigning space in a computer system for a list comprising identification insignias of senders which have been approved for sending messages to a recipient, receiving a first electronic message from a sender, capturing from the message an identification insignia of the sender, capturing from the message an identification insignia of the recipient, comparing the identification insignia with the allowed list for determining either to withhold the message or to forward the message to the recipient, storing the message and insignia in a storage space of the computer system, generating a return message to the sender in case the identification insignia is not included in the allowed list, and including in the returned message a unique code, and a message for the sender to reply to the return message by sending it back without changing the unique code, storing the unique code and relating it to the insignia, and receiving a second electronic message and recognizing the second message being a reply to the returned message, wherein the method comprises the steps of; in response to recognition of the second message being a reply to the returned message, assigning a priority to each of the identification insignias of the senders of the first messages, and selecting identification insignias and adding the selected insignias to the allowed list, wherein the selecting is carried according to the priorities assigned to the identification insignias.
-
Specification