Electronic Message Filter

• US 20090164233A1
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Susquehanna International Group LLP
• Original Assignee: Susquehanna International Group LLP
• Inventors: Arnold, John E., Greenberg, Joel K., Macomber, Edward W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/342
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for identifying content in an unsent electronic message composed by a sender affiliated with a business, wherein the content is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business. An electronic screening toot is applied to the unsent electronic message prior to transmission of the unsent electronic message from a server, associated with the business, to the recipient. The electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business. The sender'"'"'s request to transmit the electronic message to the recipient may be automatically cancelled and/or expunged from the server if the output of the electronic screening tool indicates that the unsent electronic message contains content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business.

The present invention is also directed to a method for identifying whether a first party is engaging in electronic communications that are potentially harmful to the first party in commercial or residential environments. An electronic screening tool is applied to one or more electronic messages sent or received by the first party. The electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content associated with a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party. An alert message is automatically sent to a second party indicating that the first party may be involved in a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party if the output of the electronic screening tool indicates that the electronic messages contain content associated with a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party.

Claims

1. A method for identifying content that is potentially not authorized by a business or potentially harmful to the business, in an unsent electronic message composed by a sender affiliated with the business, comprising the steps of:

(a) prior to transmission of the unsent electronic message from a server associated with the business to the recipient, applying the unsent electronic message to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business; and

(b) if the output of the electronic screening tool indicates that the unsent electronic message contains content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business, automatically canceling the request of the sender to transmit the electronic message to the recipient and expunging the unsent electronic message from the serve if the unsent electronic message was previously stored on the server.

2-33. -33. (canceled)