Message Filter Program For A Communication Device

• US 20090209243A1
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., McCallum, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A communication device is configured to receive messages. The communication device may comprise a display screen upon which messages are displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the communication device, filters incoming messages. The message management program comprising a message filter application filters received messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a received message to approved sender identification data.

Claims

1. A communication device configured to receive messages, said device comprising:

a display screen upon which messages are displayed;

a microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program, wherein said at least one message management program filters incoming messages; and

said message management program comprising a message filter application that filters received messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a received message to approved sender identification data.

2. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said approved sender identification data is retrieved over the internet from a remote database.

3. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said received message comprises a SMS message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

4. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said received message comprises a MMS message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

5. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said received message comprises an IM message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more IM user names.

6. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said approved sender identification data is stored locally.

7. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said received message comprises a voice-mail message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

8. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said received message comprises a PIN message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more PIN numbers.

9. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said message comprises an email;

and

wherein said message management program comprises an email program.

10. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said message comprises an email;

and

wherein said message filter application filters received emails based on a comparison to approved sender identification data comprising one or more email addresses.

11. The communication device as recited in claim 9,

wherein said message filter application filters received messages based on a comparison to one or more domain names.

12. The communication device as recited in claim 9, wherein said message filter application filters received messages based on a comparison to one or more sender'"'"'s names of email addresses.

13. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a smart phone.

14. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.

15. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a computer.

16. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said approved sender identification data is retrieved over the internet from at least two remote databases;

and

wherein said message filter application filters received messages based on a comparison of sender identification data to the approved sender identification data received from the at least two remote databases.

17. A method for filtering a received message for a communication device, the method comprising:

running a message management program that manages display of messages on a communication device;

receiving a message having sender identification data associated therewith; and

filtering the received message based on a comparison of the associated sender identification data to approved sender identification data retrieved over the internet from a remote database.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the received message if the sender identification data associated with the received message matches approved sender identification data retrieved from the remote database.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising caching said approved sender identification data retrieved over the internet from the remote database locally on the communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote database comprises a networking data store comprising approved sender identification data.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote database comprises an instant-messaging contact list data store comprising approved sender identification data.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote database comprises a photo-sharing group data store comprising approved sender identification data.

23. A computer-readable medium having a computer program for controlling a computing device to filter a received message for a communication device, the computer program causing a computer to:

run a message management program, wherein said message management program manages display of messages on the communication device;

receive a message having sender identification data associated therewith; and

filter the received message based on a comparison of the associated sender identification data to approved sender identification data retrieved over the internet from a remote database.

24. A handheld wireless communication device configured to receive messages, said handheld wireless communication device comprising:

a body housing a display screen upon which messages are displayed;

a microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the handheld wireless communication device, wherein said at least one message management program filters incoming messages; and

said message management program comprising a message filter application that filters received messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a received message to approved sender identification data retrieved over the internet from at least two remote databases, at least one of said remote databases comprising a networking data store comprising data representing an approved contact list of the networking data store and wherein if the sender identification data of the received message does not match the approved sender identification data, a prompt is displayed that upon actuation adds the sender identification data of the received message to the approved sender identification data.