Systems and methods for reporter-based filtering of electronic communications and messages

• US 20100011071A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zheleva, Elena
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for filtering electronic communications in a communication system. The method includes receiving a message report from a user in response to an electronic message received by the user, and identifying a confidence value associated with the user from whom the message report is received. The method also includes adding, if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold, the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message, and determining if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold. The method further includes filtering the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for reporter-based filtering electronic messages, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a message report from a user in response to an electronic message received by the user;

identifying, by the processor, a confidence value associated with the user from whom the message report is received;

adding, by the processor, if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold, the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

determining, by the processor, if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filtering the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and determining if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold further comprises:

determining if the signature value exceeds at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

determining a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

filtering the electronic message based on the category of message type.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).

7. A system for reporter-based filtering electronic messages, the system comprising:

at least one memory to store data and instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and, when executing the instructions, to;

receive, by the at least one processor, a message report from a user in response to an electronic message received by the user;

identify, by the at least one processor, a confidence value associated with the user from whom the message report is received;

add, by the at least one processor, if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold, the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

determine, by the at least one processor, if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filter, by the at least one processor, the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and when determining if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if the signature value exceeds at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

determine a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

filter the electronic message based on the category of message type.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).

13. A computer-implemented method for determining a level of confidence to associate with a user report, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a message report in response to an electronic message received by a user, the electronic message having an electronic signature;

identifying, by the processor, a pre-existing confidence value associated with the user;

associating, by the processor, the pre-existing confidence value with the received message report;

calculating, by the processor, a response delay time corresponding to a first message report associated with the electronic signature;

calculating, by the processor, a new confidence value using the calculated response delay time, the pre-existing confidence value, and a predetermined moderating value;

associating the new confidence value with the user; and

storing, in memory, the new confidence value.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

adding, if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold, the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filtering the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and determining if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold further comprises:

determining if the signature value exceeds at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds;

determining the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value;

determining a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

filtering the electronic message based on the category of message type.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).

20. A system for determining a level of confidence to associate with a user report, the system comprising:

at least one memory to store data and instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and, when executing the instructions, to;

receive, by the at least one processor, a message report in response to an electronic message received by a user, the electronic message having an electronic signature;

identify, by the at least one processor, a pre-existing confidence value associated with the user;

associate, by the at least one processor, the pre-existing confidence value with the received message report;

calculate, by the at least one processor, a response delay time corresponding to a first message report associated with the electronic signature;

calculate, by the at least one processor, a new confidence value using the calculated response delay time, the pre-existing confidence value, and a predetermined moderating value;

associate the new confidence value with the user; and

store, in the at least one memory, the new confidence value.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

add, if the confidence value exceeds a predetermined confidence value threshold, the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filter the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and when the at least one processor is configured to determine if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if the signature value exceeds at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds;

determine the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value;

determine a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

filter the electronic message based on the category of message type.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).