UNWANTED E-MAIL FILTERING SYSTEM INCLUDING VOTING FEEDBACK

• US 20120185551A1
• Filed: 03/24/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: HART, Matthew Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/429,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185551A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

A filter mechanism for unwanted e-mail messages uses a downloadable central source (1, 2) of filter rule data. User reports of received unwanted e-mail messages are relayed back to the central source of the filter data and used to automatically update that filter data. An algorithmic approach to identifying characteristics of unwanted e-mail messages may be applied based upon the preponderance of predetermined words within an e-mail message or characteristics of the addressee list. If an e-mail message is identified as suspect, but not definitely unwanted, then it may be encapsulated within a HTML document and sent to its addressee together with buttons (28) allowing the recipient to provide feedback in the form of votes as to whether or not that e-mail message is unwanted. This recipient feedback may be used to establish a new local rule.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method of processing received messages for a plurality of addressees, the method comprising:

identifying a potentially unwanted message in the received messages based on filter data received from a remote source;

forwarding the potentially unwanted message to at least one of the addressees;

receiving feedback from at least one of the addressees confirming the potentially unwanted message as an unwanted message; and

reporting the unwanted message to the remote source for updating the filter data.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm responsive to identification of predetermined words within the received messages and a size of the received messages.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the scoring algorithm is responsive to validity of the addressees.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises forwarding the potentially unwanted message with a prompt to provide the feedback.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises encapsulating the potentially unwanted message within a markup language providing voting buttons for providing the feedback.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein:

the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm; and

forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises encapsulating the potentially unwanted message within a markup language providing voting buttons for providing the feedback.

44. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by one or more processors is operable to perform operations for processing received messages for a plurality of addressees, the operations comprising:

identifying a potentially unwanted message in the received messages based on filter data received from a remote source;

forwarding the potentially unwanted message to at least one of the addressees;

receiving feedback from at least one of the addressees confirming the potentially unwanted message as an unwanted message; and

reporting the unwanted message to the remote source for updating the filter data.

45. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm.

46. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm responsive to identification of predetermined words within the received messages and a size of the received messages.

47. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein the scoring algorithm is responsive to validity of the addressees.

48. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises forwarding the potentially unwanted message with a prompt to provide the feedback.

49. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises encapsulating the potentially unwanted message within a markup language providing voting buttons for providing the feedback.

50. The encoded logic of claim 44, wherein:

the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm; and

forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises encapsulating the potentially unwanted message within a markup language providing voting buttons for providing the feedback.

51. An apparatus for processing received messages for a plurality of addressees, comprising one or more processors operable to execute instructions such that the apparatus is configured for:

identifying a potentially unwanted message in the received messages based on filter data received from a remote source;

forwarding the potentially unwanted message to at least one of the addressees;

receiving feedback from at least one of the addressees confirming the potentially unwanted message as an unwanted message; and

reporting the unwanted message to the remote source for updating the filter data.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the potentially unwanted message is identified with a scoring algorithm responsive to identification of predetermined words within the received messages and a size of the received messages.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the scoring algorithm is responsive to validity of the addressees.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises forwarding the potentially unwanted message with a prompt to provide the feedback.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein forwarding the potentially unwanted message comprises encapsulating the potentially unwanted message within a markup language providing voting buttons for providing the feedback.