Method and system for filtering unwanted junk e-mail utilizing a plurality of filtering mechanisms

• US 6,023,723 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Accepted Marketing, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormick, William B., Kopans, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Asta, Frank J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C.
• Application Number:
  US08/995,860
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 707/7, 707/10, 707/1, 707/206, 707/102, 707/200, 707/100, 706/47, 709/206, 709/300, 709/203, 709/242, 709/231, 709/207, 709/240, 709/238, 709/249
• 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: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method of filtering junk e-mails. The user is provided with or compiles a list of e-mail addresses or character strings which the user would not wish to receive to produce a first filter. A second filter is provided including names and character strings which the user wishes to receive. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the first filter will be automatically eliminated from the users system. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the second filter would be automatically sent to the users "In Box". Any e-mail not provided in either of the filter lists will be sent to a "Waiting Room" for user review. If this user review results in the user rejecting any e-mail, the address as well as specific character strings included in this e-mail would be transmitted to a central location to be included in a master list. This master list is periodically sent to each of the users allowing the first filter to be updated.

Claims

1. A system for filtering electronic mail for a plurality of user computers received over a communication medium to each of the user computers comprising:

a first filter provided in each of the user computers provided with a first list of addresses from which the user does not wish to receive electronic mail;

a second filter provided in each of the user computers provided with a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail;

comparison device provided in each of the user computers for comparing the addresses included in said first filter and said second filter with the address of electronic mail received by the user computers, wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said first list of addresses will be automatically deleted from that particular user computer, and further wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said second list of addresses would be retained in that particular user computer for review by the user;

a first folder for retaining electronic mail received in a user computer whose address is not included in either said first list of addresses or said second list of addresses for review by the user at a later time, and further including an update device for adding addresses to said first filter or said second filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, thereby creating a first updated list of first addresses and a first updated list of second addresses;

a device for periodically sending said first updated list of first addresses from a plurality of user computers to a master database situated at a location remote from the user'"'"'s computer thereby creating an updated master database of addresses received from the user computers; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computers for including addresses of said undated master database only if the same address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, further including a second folder for retaining electronic mail received in the computer whose address is not included in said first list of addresses but is included in said second list of addresses.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 further including a device for periodically sending said first updated list of first addresses to a master database situated at a location remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, further including a device in each user computer for periodically receiving said updated master database addresses including additional addresses to be added to said first filter to create a second updated list of first addresses.

5. A system for filtering electronic mail provided with a first list of addresses from which the user does not wish to receive electronic mail as well as a first list of objectionable character strings;

a second filter provided in each of the user computers provided with a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail as well as a second list of acceptable character strings;

comparison device provided in each of the user computers for comparing the addresses and character strings included in said first filter and said second filter with the address of electronic mail as well as character strings provided in the electronic mail received by the user computers, wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said first list of addresses or electronic mail containing a character string included in the first list of objectionable characters string, will be automatically deleted from that particular user computer, and further wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings, would be retained in that particular user computer for review by the user;

a first folder for retaining electronic mail received in the computer whose address is not included in said first list of addresses, said first list of objectionable character strings, said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings, for review by the user at a later time, and further including an update device for adding addresses to said first filter or said second filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, creating a first updated list of first addresses and a first updated list of second addresses;

a device for periodically sending said first updated list of addresses from a plurality of user computers to a master database situated at a location remote from the user'"'"'s computer, thereby creating an updated master database of addresses received from the user computers; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computers for including addresses of said updated master database only if the same address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, further including a second folder for retaining electronic mail received in the computer whose address is not included in said first list of addresses, said first list of objectionable character strings, in said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings.

7. The system in accordance with claim 5, further including a device in each user computer for periodically said undated master database of addresses including additional addresses to be added to said first filter to create a second updated list of first addresses.

8. A system for filtering electronic mail transmitted on a communication medium comprising:

one or more user computers connected to the communications medium, each of said computers including a first filter provided in each of said computers provided with a first list of addresses from which a user does not wish to receive electronic mail, a second filter provided in said computers provided with a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail, a comparison device provided in each of the computers for comprising the addresses included in said first filter and said second filter with the address of electronic mail received by said computer, a first folder for retaining electronic mail received in said computer whose address is not included in said first list of addresses but is included in said second list of addresses, a second folder for retaining electronic mail received in said computer whose address is not included in either said first list of addresses or said second list of addresses for review by the user at a later time, and further including an updated device for adding addresses to said first filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, thereby creating a first updated first list of addresses; and

master server and master database connected to said one or more computers by the communication medium for periodically receiving said first updated first list of addresses from each of said user computers to be inserted into said master database thereby creating an updated master database of addresses received from said user computer and for periodically transmitting to each of said user computers a list of addresses to be added to said first filter to create second updated list of first addresses; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computers for including addresses of said updated master database only if the same address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

9. A method for filtering electronic mail received over a communications medium at a user'"'"'s computer comprising:

creating a first list of addresses from which each user does not wish to receive electronic mail;

inputting said first list of addresses into the user'"'"'s computer as a first filter;

creating a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail

inputting said second list of addresses into the user'"'"'s computer as a second filter;

comparing the addresses included in said first and second list of addresses with the address of a received electronic mail;

automatically deleting the electronic mail form the user'"'"'s computer if the address of the electronic mail is included in said first list of addresses;

retaining the electronic mail in a first location in the computer if the address of the electronic mail is in said second list of addresses or retaining the electronic mail in a second location in the computer if the address of the electronic mail is not included in either said first list of addresses or said second list of addresses;

reviewing any electronic mail included in said second location;

eliminating any unwanted electronic mail based upon said reviewing step;

recording the electronic address of any unwanted electronic mail in said first filter to create a first updated list of first addresses;

periodically transmitting said first updated list of first addresses to a master database situated at a remote location to create an updated master database of addresses received from a plurality of user computers; and

wherein any address in said first updated list of first addresses is added to said master database to create said undated master database only if the said address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user commuters.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further including the step of periodically transmitting said updated master database to a plurality of user computers to produce a second updated list of first addresses to be included into said first filter.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first filter includes a list of objectionable character strings compared to character strings included in a received electronic mail.

12. A system for filtering electronic mail for a plurality of user computers received over a communication medium to each of the user computers comprising:

a first filter provided in each of the user computer provided with first a list of objectionable character strings from which the user does not wish to receive electronic mail if at least one of said objectionable character strings is included in the electronic mail;

a second filter provided in each of the user computers provided with a second list of acceptable character strings from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail if at least one of said acceptable character strings is included in the electronic mail;

comparison device provided in each of the user computers for comparing the character strings included in said first filter and said second filter with the subject line and body of electronic mail received by the user computers, wherein any electronic mail which includes a character string discovered by said comparison device to be included in said first list of objectionable character strings will be automatically deleted from that particular user computer, and further wherein any electronic mail which includes a character string discovered by said comparison device to be included in said second list of character strings would be retained in the user'"'"'s computer for review by the user;

a first folder for retaining electronic mail received in the computer not included in character strings provided in either said first or second lists for review by the user at a later time, and further including a update device for adding character strings to said first filter or said second filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, thereby creating a first updated first list of objectionable character strings and an updated second list of acceptable character strings;

a device for periodically sending said first updated first list of objectionable character strings to a master database situated at a location remote from the user'"'"'s computer thereby creating an updated master database of objectionable character strings received from the user computers; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computer for including objectionable character strings in said updated master database only if the same objectionable character string is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

13. The system in accordance with claim 12, further including a second folder for retaining electronic mail received in the computer whose subject line and body does not include a character string proceed in said first list of character strings but is included in said second list of character strings.

14. The system in accordance with claim 12, further including a device in each user computer for periodically receiving said updated master database of objectionable character strings to be added to said first filter.

15. A system for filtering electronic mail for a plurality of user computers received over a communication medium by each of the user computers comprising:

a first filter located at a location remote from the user computers provided with first a list of addresses from which the user does not wish to receive electronic mail;

a second filter located at the location provided remote from the user computers with a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail;

comparison device located at the location remote from the user computers for comparing the addresses included in said first filter and said second filter with the address of electronic mail received at the location remote from the user computers and directed to the user, wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said first list of addresses will be automatically deleted from location remote from the user computers, and further wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said second list of addresses would be transmitted from the location remote from the user computers to a particular user computer for review by the user;

a first folder for retaining electronic mail received at the location remote from the user computers whose address is not included in either said first list of addresses or said second list of addresses for review by the user at a later time, and further including an update device for adding addresses to said first filter or said second filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, thereby creating a first updated list of first addresses and a first updated list of second addresses;

a device for periodically sending said first updated list of first addresses from a plurality of user computers to a master database situated at a location remote from the user computers thereby creating an updated master database of addresses produced by the user computers; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computers for including addresses of said updated master database only if the same address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, further including a second folder for retaining electronic mail received at the central location whose address is not included in said first list of addresses but is included in said second list of addresses.

17. The system in accordance with claim 15, further including a device for periodically receiving said updated master database of addresses including additional addresses to be added to said first filter to create a second updated list of first addresses.

18. A system for filtering electronic mail remote from the user computers received over a communication medium by each of the user computers comprising:

a first filter located at a location remote from the user computers provided with a first list of addresses from which the user does not wish to receive electronic mail as well as a first list of objectionable character strings;

a second filter located at the location remote from the user computers provided with a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail as well as a second list of acceptable character strings;

comparison device located at the location remote from the user computers for comparing the addresses and character strings included in said first filter and said second filter with the address of electronic mail as well as character strings provided in the electronic mail received at the location remote from the users computers, wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included in said first list of addresses or electronic mail containing a character string included in the first list of objectionable character strings, will be automatically deleted from the location remote from the user computers, and further wherein any electronic mail whose address is discovered by said comparison device to be included on said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings, would be transmitted from the location remote from the user computers to a particular user computer for review by the user;

a first folder for retaining electronic mail received at the location remote from the user computers whose address is not included in said first list of addresses, said first list of objectionable character strings, said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings, for review by the user at a later time, and further including an update device for adding addresses to said first filter or said second filter based upon the user'"'"'s review, thereby creating a first updated list of addresses and a first updated list of second addresses;

a device for periodically sending said first updated list of addresses from a plurality of user computers to a master database situated at a location remote from the user computers thereby creating an updated master database having addresses and character strings provided by the user computers; and

a device provided at said location remote from the user'"'"'s computers for including addresses of said updated master database only if the same address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

19. The system in accordance with claim 18, further including a second folder for retaining electronic mail received at the central location whose address is not included in said first list of addresses, said first list of objectionable character strings, said second list of addresses or said second list of acceptable character strings.

20. The system in accordance with claim 18, further including a device for periodically receiving said updated master database of addresses and character strings including additional addresses and character strings to be added to said first filter to create a second updated list of first addresses.

21. A method for filtering electronic mail received over a communications medium be reviewed by a user computer comprising, in a system including a plurality of users computers:

creating a first list of addresses at a location removed from the user computers and connected to the communications medium thereby creating a first filter;

creating a second list of addresses from which the user does wish to receive electronic mail;

introducing said second list of addresses to the location removed from the user computers connected to the communication medium, thereby creating a second filter;

comparing the addresses included in said first and second list of addresses with the address of an electronic mail received at the location removed from the user computers;

automatically deleting the electronic mail from the location removed from the user computers if the address of the electronic mail is included in said first list of addresses;

retaining the electronic mail in a first location in the location removed from the user computers if the address of the electronic mail is in said second list of addresses or retaining the electronic mail in a second location in the location removed from the user computers if the address of the electronic mail is not included in either said first list of addresses or said second list of addresses;

reviewing any electronic mail included in said second location;

eliminating any unwanted electronic mail based upon said reviewing step;

recording the electronic address of any unwanted electronic mail in said first filter to create a first updated list of first addresses;

periodically transmitting said first updated list of first addresses to a master database situated at a remote location to create an updated master database of addresses received from a plurality of user computers; and

wherein any address in said first updated list of first addresses is added to said master database to create said updated master database only if the said address is sent to said master database by a predetermined number of user computers.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, further including the step of periodically transmitting said updated master database to the location remote from the user computers to produce a second updated list of first addresses to be included into said first filter.

23. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said first filter includes a list of objectionable character strings compared to character strings included in a received electronic mail.