Method and apparatus for identifying and discarding junk electronic mail
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer controlled method for processing electronic mail (e-mail) comprising the steps of:
- (a) automatically presenting an e-mail message to a first trusted recipient;
said first trusted recipient being one of a plurality of trusted recipients;
(b) classifying said e-mail message as junk e-mail; and
(c) when said e-mail is classified as junk e-mail, automatically preventing presentation of said e-mail message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to provide electronic mail systems with the capability for a group of trusted users to collectively determine whether a given electronic mail message is junk e-mail. Further, if the given electronic mail message is determined to be junk mail, the e-mail systems of other trusted users in the group dispose of unviewed copies of the junk e-mail. Thus, the invention reduces the exposure of junk e-mail messages to the group of trusted users.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer controlled method for processing electronic mail (e-mail) comprising the steps of:
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(a) automatically presenting an e-mail message to a first trusted recipient;
said first trusted recipient being one of a plurality of trusted recipients;
(b) classifying said e-mail message as junk e-mail; and
(c) when said e-mail is classified as junk e-mail, automatically preventing presentation of said e-mail message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
(b1) automatically notifying said trusted group server that said first trusted recipient has classified said e-mail message as junk e-mail. -
3. The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein step (b1) further comprises sending a junk mail report message to said trusted group server.
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4. The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein said junk mail report message includes an x-junk-mail-report header.
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5. The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein said junk mail report message further includes an identifying characteristic of said e-mail message.
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6. The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:
(c3) sending a junk mail warning message to said plurality of trusted recipients.
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7. The computer controlled method of claim 6 wherein step (c) further comprises:
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(c1) receiving a junk mail report message; and
(c2) initiating step c3 after receiving said junk mail report message.
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8. The computer controlled method of claim 6 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an x-junk-mail-warning header.
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9. The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:
(c1) receiving a junk mail warning message.
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10. The computer controlled method of claim 9 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic of said e-mail message and whereby step (c) further comprises:
(c4) deleting an unfermented e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
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11. The computer controlled method of claim 10 wherein step (c) further comprises:
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(c2) storing said identifying characteristic; and
(c3) receiving said unfermented e-mail message.
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12. An electronic mail (e-mail) system having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a file storage mechanism;
- said system comprising;
a presentation mechanism configured to present an e-mail message to a first trusted recipient;
said first trusted recipient being one of a plurality of trusted recipients;
a classification mechanism configured to allow said first trusted recipient to classify said e-mail message as junk e-mail; and
a presentation prevention mechanism configured to selectively prevent presentation of said e-mail message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
a notification mechanism configured to notify said trusted group server that said first trusted recipient has classified said e-mail message as junk e-mail.
- said system comprising;
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14. The electronic mail system of claim 13 wherein said notification mechanism is further configured to send a junk mail report message to said trusted group server.
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15. The electronic mail system of claim 14 wherein said junk mail report message includes an x-junk-mail-report header.
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16. The electronic mail system of claim 14 wherein said junk mail report message includes an identifying characteristic of said e-mail message.
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17. The electronic mail system of claim 12 wherein said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients.
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18. The electronic mail system of claim 17 wherein said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises:
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a reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and
an initiation mechanism configured to initiate said warning mechanism after receiving said junk mail report message.
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19. The electronic mail system of claim 17 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an x-junk-mail-warning header.
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20. The electronic mail system of claim 12 wherein said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a first reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail warning message.
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21. The electronic mail system of claim 20 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic and whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a deletion mechanism configured to dispose of an unfermented e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
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22. The electronic mail system of claim 21 wherein said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises:
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a storage mechanism configured to store said identifying characteristic; and
a second reception mechanism configured to receive said unfermented e-mail message.
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23. An electronic mail (e-mail) apparatus configured to process electronic mail messages;
- and apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a file storage mechanism;
said apparatus comprising;a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an e-mail message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients, and including a junk mail reporting mechanism configured to send a junk mail report message to a trusted group server. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
- and apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a file storage mechanism;
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28. A trusted group server apparatus configured to process electronic mail messages;
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a file storage mechanism;
said apparatus comprising;a notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message containing information about an e-mail message classified as junk e-mail by a trusted group recipient served by said trusted group server apparatus; and
a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient. - View Dependent Claims (29)
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a file storage mechanism;
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30. A computer program product comprising:
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(a) a computer usable storage medium; and
(b) computer controlling instructions, stored on said storage medium providing presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an email message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients, said presentation prevention mechanism including a junk mail reporting mechanism configured to send a junk mail report message to a trusted group server. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer program product comprising:
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(a) a computer usable storage medium; and
(b) computer controlling instructions stored on said storage medium, providing notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and
(c) computer controlling instructions, stored on said storage medium, providing a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient served by said computer. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification