Increasing spam scanning accuracy by rescanning with updated detection rules
First Claim
1. A method of processing email messages, comprising:
- receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam;
obtaining updated spam detection rules, utilizing a processor; and
rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam;
wherein each email message includes information indicating a version of spam detection rules that were used by the email server to scan the email and the rescanning is performed by rescanning only email messages that were scanned using a version of spam detection rules that is older than the updated spam detection rules, based on the information.
10 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product for processing email messages rescans emails messages that have already been scanned for spam and delivered to user inboxes with updated spam detection rules. This increases the accuracy of spam scanning and reduces the need for users to submit missed spam in emails that was not detected at the time the emails were received, but would subsequently be detected with newer anti-spam rules. A method of processing email messages comprises receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam, obtaining updated spam detection rules, and rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of processing email messages, comprising:
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receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; obtaining updated spam detection rules, utilizing a processor; and rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; wherein each email message includes information indicating a version of spam detection rules that were used by the email server to scan the email and the rescanning is performed by rescanning only email messages that were scanned using a version of spam detection rules that is older than the updated spam detection rules, based on the information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for processing email messages comprising:
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a processor operable to execute computer program instructions; a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor; and computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable to perform the steps of; receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; obtaining updated spam detection rules; and rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; wherein each email message includes information indicating a version of spam detection rules that were used by the email server to scan the email and the rescanning is performed by rescanning only email messages that were scanned using a version of spam detection rules that is older than the updated spam detection rules, based on the information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product for processing incoming email messages comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium; computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable storage medium, executable by a processor, for performing the steps of; receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; obtaining updated spam detection rules; and rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam; wherein each email message includes information indicating a version of spam detection rules that were used by the email server to scan the email and the rescanning is performed by rescanning only email messages that were scanned using a version of spam detection rules that is older than the updated spam detection rules, based on the information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification