Processing electronic messages

• US 7,958,213 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Application Number:
  US09/668,039
• Time in Patent Office: 3,911 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 33, 709/223, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data

Abstract

An electronic messaging scheme is described that is configurable to prevent intentional and unintentional transmission of electronic messages subject to one or more access restriction conditions. In accordance with one aspect of this electronic messaging scheme, an electronic message is interrogated for an access restriction notice in response to a user command to transmit the electronic message, and a detected access restriction notice is responded to in accordance with a prescribed transmission policy.

Claims

1. An electronic messaging system for filtering electronic messages, comprising

a message server operable to receive and transmit electronic messages including electronic mail messages, the message server comprising an access restriction filter comprising a character recognizer configured to translate characters in image components of respective ones of electronic messages into computer-readable character representations,

wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect an access restriction notice in the respective ones of the electronic messages by comparing the one or more translated computer-readable character representations respectively produced by the character recognizer to respective representations of one or more access restriction notices stored in memory, the access restriction filter being additionally configured to respond to the detection of the access restriction notice in accordance with a prescribed transmission policy for handling electronic messages containing the detected access restriction notice.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect in respective ones of the electronic messages an access restriction notice indicating ownership of at least a portion of the respective ones of the electronic messages.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect a copyright notice in respective ones of the electronic messages.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect the copyright notice by comparing one or more characters in the respective ones of the electronic messages to respective characters of one or more copyright notices stored in memory.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect the copyright notice by comparing characters in a header component of the respective ones of the electronic messages with respective characters of the one or more stored copyright notices.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to detect at least one of the following access restriction notices in the electronic messages:

a “

confidential”

notice, an “

internal use only”

notice, an “

attorney-client privileged”

notice, and an “

attorney work product”

notice.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electronic messages comprises a primary message and at least one attachment, and the access restriction filter is configured to compare characters in the primary message and characters in the at least one attachment to respective characters of the one or more stored access restriction notices.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to trigger display of a report to a user in response to the detection of the access restriction notice.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the access restriction filter is configured to trigger display to a user a message reporting that a corresponding one of the electronic messages cannot be transmitted because of the detection of the access restriction.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein character recognizer configured to translate characters in image components of respective ones of electronic mail messages into computer-readable character representations, and the access restriction filter is configured to detect an access restriction notice in the respective ones of the electronic mail messages by comparing the one or more translated computer-readable character representations respectively produced by the character recognizer to respective representations of one or more access restriction notices stored in memory.

6. A method of filtering electronic messages, comprising:

translating characters in image components of respective ones of electronic messages into computer-readable character representations;

detecting an access restriction notice in the respective ones of the electronic messages by comparing the one or more translated computer-readable character representations to respective representations of one or more access restriction notices stored in memory; and

responding to the detection of the access restriction notice in accordance with a prescribed transmission policy for handling electronic messages containing the detected access restriction notice.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the detecting comprises detecting in respective ones of the electronic message an access restriction notice indicating ownership of at least a portion of the respective ones of the electronic messages.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting comprises detecting a copyright notice in respective ones of the electronic messages.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting comprises comparing one or more characters in the respective ones of the electronic messages to respective characters of one or more copyright notices stored in memory.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting comprises comparing characters in a header component of the respective ones of the electronic messages with respective characters of the one or more stored copyright notices.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the detecting comprises detecting at least one of the following access restriction notices in the electronic messages:

a “

confidential”

notice, an “

internal use only”

notice, an “

attorney-client privileged”

notice, and an “

attorney work product”

notice.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the responding comprises displaying a report to a user in response to the detection of the access restriction notice.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the responding comprises displaying to a user a message reporting that a corresponding one of the electronic messages cannot be transmitted because of the detection of the access restriction.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to perform operations, comprising:

translating characters in image components of respective ones of electronic messages into computer-readable character representations;

detecting an access restriction notice in the respective ones of the electronic messages by comparing the one or more translated computer-readable character representations to respective representations of one or more access restriction notices stored in memory; and

responding to the detection of the access restriction notice in accordance with a prescribed transmission policy for handling electronic messages containing the detected access restriction notice.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said code provides instructions for detecting in the electronic messages at least one of a “

copyright”

notice, a “

confidential”

notice, an “

internal use only”

notice, an “

attorney-client privileged”

notice, and an “

attorney work product”

notice.