System, method and program to limit rate of transferring messages from suspected spammers
First Claim
1. A method for managing e-mails, said e-mails being received at a firewall or router en route to a mail server, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- determining a first score indicating an extent to which contents of a first e-mail sent by a first source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said first score exceeding a lower threshold but not exceeding an upper threshold, said firewall or router limiting a rate at which said firewall or router forwards subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server, the rate limit being predetermined, greater than zero and less than a maximum rate at which said firewall or router is able to forward said subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server absent said rate limit;
determining a second score indicating an extent to which contents of a second email sent by a second source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said second score exceeding said upper threshold, said firewall or router not forwarding to said mail server subsequent e-mails from said second source destined for said mail server; and
determining a third score indicating an extent to which contents of a third e-mail sent by a third source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said third score being less than said lower threshold, said firewall or router forwarding subsequent e-mails from said third source to said mail server without blocking or rate-limiting said subsequent e-mails from said third source based on said contents of said third e-mail.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and program product for managing e-mails from a source suspected of sending spam. The e-mails are received at a firewall or router en route to a mail server. A determination is made whether a source has sent an e-mail which exhibits characteristics of spam. In response, subsequent e-mails from the source destined for the mail server are rate-limiting at the firewall or router such that the firewall or router limits a rate at which the subsequent e-mails are forwarded from the firewall or router to the mail server. The rate is predetermined and less than a maximum rate at which the firewall or router can physically forward e-mails to the mail server absent the rate limit. A determination is made whether another source has sent another e-mail which exhibits more characteristics of spam than the first said e-mail. In response, subsequent e-mails from this other source are blocked at the firewall or router. The rate limit can be a limit on a number of e-mails per unit of time from the source that will be forwarded from the firewall or router to the mail server.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for managing e-mails, said e-mails being received at a firewall or router en route to a mail server, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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determining a first score indicating an extent to which contents of a first e-mail sent by a first source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said first score exceeding a lower threshold but not exceeding an upper threshold, said firewall or router limiting a rate at which said firewall or router forwards subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server, the rate limit being predetermined, greater than zero and less than a maximum rate at which said firewall or router is able to forward said subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server absent said rate limit; determining a second score indicating an extent to which contents of a second email sent by a second source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said second score exceeding said upper threshold, said firewall or router not forwarding to said mail server subsequent e-mails from said second source destined for said mail server; and determining a third score indicating an extent to which contents of a third e-mail sent by a third source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said third score being less than said lower threshold, said firewall or router forwarding subsequent e-mails from said third source to said mail server without blocking or rate-limiting said subsequent e-mails from said third source based on said contents of said third e-mail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
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6. A system for managing e-mails, said e-mails being received at a firewall or router en route to a mail server, said system comprising:
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means for determining a first score indicating an extent to which contents of a first e-mail sent by a first source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said first score exceeding a lower threshold but not exceeding an upper threshold, limiting a rate at which said firewall or router forwards said subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server, the rate limit being predetermined, greater than zero and less than a maximum rate at which said firewall or router is able to forward e-mails from said first source to said mail server absent said rate limit; means for determining a second score indicating an extent to which contents of a second e-mail sent by a second source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said second score exceeding said upper threshold, causing said firewall or router to block from said mail server subsequent e-mails from said second source destined for said mail server; and means for determining a third score indicating an extent to which contents of a third e-mail sent by a third source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said third score being less than said lower threshold, allowing said firewall or router to forward subsequent e-mails from said third source to said mail server without blocking or rate-limiting said subsequent e-mails from said third source based on said contents of said third e-mail. - View Dependent Claims (7, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for managing e-mails, said e-mails being received at a firewall or router en route to a mail server, said computer program product comprising:
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one or more computer readable storage media; first program instructions to determine a first score indicating an extent to which contents of a first e-mail sent by a first source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said first score exceeding a lower threshold but not exceeding an upper threshold, limit a rate at which said firewall or router forwards subsequent e-mails from said first source to said mail server, the rate limit being predetermined, greater than zero and less than a maximum rate at which said firewall or router is able to forward e-mails from said first source to said mail server absent said rate limit; second program instructions to determine a second score indicating an extent to which contents of a second e-mail sent by a second source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said second score exceeding said upper threshold, cause said firewall or router to block from said mail server subsequent e-mails from said second source destined for said mail server; and third program instructions to determine a third score indicating an extent to which contents of a third e-mail sent by a third source exhibit characteristics of spam, and in response to said third score being less than said lower threshold, allow said firewall or router to forward subsequent e-mails from said third source to said mail server without blocking or rate-limiting said subsequent e-mails from said third source based on said contents of said third e-mail, and wherein said first, second and third program instructions are recorded on said one or more computer readable storage media. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification