Message filter program for a communication device

• US 8,229,413 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Brown, Michael K., Brown, Michael S., McCallum, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, ANTHONY S
• Application Number:
  US12/032,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20090209243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/415, 455418-420, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/558, 455/563, 455/566, 455/567, 455/575.1, 709/206, 709/207, 709/216, 709/217, 709/219, 379/67.1, 379/88.08, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/142.06, 379/210.02, 379/210.03
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A communication device is configured to receive messages. The communication device may comprise a display screen upon which messages are displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the communication device, filters incoming messages. The message management program comprising a message filter application filters messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a message to approved sender identification data.

Claims

1. A communication device configured to receive messages, said device comprising:

a display screen upon which messages are displayed;

a microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program, wherein said at least one message management program filters incoming messages;

a selective filter control operative on the communication device, said selective filter control configured to display a listing of a plurality of remote databases and to receive a selection, from an operator of the device, of one or more selected remote databases from the plurality of remote databases, the one or more selected remote databases to be used by the message management program to obtain approved sender identification data and to determine if a sender is within a list of contacts associated with at least one of the one or more selected remote databases;

and

said message management program comprising a message filter application that filters said incoming messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with the sender of an incoming message to the obtained approved sender identification data.

2. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said approved sender identification data is retrieved over the internet from the one more remote databases.

3. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises a SMS message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

4. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises a MMS message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

5. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises an IM message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more IM user names.

6. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said approved sender identification data retrieved through the internet is stored locally on the communication device.

7. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises a voice-mail message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more phone numbers.

8. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises a PIN message;

and

wherein said approved sender identification data comprises one or more PIN numbers.

9. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises an email;

and

wherein said message management program comprises an email program.

10. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said incoming message comprises an email;

and

wherein said message filter application filters incoming emails based on a comparison to approved sender identification data comprising one or more email addresses.

11. The communication device as recited in claim 9,

wherein said message filter application filters incoming messages based on a comparison to one or more domain names.

12. The communication device as recited in claim 9, wherein said message filter application filters incoming messages based on a comparison to one or more sender'"'"'s names of email addresses.

13. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a smart phone.

14. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.

15. The communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a computer.

16. The communication device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said approved sender identification data is retrieved over the internet from at least two different remote databases;

and

wherein said message filter application filters incoming messages based on a comparison of sender identification data to the approved sender identification data received from the at least two different remote databases.

17. A method for filtering a received message for a communication device, the method comprising:

displaying a listing of a plurality of remote databases for operator selection on the display screen;

receiving a selection, from an operator of the device, at a selective filter control of the communication device, of one or more remote databases from the plurality of remote databases, the one or more selected remote databases to be used to obtain approved sender identification data and to determine if a sender is within a list of contacts associated with at least one of the one or more selected remote databases;

obtaining approved sender identification data from the one or more remote databases selected;

running a message management program that manages display of messages on a communication device;

receiving a message having sender identification data associated therewith; and

filtering the message based on a comparison of the associated sender identification data of the received message to the obtained approved sender identification data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the message if the sender identification data associated with the message matches approved sender identification data retrieved from the selection of the one or more remote databases.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising caching said approved sender identification data retrieved over the internet from the selection of the one or more remote databases locally on the communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more remote databases comprises a networking data store comprising approved sender identification data.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more remote databases comprises an instant-messaging contact list data store comprising approved sender identification data.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more remote databases comprises a photo-sharing group data store comprising approved sender identification data.

23. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having a computer program for controlling a computing device to filter a received message for a communication device, the computer program causing a computer to:

display a listing of a plurality remote databases for selection on the display screen;

receive a selection, from an operator of the device, at a selective filter control of the communication device, of the one or more remote databases from the plurality of remote databases, the one or more selected remote databases to be used to obtain approved sender identification data and to determine if a sender is within a list of contacts associated with at least one of the one or more selected remote databases;

obtain approved sender identification data from the one or more remote databases selected;

run a message management program, wherein said message management program manages display of messages on the communication device;

receive a message having sender identification data associated therewith; and

filter the received message based on a comparison of the associated sender identification data of the received message to the obtained approved sender identification data.

24. A handheld wireless communication device configured to receive messages, said handheld wireless communication device comprising:

a body housing a display screen upon which messages are displayed;

a microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the handheld wireless communication device, wherein said at least one message management program filters incoming messages;

a selective filter control operative on the communication device, said selective filter control configured to display a listing of a plurality of remote databases and to receive a selection, from an operator of the device, of one or more remote databases from a plurality of remote databases, the one or more selected remote databases to be used by the message management program to obtain approved sender identification data and to determine if a sender is within a list of contacts associated with at least one of the one or more selected remote databases;

and

said message management program comprising a message filter application that filters incoming messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with the sender of a message to the obtained approved sender identification data, at least one of said remote databases comprising a networking data store comprising data representing an approved contact list of the networking data store and wherein if the sender identification data of the incoming message does not match the approved sender identification data, a prompt is displayed that upon actuation adds the sender identification data of the incoming message to the approved sender identification data.