Method and apparatus for electronic mail filtering
First Claim
1. A message processing apparatus for processing messages on a communication path between a client unit and a server unit, the message processing apparatus comprising:
- a processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to store;
a message receiving unit arranged to receive an incoming message from a client unit and to determine a client identity with respect to the client unit,a reputation score allocation unit arranged to allocate a reputation score to the incoming message with respect to the determined client identity,a message queuing unit arranged to store the incoming message with a plurality of messages in a message queue ordered according to the reputation score allocated to the incoming message,a message analysis unit arranged to extract a message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue, and to analyze the extracted message, anda message forwarding unit arranged to forward the extracted message along the communication path to a server unit,wherein messages from a trusted client unit are allocated a high reputation score and take priority for analysis through the message queue, and messages from a non-trusted client unit are allocated a lower reputation score and remain in the message queue until all messages with a higher reputation score have been extracted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A message processing apparatus (200) is provided in an electronic messaging system. The message processing apparatus (200) holds an ordered queue (232) of the electronic messages (101) and adds a new incoming message (101) to the queue (232) according to a reputation score (201) allocated to each incoming message. Messages having a highest reputation score (201) are extracted from a top of the queue (232) for detailed analysis according to one or more filtering mechanisms. A message forwarding unit (250) forwards wanted messages to a server unit (300) for onward transmission to a recipient terminal (20). Messages from a trusted client identity (105) who is most likely to send wanted messages are allocated a high reputation score (201) and take priority through the queue (232). Messages from a non-trusted client identity (105) are allocated a lower reputation score (201) and remain in the queue (232) until all messages with a higher reputation score (201) have been extracted.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A message processing apparatus for processing messages on a communication path between a client unit and a server unit, the message processing apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to store; a message receiving unit arranged to receive an incoming message from a client unit and to determine a client identity with respect to the client unit, a reputation score allocation unit arranged to allocate a reputation score to the incoming message with respect to the determined client identity, a message queuing unit arranged to store the incoming message with a plurality of messages in a message queue ordered according to the reputation score allocated to the incoming message, a message analysis unit arranged to extract a message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue, and to analyze the extracted message, and a message forwarding unit arranged to forward the extracted message along the communication path to a server unit, wherein messages from a trusted client unit are allocated a high reputation score and take priority for analysis through the message queue, and messages from a non-trusted client unit are allocated a lower reputation score and remain in the message queue until all messages with a higher reputation score have been extracted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A message processing apparatus for processing messages from a plurality of client units, comprising:
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a processor; and a non transitory computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to store; a message receiving unit arranged to receive a plurality of incoming messages each from a respective client unit and to determine a client identity with respect to each of the client units, a reputation score allocation unit arranged to allocate a reputation score to each of the plurality of incoming messages according to the respective client identity, a message queuing unit arranged to store the plurality of incoming messages in an ordered message queue, wherein the messages in the message queue are ordered according to the reputation score allocated to each of the incoming messages, and a message analysis unit arranged to extract a message from the ordered message queue with a higher reputation score before extracting a message with a lower reputation score, and to analyze each of the extracted messages, wherein messages from a trusted client unit are allocated a high reputation score and take priority for analysis through the message queue, and messages from a non-trusted client unit are allocated a lower reputation score and remain in the message queue until all messages with a higher reputation score have been extracted. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An electronic messaging system, comprising:
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a processor; and a non transitory computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to store; a plurality of client units arranged to send electronic messages wherein each of the client units is associated with a predetermined client identity in the system; a plurality of server units arranged to receive the electronic messages sent by the plurality of client units; at least one message processing apparatus arranged to intercept the electronic messages with store-and-forward type interception between the plurality of client units and at least one of the plurality of server units, wherein the message processing apparatus comprises; a message receiving unit arranged to receive one of the electronic messages from a particular client unit amongst the plurality of client units and to determine the client identity with respect to the particular client unit; a reputation score allocation unit arranged to allocate a reputation score to the electronic message with respect to the client identity; a message queuing unit arranged to store the electronic message in a message queue containing a plurality of the electronic messages and ordered according to the reputation score allocated to each of the electronic messages; a message analysis unit arranged to extract an electronic message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue and to analyze the extracted electronic message with respect to one or more message filtering functions; and a message forwarding unit arranged to forward the extracted electronic message to the at least one of the plurality of server units, wherein messages from a trusted client unit are allocated a high reputation score and take priority for analysis through the message queue, and messages from a non-trusted client unit are allocated a lower reputation score and remain in the message queue until all messages with a higher reputation score have been extracted. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method of processing electronic messages between a client unit and a server unit in an electronic messaging system, comprising:
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receiving an electronic message from a client unit; determining a client identity with respect to the client unit; allocating a reputation score to the electronic message with respect to the determined client identity; storing the electronic message in a message queue ordered according to the reputation score allocated to the electronic message; extracting an electronic message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue; analyzing the extracted electronic message with respect to one or more message filtering functions; selectively forwarding the extracted electronic message to the server unit according to a result of the one or more filtering functions; and allocating a high reputation score to a message from a trusted client unit, and allocating a lower reputation score to a message from a non-trusted client unit; wherein all messages in the message queue with a higher reputation score are extracted from the message queue before messages with a lower reputation score are extracted from the message queue.
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33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon instructions executable by a computer to perform:
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receiving an electronic message from a client unit;
determining a client identity with respect to the client unit;allocating a reputation score to the electronic message with respect to the determined client identity; storing the electronic message in a message queue ordered according to the reputation score allocated to the electronic message; extracting an electronic message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue; analyzing the extracted electronic message with respect to one or more message filtering functions; selectively forwarding the extracted electronic message according to a result of the one or more filtering functions; and allocate a high reputation score to a message from a trusted client unit, and allocate a lower reputation score to a message from a non-trusted client unit;
wherein all messages in the message queue with a higher reputation score are extracted from the message queue before messages with a lower reputation score are extracted from the message queue.
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34. A system for processing electronic messages between a client unit and a server unit in an electronic messaging system, comprising:
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a memory configured to store an ordered message queue; at least one processor configured to; receive an electronic message from a client unit;
determine a client identity with respect to the client unit;allocate a reputation score to the electronic message with respect to the determined client identity; store the electronic message in the ordered message queue with a plurality of electronic messages, the messages ordered according to the reputation score allocated to the electronic messages; extract an electronic message with the highest reputation score in the message queue from the message queue; analyze the extracted electronic message with respect to one or more message filtering functions; and selectively forward the extracted electronic message to the server unit according to a result of the one or more filtering functions, wherein messages from a trusted client unit are allocated a high reputation score and take priority for analysis through the message queue, and messages from a non-trusted client unit are allocated a lower reputation score and remain in the message queue until all messages with a higher reputation score have been extracted.
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Specification