System and method for evaluating outbound messages
First Claim
1. A method for evaluating an outbound message comprising:
- receiving an outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the message comprises a first field element and a second field element;
accessing a message evaluation rule established by an administrator and stored in a datastore, wherein;
the message evaluation rule comprises a condition relating a specific data value of the first field element to a specific data value of the second field element; and
the message evaluation rule is configured to filter outbound messages originated by each of a plurality of user devices based on the condition relating the specific data value of the first field element to the specific data value of the second field element;
applying the message evaluation rule to the first field element and second field element of the outbound message;
determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied;
generating a display to alert a user when the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and
sending the outbound message when the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems enable evaluating a message prior to transmission to one or more addressees. In an embodiment, a message element evaluator applies rules to message field elements which may include message addressee and content elements before the message is transmitted. When a message evaluation rule is violated, an alert may be presented to the user. A message evaluation rule may allow the sender to confirm sending of the message, initiate editing of the message, or cancel the message. A message evaluation rule may also prohibit the message from being sent until the message is modified to conform to the message evaluation rule. The methods and systems may be applied to a variety of message types including electronic mail, simple message system, multimedia message system, and instant message system messages.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating an outbound message comprising:
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receiving an outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the message comprises a first field element and a second field element; accessing a message evaluation rule established by an administrator and stored in a datastore, wherein; the message evaluation rule comprises a condition relating a specific data value of the first field element to a specific data value of the second field element; and the message evaluation rule is configured to filter outbound messages originated by each of a plurality of user devices based on the condition relating the specific data value of the first field element to the specific data value of the second field element; applying the message evaluation rule to the first field element and second field element of the outbound message; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user when the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message when the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 45, 46)
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12. A computing device, comprising:
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a memory having stored therein a message evaluation rule established by an administrator, wherein; the message evaluation rule comprises a condition relating a specific data value of a first field element to a specific data value of a second field element; and the message evaluation rule is configured to filter outbound messages originated by each of a plurality of user devices based on the condition relating the specific data value the first field element to the specific data value of the second field element; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with a messaging application and with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising; receiving an outbound message from the messaging application, wherein the outbound message comprises a plurality of field elements including the first field element and the second field element; applying the message evaluation rule to the first field element and second field element of the outbound message; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 47, 48)
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23. A computing device, comprising:
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means for storing a message evaluation rule established by an administrator, wherein; the message evaluation rule comprises a condition relating a specific data value of a first field element to a specific data value of a second field element; and the message evaluation rule is configured to filter outbound messages originated by each of a plurality of user devices based on the condition relating the specific data value of the first field element to the specific data value of the second field element; means for receiving an outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the outbound message comprises a plurality of field elements including the first field element and the second field element; means for applying the message evaluation rule to the first field element and second field element of the outbound message; means for determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; means for generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and means for sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 49, 50)
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34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
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storing a message evaluation rule established by an administrator, wherein; the message evaluation rule comprises a condition relating a specific data value of a first field element to a specific data value of a second field element; and the message evaluation rule is configured to filter outbound messages originated by each of a plurality of user devices based on the condition relating the specific data value of the first field element to the specific data value of the second field element; receiving an outbound message from a messaging application wherein the outbound message comprises a plurality of field elements including the first field element and second field element; applying the message evaluation rule to the first field element and second field element of the outbound message; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 51, 52)
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53. A method for evaluating an outbound message comprising:
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receiving the outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the outbound message comprises field elements; accessing a message evaluation rule stored in a datastore, wherein the message evaluation rule comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of; determining whether an intended recipient address matches any of a list of prohibited recipients; determining whether a trademark or company name is used; determining whether any of improper language and grammar appears in the body of the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether a multimedia file is attached to the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether a number of intended recipient addresses exceeds a predetermined limit; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient address domains are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being prohibited from being sent from an originating user address; and determining whether the body of the message contains mutually exclusive references; applying the message evaluation rule to at least the first field element and second field element; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied.
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54. A computing device, comprising:
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a memory having stored therein a message evaluation rule that comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of; determining whether an intended recipient address matches any of a list of prohibited recipients; determining whether a trademark or company name is used; determining whether any of improper language and grammar appears in the body of the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether a multimedia file is attached to the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether a number of intended recipient addresses exceeds a predetermined limit; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient address domains are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being prohibited from being sent from an originating user address; and determining whether the body of the message contains mutually exclusive references; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with a messaging application and with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising; receiving an outbound message from the messaging application, wherein the message comprises field elements; accessing the message evaluation rule; applying the message evaluation rule to at least the first field element and second field element; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied.
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55. A method for evaluating an outbound message comprising:
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means for storing a message evaluation rule, wherein the message evaluation rule comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of; determining whether an intended recipient address matches any of a list of prohibited recipients; determining whether a trademark or company name is used; determining whether any of improper language and grammar appears in the body of the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether a multimedia file is attached to the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether a number of intended recipient addresses exceeds a predetermined limit; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient address domains are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being prohibited from being sent from an originating user address; and determining whether the body of the message contains mutually exclusive references; means for receiving an outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the outbound message comprises a plurality of field elements including the first field element and the second field element; means for accessing the message evaluation rule; means for applying the message evaluation rule to at least the first field element and second field element of the outbound message; means for determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; means for generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and means for sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied.
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56. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an outbound message from a messaging application, wherein the message comprises field elements; accessing a message evaluation rule stored in a datastore, wherein the message evaluation rule comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of; determining whether an intended recipient address matches any of a list of prohibited recipients; determining whether a trademark or company name is used; determining whether any of improper language and grammar appears in the body of the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether a multimedia file is attached to the outbound message if the intended recipient address matches any of a list of previously identified recipient addresses; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether a number of intended recipient addresses exceeds a predetermined limit; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient address domains are previously identified as being mutually exclusive; determining whether any of a plurality of intended recipient addresses are previously identified as being prohibited from being sent from an originating user address; and determining whether the body of the message contains mutually exclusive references; applying the message evaluation rule to at least the first field element and second field element; determining whether the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; generating a display to alert a user in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is satisfied; and sending the outbound message in response to determining that the condition of the message evaluation rule is not satisfied.
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Specification