Message screening system

• US 8,776,222 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lu, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANE, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US13/345,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 726/22, 709/206, 715/205
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

A message screening system includes routing to a supervisory recipient an electronic message directed to an intended recipient. The supervisory recipient then is allowed to screen the electronic message by approving or rejecting the electronic message. The electronic message then is forwarded to the intended recipient if the electronic message is approved by the supervisory recipient.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a supervisory relationship between a supervisory person and at least one recipient;

receiving an electronic message transmitted across a network from a sender device and directed to an electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

determining, using at least one processor, an electronic message address of the supervisory person based on the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

delivering the electronic message to the determined electronic message address of the supervisory person before delivering the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

enabling the supervisory person to review the electronic message after the electronic message has been delivered to the electronic message address of the supervisory person; and

delivering the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient when a review condition is met.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the recipient that the electronic message has been sent to the supervisory person.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the review condition is met when the supervisory person approves the electronic message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the review condition is met when a period of time passes without the supervisory person rejecting the electronic message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an e-mail.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is a chat room message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an instant message.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processing device; and

a storage device that stores instructions for causing the at least one processing device to;

receive an electronic message transmitted across a network from a sender device and directed to an electronic message address of at least one recipient;

determine an electronic message address of a supervisory person based the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

deliver the electronic message to the determined electronic message address of the supervisory person before delivering the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

enable the supervisory person to review the electronic message after the electronic message has been delivered to the electronic message address of the supervisory person; and

deliver the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient when a review condition is met.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage device further stores instructions that cause the at least one processing device to notify the recipient that the electronic message has been sent to the supervisory person.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the review condition is met when the supervisory person approves the electronic message.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the review condition is met when a period of time passes without the supervisory person rejecting the electronic message.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic message is an e-mail.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic message is a chat room message.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic message is an instant message.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that contains instructions that cause at least one processor to perform the following:

receive an electronic message transmitted across a network from a sender device and directed to an electronic message address of at least one recipient;

determine an electronic message address of a supervisory person based on the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

deliver the electronic message to the determined electronic message address of the supervisory person before delivering the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient;

enable the supervisory person to review the electronic message after the electronic message has been delivered to the electronic message address of the supervisory person; and

deliver the electronic message to the electronic message address of the at least one recipient when a review condition is met.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the storage device further stores instructions that cause the at least one processor to notify the recipient that the electronic message has been sent to the supervisory person.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the review condition is met when the supervisory person approves the electronic message.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the review condition is met when a period of time passes without the supervisory person rejecting the electronic message.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the electronic message is an e-mail.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the electronic message is a chat room message.