Platform for Intelligent Email Distribution

• US 20060075052A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeroen Oostendorp
• Original Assignee: Jeroen Oostendorp
• Inventors: Oostendorp, Jeroen
• Application Number:
  US11/228,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

An Email filtering system is disclosed which comprises: a user interface module is mounted on a server and allows access by one or more end-users; a database module containing one or more configuration options relating to the end-users, and which is connected to the interface and allows configuration options to be set and altered by the end-users; a SMTP listener module connected to the database module and to an incoming data stream containing Email messages, and whose behaviour is controlled on an Email by Email basis by the configuration options; a scanning engine module connected to the database module and to the SMTP listener module, so that the configuration options for the end-users modify the scanning engine module behaviour on an Email by Email basis; and a SMTP relay module connected to the database module and to the scanning engine module for SMTP Email delivery to end-user Email. The present invention also comprises a process for filtering Email which involves listening to a data stream comprising SMTP Email messages to detect the Email messages; processing the Email messages according to one or more configuration options specific to one or more end-users stored in a user database; transferring the Email messages to a scanning engine module; scanning the Email messages for the presence of viruses, spam or unwanted content according to the configuration options specific to the end-users; and transferring the Email messages not containing viruses, spam or unwanted content to an SMTP relay module. The invention also comprises a process for modifying the configuration options specific to one or more end-users stored in a user database by displaying to the end-users said one or more configuration options; modifying the configuration options according to the preferences of the end-users; and transmitting the new configuration options to the database.

Claims

1. An Email filtering system characterized in that a database module (102) containing one or more configuration options relating to one or more end-users, and a scanning engine module (112) connected to said database module (102) wherein said one or more configuration options for said one or more end-users modify the scanning engine module (112) behaviour on an Email by Email basis.

3. The Email filtering system of claim 1 further characterized in that said scanning engine module (112) comprises at least one of:

the pre-filtering engine of claim 2 (200), an antivirus filter module (202), an anti-spam filter module (212) and a content control filtering module (222).

5. The Email system according to claim 3 further characterized in that said at least one of:

an antivirus filter module (202), an anti-spam filter module (212) and a content control filtering module (222) are updated from a master server (118).

6. The Email filtering system of claim 1 additionally comprising a user interface module (103) which allows access by said one or more end-users whereby said one or more configuration options may be set and altered by said one or more end-users.

7. The Email filtering system of claim 6 wherein said user interface module (103) comprises a web user interface.

8. The Email filtering system of claim 7 wherein said web user interface module (103) is a user interface provided by third party, wherein users may access, after login and authentication to said third party version view, edit and manage their own settings.

9. The Email filtering system of claim 7 wherein said web user interface module (103) is a user interface provided by an xSP wherein users may access, after login and authentication to said xSP'"'"'s own systems and processes, view, edit and manage their own settings, without further authentication.

10. The Email filtering system of claim 6 wherein said access is via a corporate network, an intranet, the Internet or via hand-held or mobile devices.

11. The Email filtering system of claim 6 wherein said access is via secure communication.

12. The Email filtering system of claim 11 wherein said secure communication comprises a Secure Sockets Layer.

13. The Email filtering system of claim 1 additionally comprising a SMTP listener module (106) connected to said database module (102) and to an incoming data stream (108), said incoming data stream comprising Email messages, whereby said one or more configuration options for said one or more end-users modify the SMTP listener module (106) behaviour on a Email by Email basis.

14. The Email filtering system of claim 13 additionally comprising a data queue (110) to accept output from said SMTP port listener (106).

15. The Email filtering system of claim 1 additionally comprising a SMTP relay module (126) connected to said database module (102) and to said scanning engine module (112) for SMTP Email delivery to end-user Email, whereby filtered Emails are transmitted to an outgoing data stream (122).

16. The Email filtering system of claim 15 additionally comprising an outbound queue for clean processed mail (120).

17. The Email filtering system of claim 1 additionally comprises a set-up process (104), enabling a third party user database to be synchronized as appropriate with the user database (102).

18. A process for filtering Email comprising:

a. listening to a data stream (108) comprising SMTP Email messages and detecting said Email messages;

b. filtering said Email messages using the Email filtering system of claim 1;

c. transferring Email messages not containing viruses, spam or unwanted content to an SMTP relay module (126);

whereby filtered emails are returned to said data stream.

19. The process of claim 18 additionally comprising:

modifying said configuration options specific to one or more end-users stored in a user database (102) whereby said one or more configuration options for said one or more end-users.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein said step of modifying said configuration options comprises:

a. displaying to said one or more end-users said one or more configuration options;

b. modifying said configuration options according to preferences of said one or more users;

c. transmitting new configuration options to said database (102).

2. An Email pre-filtering engine (200) characterized in that a probable status of an Email prior to further analysis by further engines is determined by a defined rule set, wherein said further engines are at least one of:

an antivirus filter module (202), an anti-spam filter module (212) and a content control filtering module (222), and wherein if said probable status is good said Email is not subject to further analysis.

4. The Email filtering system of claim 2 additionally comprising a quarantine queue (208, 220, 230) for secure holding of mail for each of said at least one of:

said antivirus filter module (202), said anti-spam filter module (212) and said content control filtering module (222).