Electronic message filter

• US 8,250,158 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Susquehanna International Group LLP
• Original Assignee: Susquehanna International Group LLP
• Inventors: Arnold, John E., Greenberg, Joel K., Macomber, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US12/352,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method includes: applying an unsent electronic message to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by a business or potentially harmful to the business; generating, based on an application of the unsent electronic message to the electronic screening tool, a risk assessment score for the unsent electronic message; determining that a value of the risk assessment score exceeds a threshold value; and following a determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value: generating an electronic alert message for a sender that indicates that the unsent electronic message comprises content that may be objectionable.

Claims

1. A method for identifying content that is potentially not authorized by a business or potentially harmful to the business, in an unsent electronic message composed by a sender affiliated with the business, the method comprising:

prior to transmission of the unsent electronic message from a server associated with the business to a recipient, applying the unsent electronic message to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business;

generating, based on an application of the unsent electronic message to the electronic screening tool, a risk assessment score for the unsent electronic message, with the risk assessment score specifying that the unsent electronic message comprises content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business;

determining that a value of the risk assessment score exceeds a threshold value; and

following a determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value;

generating, based on the determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value, an electronic alert message for the sender that indicates that the unsent electronic message comprises content that may be objectionable,

wherein the electronic alert message prompts the sender for an instruction to perform a function, with the function comprising one or more of;

sending the unsent electronic message to the recipient;

modifying the unsent electronic message;

sending the unsent electronic message to a first designated company official for review; and

segregating the unsent electronic message for review by a second designated company official.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from one or more of the sender, the first designated company official and the second designated company official a further transmission request;

following receipt of the further transmission request;

transmitting the unsent electronic message to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying one or more of the first designated company official and the second designated company official whether the unsent electronic message was subsequently sent by the sender.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic alert message sent to the sender does not include the unsent electronic message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to categorize the unsent electronic message comprising content that may be objectionable into at least one of a plurality of different categories each of which is associated with a different type of objectionable content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request by the sender to transmit the unsent electronic message to a recipient;

and applying the unsent electronic message to the electronic screening tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is applied to the unsent electronic message during composition of the unsent electronic message by the sender.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent electronic message comprises an unsent e-mail message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent electronic message comprises an unsent instant message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsent electronic message comprises an unsent message intended for a chat room.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of corporate collusion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of corporate fraud.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of securities fraud.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of price fixing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of workplace harassment.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of unlawful manipulation.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of workplace discrimination.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content indicative of an antitrust violation.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content that is potentially unauthorized by the business due to an organizational rank of the sender in the business.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool uses a neural network to identify content that is potentially unauthorized by the business.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool comprises at least one database that is updated periodically based on changes to one or more of case law, information in newspapers, press releases, and information disseminated over electronic media.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic screening tool identifies content that is potentially unauthorized by the business based at least in part on an analysis of a pattern of communication with at least one of the sender or recipient.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

embedding a link into the electronic alert message, with selection of the link enabling the sender to pass the unsent electronic message to a first designated company official for review or causing the unsent electronic message to be segregated for review by a second designated company official.

24. A method for identifying whether a first party is engaging in electronic communications that are potentially harmful to the first party, the method comprising:

applying one or more electronic messages sent by the first party to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content associated with a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party;

generating, based on an application of the one or more electronic messages to the electronic screening tool, a risk assessment score for at least one of the one or more electronic messages, with the risk assessment score specifying that the at least one of the one or more electronic messages comprises content associated with the situation that is potentially harmful to the first party;

determining that a value of the risk assessment score exceeds a threshold value; and

following a determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value;

generating, based on the determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value, an alert message for a second party indicating that the first party may be involved in the situation that is potentially harmful to the first party;

wherein the alert message prompts the second party for an instruction for handling of the at least one of the one or more electronic messages.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more electronic messages comprise one or more first electronic messages, and wherein the method further comprises:

applying one or more second electronic messages received by the first party to the electronic screening tool.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic screening tool analyzes both the content of the electronic messages and the frequency that messages are received from known senders in order to identify a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content associated with the use or sale of illegal drugs, the sale of alcohol or cigarettes to minors or credit card abuse.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic screening tool is programmed to identify content associated with abuse, molestation or abduction situations.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic screening tool uses a neural network to identify content associated with a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic screening tool uses a Bayesian Belief Network to identify content associated with a situation that is potentially harmful to the first party.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the alert message is transmitted via a preferred notification medium selected by the second party.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the preferred notification medium comprises one or more of a cellular phone, a land-line phone, a pager, an e-mail and a PDA device.

33. A non-transitory computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

apply an unsent electronic message to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by a business or potentially harmful to the business;

generate, based on an application of the unsent electronic message to the electronic screening tool, a risk assessment score for the unsent electronic message, with the risk assessment score specifying that the unsent electronic message comprises content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business;

determine that a value of the risk assessment score exceeds a threshold value; and

following a determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value;

generate, based on the determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value, an electronic alert message for the sender that indicates that the unsent electronic message comprises content that may be objectionable,

wherein the electronic alert message prompts the sender for an instruction to perform a function, with the function comprising one or more of;

sending the unsent electronic message to the recipient;

modifying the unsent electronic message;

sending the unsent electronic message to a first designated company official for review; and

segregating the unsent electronic message for review by a second designated company official.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

apply an unsent electronic message to an electronic screening tool programmed to identify content that is potentially not authorized by a business or potentially harmful to the business;

generate, based on an application of the unsent electronic message to the electronic screening tool, a risk assessment score for the unsent electronic message, with the risk assessment score specifying that the unsent electronic message comprises content that is potentially not authorized by the business or potentially harmful to the business;

determine that a value of the risk assessment score exceeds a threshold value; and

following a determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value;

generate, based on the determination that the value of the risk assessment score exceeds the threshold value, an electronic alert message for the sender that indicates that the unsent electronic message comprises content that may be objectionable,

wherein the electronic alert message prompts the sender for an instruction to perform a function, with the function comprising one or more of;

sending the unsent electronic message to the recipient;

modifying the unsent electronic message;

sending the unsent electronic message to a first designated company official for review; and

segregating the unsent electronic message for review by a second designated company official.