Patent · US Expired

Method and system for filtering unwanted junk e-mail utilizing a plurality of filtering mechanisms

US6023723A · kind A · utility

501Cited by
8References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1997
Grant dateFeb 8, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99953
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method of filtering junk e-mails. The user is provided with or compiles a list of e-mail addresses or character strings which the user would not wish to receive to produce a first filter. A second filter is provided including names and character strings which the user wishes to receive. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the first filter will be automatically eliminated from the users system. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the second filter would be automatically sent to the users "In Box". Any e-mail not provided in either of the filter lists will be sent to a "Waiting Room" for user review. If this user review results in the user rejecting any e-mail, the address as well as specific character strings included in this e-mail would be transmitted to a central location to be included in a master list. This master list is periodically sent to each of the users allowing the first filter to be updated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.