"Technique which utilizes a probabilistic classifier to detect ""junk"" e-mail by automatically updating a training and re-training the classifier based on the updated training set"
US6161130A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99936
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique, specifically a method and apparatus that implements the method, which through a probabilistic classifier (370) and, for a given recipient, detects electronic mail (e-mail) messages, in an incoming message stream, which that recipient is likely to consider "junk". Specifically, the invention discriminates message content for that recipient, through a probabilistic classifier (e.g., a support vector machine) trained on prior content classifications. Through a resulting quantitative probability measure, i.e., an output confidence level, produced by the classifier for each message and subsequently compared against a predefined threshold, that message is classified as either, e.g., spam or legitimate mail, and, e.g., then stored in a corresponding folder (223, 227) for subsequent retrieval by and display to the recipient. Based on the probability measure, the message can alternatively be classified into one of a number of different folders, depicted in a pre-defined visually distinctive manner or simply discarded in its entirety.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.