E-mail filter and method thereof
US6421709B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/107
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method of filtering junk e-mails. A user is provided with or compiles a list of e-mail addresses or character strings which a 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 user's system. Any e-mail addresses or strings contained in the second filter would be automatically sent to the user's “in box”. Any e-mail not provided in either of the filtered lists will be sent to a “waiting room” for user review. This user review results in the user rejecting any e-mail, the addresses 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. A collaborative filter is used employing message base filtering that is not effected by e-mail header forgery and utilizes the networked intelligence of end users to maintain a highly inaccurate and comprehensive filter. The col…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.