Method and system for filtering spam using an adjustable reliability value

US7552186B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Carsten Werner · Kassel, DE
• Mark Usher · Kassel, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 10, 2005
• Grant date: Jun 23, 2009
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L51/48
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A spam detection system can monitor incoming and outgoing email messages and prevent email messages from being delivered. This spam detection system incorporates a sender ranking system that maintains prior sender's email addresses and an associated reliability value in a database. If an email message is categorized as spam, the system searches to see if the sender is located in the database. If the sender is located in the database and their reliability value is above a certain threshold, the sender's reliability value is decreased and the email message is treated as not spam. If the sender is not located in the database, the email message is discarded as spam. If an email message is not categorized as spam, prior users located in the database will have their reliability values increased, while new users will be entered into the database at a default level.