EP0813162A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for identifying and discarding junk electronic mail
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to provide electronic mail systems with the capability for a group of trusted users to collectively determine whether a given electronic mail message is junk e-mail. Further, if the given electronic mail message is determined to be junk mail, the e-mail systems of other trusted users in the group dispose of unviewed copies of the junk e-mail. Thus, the invention reduces the exposure of junk e-mail messages to the group of trusted users. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A computer controlled method for processing electronic mail (e-mail) comprising the steps of: (a) presenting an e-mail message to a first trusted recipient; said first trusted recipient being one of a plurality of trusted recipients; (b) classifying said e-mail message as junk e-mail; and (c) preventing presentation of said e-mail message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 whereby said plurality of trusted recipients are known to a trusted group server and said computer controlled method of claim 1 further comprising: (b1) notifying said trusted group server that said first trusted recipient has classified said e-mail message as junk e-mail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 whereby step (b1) further comprises sending a junk mail report message to said trusted group server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 whereby step (c) further comprises: (c3) sending a junk mail warning message to said plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer method of claim 4 whereby step (c) further comprises: (c1) receiving a junk mail report message; and (c2) initiating step c3 after receiving said junk mail report message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 whereby step (c) further comprises: (c1) receiving a junk mail warning message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer controlled method of claim 6 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic and whereby step (c) further comprises: (c4) deleting an unpresented e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer controlled method of claim 7 whereby step (c) further comprises: (c2) storing said identifying characteristic; and (c3) receiving said unpresented e-mail message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electronic mail (e-mail) system having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; said system comprising: a presentation mechanism configured to present an e-mail message to a first trusted recipient; said first trusted recipient being one of a plurality of trusted recipients; a classification mechanism configured to allow said first trusted recipient to classify said e-mail message; and a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of said e-mail message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electronic mail system of claim 9 whereby said plurality of trusted recipients are known to a trusted group server and whereby the electronic mail system of claim 9 further comprises: a notification mechanism configured to notify said trusted group server that said first trusted recipient has classified said e-mail message as junk e-mail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electronic mail system of claim 10 whereby said notification mechanism is further configured to send a junk mail report message to said trusted group server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic mail system of claim 11 or the method of claim 3 whereby said junk mail report message includes an x-junk-mail-report header.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electronic mail system of claim 11 or the method of claim 3 whereby said junk mail report message includes an identifying characteristic of said e-mail message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electronic mail system of claim 9 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to one or more of said plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electronic mail system of claim 14, whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises: a reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and an initiation mechanism configured to initiate said warning mechanism after receiving said junk mail report message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic mail system of claim 14 or the method of claim 4 whereby said junk mail warning message includes an x-junk-mail-warning header.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electronic mail system of claim 9 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a first reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail warning message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electronic mail system of claim 17 wherein said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic and whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a deletion mechanism configured to dispose of an unpresented e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electronic mail system of claim 18 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises: a storage mechanism configured to store said identifying characteristic; and a second reception mechanism configured to receive said unpresented e-mail message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic mail (e-mail) apparatus configured to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; said apparatus comprising: a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an e-mail message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
A signal for causing an electronic mail (e-mail) apparatus to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; the signal causing the apparatus to implement: a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an e-mail message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of storing data as a recording medium, the method comprising storing data representative of a signal, which signal causes an electronic mail (e-mail) apparatus to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; the signal causing the apparatus to implement: a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an e-mail message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electronic mail apparatus of claim 20, the signal of claim 21 or the method of claim 22 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a junk mail warning message reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail warning message.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electronic mail apparatus, signal or method of claim 23 whereby said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic and said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a junk mail deletion mechanism configured to dispose of said e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electronic mail apparatus, signal or method of claim 24 whereby said junk mail deletion mechanism further comprises a junk mail intercept mechanism configured to dispose of said e-mail message prior to said e-mail message being stored in an inbox.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electronic mail apparatus, signal or method of claim 24 whereby said junk mail deletion mechanism further comprises a junk mail removal mechanism configured to scan an inbox to dispose of said e-mail message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electronic mail apparatus of claim 20, the signal of claim 21, or the method of claim 22 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises a junk mail reporting mechanism configured to send a junk mail report message to a trusted group server.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
A trusted group server apparatus configured to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; said apparatus comprising: a notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient served by said trusted group server apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
A signal for causing a trusted group server apparatus to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; the signal causing the apparatus to implement: a notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient served by said trusted group server apparatus.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of storing data as a recording medium, the method comprising storing date representative of a signal, which signal causes a trusted group server apparatus to process electronic mail messages; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism; the signal causing the apparatus to implement: a notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and a warning mechanism configured to send a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient served by said trusted group server apparatus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trusted server apparatus of claim 28, the signal of claim 29 or the method of claim 30 further comprising an initiation mechanism configured to initiate said warning mechanism after receipt of said junk mail report message.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to process electronic mail messages; said computer readable code comprising: (b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a presentation prevention mechanism configured to prevent presentation of an e-mail message to one or more of a plurality of trusted recipients.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program product of claim 32, whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a junk mail warning message reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail warning message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program of claim 33 whereby said junk mail warning message includes an identifying characteristic and said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a junk mail deletion mechanism configured to dispose of said e-mail message having said identifying characteristic.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer program product of claim 34 whereby said junk mail deletion mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a junk mail intercept mechanism configured to dispose of said e-mail message prior to said e-mail message being stored in an inbox.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer program product of claim 34 whereby said junk mail deletion mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a junk mail removal mechanism configured to scan an inbox to dispose of said e-mail message.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer program product of claim 32 whereby said presentation prevention mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a junk mail reporting mechanism configured to send a junk mail report message to a trusted group server.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to provide services to a trusted recipient said computer readable code comprising: (b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a notification reception mechanism configured to receive a junk mail report message; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a warning mechanism configured to said a junk mail warning message to a trusted group recipient served by said computer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an initiation mechanism configured to initiate said warning mechanism after receipt of said junk mail report message.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
A signal according to claim 21, any one of claims 23 to 27, claim 29 or claim 31, wherein the signal is recorded to a recording medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
A signal according to claim 40, wherein the recording medium comprises a magnetic disc, a magnetic tape, an optical disc or an electronic memory device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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