US6654787B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for filtering e-mail
Assignee: BRIGHT MAIL Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-31
•
Granted: 2003-11-25
•
Expires: 2018-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A server is disclosed for filtering e-mail messages. The server receives requests to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client and then retrieves e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client. The server then filters the e-mail messages based on one or more rules and transfers the filtered e-mail messages to the client. In addition, the server continues to filter the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server. In one embodiment of the invention the e-mail message recipient is sent a notification by the server indicating that messages have been filtered. The recipient is then able to scan the filtered messages and insure that the messages have been filtered correctly. In another embodiment, a third party scans the e-mail messages on behalf of the e-mail user to make this determination. Also disclosed is an e-mail filter comprising an application programming interface and a plurality of dynamically loaded rule modules adapted to interface with the API. The rule modules are activated and deactivated based on usage. Specifically, rule modules which have not been used for a predetermined period of time are deactivated. In addition, different rule modules are assigned different weighted values based on the probability that the rule module will accurately filter e-mail messages and/or on the content of the e-mail messages.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Alex Aronson
- 👤 Sunil Paul
- 👤 Kirpal Singh Khalsa
- 👤 Timothy Milan Pozar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/02; H04L63/0227; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; H04L63/08; H04L63/083; H04L63/14; H04L63/1441; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; receiving a request to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client; retrieving one or more e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client; filtering the e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and transferring one or more of the filtered e-mail messages to the client, while storing the e-mail messages not transferred to the client in a memory on the server.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; receiving a request to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client; retrieving one or more e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client; filtering the e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and transferring one or more of the filtered e-mail messages to the client, while storing the e-mail messages not transferred to the client in a memory on the server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 including the initial step of receiving a user name and a password from the client and transmitting the user name and password to the mail server on behalf of the client.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the filtered e-mail messages are transferred to the client before all of the e-mail messages stored on the mail server have been retrieved from the mail server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the filtered e-mail messages are transferred to the client before all of the e-mail messages have been filtered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 3 wherein the server continues to retrieve one or more e-mail messages from the mail server after the client has disconnected from the server.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The server as claimed in claim 4 wherein the server continues to filter one or more of the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on information in the e-mail message header.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on the address from which the e-mail messages originate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on keywords within the e-mail messages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on a mathematical signature of the e-mail messages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on whether the e-mail messages contains computer viruses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on an inclusion list.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filtering step is performed by a filter module comprised of an application programming interface (“API”) and one or more dynamically-linked rule modules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server monitors how frequently each of the rules for filtering the e-mail messages are utilized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The server as claimed in claim 14 wherein the rules for filtering the e-mail messages become inactive if not utilized for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using the Post Office Protocol 3 (“POP3”).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using Interactive Mail Access Protocol (“IMAP”).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using Distributed Mail System Protocol (“DMSP”).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The server as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server communicates with the client using a different mail protocol it uses to communicate with the mail server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
A first server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; retrieving messages from a second server on behalf of a client; sorting messages into two or more groups based on one or more rules, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and forwarding messages sorted into one of the groups to the client, while storing the messages not forwarded to the client in a memory on the first server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
133 words
A first server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; retrieving messages from a second server on behalf of a client; sorting messages into two or more groups based on one or more rules, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and forwarding messages sorted into one of the groups to the client, while storing the messages not forwarded to the client in a memory on the first server.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the stored messages are deleted after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 including the initial step of receiving a user name and a password from the client and transmitting the user name and password to the second server on behalf of the client.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein messages sorted into one of the groups are transferred to the client before all of the messages stored on the second server have been retrieved from the second server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein messages sorted into one of the groups are transferred to the client before all of the messages have been sorted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first server continues to retrieve one or more messages from the second server after the client has disconnected from the first server.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first server continues to sort messages after the client has disconnected from the first server.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the rules are weighted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The first server as claimed in claim 27 wherein the rules are weighted based on the likelihood that the means for filtering has accurately identified the e-mail message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The first server as claimed in claim 28 wherein if more than one rule identifies the e-mail message as spam, the weights of the rules identifying the e-mail message as spam are added together to produce a cumulative weighted value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The first server as claimed in claim 29 wherein the filter is set to filter e-mail messages based on a predetermined cumulative weighted value.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the messages stored in the memory of the first server are reviewed by message recipient to determine whether the messages have been grouped correctly.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The first server as claimed in claim 20 wherein the messages stored in the memory of the first server are reviewed by a third party to determine whether the messages have been grouped correctly.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
116 words
An e-mail filter comprising: an application programming interface (“API”); a plurality of rule handling filter modules adapted to interface with the API, the plurality of rule handling filter modules adapted to filter e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the filtered e-mail messages transferred to a client, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use, wherein one or more fictitious probes are created to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; and a storage module on a server to store e-mail messages not transferred to the client.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
116 words
An e-mail filter comprising: an application programming interface (“API”); a plurality of rule handling filter modules adapted to interface with the API, the plurality of rule handling filter modules adapted to filter e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the filtered e-mail messages transferred to a client, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use, wherein one or more fictitious probes are created to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; and a storage module on a server to store e-mail messages not transferred to the client.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 33 wherein one of the plurality of rule handling filter modules filters e-mail messages based on a mathematical signature of the e-mail messages.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 34 wherein the mathematical signature is a checksum.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 33 wherein one of the plurality of rule handling filter modules filters e-mail messages based on one or more keywords within the e-mail messages.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 33 wherein one of the plurality of rule handling filter modules filters e-mail messages based on information within the e-mail message headers.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 33 wherein one of the plurality of rule handling filter modules filters e-mail messages based on the network address form which the e-mail messages originate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 33 wherein the rule handling filter modules are weighted based on the likelihood that they will accurately filter the e-mail messages.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 39 wherein if more than one rule handling filter module identifies the email message as spam, the weights of the rule handling filter modules identifying the e-mail message as spam are added together to produce a cumulative weighted value.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The e-mail filter as claimed in claim 39 wherein the email filter is configured to filter e-mail messages based on a predetermined cumulative weighed value.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
154 words
A server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; receiving a request to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client; retrieving one or more e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client; filtering the e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and transferring one or more of the filtered e-mail messages to the client, while storing the e-mail messages not transferred to the client in a memory on the server.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
154 words
A server having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: creating at least one fictitious email probe email address selected to appear on spam email mailing lists and to receive sample spam email messages; receiving a request to retrieve e-mail messages on behalf of a client; retrieving one or more e-mail messages from a mail server on behalf of the client; filtering the e-mail messages based on one or more rules to produce one or more filtered e-mail messages, the rules being dynamically established utilizing sample email messages retrieved from one or more probes and aged based on frequency of use; and transferring one or more of the filtered e-mail messages to the client, while storing the e-mail messages not transferred to the client in a memory on the server.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
38 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 including the initial step of receiving a user name and a password from the client and transmitting the user name and password to the mail server on behalf of the client.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein one or more of the filtered e-mail messages are transferred to the client before all of the e-mail messages stored on the mail server have been retrieved from the mail server.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein one or more of the filtered e-mail messages are transferred to the client before all of the e-mail messages have been filtered.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 45 wherein the server continues to retrieve one or more e-mail messages from the mail server after the client has disconnected from the server.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
The server as claimed in claim 46 wherein the server continues to filter one or more of the e-mail messages after the client has disconnected from the server.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on information in the e-mail message header.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on the address from which the e-mail messages originate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on keywords within the e-mail messages.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on a mathematical signature of the e-mail messages.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on whether the e-mail messages contains computer viruses.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the e-mail messages are filtered based on an inclusion list.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
32 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the filtering step is performed by a filter module comprised of an application programming interface (“API”) and one or more dynamically linked rule modules.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
24 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the server monitors how frequently each of the rules for filtering the e-mail messages are utilized.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
The server as claimed in claim 55 wherein the rules for filtering the e-mail messages become inactive if not utilized for predetermined period of time.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
31 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using the Post Office Protocol 3 (“POP3”).
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using Interactive Mail Access Protocol (“IMAP”).
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the server performs the step of retrieving one or more e-mail messages from the mail server using Distributed Mail System Protocol (“DMSP”).
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
The server as claimed in claim 42 wherein the server communicates with the client using a different mail protocol it uses to communicate with the mail server.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-11-24 | 2007-05-26 | 2007-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-11-24 | 2011-05-26 | 2011-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-11-24 | 2015-05-26 | 2015-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |