Method and apparatus for filtering junk email
November 23, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesEvent-driven rule-based messaging system Message filtering techniques Virus detection and removal apparatus for computer networks Electronic funds transfer instruments Directory with options for access to and display of email addresses Method and apparatus for receiving electronic mail Electronic mail interface for a network server Anti-virus agent for use with databases and mail servers Finding an e-mail message to which another e-mail message is a response Communications system and method of operation for electronic messaging using structured response objects and virtual mailboxes InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 447590 filed on 11/23/1999US Classes:709/229, Network resources access controlling370/351, PATHFINDING OR ROUTING709/218, Using interconnected networks709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING709/238COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER DATA ROUTINGExaminersPrimary: Etienne, ArioAttorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG06F 015/16AbstractAn Active Filtering proxy filters electronic junk mail (also known as spam, bulk mail, or advertising) received at a Message Transfer Agent from remote Internet hosts using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). The proxy actively probes remote hosts that attempt to send mail to the protected mail server in order to identify dialup PCs, open relays, and forged email. The system provides multiple layers of defense including: connect-time filtering based on IP address, identification of dialup PCs attempting to send mail, testing for permissive (open) relays, testing for validity of the sender's address, and message header filtering. A sender's message must successfully pass through all relevant layers, or it is rejected and logged. Subsequent filters feed IP addresses back to the IP filtering mechanism, so subsequent mail from the same host can be easily blocked.Other References
Field of SearchNetwork resources access controllingREMOTE DATA ACCESSING Using interconnected networks Accessing a remote server Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERCONNECTING Demand based messaging COMPUTER CONFERENCING COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER DATA ROUTING PATHFINDING OR ROUTING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (OTHER THAN SYNCHRONIZATION) Processing of address header for routing, per se Distributed or remote access PLURAL EXCHANGE NETWORK OR INTERCONNECTION | |
