Microsoft spam-filtering patent

[Stefane Fermigier <sf@fermigier.com>]

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='6,161,130'

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 collaborative filter would then use the real-time
input from the end users to keep the users involved in the filtering process.


-> More prior art research fun to follow...

        S.

-- 
Stéfane Fermigier, Tel: 06 63 04 12 77 (mobile).
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