Patent ID: 6654787
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
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.