Patent ID: 6931433
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting electronic text communication distributed in bulk, the method comprising steps of: receiving a first electronic text communication; determining if a character count of the first electronic text communication exceeds a first threshold; choosing a fingerprint algorithm based upon the step of determining if the character count of the first electronic text communication exceeds the first threshold; processing the first electronic text communication with an algorithm to produce a first fingerprint; beginning a time period for the first electronic text communication; receiving a second electronic text communications; processing the second electronic text communications with the algorithm to produce a second fingerprint; comparing the first fingerprint to the second fingerprint to determine if the first electronic text communication is similar to the second electronic text communication; updating a count for the first electronic text communication based upon the comparing step; and determining if the count during the time period reaches a second threshold.