Patent ID: 8321513

Claim:
A computer network-based messaging system including a multiple-layer chat filtering system for controlling a content of messages sent by users in the messaging system, the messaging system comprising: a computer that receives a message, the message including a plurality of words entered by a sender; said computer including one or more data storage devices, storing a word database including a plurality of permitted words which are allowed to be transmitted, and a phrase database including a plurality of prohibited phrases which are not allowed to be transmitted, at least one of the plurality of prohibited phrases consisting of a plurality of individual words that are each individually included in the word database; a multiple-layer filter, said multiple-layer filter including a first filter part which uses said permitted words from said word database, and which blocks a first message only if any of the individual words in said first message are not within the permitted words, and a second filter part which uses said prohibited phrases from said phrase database, and blocks the first message only if any of the plurality of prohibited phrases are contained in the message, said computer passing a message only if its individual words are within said word database, and also its individual phrases are not in said phrase database, and where said computer does not pass a message that includes words in said word database and a phrase that is in said phrase database; and a message sending part that transmits the message over a computer network only if said message is passed.