Carrier Network URL Replacement for Spam Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing messaging services face challenges in effectively identifying and blocking unwanted mobile messages with embedded URLs, particularly those linking to inappropriate or malicious content, due to difficulties in tracing the source and requiring user intervention for reporting spam.
Innovation Solution
A system that replaces embedded URLs in text messages with shorter replacement URLs, directing users to a warning page that informs them of potential dangers and provides options to report spam, while storing the original URL for analysis, and allowing carriers to generate revenue through per-click charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spam detection methods block messages based on pattern matching and connection point identification, then some unwanted messages are filtered, but spammers can easily switch to new connection points and originating addresses to bypass blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary URL replacement mechanism where original URLs in spam messages are replaced with carrier-controlled replacement URLs. This intermediary layer allows the carrier to intercept and analyze URLs without exposing the original spam sources, while still enabling users to access legitimate content if the URL is not malicious. The replacement URL system acts as a buffer between users and spam sources, maintaining reliability while adapting to evolving spam techniques.
2Ease of operation
If users are required to manually report spam messages by forwarding to specific addresses, then spam reporting functionality is provided, but the originating address and connection point information is lost and users must know the reporting procedure in advance
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service spam reporting by automatically analyzing URLs in received messages without requiring user action. The carrier's server automatically replaces URLs, analyzes them for malicious content, and handles reporting internally. Users simply receive messages with replacement URLs that either work normally or display warnings, eliminating the need for manual reporting while preserving all originating address information through automatic logging and analysis.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the carrier implements a URL replacement system to protect users from malicious content, then user safety is improved, but the system complexity increases due to URL scanning, replacement, and analysis infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a URL replacement and analysis system before spam messages are delivered to users. The carrier's server is configured in advance to automatically scan incoming messages for URLs, replace them with controlled replacement URLs, and analyze the original URLs for malicious content. This preliminary processing occurs at the network level before messages reach user devices, providing protection without requiring complex user-side implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for handling mobile or text messages that include an original uniform resource locator (“URL”) replace the original uniform resource locator (“URL”) included in a body of the mobile message with a new replacement URL. Mobile messages may be sent to a mobile subscriber from a variety of sources, including other mobile subscribers both in and out of a carrier network, or from sources (e.g., a computer, etc.) outside of the carrier network. According to various implementations of the invention, when the mobile message is received by the carrier network (e.g., at a gateway to the carrier network or within the carrier network itself) the mobile message is scanned for a URL. If a URL is included in the mobile message, a replacement URL is generated and the original URL from the mobile message is replaced with the replacement URL. The original URL is stored and associated with the replacement URL for subsequent access and retrieval. The mobile message with the replacement URL is forwarded to the mobile subscriber. According to various implementations of the invention, when the mobile subscriber selects the replacement URL, the replacement URL directs the mobile device to content (e.g., a web page) notifying the mobile subscriber that content associated with the original URL is outside of the carrier network and providing a series of actions that the mobile subscriber may take.