Domain Trust Level System for Email Filtering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing issue of unwanted electronic communications, such as spam emails and instant messages, disrupts productivity and inbox organization, as current systems lack effective methods to identify and filter out unwanted messages from external domains.
Innovation Solution
A trust system where the sending domain assigns a trust level to electronic communications based on historical patterns and feedback, allowing the receiving domain to determine whether to forward or discard messages, with mechanisms to adjust confidence levels and maintain block/allow lists to ensure accurate assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If black list or white list methods are used to filter unwanted communications, then unwanted messages can be blocked, but the system complexity increases and cannot effectively handle inter-domain communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a trust level as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the sending domain's communication intent and the receiving domain's filtering decision. Instead of direct black/white listing, the sending domain assigns a trust level to each communication, which the receiving domain then uses to automatically determine whether to accept or reject the communication. This intermediary trust mechanism simplifies the filtering system while effectively handling inter-domain communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the filtering parameter from binary (black list/white list) to a continuous trust level parameter. The sending domain can assign different trust levels based on various factors, and the receiving domain adjusts its filtering behavior based on these varying trust levels. This parameter change enables more nuanced and effective filtering without increasing system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inter-domain instant messaging is allowed, then communication versatility increases, but unwanted message problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The trust level serves as an intermediary that enables inter-domain communication while protecting against unwanted messages. The sending domain's trust level assignment acts as a mediator that conveys communication intent across domain boundaries, allowing versatile inter-domain messaging while maintaining protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where receiving domains can report unwanted communications back to sending domains, allowing the sending domain to adjust future trust levels. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to inter-domain communication patterns while continuously improving filtering effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual black listing is used, then unwanted messages are filtered, but productivity decreases due to user time spent managing lists
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service filtering where the sending domain automatically assigns trust levels to its communications without requiring recipient intervention. This eliminates the need for users to manually manage black/white lists, as the trust level mechanism operates autonomously based on the sending domain's own assessment of communication legitimacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The trust level is assigned in advance by the sending domain before the communication reaches the recipient. This preliminary action by the sending domain pre-establishes the filtering decision, eliminating the need for recipients to spend time manually evaluating and managing blocked senders.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for identifying whether an electronic communication is likely to be unwanted by the recipient is provided. A trust system relies on a trust provider, such as a sending domain, to indicate whether an electronic communication is likely to be unwanted. The sending domain may assign its trust level to the electronic communications based on various factors. Upon receiving the electronic communication and the trust level assigned by the sending domain, the receiving domain may determine whether to forward the electronic communication to the recipient based on the trust level. If a sending domain consistently provides trust levels that are accurate assessments of whether electronic communications are unwanted, then the receiving domain learns to trust the trust levels assigned by the sending domain. In contrast, if the assigned trust levels are not accurate, then the receiving domain learns not to trust the sending domain and may discard all message from the receiving domain without forwarding them to the recipients.