Message Filter Application for Communication Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication devices lack effective methods to filter incoming messages based on sender identification data, particularly in real-time, especially when dealing with forged or nonexistent sender addresses, and do not efficiently manage message filtering across multiple remote databases.

Innovation Solution

A communication device equipped with a message management program that filters received messages by comparing sender identification data to approved sender identification data retrieved from remote databases, allowing for real-time filtering and management of various message types, including emails, SMS, and IM messages, using a microprocessor and communication subsystem to access and process data from multiple remote databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If message filtering is performed by comparing sender identification data to approved data stored locally, then filtering speed is improved, but the accuracy of identifying forged or nonexistent sender addresses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering speedVSAvoidsender identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-arranges access to remote validation databases and establishes communication channels with authorized mailhosts in advance. When a message arrives, the system can immediately query the remote database to validate sender addresses without waiting for local data synchronization, thus maintaining fast filtering speed while improving identification accuracy through real-time validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary validation mechanism by querying remote databases and authorized mailhosts to verify sender addresses. This intermediary step acts as a mediator between the local filtering system and the ultimate truth of sender identity, allowing the system to maintain fast local filtering while periodically validating against external sources to improve accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple remote databases are queried to validate sender addresses, then sender identification accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesender identification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by querying only the necessary subset of remote databases based on the message type and sender domain. Rather than querying all available databases for every message, the system intelligently selects which databases to query, achieving sufficient validation accuracy without the full time cost of exhaustive checking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic action by implementing caching mechanisms that store validation results from remote databases. Instead of querying multiple databases for every single message, the system periodically updates its local cache of approved senders and uses this cached data for rapid filtering, performing remote queries only when the cache needs updating or when suspicious messages are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If real-time validation of sender addresses is performed by establishing connections to remote databases, then filtering accuracy is improved, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-synchronizing approved sender data from remote databases during periods of low network activity or when messages are not actively being filtered. This advance preparation reduces the need for real-time network connections during message filtering, thereby maintaining high filtering accuracy while reducing immediate network resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by scheduling regular updates of the local approved sender database from remote sources. Instead of continuously querying remote databases for every message validation, the system periodically refreshes its local data and uses this cached information for filtering, achieving good accuracy while significantly reducing network resource usage during peak filtering periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3236642B1Message filter program for a communication device
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3236642B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236642B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3236642B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device is configured to receive messages. The communication device may comprise a display screen upon which messages are displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one message management program on the communication device, filters incoming messages. The message management program comprising a message filter application filters received messages based on a comparison of sender identification data associated with a received message to approved sender identification data.