Patents by Inventor Brian K. Wilson

Brian K. Wilson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130191480
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for registering a email sender for the purpose of sending an email message to an email receiver including receiving a challenge message wherein the challenge message includes a machine answerable question; processing the challenge message to determine that it is a challenge message sent for the purpose of authorizing delivery of the email message; analyzing the question to determine a valid response to the challenge message; and sending the valid response that includes the answer wherein a nontrivial amount of resources are required to send the valid response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, Brian K. Wilson, Damon K. Uyeda, Scott D. Eikenberry, David A. Koblas, Tim Nufire
  • Patent number: 8484301
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying in the message a distinguishing property; generating a signature using the distinguishing property; and comparing the signature to a database of signatures generated by previously classified messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Arno A. Penzias
  • Patent number: 8463861
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying all items of a certain type in the message, determining whether each of the items meets a criterion, and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determining a classification of the message. The system includes an interface configured to receive the message, a processor coupled to the interface, configured to identify all items of a certain type in the message; determine whether each of the items meets a criterion; and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determine a classification of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8396926
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for registering a email sender for the purpose of sending an email message to an email receiver including receiving a challenge message wherein the challenge message includes a machine answerable question; processing the challenge message to determine that it is a challenge message sent for the purpose of authorizing delivery of the email message; analyzing the question to determine a valid response to the challenge message; and sending the valid response that includes the answer wherein a nontrivial amount of resources are required to send the valid response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, Brian K. Wilson, Damon K. Uyeda, Scott D. Eikenberry, David A. Koblas, Tim Nufire
  • Publication number: 20120331069
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for maintaining a whitelist, including: obtaining message data based on an email message sent by a user; extracting recipient information from message data; updating the whitelist using the recipient information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Paul R. Wieneke, Scott D. Eikenberry, Tim Nufire, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8296382
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing a message through a plurality of test methods. The method includes: receiving a message; applying a first test method to the message; updating a state of the message based on the first test method; and determining a second test method to be applied to the message based on the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Scott D. Eikenberry, Paul R. Wieneke, Damon K. Uyeda, Tim Nufire, Jonathan J. Oliver
  • Patent number: 8285804
    Abstract: Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, Kwok H. Ng, Damon K. Uyeda, Scott D. Eikenberry, David A. Koblas
  • Patent number: 8271603
    Abstract: A system and method for diminishing false positive classifications of unsolicited electronic-mail is disclosed. An electronic-mail message is received whereby a set of message classifiers are applied the message. One or more signatures indicative of unsolicited electronic-mail based on at least the application of the aforementioned classifiers is generated. The one or more signatures are applied to subsequently incoming electronic-mail messages whereby unsolicited electronic-mail may be more accurately identified and false positive identification of normal electronic-mail messages are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Arno A. Penzias
  • Patent number: 8266215
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying in the message a distinguishing property; generating a signature using the distinguishing property; and comparing the signature to a database of signatures generated by previously classified messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Arno A. Penzias
  • Publication number: 20120131118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a message are provided. A message may be processed to generate a message summary by removing or replacing certain words, phrases, sentences, punctuation, and the like. Message signatures based upon the message summary may be generated and stored in a signature database, which may be used to identify and/or classify spam messages. Subsequently received messages may be classified by signature and processed based on classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120131119
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying all items of a certain type in the message, determining whether each of the items meets a criterion, and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determining a classification of the message. The system includes an interface configured to receive the message, a processor coupled to the interface, configured to identify all items of a certain type in the message; determine whether each of the items meets a criterion; and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determine a classification of the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120101967
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving a statistical message classifier. A message may be tested with a machine classifier, wherein the machine classifier is capable of making a classification on the message. In the event the message is classifiable by the machine classifier, the statistical message classifier is updated according to the reliable classification made by the machine classifier. The message may also be tested with a first classifier. In the event that the message is not classifiable by the first classifier, it is tested with a second classifier, wherein the second classifier is capable of making a second classification. In the event that the message is classifiable by the second classifier, the statistical message classifier is updated according to the second classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SONICWALL, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan J Oliver, Scott Roy, Scott D. Eikenberry, Bryan Kim, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8112486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a message are provided. A message may be processed to generate a message summary by removing or replacing certain words, phrases, sentences, punctuation, and the like. Message signatures based upon the message summary may be generated and stored in a signature database, which may be used to identify and/or classify spam messages. Subsequently received messages may be classified by signature and processed based on classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8108477
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying all items of a certain type in the message, determining whether each of the items meets a criterion, and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determining a classification of the message. The system includes an interface configured to receive the message, a processor coupled to the interface, configured to identify all items of a certain type in the message; determine whether each of the items meets a criterion; and in the event that all the items are determined to meet the criterion, determine a classification of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Oliver, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110238765
    Abstract: Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, Kwok H. Ng, Damon K. Uycda, Scott D. Eikenberry, David A. Koblas
  • Publication number: 20110231503
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing a message through a plurality of test methods. The method includes: receiving a message; applying a first test method to the message; updating a state of the message based on the first test method; and determining a second test method to be applied to the message based on the state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Scott D. Eikenberry, Paul R. Wieneke, Damon K. Uyeda, Tim Nufire, Jonathan J. Oliver
  • Publication number: 20110184976
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying in the message a distinguishing property; generating a signature using the distinguishing property; and comparing the signature to a database of signatures generated by previously classified messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Arno A. Penzias
  • Patent number: 7962560
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for maintaining a whitelist, including: obtaining message data based on an email message sent by a user; extracting recipient information from message data; updating the whitelist using the recipient information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Wieneke, Scott D. Eikenberry, Tim Nufire, David A. Koblas, Brian K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7925707
    Abstract: Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, Kwok H. Ng, Damon K. Uyeda, Scott D. Eikenberry, David A. Koblas
  • Patent number: 7921204
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing a message through a plurality of test methods. The method includes: receiving a message; applying a first test method to the message; updating a state of the message based on the first test method; and determining a second test method to be applied to the message based on the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wilson, David A. Koblas, Scott D. Eikenberry, Paul R. Wieneke, Damon K. Uyeda, Tim Nufire, Jonathan J. Oliver