Patents by Inventor Mark Usher

Mark Usher 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).

  • Patent number: 11689548
    Abstract: A method for identification of malicious domains is provided. The method extracts a set of domain information from one or more input streams. The set of domain information includes a set of domains and a set of domain characteristics describing each domain. The method clusters the set of domains to generate a set of campaign clusters of related domains. The clusters are based on the set of domain characteristics. The method modifies the set of campaign clusters with a set of threat intelligence ratings to generate a set of enriched campaign clusters. A portion of the set of threat intelligence ratings correspond to one or more domains within the set of campaign clusters. The method determines a cluster designation for each campaign cluster of the set of enriched campaign clusters and distributes the cluster designations for each campaign cluster to one or more threat intelligence resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Usher, Johannes Noll, Uwe Küllmar, Dirk Harz, Marc Noske
  • Publication number: 20210014252
    Abstract: A method for identification of malicious domains is provided. The method extracts a set of domain information from one or more input streams. The set of domain information includes a set of domains and a set of domain characteristics describing each domain. The method clusters the set of domains to generate a set of campaign clusters of related domains. The clusters are based on the set of domain characteristics. The method modifies the set of campaign clusters with a set of threat intelligence ratings to generate a set of enriched campaign clusters. A portion of the set of threat intelligence ratings correspond to one or more domains within the set of campaign clusters. The method determines a cluster designation for each campaign cluster of the set of enriched campaign clusters and distributes the cluster designations for each campaign cluster to one or more threat intelligence resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Usher, Johannes Noll, Uwe Küllmar, Dirk Harz, Marc Noske
  • Patent number: 10810176
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting unsolicited bulk emails (UBE) is provided. The method may include receiving an email. The method may also include identifying a uniform resource locator (URL) contained in the received email. The method may then include dividing the identified URL into a plurality of component parts. The method may further include generating a tree structure based on the plurality of component parts. The method may also include generating an input string based on the generated tree structure. The method may then include calculating a hash value based on the generated input string. The method may further include determining if the calculated hash value matches a UBE hash value within a plurality of UBE hash values. The method may also include identifying the received email as a UBE based on determining that the calculated hash value matches the UBE hash value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Astrid Granacher, Dirk Harz, Juergen Kader, Johannes Noll, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 10764353
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 10706032
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting unsolicited bulk emails (UBE) is provided. The method may include receiving an email. The method may also include identifying a uniform resource locator (URL) contained in the received email. The method may then include dividing the identified URL into a plurality of component parts. The method may further include generating a tree structure based on the plurality of component parts. The method may also include generating an input string based on the generated tree structure. The method may then include calculating a hash value based on the generated input string. The method may further include determining if the calculated hash value matches a UBE hash value within a plurality of UBE hash values. The method may also include identifying the received email as a UBE based on determining that the calculated hash value matches the UBE hash value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Astrid Granacher, Dirk Harz, Juergen Kader, Johannes Noll, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 10686807
    Abstract: A method for classification of suspicious activities is provided. In the method, a first intrusion detection system comprising a normal operation mode and which is connected to a second intrusion detection system by a first communications connection is implemented. In response to detecting a malfunction of the first communications connection, the first intrusion detection system is switched from the normal operation mode to a limited operation mode for receiving first data from one or more honeypot systems and second data from the second intrusion detection system. A prediction model for representing malicious attacks is generated by execution of a predefined classification algorithm with respect to the received data, wherein the predefined classification algorithm further determine a model evaluation metric with respect to the prediction model. The prediction model is deployed to detect the malicious attacks if the model evaluation metric meets a predefined validation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gideon Zenz, Volker Vogeley, Dirk Harz, Mark Usher, Astrid Granacher
  • Publication number: 20190379677
    Abstract: A method for classification of suspicious activities is provided. In the method, a first intrusion detection system comprising a normal operation mode and which is connected to a second intrusion detection system by a first communications connection is implemented. In response to detecting a malfunction of the first communications connection, the first intrusion detection system is switched from the normal operation mode to a limited operation mode for receiving first data from one or more honeypot systems and second data from the second intrusion detection system. A prediction model for representing malicious attacks is generated by execution of a predefined classification algorithm with respect to the received data, wherein the predefined classification algorithm further determine a model evaluation metric with respect to the prediction model. The prediction model is deployed to detect the malicious attacks if the model evaluation metric meets a predefined validation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Gideon Zenz, Volker Vogeley, Dirk Harz, Mark Usher, Astrid Granacher
  • Publication number: 20190052694
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 10110658
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 9565236
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20160321254
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting unsolicited bulk emails (UBE) is provided. The method may include receiving an email. The method may also include identifying a uniform resource locator (URL) contained in the received email. The method may then include dividing the identified URL into a plurality of component parts. The method may further include generating a tree structure based on the plurality of component parts. The method may also include generating an input string based on the generated tree structure. The method may then include calculating a hash value based on the generated input string. The method may further include determining if the calculated hash value matches a UBE hash value within a plurality of UBE hash values. The method may also include identifying the received email as a UBE based on determining that the calculated hash value matches the UBE hash value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Astrid Granacher, Dirk Harz, Juergen Kader, Johannes Noll, Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20160321255
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting unsolicited bulk emails (UBE) is provided. The method may include receiving an email. The method may also include identifying a uniform resource locator (URL) contained in the received email. The method may then include dividing the identified URL into a plurality of component parts. The method may further include generating a tree structure based on the plurality of component parts. The method may also include generating an input string based on the generated tree structure. The method may then include calculating a hash value based on the generated input string. The method may further include determining if the calculated hash value matches a UBE hash value within a plurality of UBE hash values. The method may also include identifying the received email as a UBE based on determining that the calculated hash value matches the UBE hash value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Astrid Granacher, Dirk Harz, Juergen Kader, Johannes Noll, Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20150264107
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 8879837
    Abstract: The invention provides for a computer-implemented method for detecting one or more archive images matching a search image, each matching archive image being a derivative of the search image or being an original image the search image was derived from accessing a plurality of the archive images. For each of said archive images, a respective archive image histogram may be calculated, wherein each archive image histogram includes a plurality of combination micro-feature values. The archive image histogram may be stored to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20140201113
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Harz, Ralf Iffert, Mark Keinhoerster, Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20120328189
    Abstract: The invention provides for a computer-implemented method for detecting one or more archive images matching a search image, each matching archive image being a derivative of the search image or being an original image the search image was derived from accessing a plurality of the archive images. For each of said archive images, a respective archive image histogram may be calculated, wherein each archive image histogram includes a plurality of combination micro-feature values. The archive image histogram may be stored to a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 8086675
    Abstract: A method of generating a fingerprint of a bit sequence includes determining a relative occurrence frequency of each bit combination of a set of bit combinations in the bit sequence, wherein the set of bit combinations comprises all possible non-redundant sub-sequences of bits having at least one bit and at most a preset maximal number of bits. The method further includes determining for each bit combination of the set of bit combinations a difference value between the relative occurrence frequency of the bit combination and a random occurrence frequency, the random occurrence frequency relating to the expected random occurrence of the bit combination in the bit sequence. Moreover, the method includes allocating a set of bins, each bin of the set of bins being associated with a predetermined interval of difference values, each bin further relating to a bin value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Usher
  • Patent number: 7552186
    Abstract: A spam detection system can monitor incoming and outgoing email messages and prevent email messages from being delivered. This spam detection system incorporates a sender ranking system that maintains prior sender's email addresses and an associated reliability value in a database. If an email message is categorized as spam, the system searches to see if the sender is located in the database. If the sender is located in the database and their reliability value is above a certain threshold, the sender's reliability value is decreased and the email message is treated as not spam. If the sender is not located in the database, the email message is discarded as spam. If an email message is not categorized as spam, prior users located in the database will have their reliability values increased, while new users will be entered into the database at a default level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carsten Werner, Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20090030994
    Abstract: A method of generating a fingerprint of a bit sequence includes determining a relative occurrence frequency of each bit combination of a set of bit combinations in the bit sequence, wherein the set of bit combinations comprises all possible non-redundant sub-sequences of bits having at least one bit and at most a preset maximal number of bits. The method further includes determining for each bit combination of the set of bit combinations a difference value between the relative occurrence frequency of the bit combination and a random occurrence frequency, the random occurrence frequency relating to the expected random occurrence of the bit combination in the bit sequence. Moreover, the method includes allocating a set of bins, each bin of the set of bins being associated with a predetermined interval of difference values, each bin further relating to a bin value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (IBM)
    Inventor: Mark Usher
  • Publication number: 20060031373
    Abstract: A spam detection system can monitor incoming and outgoing email messages and prevent email messages from being delivered. This spam detection system incorporates a sender ranking system that maintains prior sender's email addresses and an associated reliability value in a database. If an email message is categorized as spam, the system searches to see if the sender is located in the database. If the sender is located in the database and their reliability value is above a certain threshold, the sender's reliability value is decreased and the email message is treated as not spam. If the sender is not located in the database, the email message is discarded as spam. If an email message is not categorized as spam, prior users located in the database will have their reliability values increased, while new users will be entered into the database at a default level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Internet Security Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Carsten Werner, Mark Usher