Computer virus screening methods and systems

Abstract

A virus screening method includes steps of routing a call between a calling party and a called party of a telephone network, receiving computer data from a first party of the calling party and the called party, and detecting a virus in the computer data. In response to detecting the virus, a step of inhibiting communication of at least a portion the computer data to a second party of the calling party and the called party is performed. A virus screening system is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving computer data from a first computer for transmission to a second computer via a telephone network; and    screening the computer data for at least one virus within the telephone network before communicating the computer data to the second computer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 if the at least one virus is not detected, communicating the computer data to the second computer.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 if the at least one virus is detected, performing at least one of the following: 
 (i) inhibiting communication of at least a portion of the computer data to the second computer;  
 (ii) removing the at least one virus from the computer data prior to transferring the computer data to the second computer;  
 (iii) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the second computer;  
 (iv) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the first computer; and  
 (v) writing data to a database indicating that the at least one virus was detected.  
 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 receiving computer data from the second computer for transmission to the first computer via the telephone network; and  
 screening the computer data received from the second computer for at least one virus within the telephone network before communicating the computer data received from the second computer to the first computer.  
 
     
     
         5 . A system comprising: 
 a telephone network;    a first computer; and    a second computer in communication with the first computer via the telephone network;    wherein the telephone network is operative to screen computer data received from the first computer for at least one virus within the telephone network before communicating the computer data to the second computer.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a public telephone network.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a private telephone network.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a virtual telephone network.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises an end office, and wherein the end office screens the computer data for the at least one virus.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a central office, and wherein the central office screens the computer data for the at least one virus.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a tandem office, and wherein the tandem office screens the computer data for the at least one virus.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a service switching point, and wherein the service switching point screens the computer data for the at least one virus.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network comprises a processor remote to at least one of an end office, a central office, a tandem office, or a service switching point, and wherein the processor screens the computer data for the at least one virus.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network is further operative to screen computer data received from the second computer for at least one virus within the telephone network before communicating the computer data received from the second computer to the first computer.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network is further operative to communicate the computer data to the second computer if the at least one virus is not detected.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the telephone network is further operative to perform at least one of the following if the at least one virus is detected: 
 (i) inhibiting communication of at least a portion of the computer data to the second computer;    (ii) removing the at least one virus from the computer data prior to transferring the computer data to the second computer;    (iii) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the second computer;    (iv) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the first computer; and    (v) writing data to a database indicating that the at least one virus was detected.    
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable data operative to screen computer data sent from a first computer for transmission to a second computer via a telephone network for at least one virus, the screening being performed within the telephone network before the computer data is communicated to the second computer.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable data is further operative to communicate the computer data to the second computer if the at least one virus is not detected.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable data is further operative to perform at least one of the following if the at least one virus is detected: 
 (i) inhibiting communication of at least a portion of the computer data to the second computer;    (ii) removing the at least one virus from the computer data prior to transferring the computer data to the second computer;    (iii) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the second computer;    (iv) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the first computer; and    (v) writing data to a database indicating that the at least one virus was detected.    
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable data is further operative to screen computer data sent from the second computer to the first computer via the telephone network for at least one virus, the screening being performed within the telephone network before the computer data received from the second computer is communicated to the first computer.