Systems and methods for creating and updating reputation records

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided for generating a reputation record and filtering electronic messages, each reputation record including a reputation score and a reputation key. The method includes receiving at least one incoming event notification, including a reputation key; determining, based on the reputation key, whether a corresponding reputation record exists; creating a new reputation record if the corresponding reputation record does not exist; determining a trust determination function based on the incoming event notification; calculating a reputation score based on the determined trust determination function, the incoming event notification, and an attribute associated with the reputation key; storing the calculated reputation score along with the reputation key in either the new reputation record or the corresponding reputation record; and filtering one or more electronic messages based on the calculated reputation score.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for filtering electronic messages, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:
 calculating a reputation score for a reputation key assigned to an entity based on a trust determination function and a received event notification, the trust determination function comprising a function for calculating the reputation score; and   filtering one or more electronic messages associated with the reputation key based on the calculated reputation score.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein calculating a reputation score for the reputation key includes calculating reputation scores associated with different types of messaging systems. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 combining the reputation scores associated with the different types of messaging systems to determine an aggregate reputation score for the reputation key.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein combining the reputation scores associated with the different types of messaging systems to determine the aggregate reputation score includes calculating the aggregate reputation score based on an aggregate score function. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 calculating the reputation scores associated with the different types of messaging systems based on trust determination functions associated with the different types of messaging systems, each trust determination function associated with a messaging system comprising a function for calculating a reputation score associated with the messaging system.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein filtering one or more electronic messages based on the calculated reputation score includes blocking, suspending, or scrambling a password associated with an account associated with the reputation key. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 assigning a reputation category to the reputation key based on the calculated reputation score; and   filtering one or more electronic messages based on the assigned reputation category.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the reputation category is selected among a plurality of discrete reputation categories, each of the plurality of discrete reputation categories determined based on reputation score thresholds. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining whether a reputation score has been assigned to the reputation key; and   updating, when it is determined that a reputation score assigned to the reputation key, the assigned reputation score based on the calculated reputation score.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 providing an alert to a reputation alert subscriber, the alert indicating that the reputation score assigned to the reputation key has been updated.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a storage device that stores a program; and   at least one processor coupled to the storage device, the at least one processor being operative with the program to:
 calculate a reputation score for a reputation key assigned to an entity based on a trust determination function and a received event notification, the trust determination function comprising a function for calculating the reputation score; and 
 filter one or more electronic messages associated with the reputation key based on the calculated reputation score. 
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 calculate, for the reputation key, reputation scores associated with different types of messaging systems.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 combine the reputation scores associated with different types of messaging systems to determine an aggregate reputation score for the reputation key.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 calculate the aggregate reputation score based on an aggregate score function.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 calculate the reputation scores associated with different types of messaging systems based on trust determination functions associated with the different types of messaging systems, each trust determination function associated with a reputation system comprising a function for calculating a reputation score associated with the messaging system.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 block, suspend, or scramble a password associated with an account associated with the reputation key.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 assign a reputation category to the reputation key based on the calculated reputation score; and   filter one or more electronic messages based on the assigned reputation category.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine whether a reputation score has been assigned to the reputation key; and   update, when it is determined that a reputation score assigned to the reputation key, the assigned reputation score based on the calculated reputation score.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 provide an alert to a reputation alert subscriber, the alert indicating that the reputation score assigned to the reputation key has been updated.   
     
     
         40 . A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method, comprising:
 calculating a reputation score for a reputation key assigned to an entity based on a trust determination function and a received event notification, the trust determination function comprising a function for calculating the reputation score; and   filtering one or more electronic messages associated with the reputation key based on the calculated reputation score.