# US 2014/0274171 A1 · Identifying and blocking mobile messaging service spam > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0274171 A1 - Document ID: US20140274171A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/843,358 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - Inventors: Bradley D. COOPER; Kenneth M. POTAS; Lodema M. STEINBACH; Sethumadhav BENDI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140274171A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - H04L 51/212: using filtering or selective blocking - H04L 51/58: Message adaptation for wireless communication - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems and method for identifying and blocking short messaging service spam are disclosed. In some aspects, a first mobile messaging service message is received from a messaging source in a node of a mobile communication network, the first mobile messaging service message being addressed to a destination mobile device. The first mobile messaging service message is forwarded through the mobile communication network for delivery to the destination mobile device. Whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion is determined, where determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion occurs in parallel with forwarding the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network. Information identifying the messaging source as a spam source is stored, upon determining that the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising steps of: receiving a first mobile messaging service message from a messaging source in a node of a mobile communication network, the first mobile messaging service message being addressed to a destination mobile device; forwarding the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to the destination mobile device; determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion, wherein determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion occurs in parallel with forwarding the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network; and storing information identifying the messaging source as a spam source, upon determining that the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the second mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, using the stored information, analyzing the second mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and blocking delivery of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network in response to the determination that the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting a message to the messaging source indicating successful transmission of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a third mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the third mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, using the stored information, analyzing the third mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the third mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and forwarding the third mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to a destination mobile device identified in the third mobile messaging service message, in response to the determination that the third mobile messaging service message is not a spam message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion is based on analyzing one or more of: content of a payload of the first messaging service message, velocity or volume of messaging service messages received through the mobile communication network from the messaging source and presence of a malicious link in the first mobile messaging service message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, after storing the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source, that the messaging source has not transmitted any spam messages for a predetermined time period starting after storing the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source; and overwriting, to indicate that the messaging source is not the spam source, the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source responsive to determining that the messaging source has not transmitted any spam messages for the predetermined time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile messaging service message comprises one of a short messaging service (SMS) message, an enhanced messaging service (EMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging source comprises a mobile device associated with a mobile device number (MDN). ### Claim 9 A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to: receive a first mobile messaging service message from a messaging source in a node of a mobile communication network, the first mobile messaging service message being addressed to a destination mobile device; forward the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to the destination mobile device; determine whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion, wherein determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion occurs in parallel with forwarding the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network; and store information identifying the messaging source as a spam source, upon determining that the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to: receive a second mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the second mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, use the stored information, analyzing the second mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and block delivery of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network in response to the determination that the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to transmit a message to the messaging source indicating successful transmission of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to: receive a third mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the third mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, use the stored information, analyzing the third mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the third mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and forward the third mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to a destination mobile device identified in the third mobile messaging service message, in response to the determination that the third mobile messaging service message is not a spam message. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions to determine whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion are based on analyzing one or more of: content of a payload of the first messaging service message, velocity or volume of messaging service messages received through the mobile communication network from the messaging source and presence of a malicious link in the first mobile messaging service message. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to: determine, after storing the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source, that the messaging source has not transmitted any spam messages for a predetermined time period starting after storing the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source; and overwrite, to indicate that the messaging source is not the spam source, the information identifying the messaging source as the spam source responsive to determining that the messaging source has not transmitted any spam messages for the predetermined time period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first mobile messaging service message comprises one of a short messaging service (SMS) message, an enhanced messaging service (EMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein the messaging source comprises a mobile device associated with a mobile device number (MDN). ### Claim 17 One or more nodes in a mobile communication network, the one or more nodes comprising: processing hardware; a network interface for communicating via the mobile communication network; and a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processing hardware, cause the processing hardware to: receive a first mobile messaging service message from a messaging source in a node of a mobile communication network, the first mobile messaging service message being addressed to a destination mobile device; forward the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to the destination mobile device; determine whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets a spam messaging criterion, wherein determining whether or not the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion occurs in parallel with forwarding the first mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network; and store information identifying the messaging source as a spam source, upon determining that the first mobile messaging service message meets the spam messaging criterion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The one or more nodes of claim 17, the memory further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processing hardware, cause the processing hardware to: receive a second mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the second mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, use the stored information, analyzing the second mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and block delivery of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network in response to the determination that the second mobile messaging service message is a spam message. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The one or more nodes of claim 18, the memory further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processing hardware, cause the processing hardware to transmit a message to the messaging source indicating successful transmission of the second mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The one or more nodes of claim 17, the one or more nodes further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processing hardware, cause the processing hardware to: receive a third mobile messaging service message from the messaging source in a node of the mobile communication network; upon determining that the third mobile messaging service message originated from a spam source, use the stored information, analyzing the third mobile messaging service message to determine whether or not the third mobile messaging service message is a spam message; and forward the third mobile messaging service message through the mobile communication network for delivery to a destination mobile device identified in the third mobile messaging service message, in response to the determination that the third mobile messaging service message is not a spam message.