Prevention of unsolicited messages

A method for blocking a message intended for and addressed to a handheld communication device operative in a communication network, said communication network comprising a message information unit comprising data information related to messages determined to be unsolicited, said method comprising:

• extracting message data from the message intended for the handheld communication device;
• comparing the message data in the addressed handheld communication device with said data information stored in said message information unit to determine whether the message should be notified in or transmitted to the handheld communication device being addressed in the message;
• increasing a counter value which is indicating the number of times the stored data information has been encountered;
• blocking the message to the handheld communication device if the data information is related to the message data extracted from the incoming message and the counter value is not lower than a predetermined number;
• and
• transmitting the data information in the message information unit arranged in a network node from the network node to at least one further handheld communication device operative in the domain of the network node.

A device for gathering information relating to unsolicited messages, comprising:

• a controller configured to delete in a handheld communication device message information associated with an unsolicited message received by the handheld communication device;
• wherein the controller is configured to extract and forward message data, associated with the deleted message information or the unsolicited message, to a message information unit located in the handheld communication device;
• the message information unit is configured to update data information stored in a memory of said message information unit based on said forwarded message data associated with said unsolicited message and to increase a counter value which is indicating the number of times the stored data information has been encountered;
• the controller is configured to be responsible for exporting at least a portion of the stored data information to an external electronic communication device, and issuing a notification to the handheld communication device if the data information is related to the message data extracted from the incoming message and the counter value is lower than a predetermined number;
• and the device is included in the handheld communication device.

A device for gathering information relating to unsolicited messages, comprising:

• a controller configured to extract and forward message data, associated with message information—that has been received and deleted in a handheld communication device by a controller of the handheld communication device—of an unsolicited message, to a message information unit located in a network node;
• the message information unit is configured to update data information stored in a memory of said message information unit based on said forwarded message data associated with said unsolicited message, and to increase a counter value which is indicating the number of times the stored data information has been encountered;
• and
• the controller is further configured to be responsible for transmitting the data information in the message information unit from the network node to at least a further network node, and
• issue a notification to the handheld communication device if the data information is related to the message data extracted from the incoming message and the counter value is lower than a predetermined number.

A device for blocking a message intended for and addressed to a handheld communication device operative in a communication network, comprising:

• a message information unit comprising stored data information related to messages determined to be unsolicited;
• and
• a controller for extracting message data from the message intended for the handheld communication device, and comparing the message data in the addressed handheld communication device with said data information stored in said message information unit to determine whether the message should be notified in or transmitted to the handheld communication device being addressed in the message, and increasing a counter value which is indicating the number of times the stored data information has been encountered;
• wherein the message information unit and the controller are arranged in a network node, the controller being configured to be responsible for transmitting the data information in the message information unit from the network node to at least one further handheld communication device operative in the domain of the network node;
• and
• the controller for blocking the message to the handheld communication device if the data information is related to the message data extracted from the incoming message and the counter value is not lower than a predetermined number.

A device for blocking a message intended for and addressed to a handheld communication device operative in a communication network, comprising:

• a message information unit comprising stored data information related to messages determined to be unsolicited;
• and
• a controller for extracting message data from the message intended for the handheld communication device, and comparing the message data in the addressed handheld communication device with said data information stored in said message information unit to determine whether the message should be notified in the handheld communication device being addressed in the message, and increasing a counter value which is indicating the number of times the stored data information has been encountered;
• wherein the controller is located in the addressed handheld communication device;
• and
• the controller is configured to be responsible for exporting at least a portion of the stored data information to an external electronic communication device, and
• blocking the message to the handheld communication device if the data information is related to the message data extracted from the incoming message and the counter value is not lower than a predetermined number.