METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILTERING MESSAGES WITHIN A COMPUTER NETWORK

摘要

A computer network is provided comprising a plurality of user stations (1-3); a plurality of mail servers (5-9) and a communications network (4) for transmitting messages between the mail servers (5-9) and the user stations (1-3). Some of the mail servers (8;9) have stored therein filtration data for selecting messages to be transmitted to each of a number of identified user stations (1;2). These mail servers (8;9) are arranged upon receipt of a message for transmission via the communication network (4) to a user station (1;2) for which filtration data is stored to utilize the filtration data to determine whether or not to transmit a received message.