US 5987610

A concise summary of US Patent 5,987,610, including a plain-language overview of its independent claims, is provided below. This analysis is based on the patent text and relevant legal proceedings as of the current date.

Summary of US Patent 5,987,610

• Title: Computer virus screening methods and systems
• Assignee: The patent has been assigned multiple times. The original assignee was Ameritech Corp. According to the patent's legal status information, the current assignee is listed as Intellectual Ventures I LLC.
• Inventors: Edward J. Franczek, John Thomas Bretscher, Raymond Walden Bennett, III
• Filing Date: February 12, 1998
• Issue Date: November 16, 1999
• Abstract: The patent discloses a virus screening method and system operating within a telephone network. The method involves routing a call between two parties, receiving computer data from one party, and detecting a virus within that data. If a virus is detected, the system can inhibit the communication of the infected data to the other party.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

An independent claim represents the broadest definition of the invention. US Patent 5,987,610 has four independent claims: 1, 12, 23, and 43.

• Claim 1: This claim describes a method for screening for viruses within a telephone network. When a call is made between two parties, the network intercepts computer data being sent. It then scans this data for viruses. If a virus is found, the network stops the infected data from reaching the intended recipient.
• Claim 12: This claim outlines a system that performs the method of claim 1. It describes a telephone switching node (part of the telephone company's equipment) that routes calls and receives data. A processor connected to this node is responsible for detecting viruses. When the processor finds a virus, the switching node prevents the harmful data from being transmitted.
• Claim 23: This claim presents a broader method of virus screening within a telephone network. It involves receiving a signal carrying computer data from a user and then, within the network itself, screening that data for viruses. This claim is more general than claim 1 and does not specify the context of a call between a calling and called party.
• Claim 43: This claim describes a different method for virus detection. It involves using a "model" or a virtual copy of a user's computer. An executable program is run in this safe, simulated environment. The model is then scanned to see if the program's execution resulted in any virus-like changes. This allows for the detection of viruses without putting the actual user's computer at risk.

Litigation and Legal Status

It is important to note that US Patent 5,987,610 was the subject of significant litigation. In the case of Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. Symantec Corp., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in 2016 held the asserted claims of this patent to be invalid because they were directed to an abstract idea and therefore not eligible for patenting under 35 U.S.C. § 101. This is a critical factor in understanding the current legal standing of this patent.

As of the date of this analysis, no specific dockets for this patent in the CAFC for the year 2026 have been identified. However, given its history of litigation and invalidation, any future enforcement of this patent would face significant legal hurdles.