Systems and methods for reporter-based filtering of electronic communications and messages

1. A computer-implemented method for filtering electronic messages, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a message report from a user in response to an electronic message received by the user;

calculating a response delay time of the message report from the user for the electronic message based on a difference in time from between when the message report from the user is received and when an initial message report for the electronic message was received;

calculating a confidence value based on the response delay time;

comparing the confidence value to a plurality of confidence value thresholds;

if the confidence value exceeds a first predetermined confidence value threshold, adding the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

if the confidence value exceeds a second predetermined confidence value threshold, adding a value less than the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

determining, by the processor, if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filtering the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and the determining step includes determining if the signature value exceeds at least two of the plurality of signature value thresholds, and wherein the filtering step includes:

filtering the electronic message as a first type of spam if the signature value exceeds a first signature value threshold; and

filtering the electronic message as a second type of spam if the signature value exceeds a second signature value threshold.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

determining a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

filtering the electronic message based on the category of message type.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).

7. A system for reporter-based filtering electronic messages, the system comprising:

at least one memory to store data and instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and, when executing the instructions, to:

receive a message report from a user in response to an electronic message received by the user;

calculate a response delay time of the message report from the user for the electronic message based on a difference in time from between when the message report from the user is received and when an initial message report for the electronic message was received;

calculate a confidence value based on response delay time;

compare the confidence value to a plurality of confidence value thresholds;

if the confidence value exceeds a first predetermined confidence value threshold, add the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

if the confidence value exceeds a second predetermined confidence value threshold, add a value less than the confidence value to a signature value associated with the electronic message;

determine if the signature value exceeds a signature value threshold; and

filter the electronic message if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the signature value threshold includes a plurality of signature value thresholds, and when determining if the signature value exceeds the signature value threshold, the at least one processor is further configured to determine if the signature value exceeds at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds, wherein the filtering step includes:

filtering the electronic message as a first type of spam if the signature value exceeds a first signature value threshold; and

filtering the electronic message as a second type of spam if the signature value exceeds a second signature value threshold.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value; and

determine a category of message type to associate with the electronic message based on the at least one of the plurality of signature value thresholds exceeded by the signature value.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

filter the electronic message based on the category of message type.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the category of message type is at least one of spam to be deleted, spam not to be deleted, and not spam.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of an electronic mail (email) message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, and an Instant Message (IM).