The United States Patent and Trademark Office approved the patent, a sweeping grant for Network Associates' methods and systems used within its McAfee anti-spam products.
The patent covers a combination of techniques to fight spam, including what's known as compound filters, paragraph hashing and Bayesian rules, according to the company.
"Our patented technology provides our customers with reliable anti-spam solutions as they have come to expect from the industry-leading McAfee brand," Jeff Green, vice president of engineering at Network Associates, said in a statement.
The California-based company develops software and systems to protect computers from viruses and spam.
