Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications
This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky.
Original patent title: “System and method for user-context-based data loss prevention”
This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky. Granted to Dell Software Inc in 2016 with 19 claims and 174 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent is about stopping sensitive information from accidentally leaving a company. It works by monitoring user devices that are connected to a company's communication system. The system first figures out your 'user context' – things like where you are or what device you're using. Based on this context, it picks a specific 'data loss prevention' (DLP) policy. This policy looks for certain actions, like creating a new, unsent draft of an email or message. When you create such a draft, the system analyzes its content to see if it contains sensitive information. If the content is deemed risky according to the policy, the system can take action, such as showing you a warning, preventing you from sending it, or even blocking access to the draft itself.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Preventing data loss for communications that have already been sent
- Policies that are not dynamic or do not change based on user context
- Systems that do not analyze the content of the communication draft
- Actions taken on communications that are not pre-transmission drafts
- Monitoring communications on devices not accessing an enterprise platform
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in making data loss prevention 'dynamic' and 'user-context-based.' Instead of applying a single, rigid rule to everyone all the time, the system adapts its vigilance based on who you are, where you are, and what device you're using, making security smarter and less intrusive.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Enterprise email clients with built-in DLP
Corporate instant messaging platforms
Cloud-based productivity suites with security monitoring
Software that scans unsent documents for sensitive information
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In today's world, companies handle vast amounts of sensitive data. This patent addresses the critical need to prevent accidental data leaks, which can lead to significant financial and reputational damage. By dynamically adjusting security policies based on user context, it offers a more intelligent approach to data loss prevention than static, one-size-fits-all solutions.
Filed
June 6, 2014
Granted
May 24, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dell Software Inc., the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, has been active in the data protection space. Many cybersecurity firms, including Microsoft, Symantec (now Broadcom), and McAfee, offer similar data loss prevention solutions that likely incorporate principles described in this patent.
Market impact
This patent is part of the broader trend towards more sophisticated endpoint security and data loss prevention solutions. It likely influenced the development of DLP features in enterprise software, enabling companies to better protect their confidential information from internal threats and accidental disclosures.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent is about stopping sensitive information from accidentally leaving a company. It works by monitoring user devices that are connected to a company's communication system. The system first figures out your 'user context' – things like where you are or what device you're using. Based on this context, it picks a specific 'data loss prevention' (DLP) policy. This policy looks for certain actions, like creating a new, unsent draft of an email or message. When you create such a draft, the system analyzes its content to see if it contains sensitive information. If the content is deemed risky according to the policy, the system can take action, such as showing you a warning, preventing you from sending it, or even blocking access to the draft itself.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in making data loss prevention 'dynamic' and 'user-context-based.' Instead of applying a single, rigid rule to everyone all the time, the system adapts its vigilance based on who you are, where you are, and what device you're using, making security smarter and less intrusive.
What it does not cover
- Preventing data loss for communications that have already been sent
- Policies that are not dynamic or do not change based on user context
- Systems that do not analyze the content of the communication draft
- Actions taken on communications that are not pre-transmission drafts
- Monitoring communications on devices not accessing an enterprise platform
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$780K – $2.5M
Midpoint $1.6M · 8.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Brisebois, M. A., & Johnstone, C. T. (2016). Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications (U.S. Patent No. 9,349,016). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9349016/windows-hello-biometric-login
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications cover?
This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky.
Who owns patent US 9349016?
Dell Software Inc owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 24, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9349016 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 174 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In today's world, companies handle vast amounts of sensitive data. This patent addresses the critical need to prevent accidental data leaks, which can lead to significant financial and reputational damage. By dynamically adjusting security policies based on user context, it offers a more intelligent approach to data loss prevention than static, one-size-fits-all solutions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Preventing data loss for communications that have already been sent
Patent monitoring