Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
  • H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
  • H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
  • H04L63/0464—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
  • G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
  • H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
  • H04L51/23—Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
  • H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
  • H04L63/0823—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities using certificates
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
  • H04L63/12—Applying verification of the received information
  • H04L63/126—Applying verification of the received information the source of the received data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
  • H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
  • H04L51/234—Monitoring or handling of messages for tracking messages
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
  • H04L51/48—Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Definitions

• This invention relates to the field of electronic communication by way of networks. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for managing, recording, tracing and authenticating electronic transmittals, such as e-mail, between senders and recipients, and for extracting recipient electronic addresses from electronic transmittals, such as e-mail.
• the electronic mail system sends the message together with the identification information on the addressees of the message to each terminal of users A, B and C as specified by sender Y.
• user A On receiving the message, user A generates a response answering the received message, and sends it to the electronic mail system.
• User A also sends to the electronic mail system the identifiers of users B and C as identification information on addressees of the response according to the received identification information on the addressees of the broadcast message, and then requests the system to broadcast the response. Then, the electronic mail system sends the response to users B and C and sender Y.
• user A can be informed of other receivers of the broadcast message and sends the response to users B and C without a troublesome operation of inputting addresses of the response.
• U.S. Patent No. 6,035,104 discloses an e-mail system implemented on a server having a network connection which receives and forwards e-mail messages based on subscriber-supplied criteria.
• characteristics of the message such as existence of and size of attachments, are compared to characteristics previously supplied by the subscriber. If a match is found, the subscriber is notified, such as by a page to a pager carried by the subscriber, of the message and the nature of the match.
• Facility is provided at the server for the subscriber to then call the server, log on, and provide instructions for forwarding the matched message. Forwarding may be to such as a handheld device or a notebook computer operated by the subscriber, or to a mailbox or mailboxes on other servers, or any combination.
• a subscriber is then in control of points of delivery of incoming e-mail messages.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,844,969 (“Communication system, method and device for remotely re-transmitting received electronic mail directed to a destination terminal to a new destination terminal") discloses a communication system for remotely re-selecting and re-transmitting received electronic mail at a destination terminal to another destination terminal using a remote communication device, e.g., a two-way pager. This disclosure also pertains more to alerting a user of an incoming e-mail, does not solve all of the above mentioned problems.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,771,354 Internet online backup system provides remote storage for customers using IDs and passwords which were interactively established when signing up for backup services
• the resources can take the form of virtual storage and processing capabilities. While this disclosure solves a problem pertaining to electronic storage, other aspect of the present invention, are not addressed.
• U.S. Patent No. 6,122,632 (“Electronic message management system”) discloses a management system for electronic messages, or e-mails, having a digital computer for accepting e-mail messages, a program interface for automatically transferring received electronic messages to a database, a structured database for storing the received electronic messages in a predetermined format, and an interface for allowing a customer service representative, at a remote computer, to access and respond to, the electronic message stored at the database.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,944,787 discloses an e-mail mapper for identifying a sender's U.S. postal address. The method comprises detecting in the sender's e-mail address, e-mail message, or the sender's posting, whether the sender's name and address are identifiable in the signature line of the sender's e-mail and searching one or more electronic white pages to identify the sender's name and e-mail address.
• the method provides for further filtering of the sender's e-mail to identify the geographic locale of the sender and then searching against one or more electronic databases, such as a business database, an ISP database, an electronic whitepage, or e-mail mapper's generated relational database, to identify and generate a list of one or more USPS addresses associated with the sender's e-mail address, name and locale of the sender.
• one or more electronic databases such as a business database, an ISP database, an electronic whitepage, or e-mail mapper's generated relational database, to identify and generate a list of one or more USPS addresses associated with the sender's e-mail address, name and locale of the sender.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,859,967 discloses a method and system for converting an e-mail message to a facsimile only for authorised users of an account which has been previously created. After a user registers and provides an e-mail address and appropriate billing information, stamps or authorisation codes are transmitted to the user via e-mail. When the user desires to have an e-mail message transmitted via facsimile to another party, the user transmits, from a registered account, an e-mail message which includes the fax number to which the facsimile is to be transmitted and contains a stamp.
• a computer operated by a service provider receives the e-mail message, checks to see that the e-mail message originated from a valid account, and contains a valid stamp. The stamp is then removed from the e-mail, the e-mail is converted to an image that is transmitted via facsimile to the appropriate telephone number, and the account that was previously registered is billed.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,930,479 (“Communications addressing system”) discloses a system and method for sending and receiving authorised messages from a sender to a recipient in a network.
• the method and system makes use of a channelled address to send the message.
• the channelled address comprises a common address portion that indicates the identity of the recipient in the network and a channel identifier portion for verifying that the message is authorised for delivery to the recipient.
• a method for recording, verifying, tracing and authenticating electronic transmittals between senders and recipients comprises steps where an objective and impartial third party (a service provider) receives an initial (first) electronic transmittal (e-mail) from a sender, stores an electronic code, generates a reference code which uniquely identifies the initial e-mail, extracts a recipient electronic (e-mail) address, and forwards the initial or original, unaltered e-mail to a recipient designated by the original e-mail sender.
• a service provider receives an initial (first) electronic transmittal (e-mail) from a sender, stores an electronic code, generates a reference code which uniquely identifies the initial e-mail, extracts a recipient electronic (e-mail) address, and forwards the initial or original, unaltered e-mail to a recipient designated by the original e-mail sender.
• the present invention also provides a method for extracting recipient(s) e-mail address(es) from e-mail(s) sent by sender(s) to the service provider, but ultimately intended for the designated recipient(s).
• the recipient e-mail address may be extracted from:
• the recipient e-mail address may be contained in an e-mail attachment, where such attachment has a predetermined name, or the recipient e-mail address is communicated as a name of an e-mail attachment. If any text, other than the recipient e- mail address, is present in the above mentioned field or attachment selected to be used to convey the recipient address, then the recipient e-mail address is separated from that other text by means of parentheses, brackets, or other delimiters.
• the present invention also provides a data processing system for managing such electronic transmittals (e.g. e-mails).
• the system comprises first- and second computer processing means (typically personal computers), capable of generating, storing, sending, receiving, and processing e-mails.
• the system furthermore comprises:
• a third party (service provider) computer for extracting the recipient e-mail address, as designated by the sender, from the sender's first, or original, e-mail,
• FIG. la through FIG. lc shows a flowchart of the method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the first computer processing means as being the sender of the first electronic data transmittal, and the second computer processing means as being the recipient of the third party electronic data transmittal;
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the second computer processing means as being the sender of the first electronic data transmittal, and the first computer processing means as being the recipient of the third party electronic data transmittal;
• FIG. 4 defines the address format, FIG. 4a indicating the sender and FIG. 4b indicating the recipient;
• FIG. 5a through FIG. 5i are illustrations of the preferred embodiments of entering the recipient address in order for these to be extracted by the service provider;
• FIG. 6 displays an exemplary message table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, containing data pertaining to e-mail received in the mail box "via@enotarius.no;
• FIG. 7 displays an exemplary client table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, containing an overview of the clients having used the service provider;
• FIG. 8 displays an exemplary receipt table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, containing an address list of recipients having received e-mail via the service provider.
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention whereby a service provider P by means of computer means 300 (which will be described later) is able to manage, record, verify, trace and authenticate electronic transmittals (e.g. e-mails) between senders S and recipients R.
• the method comprises the following main steps where the service provider:
• the service provider may be any entrusted third party, i.e. an independent entity specialising in electronic information processing and management and/or other, associated, services such as issuing electronic keys and certificates.
• the service provider may also be any supplier who is integrating the method according to the present invention into its other e-mail-related services.
• Such other e-mail services may comprise relaying, managing and processing e-mail on the Internet.
• One example of such e-mail services is "HotMail", which easily may adapt the invented method.
• HotMail is a type of e-mail service where senders and recipients are not dependent on utilising any e-mail reader.
• the user interface for generating, sending, receiving and reading e-mail is available on a web page. Therefore, no special tools or mechanisms for extracting the recipient's e-mail address are necessary.
• the communication between the sender's e-mail reader and the mail server is through a protocol (POP3 or similar).
• POP3 protocol
• the address data in the e-mail header is not changed during the communication between the sender and the service provider. Special procedures for extracting information pertaining to the recipient's address, is therefore in that case unnecessary.
• the service provider receives an e-mail, it stores an electronic code which is either a copy of the initial e-mail, or a hash code or other control value generated as a mathematical function of the e-mail content.
• the e-mail copy may contain the entire original e-mail, including the address information, or just the actual message.
• the address data is stored in a database that is recording each transmittal with the associated sender- and recipient names, and relevant time stamps. It is thus a requirement that transmittal header is stored with the message.
• the information is stored by time (date), by sender or by recipient in a designated file system.
• the storage medium may comprise tape, compact disk or similar means.
• the message may also be stored in a data base system which is copied regularly (back up) onto one or more storage media.
• Hash codes which may be regarded as advanced checksums, are normally used to verify whether an electronic document has been changed. Any change, however small, between an original and another document, will be detected, as the two documents being compared will yield different hash codes. It is considered impossible to generate a credible document which produces a given hash code. Thus, if the hash code for a given document is equal to the hash code of, say an original, stored document, then the two documents may with a great degree of certainty be considered as being identical.
• the method also comprises a scanning of the e- mail in order to detect virus. If virus is detected, the e-mail is rejected and the sender notified accordingly.
• the reference code uniquely identifying the original e-mail, is sent back to the sender by a separate e-mail generated by the service provider.
• This unique reference code remains available to the sender, e.g. by the sender at any time logging on to the service provider's web page and obtaining a list of his reference codes, or the reference codes be sent to the sender by e-mail if so requested, either by individual reference code or a regularly updated list of reference codes.
• the unique reference code is generated based on the content of the original (or first) e- mail, and/or is based on any data pertaining to the e-mail.
• the reference code may structured such that anyone in possession of exact data pertaining to the sender, recipient and relevant time stamps, may generate the reference code manually or by means of a specially designed computer program.
• One possibility is to define a customer identification number combined with pertinent e-mail data, as being a sufficient criterion for generating a reference code. The sender is thus able to independently and selectively deduce the unique reference code.
• any individual having possession of the e-mail-unique reference code may request a copy of the original e-mail.
• a request for a copy may be submitted on a web page form, or any other suitable way.
• the request may be submitted to the service provider or any other party being authorised by the service provider to issue copies of stored e-mail.
• the copy is issued along with a confirmation of address- and time data.
• the method according to the invention comprises a utilisation of the information contained in the e-mail transmittal field for recipient name and electronic address.
• the sender may also enter the recipient address in his address list at an e-mail provider such as HotMail.
• the message is then edited on the service provider web site and the e-mail to the recipient is entered directly into the service provider system.
• the recipient electronic address III may be extracted from the field containing the recipient name, in that the address is separated from the recipient name by enclosing the address by means of parentheses, brackets, or other delimiters, as exemplified in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the recipient's electronic address III may be extracted from any one of the following in the original e-mail: - the "subject" field in the header field;
• the recipient's electronic address may also be contained in, and extracted from, an attachment to the original (or first) e-mail, where the said attachment has a predetermined name.
• the recipient electronic address may also be communicated as a name of an attachment to the original e-mail.
• the first e-mail transmittal is verified for the sender's signature and only forwarded to the intended recipient if the signature is valid.
• the first e-mail is verified for encryption. If the e-mail is sent in an encrypted state, the e-mail is decrypted when it is received by the said service provider and re- encrypted before it is forwarded to the recipient.
• a key feature of the invention is a method for extracting a recipient e-mail address from an e-mail sent by a sender, where the e-mail is intended for a designated recipient (or recipients) but routed via a service provider.
• the service provider then employs a method whereby the recipient electronic address is extracted by one or more of the following:
• the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the field containing the recipient name, in that the address is separated from the recipient name by enclosing the address by means of parentheses, brackets, or other delimiters, - the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the "subject" field in the e-mail header field,
• the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the "cc" field in the e-mail header field
• the recipient e-mai address is extracted from the first line in the e-mail message field
• the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the last line in the e-mail message field
• the recipient e-mail address is contained in an e-mail attachment, where the attachment has been given a predetermined name
• the recipient e-mail address is communicated as a name of an e-mail attachment
• the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the part of the e-mail header field that is available for optional text, or
• the recipient e-mail address is extracted from the "bcc" field in the e-mail header field.
• the service provider attaches an electronic message to the first e-mail and forwards both as one transmittal to the recipient designated by the sender.
• the invented method applies to any user, also if the service provider previously has been selected by the sender to act as his sole and regular e-mail provider.
• the invented data processing system for managing electronic transmittals comprises: a) a sender's (first) computer 100 and a recipient's (second) computer 200, where each are capable of generating, storing, sending, receiving, and processing electronic data transmittals such as e-mail; b) the service provider (third party) computer system 300, which is capable of extracting the e-mail address of a recipient designated by the sender, from the sender's first e-mail; c) the service provider's client application 400; d) the service provider's data administration means 500; and e) a third party database 600.
• the service provider computer 300 manages the e-mails by: receiving a first e-mail 1 from a sender's (e.g. 100) computer;
• the service provider (third party) processing means further comprises: a mailbox 301 for receiving the first e-mail from the sender;
• a mailbox 302 for returning to the sender a proof of receipt of the first e-mail, along with the unique reference number; a mailbox 303 for dispatching error messages to the sender; a mailbox 304 for forwarding the first e-mails to the recipient designated by the sender; a mailbox 305 for receiving from the recipient, requests for copies of the first e- mail; and
• a data processor 350 for processing data and providing communication between the various units.
• the extracting means comprises means for extracting said recipient's electronic address from the name part of the address field in said sender's first electronic data transmittal, said address field comprising both the electronic address of said third party, and the full address of the recipient designated by the sender.
• the means for extracting addresses may extract the recipient's address from the first e- mail subject field, or any other field or attachement, as described above.
• the extracted recipient address is stored with the service provide, and the extracted address is entered in a separate e-mail, generated by the third party (service provider), to the designated recipient.
• This e-mail, sent by the service provider contains the first original, as sent by the sender, pertinent information regarding the sender, and pertinent information about the service provider.
• the sender having received a unique reference number, may at any time obtain a copy of the first e-mail as stored with the service provider data base, by sending a request to the service provider.
• the stored first e-mail are retrievable by anyone in possession of the reference number and may be compared for authenticity with any transmittal sent to the service provider.
• the service provider computer processor enables verification of an electronic signature which is included in the first e-mail. When the electronic signature has been verified, this electronic signature is also included in the forwarded transmittal.
• the service provider computer processing means may decrypt and encrypt the first e-mail, if specified.
• the first and second computer processing means may be a sender and a recipient, respectively, or vice versa. It is understood that the first and second computer processing means may be one or more of a number of computer processing units.
• a sender Johnl Doel , wants to send a document to a recipient, John2 Doe2.
• Their addresses are "Johnl Doel" ⁇ johndoel@doeldomain.com> and "John2 Doe2" ⁇ johndoe2@doe2domain.com>, respectively.
• the e-mail is stored in the service provider file storage system.
• the e-mail provider extracts the recipient address, i.e.:
• the service provider searches for the recipient address in the Receipt Table. A new entry is generated in the Receipt Table if the recipient is not found.
• MailRef F(MailID,ClientID) This function (F) enters ClientID and MaillD as variables and returns a password containing characters and numbers
• UsedSize in ClientTable is changed.

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• 2001
  • 2001-10-24 WO PCT/NO2001/000425 patent/WO2002035781A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-10-24 EP EP01982956A patent/EP1332589A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-10-24 AU AU2002214415A patent/AU2002214415A1/en not_active Abandoned

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