GB2382494A

GB2382494A - Registered e-mail system

Info

Publication number: GB2382494A
Application number: GB0225473A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Silcock
Original assignee: PROJECT MONDAY Ltd
Current assignee: PROJECT MONDAY Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-31
Filing date: 2002-10-31
Publication date: 2003-05-28
Also published as: GB0225473D0; GB0126041D0

Abstract

A method of transmitting electronic messages and/or documents in a networked environment comprising at least one server and a plurality of user terminals operable by end users, wherein an electronic message or document created by a first user is transmitted via the network from a first user terminal to the server, which electronic message or document comprises information and data relating to an intended recipient, which server stores the electronic message or document in non-volatile memory means and then transmitted a further electronic message to the intended recipient to inform him that an electronic message or document is stored on the server. Other embodiments include sending a "confirmation of viewing" e-mail back to the first user, and allowing access to the e-mail or message originally sent by requiring the recipient to verify his identify.

Description

REGISTERED E-MAIL SYSTEM This invention relates to the application of a software system (the "System) in the context of computers and other computer hardware, (the Servers), connected to the Internet.

Solicitors and other professionals rarely send legally significant documents by internet e-mail, preferring instead to rely upon more traditional methods of delivery, such as the postal and DX systems. This reluctance to use the internet e-mail system is due to a number of factors, the most important of which are that it is currently very difficult, and in practice frequently impossible, for the sender of an e-mail to prove upon a judicially acceptable basis that the e-mail was indeed sent, received and/or read at the time or times at which they are in fact sent/received and/or read, and to prove that the e-mail did contain what it was purported to contain, in terms of its written or other content, and in terms of the contents of any attachments to that e-mail. Because it is relatively simple to doctor digital communications such that the coordinates, date, time and content are capable of modification after creation at any point in data flow from that creator, a means, as described here, which permits authenticity with regard to those three co-ordinates, is required.

The invention seeks to provide an method of transmitting documents electronically which overcomes these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a method of transmitting electronic messages and/or documents in a networked environment comprising at least one server and a plurality of user terminals operable by end users, wherein an electronic message or document created by a first user is transmitted via the network from a first user terminal to the server, which electronic message or document comprises information and data relating to an intended recipient, which server stores the electronic message or document in non-volatile memory means and then transmitted a

further electronic message to the intended recipient to inform him that an electronic message or document is stored on the server.

The invention, intended to resolve the problems referred to above, essentially comprises a method (a) that utilises a software system (being a process or set of processes known hereafter as the"System') that is loaded on to, and runs on, a Server, or more than one of them, and (b) of operating those Servers. It is preferable for the proper operation of the invention that (a) the Servers are permanently connected to the Internet, and that (b) certain server processes (the "Server Processes) are run continuously on the Servers, so as to enable the System to receive and process e-mails as input.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail.

When any given subscriber (S) wishes to send a verifiable e-mail to a recipient (R), it is envisaged that S will send the e-mail addressed to a domain name hosted on, or that refers the e-mail to, the Servers, rather than, or as well as, sending it directly to R.

Upon receiving the e-mail (via one or more of the Server Processes), the System automatically carries out a number of functions : (1) first, it arranges for a file to be created, logging and referencing the e-mail, and'lime stamping'its receipt perhaps by means of device or logo; (2) secondly, it arranges for the e-mail to be stored permanently (together with any and all of that e-maifs attachments) in or on to a permanent storage facility, such as a hard disk, magnetic or digital tape, CD, or the like; and (3) thirdly, once it has been indicated to the System that permanent storage has taken place, the System produces and sends an e- mail to R, informing R that the System has received an e-mail

addressed to R, and that in order to collect the e-mail R must log on to a specified web-site (the'Web-Site'), hosted on one of the Servers.

Upon visiting the Web-Site, R will be required to fill in a form on the Web-Site providing such information as is required in order to authenticate R's identity.

Alternatively, if R is a new user, R will be required to subscribe to the System, and to provide information that will assist in positively identifying R in future.

The System then uses the information submitted by R to verify R's identity. If R's identity cannot be verified R will be refused access to the e-mails stored by the System and addressed to R.

Once Rs identity has been verified by the System, the System displays to R (via the Web-Site) a list of any and all e-mails addressed to R that have not already been identified by the System as having been collected by R.

If any of the e-mails on the list are opened on the Web-Site or are downloaded by R, a particular protocol is used so as to ensure that the System is able to confirm that the information was correctly displayed, and/or sent and received. Following this confirmation the System then creates a file, in which it records the time of opening and/or downloading of each of the e-mails and/or attachments so opened and/or downloaded. Also recorded in that file is the confirmation as to whether or not the information was correctly displayed, and/or sent and received. The System then arranges for the file to be stored in or on to a permanent storage facility.

Once it has been indicated to the System that permanent storage has taken place, the System produces and sends an e-mail to S, informing S that R has visited the WebSite, and informing S of any and all e-mails and/or attachments viewed and/or downloaded by R, together with confirmation that the information was correctly displayed, and/or sent and received. Also included in this e-mail to S is any and all information held by the System regarding the time at which the original e-mail from S was received by the System, together with information regarding the time at which R

logged on and/or viewed and/or downloaded the relevant e-mail/s and/or attachments Full records of all these transactions are maintained by the System in such manner as to enable the subscribers to obtain access to those records for the purpose of providing evidence to third parties regarding the timings and/or content of any e-mails and/or attachments processed by the System.

The invention may be operated in association with security devices for the purpose of protecting the confidentiality of the content of the e-mails transmitted though the System such as encryption tools.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting electronic messages and/or documents in a networked environment comprising at least one server and a plurality of user terminals operable by end users, wherein an electronic message or document created by a first user is transmitted via the network from a first user terminal to the server, which electronic message or document comprises information and data relating to an intended recipient, which server stores the electronic message or document in nonvolatile memory means and then transmitted a further electronic message to the intended recipient to inform him that an electronic message or document is stored on the server.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein when the recipient views said electronic message or document, then the Server sends an electronic message to the first user.

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the electronic message is only sent to the first user once the recipient confirms that he or she has viewed the electronic message or document.

4. A method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the recipient is required to verify his identity by providing information to the server.

5. A method of transmitting electronic messages and/or documents in a networked environment substantially as described herein with reference to the example.