US6230186B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Private electronic message system
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1998-04-28
•
Granted: 2001-05-08
•
Expires: 2018-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A private message, formed generally by an e-mail manager or browser, has a privacy attribute. The private message with the privacy attribute is transmitted to a receiver where only certain permitted message processing, called private message processing, may be performed in response to the detection of the privacy attribute. For example, in response to a received privacy attribute only three message processing functions in the receiver of the message are activated, namely message reading, reply to addressee, and delete. Other edit and re-transmit functions which may exist with an e-mail manager or browser at the receiver are disabled in response to the privacy attribute so that the private message cannot be edited and retransmitted. Likewise, the message cannot be stored external from the e-mail manager or browser.
Inventors
- 👤 Rhoda Yaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header, said system comprising: a first 16 bits allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said source port identifying said sender; a second 16 bits allocated to destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said destination port identifying said receiver; six reserved bits within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol; means at said sender for inserting a privacy attribute into said private message said privacy attribute contained within said six reserved bits; and means for disabling one or more message processing functions at said receiver in response to detection of said privacy attribute contained within said six reserved bits as part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header, said system comprising: a first 16 bits allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said source port identifying said sender; a second 16 bits allocated to destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said destination port identifying said receiver; six reserved bits within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol; means at said sender for inserting a privacy attribute into said private message said privacy attribute contained within said six reserved bits; and means for disabling one or more message processing functions at said receiver in response to detection of said privacy attribute contained within said six reserved bits as part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 1 wherein detection of said privacy attribute within said 6 reserved bits enables a reply addressed only to said source port originating said private message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 1 wherein detection of said privacy attribute enables deletion of said private message stored in said receiver upon manual command from said receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 1 wherein detection of said privacy attribute enables presentation of said private message in human perceivable form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 1 wherein said private message is deleted after a time interval at said receiver after detection of said privacy attribute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 1 further including means for encrypting said private message.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver, said private message formed from one or more packets each of said packets having a header part and a data part in accordance with a Transmission Control Protocol, said system comprising: a first 16 bits allocated to a source port identification within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said source port identifying said sender part; a second 16 bits allocated to destination port identification within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said destination port identifying said receiver; six reserved bits within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol; means at said sender for inserting a privacy attribute into said six reserved bits of said header part for one or more packets for transmission from said sender to said receiver, said one or more packets compatible with said Transmission Control Protocol; detecting means at said receiver for detecting within said header part of each one or more packets said privacy attribute, said detecting means having an output generated upon detection of said privacy attribute; and means for disabling one or more message processing functions in response to said output said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver, said private message formed from one or more packets each of said packets having a header part and a data part in accordance with a Transmission Control Protocol, said system comprising: a first 16 bits allocated to a source port identification within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said source port identifying said sender part; a second 16 bits allocated to destination port identification within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol, said destination port identifying said receiver; six reserved bits within said header part of said Transmission Control Protocol; means at said sender for inserting a privacy attribute into said six reserved bits of said header part for one or more packets for transmission from said sender to said receiver, said one or more packets compatible with said Transmission Control Protocol; detecting means at said receiver for detecting within said header part of each one or more packets said privacy attribute, said detecting means having an output generated upon detection of said privacy attribute; and means for disabling one or more message processing functions in response to said output said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 7 wherein said privacy attribute is one or more octets located within said data portion of each of said packets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 7 wherein said private message is encrypted into said data part of said packets in accordance with an encryption algorithm key and an encryption algorithm, identification of said encryption algorithm and said key contained within said six reserved bits is said header part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 9 wherein said encryption key used for said encryption is changed for each of said packet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 9 wherein said encryption algorithm used for said encryption is changed for each of said packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 7 wherein said output enables a means for manually deleting said private message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 7 wherein said output enables presentation of said private message in human perceivable form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 7 wherein said output disables presentation of said private message in human perceivable form after a time interval.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header, where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising the step of disabling one or more message processing functions at said receiver in response to detecting a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header, where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising the step of disabling one or more message processing functions at said receiver in response to detecting a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to said privacy attribute is storing of said message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to said privacy attribute is retransmission of said message to anyone other than said sender.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to said privacy attribute is editing of said message.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to said privacy attribute is copying of said message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 further including the step of deleting of said private message after a time interval in response to detecting said privacy attribute within said message.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 15 further including the step of encrypting said private message at said sender, said encryption identified by a bit within said six reserved bits of said header in said Transmission Control Protocol.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver, said private message formed from one or more Transmission Control Protocol packets, each packet having a header, where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said method comprising the steps of: forming one or more of said packets at said sender, each of said packets having a header part and a data part, said one or more packets compatible with said Transmission Control Protocol; and inserting a privacy attribute into said one or more packets within said six reserved bits of said Transmission Control Protocol, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header; said method further comprising the step of disabling one or more message processing functions residing at said receiver upon detection of said privacy attribute at said receiver.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver, said private message formed from one or more Transmission Control Protocol packets, each packet having a header, where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, said method comprising the steps of: forming one or more of said packets at said sender, each of said packets having a header part and a data part, said one or more packets compatible with said Transmission Control Protocol; and inserting a privacy attribute into said one or more packets within said six reserved bits of said Transmission Control Protocol, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header; said method further comprising the step of disabling one or more message processing functions residing at said receiver upon detection of said privacy attribute at said receiver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 wherein said privacy attribute is inserted within said header of at least one of said packets.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 wherein said privacy attribute is placed in one or more octets located within said data portion of at least one of said packets.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 including the additional step of encrypting said private message contained in said packets in accordance with an encryption key and an encryption algorithm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 including the additional step of including said encryption key used for said encryption in said six reserved bits of said Transmission Control Protocol header of at least one of said packets.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 including the step of changing said encryption key for each of said packets.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 including the step of changing said encryption algorithm for said encryption for each of said packets.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 , further including the steps of presenting said message in human perceivable form and enabling manual deletion of said private message upon detection of said privacy attribute.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 further including the steps of presenting said message in human perceivable form, enabling manual deletion of said private message, and replying only to said sender of said message upon detection of said privacy attribute.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for the transmission of a private message between a sender and a receiver as described in claim 22 wherein said receiver overwrites said private message after a time interval.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising a sender processor, said sender processor having a plurality of registers, each of said registers longer than or equal to said six reserved bits, said processor interfaced to an input means, said input means for generating said private message; and a converter, using said sender processor for embedding a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits in said header of said private message, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header; said sender processor further comprising means for disabling one or more message processing functions upon detection of said privacy attribute at said sender.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising a sender processor, said sender processor having a plurality of registers, each of said registers longer than or equal to said six reserved bits, said processor interfaced to an input means, said input means for generating said private message; and a converter, using said sender processor for embedding a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits in said header of said private message, said private message contained within a group of 500 octets following said header; said sender processor further comprising means for disabling one or more message processing functions upon detection of said privacy attribute at said sender.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 32 wherein said converter at said receiver encrypts said private message.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits within said header are allocated to a source port identification, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification, and six reserved bits are allocated to a privacy attribute within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising: a detector for generating an output in response to detection of a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits in said header of said private message; and one or more enableable message processing functions, said functions being enabled as a function of detection of said output from said detector wherein said private message is contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits within said header are allocated to a source port identification, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification, and six reserved bits are allocated to a privacy attribute within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising: a detector for generating an output in response to detection of a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits in said header of said private message; and one or more enableable message processing functions, said functions being enabled as a function of detection of said output from said detector wherein said private message is contained within a group of 500 octets following said header.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 34 wherein a function for verifying a reply addressed only to said sender of said private message is enabled in response to said output.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 34 wherein said output enables one of said message processing function that performs deletion of said message stored in said receiver upon manual command from said receiver.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver as described in claim 34 wherein a timer deletes said private message at said receiver after a time interval in response to detecting said privacy attribute.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receive as described in claim 34 wherein said detector at said receiver decrypts said private message.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for receiving a message from a sender using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification of said Transmission Control Protocol, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising: a receiver for receiving a message said message containing said six reserved bits within said header and 500 octets following said header; and a processor for detecting a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits of said header, said processor having a plurality of registers longer than or equal to said six reserved bits for processing said message wherein said processor disables one or more message processing functions for said message in response to detection of said privacy attribute.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for receiving a message from a sender using a Transmission Control Protocol having a header where a first 16 bits are allocated to a source port identification of said Transmission Control Protocol, a second 16 bits are allocated to a destination port identification of said Transmission Control Protocol, and six reserved bits are allocated within said header of said Transmission Control Protocol, comprising: a receiver for receiving a message said message containing said six reserved bits within said header and 500 octets following said header; and a processor for detecting a privacy attribute within said six reserved bits of said header, said processor having a plurality of registers longer than or equal to said six reserved bits for processing said message wherein said processor disables one or more message processing functions for said message in response to detection of said privacy attribute.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver as described in claim 39 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to detection of said privacy attribute is storing of said message.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
A receiver as described in claim 39 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to detection of said privacy attribute is retransmission of said message to anyone other than said sender.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver as described in claim 39 wherein one of said message processing functions disabled in response to detection of said privacy attribute is editing of said message.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver as described in claim 39 wherein one of said message processing function disabled in response to detection of said privacy attribute is copying of said message.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-07 | 2004-11-06 | 2005-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-07 | 2008-11-06 | 2009-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-07 | 2012-11-06 | 2013-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |