US6732101B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secure message forwarding system detecting user's preferences including security preferences
Assignee: ZixCorp Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2000-06-15
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Granted: 2004-05-04
•
Expires: 2020-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for providing secure E-mail services. The system includes a forwarding service to receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient. The system checks for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including encryption preferences and notifies the recipient or delivers the message according to the encryption preferences. The system also includes an interoperability engine to determine delivery preferences of the sender including security preferences, the security preferences indicating a security protocol by which the E-mail message can be securely delivered to the recipient.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Cook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L63/0442; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H04L51/00; H04L63/12; H04L63/123; H04L63/126; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04L51/21; H04L51/212; H04L51/224; H04L63/08; H04L63/0823; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A computing system for providing secure E-mail services comprising: a forwarding engine executing on a computer operable to receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; store the message at least temporarily in a storage means; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences, the security preferences specifying an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference including encrypting the message in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computing system for providing secure E-mail services comprising: a forwarding engine executing on a computer operable to receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; store the message at least temporarily in a storage means; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences, the security preferences specifying an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference including encrypting the message in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a web front end operable to receive and process message requests.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a filter operable to produce a standard format message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a forward engine operable to construct an E-mail to be transmitted to an intended recipient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes an encryption service operable to encrypt a message in accordance with the preferences of a recipient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a queue structure operable to store a standard format message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes an access list including user preference data including delivery preference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes: an origination layer operable to receive messages of various forms that are to be processed by the forwarding engine, a filter layer operable to decrypt, authenticate and parse a message in accordance with the designated format of the message, a standard message format layer operable to produce a standard format message for each received message processed by the filter layer, an interoperability layer operable to decide how to forward a message to a recipient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a notify and store layer that is invoked when web delivery of a message is required, the notify and store layer is operable to store securely a standard format message in a queue structure and operable to notify the recipient by E-mail, facsimile, pager or other means as specified in a preference data for the recipient or in accordance with a default specification.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the forwarding engine includes a delivery layer operable to deliver a message to a recipient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented method for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine executing on a computer comprising: receiving an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; storing the message at least temporarily in a storage means; checking for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including a security preference where the security preference includes an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, providing an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the stored message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, delivering the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference including encrypting the message in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented method for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine executing on a computer comprising: receiving an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; storing the message at least temporarily in a storage means; checking for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including a security preference where the security preference includes an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, providing an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the stored message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, delivering the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference including encrypting the message in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving and processing message requests.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising producing a standard format message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising constructing an E-mail to be transmitted to an intended recipient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising encrypting a message in accordance with a delivery preference of a recipient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising storing a standard format message in a queue structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising listing user preference data in an access list.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: providing an original layer operable to receive messages of various forms that are to be processed by the forwarding engine; providing a filter layer operable to decrypt, authenticate and parse a message in accordance with the designated format of the message; providing a standard message format layer operable to produce a standard format message for each received message processed by the filter layer, and providing an interoperability layer operable to decide how to forward a message to a recipient.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: invoking a notify and store layer when web delivery of a message is required, the notify and store layer is operable to store securely a standard format message in a queue structure and operable to notify the recipient by E-mail, facsimile, pager or other means as specified in a preference data for the recipient or in accordance with a default specification.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a delivery layer operable to delivery a message to a recipient.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
171 words
A system executing on a computer for securely processing messages for delivery from a sender to a recipient comprising: a front end for receiving messages from a sender for delivery to a recipient; a filter engine for processing received messages for producing standard form messages for all messages received from the sender; an interoperability engine for determining delivery preferences of the sender including security preferences; a storage means for storing standard form messages that are to be temporarily stored in the system; and a forwarding engine for forwarding a notification to the recipient if required by the determined delivery preferences, the notification indicating to the user that a message is available to be retrieved; wherein the interoperability engine is operable to bypass storing the standard form of a message in the storage means and forwarding of a notification by the forwarding engine if the determined preferences indicate direct delivery to the recipient is requested, and where the security preferences indicate a security protocol by which the message can be securely delivered.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
171 words
A system executing on a computer for securely processing messages for delivery from a sender to a recipient comprising: a front end for receiving messages from a sender for delivery to a recipient; a filter engine for processing received messages for producing standard form messages for all messages received from the sender; an interoperability engine for determining delivery preferences of the sender including security preferences; a storage means for storing standard form messages that are to be temporarily stored in the system; and a forwarding engine for forwarding a notification to the recipient if required by the determined delivery preferences, the notification indicating to the user that a message is available to be retrieved; wherein the interoperability engine is operable to bypass storing the standard form of a message in the storage means and forwarding of a notification by the forwarding engine if the determined preferences indicate direct delivery to the recipient is requested, and where the security preferences indicate a security protocol by which the message can be securely delivered.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the standard form message includes an authentication block, a message block and attachments if any.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the filter engine is operable to determine an authentication of the sender to use the system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the filter engine is operable to determine an authentication of the sender including determining a sender authorization pass phrase for the sender, compare the determined sender authorization pass phrase for the sender with a pass phrased provided by the sender with the message and not forward messages from unauthenticated senders.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the filter engine includes plural filter layers for processing different types of received messages, each filter layer providing output of the standard form.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the a interoperability engine is operable to determine security preferences for the recipient including locating keys associated with the recipient for use in encrypting messages, determining if the keys can be used in accordance with determined security protocol and sending the message directly to the recipient in accordance with the determined security protocol and using the located keys.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer implemented method for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine executing on a computer comprising: receiving an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; checking for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences; if no delivery preference is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, providing an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message, if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, delivering the message in accordance with the recipient's preference including securing the message in accordance with the determined security preferences.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer implemented method for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine executing on a computer comprising: receiving an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; checking for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences; if no delivery preference is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, providing an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message, if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, delivering the message in accordance with the recipient's preference including securing the message in accordance with the determined security preferences.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of determining security preferences includes determining a security protocol for use in sending the message to the recipient and where the method further includes searching for keys associated with the recipient to be used in encrypting the message to be sent to the recipient.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising determining if the located keys can be used in accordance with the determined security protocol, and if so, then securing the message in accordance with the determined security protocol and using the located keys.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product embodied on an information carrier for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; store the message at least temporarily in a storage means; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including a security preference where the security preference includes an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the stored message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference where the message is encrypted in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product embodied on an information carrier for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; store the message at least temporarily in a storage means; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including a security preference where the security preference includes an encryption preference; if no preference for delivery is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the stored message; and if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's delivery preference where the message is encrypted in accordance with the encryption preference.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to receive and process message requests.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to produce a standard format message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to construct an E-mail to be transmitted to an intended recipient.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to encrypt a message in accordance with a delivery preference of a recipient.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to store a standard format message in a queue structure.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to list user preference data in an access list.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
96 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: provide an original layer operable to receive messages of various forms that are to be processed by the forwarding engine; provide a filter layer operable to decrypt, authenticate and parse a message in accordance with the designated format of the message; provide a standard message format layer operable to produce a standard format message for each received message processed by the filter layer; and provide an interoperability layer operable to decide how to forward a message to a recipient.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: invoke a notify and store layer when web delivery of a message is required, the notify and store layer is operable to store securely a standard format message in a queue structure and operable to notify the recipient by E-mail, facsimile, pager or other means as specified in a preference data for the recipient or in accordance with a default specification.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to provide a delivery layer operable to delivery a message to a recipient.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer program product embodied on an information carrier for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences; if no delivery preference is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message, if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's preference where the message is secured in accordance with the determined security preferences.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer program product embodied on an information carrier for providing secure E-mail services using a forwarding engine, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer system to: receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient; check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including security preferences; if no delivery preference is specified or if Web-based delivery is specified, provide an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message, if a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, deliver the message in accordance with the recipient's preference where the message is secured in accordance with the determined security preferences.
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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) | 2007-05-04 | 2007-11-03 | 2008-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-04 | 2011-11-03 | 2012-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-04 | 2015-11-03 | 2016-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |