Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-28
2001-05-08
Najjar, Saleh (Department: 2758)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S238000, C709S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230186
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of private electronic mail (e-mail) communications to be used with a network of interconnected computers, generally known as intranets or internet and typically using TCP/IP protocols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Networks of interconnected computers generally exchange messages formed from digital data. The digital date is made up of digital bits. For better organization, the bits are grouped generally in packets. Each packet is a conveniently sized group of bits traveling together as a unit within a transmission medium. A message is generally made up of one or more packets. When a message is longer than one packet, a plurality of packets are created to carry the message. Each packet forming the message is transmitted, possibly out of order, eventually reaching its destination where the message is extracted from the plurality of packets. When it is permissible for packets to be transmitted or received out of order, a grouping of one or more packets, part of the same message, are called datagrams. A datagram is a unit of data, manipulated as an entity by a data exchange protocol.
Electronic mail or e-mail is formed from the exchange of packets or datagrams by message processing functions. These functions are generally contained within e-mail managers and/or browsers. E-mail messages can contain any binary string as a representation ranging from plain ASCH text to a sequence of video images and/or sound.
Typically, e-mail managers or browsers strive to offer maximum flexibility to the user for the transmission and manipulation of incoming or outgoing messages. These typical application packages provide facilities for editing (cut and paste) and retransmission of a received e-mail message. Generally, only one click of the mouse, or a few keystrokes are required to edit and re-transmit a received message.
Moreover, the flexibility to edit and redistribute a received message in current e-mail managers and browsers sometimes works against the interests of the sender. In certain situations, retransmission of a received message may be injurious to the sender. For example, certain authoring rights associated with copyrighted materials may be diluted or infringed by indiscriminate and unlicensed e-mail editing and re-distribution of the original copyrighted material. Along the same lines, unfettered e-mail distribution of certain confidential lists containing, for example, personal information such as, employment, medical, credit and/or criminal records and the like may also be damaging to the privacy of those listed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The difficulties related to easy e-mail manipulation are avoided in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing a system for the transmission of a private message from a sender to a receiver. 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 manger or browser.
In one embodiment of the invention, a message is formed from one or more packets. A privacy attribute is inserted into at least one of the packets. The packets containing the privacy attribute are transmitted from the sender to the receiver. Each of the packets has a header part and a data part, and are compatible with a transmission protocol, such as Transmission Control and/or Internet protocols (TCP/IP). The packets are sent to the receiver. The receiver has means for receiving the packets in accordance with the transmission protocol. The receiver searches the received packets for an occurrences of the privacy attribute. An output is generated upon detection of the privacy attribute in the received packets.
In response to the output, one or more message processing functions that are generally part of the browser and/or e-mail manager residing at the receiver are disabled. Alternatively, only those messages processing functions that are deemed suitable for use on a private message are enabled in response to the output.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, an alternative set of tools, e.g. known as “private message processing”, which are appropriate for processing messages indicated to be private by the output are invoked in lieu of prior art set of messages processing tools which are employed for non-private messages.
Encryption of the information contained in the packets may be combined with the privacy attribute at the sender. Thus the content of the packets is assured privacy during message transfer across a switching network. Messages decryption is completed at the receiver upon detection of the privacy attribute and/or message encryption.
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Ionescu I.
Jumbopatent.com
Najjar Saleh
LandOfFree
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