Electronic messaging system for mobile devices with reduced traceability of electronic messages

• US 10,412,039 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2019
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Joseph, Shah, Amit Jindas
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US16/356,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20190215296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0414 during transmission, i.e. party's identity is protected against eavesdropping, e.g. by using temporary identifiers, but is known to the other party or parties involved in the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

An electronic messaging system and method with reduced traceability by separation of display of media component of message content and header information. An electronic message having an identifier of a recipient and a message content including an image media component is received at a server from a sending user device at which a display for associating the media component with the electronic message is provided without displaying the identifier of a recipient with the media component such that a single screen capture of the identifier of a recipient and the media component is prevented. The electronic message including an identifier of a sending user is transmitted to a recipient user device at which a display presenting the media component is provided without displaying the identifier of a sending user such that a single screen capture of both the identifier of a sending user and the media component is prevented.

Claims

1. A system for reducing the traceability of electronic messaging between mobile devices, the system including:

a server computer configured to communicate with a first application program on a first mobile device and a second application program on a second mobile device, the server computer being an intermediate device configured to receive an electronic message with reduced traceability from the first mobile device without the use of industry standard email and to send the electronic message to the second mobile device without the use of industry standard email, the electronic message including a header information and a message content, the header information including an identifier of a recipient and the message content including an image and/or video, the first application program including instructions executable by a first processor of the first mobile device to provide a first set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the first mobile device, the second application program including instructions executable by a second processor of the second mobile device to provide a second set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the second mobile device, the first and second sets of reduced traceability displays being configured to reduce the traceability of the electronic message, the first set of reduced traceability displays including a first display configured to allow a user of the first mobile device to associate an image and/or video with the message content and a second display configured to allow the user of the first mobile device to associate the identifier of a recipient with the electronic message, the instructions executable by the first processor providing the first and second displays such that the identifier of the recipient is not displayed with the message content via the first display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a recipient and the message content, the second set of reduced traceability displays including a third display configured to present an identifier of a sender of the electronic message and a fourth display configured to present the message content, the instructions executable by the second processor providing the third and fourth displays such that the identifier of a sending user is not displayed with the message content via the fourth display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a sending user and the message content;

a network connection allowing the server computer to communicate with the first mobile device to receive the electronic message and to communicate with the second mobile device to send the electronic message to the second mobile device; and

a storage module associated with the server computer and configured to store the electronic message;

wherein the first application program is configured to utilize a display-based keyboard to allow the user of the first mobile device to enter characters via a touchscreen screen of the first mobile device to include in the message content, and wherein the characters are included with the image and/or video of the message content if the user of the first mobile device enters the characters.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow a user to send a notification message that is different from the electronic message to a third-party address of a recipient at a third-party messaging service that is not part of the system to alert the recipient of the system.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the notification message includes an indication that the recipient may register to use the system.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow a notification message that is different from the electronic message to be sent to a non-user of the system at a third-party address of a third-party messaging service.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein if the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server is configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the message ID is an alpha-numeric sequence that is unique for the electronic message for the system, the unique message ID being reusable by the system if the electronic message is deleted.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the server is configured to remove the message ID from the electronic message before the electronic message is sent to the second mobile device.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the message ID is associated with each of the message content and the header information.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the message ID is associated with each of the message content and the header information.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the server is configured to remove the message ID from the message content and the header information such that the message ID is not sent to the second mobile device.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reduction of traceability of the electronic message is enhanced by one or more of entering text to the message content using the display-based keyboard, transmitting the header information separately from the message content, storing the header information separately from the message content.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the server is configured to send the electronic message such that the message content and header information are separated during communication to reduce the ability of intercepting both components of the electronic message.

18. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion module configured to delete message content at a time selected from the group consisting of a time immediately after the message content is displayed, a time that is upon the display of the message content being closed, a time after a predetermined amount of time after the message content first being displayed, a time after a predetermine amount of time from the message content being received, a time that is after a predetermined number of viewings of the electronic message, and any combinations thereof.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the fourth display is configured to require a user to interact with an area of the fourth display as it is displayed on the second mobile device to allow continued display of the message content.

20. A system for reducing the traceability of electronic messaging between mobile devices, the system including:

a server computer configured to communicate with a first application program on a first mobile device and a second application program on a second mobile device, the server computer being an intermediate device configured to receive an electronic message with reduced traceability from the first mobile device without the use of industry standard email and to send the electronic message to the second mobile device without the use of industry standard email, the electronic message including a header information and a message content, the header information including an identifier of a recipient and the message content including an image and/or video, the first application program including instructions executable by a first processor of the first mobile device to provide a first set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the first mobile device, the second application program including instructions executable by a second processor of the second mobile device to provide a second set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the second mobile device, the first and second sets of reduced traceability displays being configured to reduce the traceability of the electronic message, the first set of reduced traceability displays including a first display configured to allow a user of the first mobile device to associate an image and/or video with the message content and a second display configured to allow the user of the first mobile device to associate the identifier of a recipient with the electronic message, the instructions executable by the first processor providing the first and second displays such that the identifier of the recipient is not displayed with the message content via the first display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a recipient and the message content, the second set of reduced traceability displays including a third display configured to present an identifier of a sender of the electronic message and a fourth display configured to present the message content, the instructions executable by the second processor providing the third and fourth displays such that the identifier of a sending user is not displayed with the message content via the fourth display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a sending user and the message content;

a network connection allowing the server computer to communicate with the first mobile device to receive the electronic message and to communicate with the second mobile device to send the electronic message to the second mobile device; and

a storage module associated with the server computer and configured to store the electronic message;

wherein the first application program is configured to utilize a display-based keyboard to allow the user of the first mobile device to enter characters via a touchscreen screen of the first mobile device to include in the message content, wherein the characters are included with the image and/or video of the message content if the user of the first mobile device enters the characters, wherein if the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server is configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID, wherein the message ID is an alpha-numeric sequence that is unique for the electronic message for the system, the unique message ID being reusable by the system if the electronic message is deleted, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information, and wherein the system is configured to allow a notification message that is different from the electronic message to be sent to a non-user of the system at a third-party address of a third-party messaging service.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the notification message includes an indication that the recipient may register to use the system.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the notification message includes a link to the system.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the notification message includes an indication of a message for the recipient, the message for the recipient being on the system.

24. A system according to claim 20, wherein the notification message is sent to the third-party address of the recipient using a third-party email network that is not part of the system to alert the recipient of the system.

25. A system according to claim 20, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the server is configured to remove the message ID from the electronic message before the electronic message is sent to the second mobile device.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein the server is configured to remove the message ID from the message content and the header information such that the message ID is not sent to the second mobile device.

28. A system according to claim 20, wherein the reduction of traceability of the electronic message is enhanced by one or more of entering text to the message content using the display-based keyboard, transmitting the header information separately from the message content, storing the header information separately from the message content.

29. A system according to claim 20, wherein the server is configured to send the electronic message such that the message content and header information are separated during communication to reduce the ability of intercepting both components of the electronic message.

30. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a deletion module configured to delete message content at a time selected from the group consisting of a time immediately after the message content is displayed, a time that is upon the display of the message content being closed, a time after a predetermined amount of time after the message content first being displayed, a time after a predetermine amount of time from the message content being received, a time that is after a predetermined number of viewings of the electronic message, and any combinations thereof.

31. A system according to claim 20, wherein the fourth display is configured to require a user to interact with an area of the fourth display as it is displayed on the second mobile device to allow continued display of the message content.

32. A system for reducing the traceability of electronic messaging between mobile devices, the system including:

a server computer configured to communicate with a first application program on a first mobile device and a second application program on a second mobile device, the server computer being an intermediate device configured to receive an electronic message with reduced traceability from the first mobile device without the use of industry standard email and to send the electronic message to the second mobile device without the use of industry standard email, the electronic message including a header information and a message content, the header information including an identifier of a recipient and the message content including an image and/or video, the first application program including instructions executable by a first processor of the first mobile device to provide a first set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the first mobile device, the second application program including instructions executable by a second processor of the second mobile device to provide a second set of reduced traceability displays via a display device of the second mobile device, the first and second sets of reduced traceability displays being configured to reduce the traceability of the electronic message, the first set of reduced traceability displays including a first display configured to allow a user of the first mobile device to associate an image and/or video with the message content and a second display configured to allow the user of the first mobile device to associate the identifier of a recipient with the electronic message, the instructions executable by the first processor providing the first and second displays such that the identifier of the recipient is not displayed with the message content via the first display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a recipient and the message content, the second set of reduced traceability displays including a third display configured to present an identifier of a sender of the electronic message and a fourth display configured to present the message content, the instructions executable by the second processor providing the third and fourth displays such that the identifier of a sending user is not displayed with the message content via the fourth display preventing a single screen capture of both the identifier of a sending user and the message content;

a network connection allowing the server computer to communicate with the first mobile device to receive the electronic message and to communicate with the second mobile device to send the electronic message to the second mobile device; and

a storage module associated with the server computer and configured to store the electronic message;

wherein the first application program is configured to utilize a display-based keyboard to allow the user of the first mobile device to enter characters via a touchscreen screen of the first mobile device to include in the message content, wherein the characters are included with the message content if the user of the first mobile device enters the characters, wherein if the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or if the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server is configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a database, a lookup table, an entry in a file system, and/or a message ID, and wherein the first application program and/or the second application program is configured to allow a notification message that is different from the electronic message to be sent to a non-user of the system at a third-party address of a third-party messaging service.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the notification message includes an indication that the recipient may register to use the system.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein the notification message includes a link to the system.

35. A system according to claim 32, wherein the notification message includes an indication of a message for the recipient, the message for the recipient being on the system.

36. A system according to claim 32, wherein the notification message is sent to the third-party address of the recipient using a third-party email network that is not part of the system to alert the recipient of the system.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the message ID is an alpha-numeric sequence that is unique for the electronic message for the system, the unique message ID being reusable by the system if the electronic message is deleted, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information.

39. A system according to claim 36, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a lookup table.

40. A system according to claim 32, wherein the message content is received at the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is sent from the server separately from the header information and/or the message content is stored separately from the header information, the server being configured to maintain a correspondence between the message content and the header information using a message ID.

41. A system according to claim 40, wherein the server is configured to remove the message ID from the electronic message before the electronic message is sent to the second mobile device.

42. A system according to claim 40, wherein the message ID is an alpha-numeric sequence that is unique for the electronic message for the system, the unique message ID being reusable by the system if the electronic message is deleted, wherein the message ID is separately associated with the message content and the header information.

43. A system according to claim 32, wherein the reduction of traceability of the electronic message is enhanced by one or more of entering text to the message content using the display-based keyboard, transmitting the header information separately from the message content, storing the header information separately from the message content.

44. A system according to claim 32, wherein the server is configured to send the electronic message such that the message content and header information are separated during communication to reduce the ability of intercepting both components of the electronic message.

45. A system according to claim 32, further comprising a deletion module configured to delete message content at a time selected from the group consisting of a time immediately after the message content is displayed, a time that is upon the display of the message content being closed, a time after a predetermined amount of time after the message content first being displayed, a time after a predetermine amount of time from the message content being received, a time that is after a predetermined number of viewings of the electronic message, and any combinations thereof.

46. A system according to claim 32, wherein the fourth display is configured to require a user to interact with an area of the fourth display as it is displayed on the second mobile device to allow continued display of the message content.