Method and system for centralized storage and management of electronic messages
First Claim
1. A method for securely sending an electronic message to multiple recipients, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving an indication of an encrypted electronic message to be sent to multiple recipient users;
(b) storing a single copy of the electronic message;
(c) creating a notification electronic message including a reference to the electronic message;
(d) sending a copy of the notification electronic message to each of the recipient users; and
upon receiving a request from a recipient user for the referenced electronic message, (e) decrypting the received encrypted electronic message;
(f) retrieving an encryption key for the recipient user;
(g) encrypting a copy of the decrypted electronic message with the retrieved encryption key; and
(h) sending the encrypted copy to the recipient user for temporary storage while the sent encrypted copy is reviewed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for distributing electronic messages in an efficient manner using centralized storage and management. In particular, the system receives electronic messages to be distributed to one or more recipients, centrally stores a single copy of the message as well as various information about sending the message, and sends to each recipient a short indicator message to notify the recipient that the electronic message is available. The system then tracks and manages requests from the recipients to access the message by permitting access when appropriate, performing activities such as decrypting/encrypting the message if necessary, recording information about the access and about recipient instructions related to the message, archiving the message if necessary, and deleting the message when it is no longer needed. After a recipient receives an indicator, the recipient can use the indicator to access and review the message. The recipient can also provide various instructions about actions to be taken with the message corresponding to an indicator, such as to save or delete the message or to forward the message to another recipient. After all recipients have reviewed the message and no recipient has currently indicated to save the message (or all have indicated to delete the message), the system can then delete the single copy of the message.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for securely sending an electronic message to multiple recipients, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving an indication of an encrypted electronic message to be sent to multiple recipient users;
(b) storing a single copy of the electronic message;
(c) creating a notification electronic message including a reference to the electronic message;
(d) sending a copy of the notification electronic message to each of the recipient users; and
upon receiving a request from a recipient user for the referenced electronic message, (e) decrypting the received encrypted electronic message;
(f) retrieving an encryption key for the recipient user;
(g) encrypting a copy of the decrypted electronic message with the retrieved encryption key; and
(h) sending the encrypted copy to the recipient user for temporary storage while the sent encrypted copy is reviewed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. A computer-implemented method for sending an electronic communication to recipients, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication of an electronic communication and of at least one recipient to receive the electronic communication;
determining whether multiple recipients of the electronic communication have been indicated; and
when it is determined that multiple recipients have been indicated, storing the electronic communication;
notifying each of the multiple recipients of the electronic communication without sending the electronic communication to the recipients; and
in response to a request for the electronic communication from a recipient, sending the electronic communication to the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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23. A computer-implemented method for sending an electronic communication to a plurality of recipients, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication of the electronic communication and of the plurality of recipients to receive the electronic communication;
storing a single copy of the electronic communication;
notifying each of the recipients of the electronic communication without sending the electronic communication to the recipients; and
in response to a request for the electronic communication from a recipient, sending the electronic communication to the recipient.
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30. A computer-implemented method for one of a plurality of designated recipients of an electronic communication to receive the electronic communication from a server that stores a single copy of the electronic communication, the method comprising:
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receiving an electronic communication notification from the server that references the single copy of the electronic communication, the electronic communication notification distinct from the electronic communication;
requesting from the server the referenced electronic communication; and
receiving from the server a copy of the requested electronic communication. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40)
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37. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to send an electronic communication to recipients by:
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receiving an indication of an electronic communication and of at least one recipient to receive the electronic communication;
determining whether multiple recipients of the electronic communication have been indicated; and
when it is determined that multiple recipients have been indicated, storing the electronic communication;
notifying each of the multiple recipients of the electronic communication without sending the electronic communication to the recipients; and
in response to a request for the electronic communication from a recipient, sending the electronic communication to the recipient.
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41. A computer system for sending an electronic communication to recipients, comprising:
a communication distributor for receiving an indication of the electronic communication and of at least one recipient to receive the electronic communication, for determining whether multiple recipients of the electronic communication have been indicated, for storing the electronic communication and notifying each of the multiple recipients of the electronic communication without sending the electronic communication to the recipients when it is determined that multiple recipients have been indicated, and for sending the electronic communication to a recipient in response to a request for the electronic communication from the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
Specification