Method and system for allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to a recipient from any data terminal
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to at least one recipient from any data terminal connected to a data communications network and being capable of securely sending data to at least one computer connected to the data communications network, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a virtual network connectable to the data communications network and providing access to a respective user space dedicated to the sender and each recipient for storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, and (b) controlling access to each user space so as to allow the sender and each recipient unrestricted access to his own user space while allowing either restricted or no access to any other user space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual network connectable to a data communications network for allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to at least one recipient from any data terminal connected to the data communications network. The virtual network comprises a respective user space dedicated to the sender and each recipient for storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, and at least one computer coupled to each user space for controlling access thereto so as to allow the sender and each recipient unrestricted access to his own user space for accessing his own public and private keys while allowing access to the public key only in any other user space.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to at least one recipient from any data terminal connected to a data communications network and being capable of securely sending data to at least one computer connected to the data communications network, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a virtual network connectable to the data communications network and providing access to a respective user space dedicated to the sender and each recipient for storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, and (b) controlling access to each user space so as to allow the sender and each recipient unrestricted access to his own user space while allowing either restricted or no access to any other user space.
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2. A virtual network connectable to a data communications network for allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to at least one recipient from any data terminal connected to the data communications network, said virtual network comprising:
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a respective user space dedicated to the sender and each recipient for storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, and at least one computer coupled to each user space for controlling access thereto so as to allow the sender and each recipient unrestricted access to his own user space for accessing his own public and private keys while allowing access to the public key only in any other user space. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A data communications network comprising:
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a virtual network allowing a sender to send an encrypted message to at least one recipient from any data terminal connected to the data communications network, said virtual network comprising;
a respective user space dedicated to the sender and each recipient for storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, and at least one computer coupled to each user space for controlling access thereto so as to allow the sender and each recipient unrestricted access to his own user space for accessing his own public and private keys while allowing access to the public key only in any other user space; and
a database connected to the data communications network for storing respective public keys of at least a subset of users not having respective user spaces in the virtual network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A program storage device readable by a computer coupled to a respective user space dedicated to a sender and at least one recipient and storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, said program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for sending an encrypted message by the sender to the at least one recipient, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) obtaining the respective public key of each recipient from the respective user space of each recipient, (b) receiving the message from a data terminal connected to the machine via a secure communication channel, (c) encrypting the message using the respective public key of each recipient, and (d) conveying the encrypted message to the respective user space of each recipient so as to allow each recipient to access the message from any data terminal capable of receiving secure data and being connected to the computer via a data communications network.
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19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein and being executable by a computer coupled to a respective user space dedicated to a sender and at least one recipient and storing a respective public and a respective private key thereof, the computer program product comprising:
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computer readable program code for causing the computer to obtain the respective public key of each recipient from the respective user space of each recipient, computer readable program code for causing the computer to receive the message from the data terminal via a secure communication channel, computer readable program code for causing the computer to encrypt the message using the respective public key of each recipient, and computer readable program code for causing the computer to convey the encrypted message to the respective user space of each recipient so as to allow each recipient to access the message from any data terminal capable of receiving secure data and being connected to the computer via a data communications network.
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Specification