Encrypting a messaging session with a symmetric key

• US 20030021416A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Application Number:
  US09/915,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021416A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/277
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks

Abstract

A method, system and program for encrypting a messaging session and providing users with a key for decrypting a messaging session are provided. A recording of a messaging session is encrypted with a symmetric key, wherein the symmetric key is enabled to decrypt the encrypted recording of the messaging session. The symmetric key is encoded with multiple public keys, each corresponding with one of multiple users, wherein the encoded symmetric key is decodable by each of the users, such that the encrypted recording of the messaging session is decryptable by each of the users utilizing the symmetric key. In addition, message entries may be encrypted and distributed in real-time with an encoded symmetric key for decryption.

Claims

1. A method for encrypting a messaging session, said method comprising the steps of:

encrypting a recording of a messaging session with a symmetric key, wherein said symmetric key is enabled to decrypt said encrypted recording of said messaging session; and

encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among a plurality of users, wherein said encoded symmetric key is decodable by each of said plurality of users, such that said encrypted recording of said messaging session is decryptable by each of said plurality of users utilizing said symmetric key.

2. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

encrypting said recording and encoding said symmetric key at a messaging server system communicatively connected to a network to a plurality of client messaging systems.

3. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

encrypting said recording and encoding said symmetric key at a particular client messaging system communicatively connected to a network to a plurality of client messaging systems.

4. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

recording a selection of a plurality of message entries from a messaging session.

5. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

generating a symmetric key comprising at least one of alphanumeric, graphic, and audio elements.

6. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

distributing said encoded symmetric key according to said plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among said plurality of users.

7. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

distributing said encrypted recording of said messaging session to said plurality of users.

8. The method for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said symmetric key in a secure file only accessible to a selection of said plurality of users and an administrator for said messaging session.

9. A system for encrypting a messaging session, said system comprising:

a messaging server communicatively connected to a network to a plurality of client messaging systems each associated with one from among a plurality of users;

means for encrypting a recording of a messaging session with a symmetric key, wherein said symmetric key is enabled to decrypt said encrypted recording of said messaging session; and

means for encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among said plurality of users, wherein said encoded symmetric key is decodable by each of said plurality of users, such that said encrypted recording of said messaging session is decryptable by each of said plurality of users utilizing said symmetric key.

10. The system for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for recording a selection of a plurality of message entries from a messaging session.

11. The system for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for generating a symmetric key comprising at least one of alphanumeric, graphic, and audio elements.

12. The system for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for distributing said encoded symmetric key according to said plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among said plurality of users.

13. The system for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for distributing said encrypted recording of said messaging session to said plurality of users.

14. The system for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for storing said symmetric key in a secure file only accessible to a selection of said plurality of users and an administrator for said messaging session.

15. A program for encrypting a messaging session, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for controlling encryption of a recording of a messaging session with a symmetric key, wherein said symmetric key is enabled to decrypt said encrypted recording of said messaging session; and

means for controlling encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among a plurality of users, wherein said encoded symmetric key is decodable by each of said plurality of users, such that said encrypted recording of said messaging session is decryptable by each of said plurality of users utilizing said symmetric key.

16. The program for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for recording a selection of a plurality of message entries from a messaging session.

17. The program for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for generating a symmetric key comprising at least one of alphanumeric, graphic, and audio elements.

18. The program for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for enabling distribution of said encoded symmetric key according to said plurality of public keys each corresponding with one from among said plurality of users.

19. The program for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for enabling distribution of said encrypted recording of said messaging session to said plurality of users.

20. The program for encrypting a messaging session according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for directing storage of said symmetric key in a secure file only accessible to a selection of said plurality of users and an administrator for said messaging session.

21. A method for secure messaging session transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a key encoded specifically for a particular user and an encrypted messaging session;

decoding said key with a private key for said particular user; and

decrypting said encrypted messaging session with said decoded key, such that said particular user is enabled to receive and securely decrypt said encrypted messaging session.

22. The method for secure messaging session transmission according to claim 21, said method further comprising the step of:

requesting to record a messaging session; and

in response to requesting to record said messaging session, receiving said encrypted messaging session and said key.

23. A system for secure messaging session transmission, said method comprising:

a client messaging system communicatively connected to a network;

means for receiving a key encoded specifically for a particular user and an encrypted messaging session;

means for decoding said key with a private key for said particular user; and

means for decrypting said encrypted messaging session with said decoded key, such that said particular user is enabled to receive and securely decrypt said encrypted messaging session.

24. The system for secure messaging session transmission according to claim 23, said system further comprising:

means for requesting to record a messaging session; and

means for receiving said encrypted messaging session and said key, in response to requesting to record said messaging session.

25. A program for secure messaging session transmission, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling receipt of a key encoded specifically for a particular user and an encrypted messaging session;

means for decoding said key with a private key for said particular user; and

means for decrypting said encrypted messaging session with said decoded key, such that said particular user is enabled to receive and securely decrypt said encrypted messaging session.

26. The program for secure messaging session transmission according to claim 25, said program further comprising:

means for controlling transmission of a request to record a messaging session; and

means for enabling receipt of said encrypted messaging session and said key, in response to requesting to record said messaging session.

27. A method for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems, said method comprising the steps of:

encrypting a message entry with a symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

transmitting said encrypted messaging entry for distribution to a plurality of recipient client messaging systems, such that said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key enabled to decrypt said message entry prior to transmission across a network.

28. The method for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 27, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving an encoded symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

decoding said encoded symmetric key with a private key matching a public key utilized to encode said symmetric key.

29. The method for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 27, said method further comprising the step of:

generating said symmetric key at said client messaging system.

30. The method for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 27, said method further comprising the step of:

encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys associated with a plurality of users intended to receive said message entry; and

transmitting said encrypted message entry and said encoded symmetric keys to said plurality of recipient client messaging systems.

31. A system for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems, said system comprising:

a client messaging system communicatively connected to a network;

means for encrypting a message entry with a symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

means for transmitting said encrypted messaging entry for distribution to a plurality of recipient client messaging systems via said network, such that said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key enabled to decrypt said message entry prior to transmission across a network.

32. The system for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 31, said system further comprising:

means for receiving an encoded symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

means for decoding said encoded symmetric key with a private key matching a public key utilized to encode said symmetric key.

33. The system for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 31, said system further comprising:

means for generating said symmetric key at said client messaging system.

34. The system for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 31, said system further comprising:

means for encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys associated with a plurality of users intended to receive said message entry; and

means for transmitting said encrypted message entry and said encoded symmetric keys to said plurality of recipient client messaging systems.

35. A program for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for encrypting a message entry with a symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

means for enabling transmission of said encrypted messaging entry for distribution to a plurality of recipient client messaging systems, such that said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key enabled to decrypt said message entry prior to transmission across a network.

36. The program for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 35, said program further comprising:

means for enabling receipt of an encoded symmetric key at a client messaging system; and

means for decoding said encoded symmetric key with a private key matching a public key utilized to encode said symmetric key.

37. The program for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 35, said program further comprising:

means for generating said symmetric key at said client messaging system.

38. The program for real-time encryption of a message entry transmitted to a plurality of client messaging systems according to claim 35, said program further comprising:

means for encoding said symmetric key with a plurality of public keys associated with a plurality of users intended to receive said message entry; and

means for enabling transmission of said encrypted message entry and said encoded symmetric keys to said plurality of recipient client messaging systems.

39. A method for controlling real-time distribution of encrypted messages, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a symmetric key encoded for a particular user to a client messaging system;

receiving a message entry from said client messaging system, wherein said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key;

encoding said symmetric key for a plurality of intended recipients; and

transmitting said message entry and said encoded symmetric key to said plurality of intended recipients, such that said encrypted message entry is distributed in real-time to said plurality of intended recipients.

40. A system for controlling real-time distribution of encrypted messages, said system comprising:

a messaging server communicatively connected to a network;

means for transmitting a symmetric key encoded for a particular user to a client messaging system;

means for receiving a message entry from said client messaging system, wherein said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key;

means for encoding said symmetric key for a plurality of intended recipients; and

means for transmitting said message entry and said encoded symmetric key to said plurality of intended recipients, such that said encrypted message entry is distributed in real-time to said plurality of intended recipients.

41. A program for controlling real-time distribution of encrypted messages, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling transmission of a symmetric key encoded for a particular user to a client messaging system;

means for enabling receipt of a message entry from said client messaging system, wherein said message entry is encrypted with said symmetric key;

means for encoding said symmetric key for a plurality of intended recipients; and

means for enabling transmission of said message entry and said encoded symmetric key to said plurality of intended recipients, such that said encrypted message entry is distributed in real-time to said plurality of intended recipients.