Secure instant messaging system
First Claim
1. A process for the secure transmission and reception of data files and text messages via an instant messaging system across a computer network, comprising the steps of:
- providing an instant messaging server;
providing at least one certificate authority;
wherein said at least one certificate authority issues a certificate to a user that links a user'"'"'s screen name with a public key value;
providing a first instant messaging client;
wherein said first instant messaging client is associated with a first user;
wherein the first user has an associated screen name; and
wherein the first user obtains a certificate from said at least one certificate authority.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A secure instant messaging system integrates secure text instant messaging and secure file transfers into existing instant messaging systems. At least one certificate authority (CA) is provided that issues a security certificate to a user that binds the user'"'"'s instant messaging screen name to a public key which is used by other users to encrypt messages and files sent to the user and by the user to decrypt the received messages and files. A subscriber database is used by the CA to keep track of valid users and their associated information, such as: user screen names, user subscription expiration dates, and enrollment agent information. A user sends his certificate to the invention'"'"'s instant messaging server which publishes the user'"'"'s certificate to other users by creating a hash value of the user'"'"'s certificate and sending it to the other users which allows the recipients to decide if they need to update their caches with a new copy of the user'"'"'s certificate. Instant messages and files are encrypted by a sending user using an encryption algorithm and the recipient'"'"'s certificate. The sending user can sign instant messages using his private signing key. The security status of each received instant message is displayed to the user.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A process for the secure transmission and reception of data files and text messages via an instant messaging system across a computer network, comprising the steps of:
-
providing an instant messaging server;
providing at least one certificate authority;
wherein said at least one certificate authority issues a certificate to a user that links a user'"'"'s screen name with a public key value;
providing a first instant messaging client;
wherein said first instant messaging client is associated with a first user;
wherein the first user has an associated screen name; and
wherein the first user obtains a certificate from said at least one certificate authority. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An apparatus for the secure transmission and reception of data files and text messages via an instant messaging system across a computer network, comprising:
-
an instant messaging server;
at least one certificate authority;
wherein said at least one certificate authority issues a certificate to a user that links a user'"'"'s screen name with a public key value;
a first instant messaging client;
wherein said first instant messaging client is associated with a first user;
wherein the first user has an associated screen name; and
wherein the first user obtains a certificate from said at least one certificate authority. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification