Method and apparatus for secure instant messaging utilizing server-supervised publication
First Claim
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1. A communications method, comprising operations of:
- conducting digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages between online messaging service subscribers.
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Abstract
Digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages are conducted between prescribed online messaging service subscribers.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A communications method, comprising operations of:
conducting digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages between online messaging service subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of managing the exchange of secure online instant messages between subscriber devices, where the secure messages are signed and encrypted using subscribers'"'"' digital certificates, the method comprising operations of:
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at one or more subscriber devices, an associated local instant messaging module logging in to a messaging server to begin a session of exchanging synchronous online messages;
at one or more of the logged-in devices, the associated local instant messaging module submitting a certificate publication request to a messaging server, the publication request also specifying a digital certificate corresponding to the subscriber device;
responsive to each certificate publication request, the messaging server temporarily storing the submitted digital certificate in a publication record in association with the submitting device as long as the associated instant messaging module remains logged-in to the messaging server;
responsive to prescribed events, the messaging server providing logged-in subscriber devices with selected information concerning certificates of other subscriber devices. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A messaging server for use in managing the exchange of secure online instant messages between subscriber devices, where the secure messages are signed and encrypted using subscribers'"'"' digital certificates, the messaging server comprising:
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storage;
at least one digital data processor coupled to the storage;
the data processor programmed to perform operations comprising;
beginning a session of exchanging synchronous online messages by receiving log-in from local instant messaging modules of one or more subscriber devices;
receiving from one or more of the logged-in devices'"'"' associated local instant messaging modules a certificate publication request specifying a digital certificate corresponding to the subscriber device;
responsive to each certificate publication request, temporarily storing the submitted digital certificate in a publication record in association with the submitting device as long as the associated instant messaging module remains logged-in to the messaging server;
responsive to prescribed events, providing logged-in subscriber devices with selected information concerning certificates of other subscriber devices. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communications method, comprising operations of:
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providing an online instant messaging center to serve multiple prescribed subscribers;
providing instant messaging software for installation by the subscribers;
where the center and software are configured to cooperatively exchange digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages between groups of two or more dialoging subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An online instant messaging system, comprising:
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an online instant messaging center to serve multiple prescribed subscribers;
instant messaging software for installation by the subscribers;
where the center and software are configured to cooperatively exchange digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages between groups of two or more dialoging subscribers.
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38. An online instant messaging system, comprising:
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online instant messaging center means for serving multiple prescribed subscribers;
instant messaging software means for installation by the subscribers;
where the center means and software means are configured to cooperatively exchange digitally signed and encrypted synchronous online messages between groups of two or more dialoging subscribers.
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Specification