Locked e-mail server with key server

• US 20050102511A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,118,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00

Abstract

An email system using keys to open the server to receive messages. A message is created on a client, along with a request for the server to accept the message. The server will not even accept the message, unless the key is received. The key may be validated on many different levels of security; including length, or encryption code, or mathematical calculation. If the key is validated, the message can be received, either immediately, or later via a session code.

Claims

1. An e-mail method, comprising:

receiving a request from an e-mail server, which request indicates that the email server is requesting to send an e-mail;

blocking e-mail messages from being received by said email server, which are not associated with a request; and

allowing e-mail messages to be received by said email server only responsive to said request.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said request includes a key, and said allowing comprises determining if the key meets a specified criterion and allowing e-mails to be received only if the key meets the specified criterion.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said criterion is validation of an encryption function used to form the key.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein said criterion is a length of the key.

5. A method as in claim 2, further comprising, responsive to rejecting a key, sending a message to the e-mail sender, which includes information from which a valid key can be obtained.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said information comprises a pointer to a database from which key information can be obtained.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein said information comprises an image within which key information is provided.

8. A system comprising:

an e-mail communication part, having a communication function adapted for connection to a network to receive communications from the network, and having a controller, said controller operative to detect a request for e-mail transmission, and said controller operative to allow an e-mail transmission subsequent to said request, to be received by the communication part only responsive to said request.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said controller reviews said request to determine if the request meets a specified criterion, and said allowing been carried out only if the request meets the specified criterion.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the specified criterion comprises validation of an encryption function.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein the specified criterion comprises validation of a specified mathematical function.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein the specified criterion comprises validation of the specified length of a part of the request.

13. A system as in claim 8, further comprising, in said controller, sending a message to the sender which includes information from which a valid request can be formed.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said information includes information about a database storing codes that can be used to form said request.

15. A system as in claim 13, wherein said information includes an image of said codes.

16. A method, comprising:

Obtaining a message to be sent to a remote location;

obtaining a onetime code, of a type which can be verified by the remote location; and

sending the onetime code as a key which preceeds sending the message.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the onetime code includes a unique number that is encrypted by an encryption key.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein the unique number is date or time, or a random number.

19. A method as in claim 16, wherein the onetime code includes information that is uniquely indicative of a computer that is preparing the message.