Method and system implementing secure email

• US 20060053202A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chris Foo, Yoon-Chok Chin
• Original Assignee: Chris Foo, Yoon-Chok Chin
• Inventors: Chin, Yoon-Chok, Foo, Chris
• Application Number:
  US10/936,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/564 by virus signature recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity

Abstract

This method and system was developed to reduce the email spam and viruses embedded in the attachment and to provide a more secure method to deliver email messages. In addition, the internet link in the email message will be verified to eliminate email fraud. Using this implementation, email messages never physically transmit to recipient'"'"'s system. An email notification will be sent to recipient and the message will be retrieve from sender'"'"'s system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to deliver secure email message over a network. The method comprising:

create account number;

compose email message with email client program;

verify sender'"'"'s information;

received email message by secure email program;

insert and encrypt email message into database;

generate email notification to recipient;

received email notification;

retrieve email message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein create account number comprises the steps of:

create a unique id in database;

create unique signature;

associate email addresses to unique id created.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein unique id comprises alpha numeric content.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein unique signature comprises one of alpha numeric or graphical content.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein associate email addresses to unique id created comprises steps of:

create a foreign key with unique id in every email addresses records store in the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein email client program is a computer software program that interacts with mail server program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein verify sender'"'"'s information further comprises steps of:

authentic sender'"'"'s Internet Protocol addresses;

verify message content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein authentic sender'"'"'s Internet Protocol addresses further comprises steps of:

verify if sender exceeded maximum number of emails sent within predetermined intervals;

verify sender'"'"'s account is active status.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein exceeded maximum number of emails further comprises steps of:

suspend sender'"'"'s account;

send notification to sender if required.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein verify sender'"'"'s account status comprises steps of:

verify if sender'"'"'s status is active, permanent or temporary suspended.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein suspended status comprises steps of:

contacting sender via other means of communications such as phone call.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein verify message content comprises steps of:

scan attachment if virus exists;

authentic embedded web link;

delete email if virus found or authentication failed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein authentic web link comprises steps to verify embedded forward hyperlink address matches the display hyperlink address.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein received email message by secure email program comprises steps of:

verify sender'"'"'s email address;

verify if message content is for verification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein verify if message content is for verification comprises steps of:

update sender'"'"'s account status.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein insert and encrypt email message into database comprises steps of:

encrypt message content;

insert encrypted message content into database;

generate a unique id corresponds to the message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein unique id is a unique sequential number generated to identify message for each recipients.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein generate email notification to recipient comprises steps of:

encrypt unique message id;

generate notification message with embedded message id;

transmit notification to each recipient.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein embedded message id comprises steps of:

insert forward hyperlink with encrypted message id in the notification message;

retrieve recipient'"'"'s unique signature stored in the database;

insert recipient'"'"'s unique signature in the notification message.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein received email notification comprises steps of recipient receive email notification with embedded message id;

verify recipient'"'"'s signature in the message.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieve email message comprises steps of:

click on the embedded hyperlink to retrieve message content;

enter username and password to decrypt message content;

update message status in database correspond to recipient'"'"'s message id to status retrieved.