Email encryption method and system
First Claim
Patent Images
5. A method of sending email, comprising:
- intercepting an email message dispatched to an addressee by a mail user agent;
retrieving any encryption policy pertaining to said addressee from an encryption policy database;
applying said encryption policy to said email message;
attempting to encrypt said email message if said encryption policy pertaining to said addressee dictates that said email message should be encrypted.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for sending email, the apparatus comprising an encryption policy database for storing encryption policies pertaining to possible addressees, and a mail mediator for intercepting an email message after being dispatched by a mail user agent, and configured to retrieve any encryption policy pertaining to the addressee from the encryption policy database and to apply the encryption policy to the email message. The mail mediator attempts to encrypt the email message if the encryption policy pertaining to the addressee dictates that the email message should be encrypted
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
5. A method of sending email, comprising:
-
intercepting an email message dispatched to an addressee by a mail user agent;
retrieving any encryption policy pertaining to said addressee from an encryption policy database;
applying said encryption policy to said email message;
attempting to encrypt said email message if said encryption policy pertaining to said addressee dictates that said email message should be encrypted. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21)
-
-
10. An apparatus for sending email, comprising:
-
a mail mediator for intercepting and encrypting an outgoing email message addressed to said addressee, wherein said mail mediator is configured;
if said apparatus has an addressee digital security mechanism (such as a digital certificate) pertaining to said addressee, to employ said addressee digital security mechanism to encrypt said outgoing email message and subsequently to dispatch said encrypted email message; and
if said apparatus does not have an addressee digital security mechanism pertaining to said addressee, to send an unencrypted request for said addressee digital security mechanism to said addressee and, if said addressee digital security mechanism is subsequently received from said addressee, to employ said addressee digital security mechanism to encrypt said outgoing email message and subsequently to dispatch said encrypted email message. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of sending email, comprising:
-
intercepting an outgoing email message dispatched to an addressee;
if an addressee digital security mechanism pertaining to said addressee is available, employing said addressee digital security mechanism to encrypt said outgoing email message and subsequently dispatching said encrypted email message; and
if an addressee digital security mechanism pertaining to said addressee is unavailable, sending an unencrypted request for said addressee digital security mechanism to said addressee and, if said addressee digital security mechanism is subsequently received from said addressee, employing said addressee digital security mechanism to encrypt said outgoing email message and subsequently dispatching said encrypted email message. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
22-1. A computer readable medium provided with program portions for controlling a device to perform the steps of the method of claim 15.
Specification