System and method for verifying delivery and integrity of electronic messages

• US 20070174402A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPost Communications Limited (RPost International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Terrance A. Tomkow
• Inventors: Tomkow, Terrance
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A server transmits a message from a sender to a destination address. During transmission, the server and the destination address have a dialog constituting an attachment, via a particular one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols, concerning the message, the server and the destination address. The message passes through servers between the server and the destination address. This passage is included in the attachment. Verifiers are provided for the message and for the attachments. The verifiers may constitute encrypted hashes of the message and of the attachment. The sender receives the message, the attachments and the verifications from the server before authentication and transmits the message, the attachments and the verifiers to the server to obtain authentication by the server. The server operates on the message and the message verifier to authenticate the message and operates on the attachments and the attachments'"'"' verifier to verify the attachments.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a message from a sender through a server to a destination address for submission to a recipient displaced from the destination address including the steps at the server of

providing a dialog between the server and the destination address during the transmission of the message between the server and the destination address, the dialog being provided via a selected one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols, and

storing at least a portion of the dialog between the server and the destination address for subsequent proof of the message and the delivery of the message by the server to the destination server, wherein

the dialog between the server and the destination address includes matters relating to the identities of the server and the destination address and relating to the message and wherein

the dialog between the server and the destination address is included in the server as an electronic attachment to the message.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein

a first verification is provided at the server of the message and a second verification is provided at the server of the attachment and wherein

the message is authenticated by processing the message and the first verification at the server and the attachment is authenticated by processing the attachment and the second verification at the server.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the attachment includes a listing at the server of the stations through which the message has passed during its transmission between the server and the destination address.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the attachment includes the identity and address of the sender, the identity of the server and the identity and address of the destination address.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein

the attachment includes a listing at the server of the stations through which the message passes during its transmission between the server and the destination address.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein

the attachment includes the identity and address of the sender, the identity of the server and the identity and address of a recipient related to the destination address.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the message and the attachment and the first and second verifications are transmitted to the sender by the server before any authentication of the message, and wherein

the server disposes of the message and the attachment and the verifications after their transmission to the sender and before any authentication of the message, and wherein

the message and the attachment and the verifications are transmitted thereafter by the sender to the server to obtain an authentication of the message by the server.

8. A method of providing a proof of the delivery and the contents of a message transferred electronically from a sender through a server to a destination address for a recipient, including the steps at the server of

receiving at the server from the sender the electronic message, the message having the destination address associated therewith;

transmitting the message electronically from the server to the destination address,

providing a dialog, via a particular one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols, involving an exchange of data between the server and the destination address relating to the message and the sender and the recipient during the transmission of the message from the server to the destination address, and

recording at the server, before any authentication of the message in the course of the transmission of the message from the server to the destination address, at least a portion of the data exchanged between the server and the destination address via the particular one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols,

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the message and the recorded portion of the dialog between the server and the destination address are transmitted by the server to the sender before any authentication of the message.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the steps of

storing at the sender the message and at least a portion of the data exchanged via the particular one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols between the server and the destination address so that they may be produced by the server at a later date as proof of the message and the delivery of the message to the destination address by the server.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein

the method of storing comprises sending the at least particular portion of the recorded dialog to the sender, the at least particular portion of the recorded dialog providing a delivery receipt of the message at the destination address.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including step of

digitally signing the delivery receipt with an encryption key which is not known to the sender.

13. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein

the server disposes of the message and the recorded portion of the dialog between the server and the destination address after the server transmits the message and the recorded portion of the dialog to the sender but before the message is authenticated and wherein

the sender transmits the message and the recorded portion of the dialog to the server when the sender wishes to have the message authenticated.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein

the server authenticates the message, and the recorded portion of the dialog, transmitted by the sender to the server when the sender wishes to have the message authenticated.

15. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the recorded portion of the dialog is included in an attachment and wherein the message passes through a number of server stages between the server and the destination address, and wherein

information relating to the server stages is included in the attachment, and wherein

the server records the server stages during the transmission of the message from the server to the destination address.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein

the server provides a verification of the message and a verification of the attachment and transmits the message and the attachment and the verifications of the message and the attachment to the sender before any authentication of the message and the attachment and wherein

the server thereafter disposes of the message and the attachment and the verifications of the message and the attachment before any authentication of the message and the attachment.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein

the verification of the message constitutes an encrypted hash of the message and the verification of the attachment constitutes an encrypted hash of the attachment and wherein

the server provides a first hash of the message from the message and a second hash of the message from the encrypted hash of the message and a first hash of the attachment from the attachment and a second hash of the attachment from the encrypted hash of the attachment and wherein

the server compares the first and second hashes of the message to authenticate the message and compares the first and second hashes of the attachment to authenticate the attachment.

18. A method of transmitting a message from a sender through a server to a destination address for a recipient, the steps at the server of

receiving the message at the server from the sender and transmitting the message and a dialog between the server and the destination address relating to the message via a selected one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols,

providing for a transmission between the server and the destination address via the selected one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols of information relating to a status notification to the server of the delivery of the message to the destination address, and

thereafter providing for an authentication of the message after the server has been notified via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols that the message has been delivered to the destination address.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein

the server scans periodically to determine if the destination address has received the message via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein

the step of providing for a transmission of the message between the server and the destination address via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols constitutes an attachment and wherein

the server provides the message with a first authentication and provides the attachment with a second authentication different from the first authentication.

21. A message as set forth in claim 18 including the steps of

providing a dialog, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, involving an exchange of data between the server and the destination address relating to the message and the identities of the server and the destination address during the transmission of the message from the server to the destination address, and

transferring the message, and the dialog between the server and the destination address, to the sender for storage by the sender before any authentication of the message.

22. A method as set forth in claim 18, including the steps of:

authenticating the message after the transfer to the sender of the message and the dialog between the server and the destination address, and

authenticating the dialog between the server and the destination address at the same time as the authentication of the message.

23. A method of authenticating a message transmitted from a sender to a destination address through a server displaced from the sender and the destination address, the steps at the server of

receiving the message from the sender at the server,

transmitting the message from the server to the destination address via a selected one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols,

providing at the server, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, the status of the delivery of the message to at least one of the destination address and a recipient,

providing for an exchange of data, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, between the server and the destination address relating to the message and the identity of the sender, the server and the destination address, during the transmission of the message between the server and the destination address, and

authenticating the message and the delivery of the message to the destination address on the basis of the message and the exchange of data between the server and the destination address, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, during the transmission of the message between the server and the destination address.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein

the server provides a verification of the message and the server authenticates the message on the basis of the message and the verification.

25. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein

the server authenticates the message and the delivery of the message at the destination address on the basis of the exchange of data, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, during the transmission of the message between the server and the destination address.

26. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein

the server transmits the message and the verification to the sender after the transmission of the message to the destination address but before any authentication of the message and wherein

the server disposes of the message and the verification after the transmission of the message and the verification to the sender but before any authentication of the message.

27. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein

the server provides a verification of the message and the server authenticates the message on the basis of the message and the verification and wherein

the server authenticates the message and the delivery of the message at the destination address on the basis of the exchange of data, via the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols, during the transmission of the message between the server and the destination address and wherein

the server transmits the message and the verification to the sender after the transmission of the message to the destination address but before any authentication of the message and wherein

the server disposes of the message and the verification after the transmission of the message and the verification to the sender but before any authentication of the message.

28. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein

the message passes through server stages during its transmission between the server and the destination address and wherein

the server stages and the exchange of data between the server and the destination address via the selection of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols constitute an attachment and wherein

the server provides a verification of the attachment and wherein

the server authenticates the attachment on the basis of the attachment and the verification of the attachment.

29. A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient through a server acting as a Mail Transport Agent, including the steps at the server of:

transmitting the message to the recipient'"'"'s Mail Transport Agent in a protocol dialog selected from a group consisting of the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocols. and recording at the transmitter some portion of the selected one of the SMTP and ESMTP protocol dialog between the sender and the recipient through the server including those portions in which the receiving server accepts or declines delivery of the transmitted message.

30. A method as set forth in claim 29, including the step of:

storing the recorded dialog in some form in which it may be associated with the message and the sender and the recipient of the message in such a way that it may be used to document the delivery history of the message from the sender to the recipient.

31. A method as set forth in claim 29 including the step of:

returning to the sender an e-mail message including a copy of the recorded dialog as proof of the successful delivery or failure to deliver the message to the recipient'"'"'s mail server.

32. A method as set forth in claim 29, including the step of:

returning to the sender an e-mail message that has been digitally signed by an operator of the server and which includes the recorded dialog as evidence of the Successful delivery or failure to deliver the message to the recipient'"'"'s mail server.

33. A method, as set forth in claim 29, including the step of:

returning to the sender an e-mail message which includes;

the recorded dialog, and an encrypted copy of dialog recorded by an encrypted key where the encryption key is not known by the sender of the message.

34. A method as set forth in claim 29, including the step of:

transmitting to the sender a message which includes;

the recorded dialog, and

an encrypted copy of a digital digest of the dialog recorded by an encrypted key where the encryption key is not known by the sender of the message.

35. A method of transmitting an e-mail message from a sender to a recipient through a server acting as a Mail Transport Agent. including the steps at the server of transmitting to the sender a copy of the e-mail message which has been digitally signed by the operator of the server.

36. A method of transmitting an e-mail message from a sender to a recipient through a server acting as a Mail Transport Agent, including the steps at the server of:

computing a digital digest of the message, and

transmitting the message to the recipient, and

saving the digital digest in some manner in which it may be associated with the message and the message sender and the recipient.

37. A method as set forth in claim 36, including the step of:

returning to the sender an e-mail message which includes an encrypted

copy of the original message,

where the encryption key is not known by the sender of the message.

38. A method as set forth in claim 36, including the step of:

returning to the sender an e-mail message which includes an encrypted copy of the digital digest of the original message where the encryption key is not known by the sender of the message.

39. A method of transmitting an e-mail message from a sender through a server functioning as a Mail Transport Agent to a recipient, including the steps at the server of:

connecting to the mail exchange (MX) server of the recipient'"'"'s domain,

initiating an SMTP or ESMTP dialog with the receiving server,

transmitting, as the MAIL-FROM address, an e-mail address controlled by the operator of the server and not the return address of the sender of the message, and receiving at this e-mail address any Delivery Status Notifications, Failure of Delivery of messages that may be transmitted by the receiving mail server as a consequence of attempting to deliver the message to the recipient address.

40. A method as set forth in claim 39, including the step, at the server, of:

generating for each transmitted message a string of characters which are unique to the message that may serve as a message identifier, and

for each addressee of the message. generating a string of characters which is unique to that addressee among all others addressed by the message and which may serve as a recipient identifier, and

incorporating the message identifier and the recipient identifier in the MAIL—

FROM address transmitted to the receiving mail server.

41. A method as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of:

storing Delivery Status Notifications, Failure or Delay of messages received at the MAIL-FROM address in a way that allows them to be associated with the message and the instance of transmission of the message that prompted the message.

42. A method as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of:

transmitting Delivery Status Notifications, Failure or Delay of messages received at the MAIL-FROM address to the sender of the message that prompted them.

43. A method as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of:

transmitting Delivery Status Notifications, Failure or Delay of messages received at the MAIL-FROM address to the sender of the message that prompted them in an e-mail message that is digitally signed by the operator of the server.

44. A method as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of:

calculating a digital digest for each Delivery Status Notification, Failure or Delay notification received at the MAIL-FROM address,

encrypting the digital digest with an encryption key not known by the sender of the message,

sending the notification to the sender of the message which prompted it together with the encrypted digital digest.

45. A method of digitally signing file attachments of an e-mail message including the steps by the signer of:

calculating the digital digest of the attachment,

encrypting the digital digest with an encryption key known only to the signer,

writing the encrypted digital digest to a file which is attached to the message and,

transmitting the message to a recipient.

46. In a method as set forth in claim 45, the step by the signer of:

receiving a copy of the message, and

decrypting the encrypted digital digest,

computing a digital digest of the original attachment,

authenticating the attachment if and only if the values of the digital digests are equivalent.

47. A method of transmitting an e-mail message from a sender through a server functioning as a Mail Transport Agent to a recipient, including the steps at the server of:

adding to the message, in formats recognized by various e-mail client programs message headers eliciting delivery notifications from recipients email clients, where the e-mail address in the headers to which the notification is requested to be sent is an e-mail address controlled by the operator of the server and not the return address of the sender of the message.

48. In a method as set forth in claim 47, including the step of:

generating for each transmitted message a string of characters which are unique to the message that may serve as a message identifier, and

for each addressee of the message, generating a string of characters which is unique to that addressee among all others addressed by the message and which may serve as a recipient identifier, and

incorporating the message identifier and the recipient identifier into the address written in the headers as the address to which delivery receipts or opening notifications should be sent.

49. A method as set forth in claim 47, including the steps of:

storing received notifications in a manner that allows them to be associated with the message and the instance of transmission of the message that prompted the message.

50. A method as set forth in claim 47, including the steps of:

transmitting copies of received notifications to the sender of the message that prompted them.

51. A method as set forth in claim 47, including the steps of:

transmitting copies of received notifications to the sender of the message that prompted them in an e-mail message that is digitally signed by the operators of the server.

52. A method as set forth in claim 47, including the steps of:

calculating a digital digest for each received notification, and

encrypting the digital digest with an encryption key not known by the sender of the message, and

sending the notification to the sender of the message which prompted it together with the encrypted digital digest.

53. A method of directing the delivery of e-mail messages passing through servers acting as Mail Transport Agents wherein a software program examines the subject lines of queued outbound messages looking for specific strings of characters. and upon finding the characters, re-directs the message to a specific e-mail address.

54. A method of directing the routing of e-mail messages passing through servers acting as Mail Transport Agents wherein a software program examines the subject lines of queued outbound messages looking for specific strings of characters. and upon finding the characters. routes the message to be delivered to a specific mail transport agent.

55. A method of transmitting an e-mail message from a sender through a server functioning as a Mail Transport Agent to a recipient. including the steps at the server of:

generating for each transmitted message a string of characters which are unique to the message that may serve as a message identifier, and

for each addressee of the message. generating a string of characters which is unique to that addressee among all others addressed by the message and which may serve as a recipient identifier, and

rendering the message, at least in part, in html format, and incorporating within the html message text a reference to an HTTP URL controlled by the operators of the server so that an HTML enabled mail reader will attempt to connect to the URL when the message is displayed, and

incorporating within the reference to the external URL the message identifier and the recipient identifier in such a manner that these identifiers will be conveyed to the HTTP server at the referenced URL. and

transmitting the message to the recipient address, and

at the HTTP server detecting the IP address, message identifier and recipient identifier transmitted by an HTML enabled mail reader displaying the message,

56. A method as set forth in claim 55, including the steps of:

transmitting the detected opening information to the sender of the message.

57. A method as set forth in claim 55, including the steps of:

transmitting the detected opening information to the sender of the message in an e-mail message that is digitally signed by the operator of the server.

58. A method of receiving messages on behalf of a recipient at a server including the steps at the server of:

appending the date and time of receipt to the message, and forwarding the message to the recipient'"'"'s electronic mailbox.

59. A method as set forth in claim 58, including the steps of:

digitally signing the message, including the server'"'"'s date and time stamp. before forwarding the message to the recipient'"'"'s electronic mailbox.

60. A method as set forth in claim 58, including the steps of:

appending to the message an encrypted copy of the server'"'"'s time and date stamp where the encryption key is not known to the message sender or recipient.

61. A method as set forth in claim 58, including the steps of:

computing a digital digest of the contents of the message, and encrypting the digest using an encryption key not known to the message sender or recipient,

appending the encrypted digest to the message before forwarding a copy of the message to the recipient'"'"'s mailbox.