Method, System, and Apparatus for Providing Self-Destructing Electronic Mail Messages

• US 20080281930A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, Short, Shannon M., Hartselle, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,764 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 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for providing a self-destructing e-mail messages are described. An e-mail client application provides a user interface through which the sender of an e-mail message can enter the message and a time period for destruction of the message. Once the sender has provided this information, the e-mail client application sends a request to an e-mail server application to transmit the self-destructing e-mail message. The e-mail client application may also receive self-destructing e-mail messages. When a self-destructing e-mail message is received, the destruction date associated with the e-mail message is identified and the message is destroyed at the specified time. The e-mail client application can also limit the number and type of operations that may be performed on a self-destructing e-mail. An e-mail server application is also provided that receives requests from the e-mail client application to transmit self-destructing e-mail messages and perform other functions.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A method for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, comprising:

receiving a request to send a self-destructing electronic mail message, the request comprising a message body and a time period within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed;

transmitting, in response to an indication that a user selected to proceed with transmitting the self-destructing electronic mail message to a network beyond a sender of the self-destructing electronic mail message'"'"'s home domain, the request to an electronic mail client application;

storing the self-destructing electronic mail message;

determining whether the self-destructing electronic mail message can be destroyed; and

receiving a request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed after a specified number of hours.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed after a specified number of days.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed on a particular date.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein determining whether the self-destructing electronic mail message can be destroyed comprises identifying the self-destructing electronic mail message destruction date.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message comprises displaying the selected message.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message further comprises identifying the self-destructing electronic mail message operation restrictions.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message further comprises determining whether the self-destruct electronic message can be destroyed after the self-destruct electronic message is closed.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprises sending a notification from an electronic mail server application to the client application to destroy all instances of the self-destruct electronic message.

40. A method for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, the method comprising:

receiving a request to transmit a self-destructing electronic mail message comprising a message body and a time period within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed;

transmitting, in response to an indication that a user selected to proceed with transmitting the self-destructing electronic mail message to a network beyond a sender of the self-destructing electronic mail message'"'"'s home domain, the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail server application configured to provide self-destructing electronic mail messages;

storing the self-destructing electronic mail message;

determining whether the self-destructing electronic mail message can be destroyed;

identifying the self-destructing electronic mail message destruction date; and

receiving a request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed after at least one of the following:

specified number of hours and specified number of days.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed on a particular date.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message comprises displaying the selected message.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message further comprises identifying the self-destructing electronic mail message operation restrictions.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message further comprises determining whether the self-destruct electronic message can be destroyed after the self-destruct electronic message is closed.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprises sending a notification from the electronic mail server application to a client application to destroy all instances of the self-destruct electronic message.

47. A system for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, the system comprising:

an electronic mail server application operative to receive a request to transmit a self-destructing electronic mail message, to transmit the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail client application, to store the self-destructing electronic mail message, to determine whether the self-destructing electronic mail message can be destroyed, and to identify the self-destructing electronic mail message destruction date; and

an electronic mail client application operative to transmit, in response to an indication the electronic mail client application is operative to transmit the self-destructing electronic mail message to a network beyond a sender of the self-destructing electronic mail message'"'"'s home domain, the request to the electronic mail server application, the request comprising an electronic mail message body and specifying a period of time within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed and operative to receive a request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the electronic mail server application operative to transmit a notification that the self-destructing electronic mail message is destroyed.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the electronic mail server application operative to send a notification to the sender'"'"'s client application and a recipient'"'"'s client application to destroy all instances of the self-destruct electronic message.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the electronic mail server application operative to receive a request to read the self-destructing electronic mail message.