Secure messaging system and method
First Claim
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1. A server computer to facilitate data communications between client computers representing level two users and level one users, in data communication with the server computer over a computer network, said server computer comprising:
- (a) level two user verification means for verifying the identity of a level two user accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level two user;
(b) means for receiving an association from the client computer used by the level two user verified by the level two user verification means, over the network, the association identifying a level one user with whom the level two user may communicate by means of the server computer;
(c) means for storing the association;
(d) level one user verification means for verifying the identity of the level one user of the association when accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level one user;
(e) means for providing the level one user verified by the level one user verification means with access to the server computer to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer to and from the level two user who associated that level one user; and
(f) means for restricting associations between level one users and other level one users;
wherein at least level two users must pay to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer and wherein the amount payable on behalf of level two users is higher as compared to any amount payable on behalf of level one users in order to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer.
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Abstract
A system and method for secure data communication between users when logged on to a central server through a network. The system permits subscribers to the system to create associations with non-subscribers which permits those non-subscribers to access the system to send and receive secure data communication to the subscriber that created the association with the non-subscriber.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A server computer to facilitate data communications between client computers representing level two users and level one users, in data communication with the server computer over a computer network, said server computer comprising:
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(a) level two user verification means for verifying the identity of a level two user accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level two user; (b) means for receiving an association from the client computer used by the level two user verified by the level two user verification means, over the network, the association identifying a level one user with whom the level two user may communicate by means of the server computer; (c) means for storing the association; (d) level one user verification means for verifying the identity of the level one user of the association when accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level one user; (e) means for providing the level one user verified by the level one user verification means with access to the server computer to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer to and from the level two user who associated that level one user; and (f) means for restricting associations between level one users and other level one users; wherein at least level two users must pay to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer and wherein the amount payable on behalf of level two users is higher as compared to any amount payable on behalf of level one users in order to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer implemented method for communications between client computers representing level two users and level one users, in data communication with the server computer over a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) verifying the identity of a level two user accessing the server computer from a client computer accessed by the level two user; (b) receiving an association from the client computer accessed by the level two user verified at step (a), over the network, the association identifying a level one user with whom the level two user may communicate by means of the server computer; (c) storing the association; (d) verifying the identity of the level one user of the association when accessing the server computer from a client computer accessed by the level one user; (e) providing the level one user verified at step (d) with computer access to the server computer to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer to and from the level two user who associated that level one user; (f) restricting associations between level one users and other level one users; and (g) obtaining payment from at least level two users to send and receive communications by means of the server computer wherein the amount payable on behalf of level two users is higher as compared to any amount payable on behalf of level one users in order to send and receive communications by means of the server computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A server computer to facilitate data communications between client computers representing level two users and level one users, in data communication with the server computer over a computer network, said server computer comprising:
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(a) level two user verification means for verifying the identity of a level two user accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level two user; (b) means for receiving an association from the client computer used by the level two user verified by the level two user verification means, over the network, the association identifying a level one user with whom the level two user may communicate by means of the server computer; (c) means for storing the association; (d) level one user verification means for verifying the identity of the level one user of the association when accessing the server computer from a client computer used by the level one user; (e) means for providing the level one user verified by the level one user verification means with access to the server computer to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer to and from the level two user who associated that level one user said means comprising a derived contact list containing only the level two user who associated that level one user and any other level two users who have associated that level one user, wherein the level one user may only initiate communication with the level two users who are in the level one user'"'"'s derived contact list in order to send and receive data communications by means of the server computer, wherein initiating communication does not include replying to an existing message. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification