Systems and Methods for Accessing Secure and Certified Electronic Messages

• US 20100005293A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Privacydatasystems LLC
• Original Assignee: Privacydatasystems LLC
• Inventors: Errico, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for accessing secure and certified electronic messages using a combination of biometric security, a separate and secure network and email infrastructure, email management processes, and the addition of text, audio and visual format options to sending emails messages.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a secure electronic message, comprising:

installing a software agent on a recipient'"'"'s device;

authenticating a sender of an electronic message;

receiving the electronic message through a first secure connection, wherein the electronic message comprises any of text, audio, video, and file attachments, and wherein the electronic message further comprises recipient information and a defined authentication level for the recipient;

storing the electronic message;

alerting a recipient of the electronic message through the software agent; and

authenticating the recipient responsive to the defined authentication level through the software agent.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the electronic message through a second secure connection to the recipient

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering the recipient, wherein registering comprises capturing a fingerprint scan of the recipient and storing a private key in an authentication database responsive to the fingerprint scan.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the authenticating a recipient comprises:

sending software code to the recipient to initiate a biometric authentication;

scanning a fingerprint of the recipient;

creating a numerical index of the fingerprint responsive to the scanning a fingerprint to form a public key;

receiving the public key over a third secure connection; and

authenticating the public key with a corresponding private key in the authentication database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the electronic message prior to storing the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic message is encrypted with one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (T-DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption and stored in a secure data store.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first secure connection and the second secure connection each comprise a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the software agent is a resident program on the recipient'"'"'s device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alerting a recipient step comprises issuing a notification alert from the software agent, and wherein the notification alert comprises one of an alert banner, a pop-up, and an icon.

10. A system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a network interface, memory, and a processor;

a software agent installed on the computer system;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a notification alert for the software agent responsive to an electronic package being available for a user of the computer system, wherein the electronic package comprises any of text, audio, video, and file attachments, and wherein the electronic package further comprises user information and a defined authentication level for the user;

notify the user of the electronic package; and

perform authentication of the user responsive to the defined authentication level through the software agent.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a hosted server comprising a network interface connected to the Internet, a data store comprising storage for electronic packages and software code, and a processor;

an authentication database connected to the hosted server, wherein the authentication database comprises a plurality of private keys for authenticating a plurality of users;

wherein the processor on the hosted server is configured to;

receive a request to send the electronic package;

authenticate a sender of the electronic package through a public key comparison with the plurality of private keys;

receive the electronic package through a first secure connection; and

store the electronic package in the data store.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor on the hosted server is further configured to:

register the sender and the user prior to receiving the request to send the electronic message, wherein registering comprises capturing a fingerprint scan and storing a private key in an authentication database responsive to the fingerprint scan.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein authentication comprises:

sending software code to initiate a biometric authentication;

scanning a fingerprint;

creating a numerical index of the fingerprint responsive to the scanning a fingerprint to form a public key;

receiving the public key over a third secure connection; and

authenticating the public key with a corresponding private key in the authentication database.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic package is encrypted prior to storage in the data store.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first secure connection and the second secure connection each comprise a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the software agent is a resident program on the computer system, and wherein the notification comprises one of an alert banner, a pop-up, and an icon.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor on the hosted server is further configured to:

display status information for the user and the sender associated with the electronic package;

update the status information responsive to audit history events associated with the electronic package; and

periodically update the displayed status information responsive to the updates.

15. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic package is encrypted with one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (T-DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.

19. A method associated with secure, certified electronic messages, comprising:

installing Java code on a computer;

logging into a controller view running on a Java layer responsive to the Java code;

receiving high-level status information related to a plurality of sent and received ePackages, wherein the ePackages comprise any of text, audio, video, and file attachments, and wherein the ePackages further comprise user information and a defined authentication level for the user;

displaying the high-level status information;

updating the high-level status information responsive to events associated with the ePackages; and

logging and authenticating into a secure server to view and create ePackages, wherein the logging and authenticating is initiated through the controller view.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller view is a resident program run on the computer and wherein the controller view utilizes less memory relative to a web browser and desktop application.