COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING MESSAGE ENCRYPTION

• US 20100169638A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 9,240,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding

Abstract

A system includes a communication device configured to transmit a message to an unsecured server. A secured server is in communication with the communication device, and is configured to receive the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the unsecured server, encrypt the message, and transmit the encrypted message to the unsecured server.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a communication device configured to transmit a message to an unsecured server; and

a secured server in communication with said communication device,

wherein said secured server is configured to receive the message from said communication device before the message is transmitted to the unsecured server, encrypt the message, and transmit the encrypted message to the unsecured server.

2. A communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to automatically redirect the message intended for the unsecured server to said secured server.

3. A communication system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the message includes at least one field and wherein said communication device is configured to automatically redirect the message to said secured server based on destination information stored in said field.

4. A communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the destination information designates the unsecured server.

5. A communication system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the destination information includes an email address.

6. A communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secured server is configured to monitor communication sent from said communication device and selectively intercept the message if the message designates the unsecured server.

7. A communication system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the message includes at least one field and wherein said secured server is configured to automatically intercept the message based destination information stored in said addressing field.

8. A communication system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the destination information designates the unsecured server.

9. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the destination information includes an email address.

10. A communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secured server is configured to attach the encrypted message to a new message and transmit the new message to the unsecured server.

11. A communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secure server encrypts the message using an encryption protocol.

12. A communication system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the encryption protocol includes at least one of advanced encryption standard, triple data encryption standard, symmetric key encryption, public-key encryption, hashing algorithms, secure socket layer encryption, and transport security layer encryption.

13. A communication system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the encryption protocol includes at least one of a private key, a public key, a digital certificate, and a digital signature.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a message transmitted by a communication device and designating an unsecured server at a secured server;

encrypting the message; and

transmitting the encrypted message to the unsecured server.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring communication between the communication device and the unsecured server; and

intercepting the message if the message designates the unsecured server.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein monitoring communication between the communication device and the unsecured server includes extracting destination information from a field of the message, wherein the destination information designates the unsecured server.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising automatically redirecting the message from the unsecured server to the secured server.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising extracting destination information from a field of the message transmitted from the communication device, wherein the destination information designates the unsecured server.

19. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

attaching the encrypted message to a new message; and

transmitting the new message to the unsecured server.

20. A method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising transmitting decryption information with the encrypted message.