METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENCRYPTING AND DECRYPTING EMAIL MESSAGES

• US 20100217984A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory G. Hill
• Original Assignee: Gregory G. Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Gregory G.
• Application Number:
  US12/706,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0863 involving passwords or one-time passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for using one-time keys in a packet data network H04L63/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3228 One-time or temporary data, i.e. information which is sent for every authentication or authorization, e.g. one-time-password, one-time-token or one-time-key

Abstract

An e-mail encryption method the sender embeds commands and optionally, parameters relating to the commands in an e-mail message. A domain suffix associated with an encryption e-mail server is appended to the recipient e-mail address before sending the e-mail message. The e-mail message is sent and delivered to the encryption e-mail server. The encryption e-mail server parses the e-mail message and executes any commands, optionally executing the commands based on submitted parameters. The encryption e-mail server encrypts the message and forwards the encryption message, or alternatively, a link to a memory location in the encryption email server where the encryption e-mail message is stored. The recipient receives an email notifying them of the encrypted message. The recipient is prompted for a password. The password is validated. If valid and no limits on the e-mail are exceeded, the contents of the encrypted e-mail message are decrypted and displayed for the recipient.

Claims

1. A method of encrypting an email message, the method comprising:

creating an electronic mail message;

embedding a parameter in a body of the electronic mail message, wherein the parameter indicates information for use in encrypting the electronic mail message;

appending to an e-mail address, a domain suffix associated with an encryption electronic mail server;

sending the electronic mail message with the embedded parameter to the encryption electronic mail server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing the electronic mail message;

identifying the parameter embedded in the body of the electronic mail message;

encrypting the electronic mail message using the parameter;

storing the encrypted electronic mail message;

forwarding a second electronic mail message to a recipient indicated in the first electronic mail message, wherein the second electronic mail message contains a hyperlink to the location where the encrypted electronic mail message is stored;

prompting the recipient for a password;

generating a decryption key based on the password;

limiting access to decryption by storing a second key;

decrypting the encrypted electronic mail message using the generated decryption key; and

sending the decrypted contents of the first electronic mail message to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes a password.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes a number of times the electronic mail message may be decrypted.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be printed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes an expiration time for the electronic mail message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be copied.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

associated software configured to;

create an electronic mail message;

embed a parameter in a body of the electronic mail message, wherein the parameter indicates information for use in encrypting the electronic mail message;

append to an e-mail address, a domain suffix associated with an encryption electronic mail server; and

send the electronic mail message with the embedded parameter to the encryption electronic mail server.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the encryption electronic mail server is configured to:

parse the electronic mail message;

identify the parameter embedded in the body of the electronic mail message;

encrypting the electronic mail message using the parameter;

store the encrypted electronic mail message;

forward a second electronic mail message to a recipient indicated in the first electronic mail message, wherein the second electronic mail message contains a hyperlink to the location where the encrypted electronic mail message is stored;

prompting the recipient for a password;

generate a decryption key based on the password;

limit access to decryption by storing a second key;

decrypt the encrypted electronic mail message using the generated decryption key; and

send the decrypted contents of the first electronic mail message to the recipient.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the parameter includes a password.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the parameter includes a number of times the electronic mail message may be decrypted.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be printed.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein the parameter includes an expiration time for the electronic mail message.

14. The device of claim 8 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be copied.

15. A network element comprising:

a server; and

software configured to;

parse an electronic mail message;

identify a parameter embedded in the body of the electronic mail message;

encrypt the electronic mail message using the parameter;

store the encrypted electronic mail message;

forward a second electronic mail message to a recipient indicated in the first electronic mail message, wherein the second electronic mail message contains a hyper-link to the location where the encrypted electronic mail message is stored;

prompt the recipient for a password;

generate a decryption key based on the password;

limit access to decryption by storing a second key;

decrypt the encrypted electronic mail message using the generated decryption key; and

send the decrypted contents of the first electronic mail message to the recipient.

16. The network element of claim 15 wherein the parameter includes a password.

17. The network element of claim 15 wherein the parameter includes a number of times the electronic mail message may be decrypted.

18. The network element of claim 15 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be printed.

19. The network element of claim 15 wherein the parameter includes an expiration time for the electronic mail message.

20. The network element of claim 15 wherein the parameter includes whether the electronic mail message may be copied.