PRIVATE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION EXCHANGE

• US 20120331080A1
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anon-X, Inc.
• Original Assignee: George C. Sidman
• Inventors: Sidman, George C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/42 Anonymization, e.g. involving pseudonyms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2521 Translation architectures other than single NAT servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/045 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply hybrid encryption, i.e. combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for private electronic information exchange are described herein. In one embodiment, when electronic information is received to be delivered to a recipient, the electronic information is transmitted over an electronic network with a private routing address. The private routing address is routable within a private domain, which is a subset of the electronic network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accepting a subscription to services of a private domain by a sender in order to allow the sender to use the private domain for electronic information transmissions;

associating a number of electronic information transmissions that the sender is able to send with a predetermined threshold;

limiting the number of electronic information transmissions that the sender is able to send through the private domain to the predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises a number of transmissions per a period of time;

receiving electronic information to be delivered to a recipient from the sender; and

transmitting the electronic information over an electronic network with a private routing address that is routable within the private domain which is a subset of the electronic network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic network is the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic network is a publicly accessible network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic information is an electronic mail message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the format of the private routing address contains one or more characters that are discretionarily selectable by an administrator of the private domain.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the private routing address includes a Private Top Level Domain (PTLD).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising examining a recipient address to determine whether the recipient address is a private routing address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein if the recipient address is not a private routing address, the method further comprises:

transmitting the electronic information to the recipient over the electronic network using the publicly routable recipient address and sender address without modifying content in the electronic information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the electronic information to the server over the network connection if the recipient address is a private routing address, wherein the electronic information is retrievable by the recipient subsequently from the server with the private routing address of the recipient.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

building a distribution list of a plurality of recipients including the recipient of the electronic information, each of the plurality of recipients having a recipient private routing address; and

transmitting the encrypted electronic information, a security package for each recipient, and the distribution list to the server.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

distributing the security package to one or more storage locations associated with each of the recipients indicated by the distribution list; and

updating accounting and tracking information associated with the sender.

12. The method of claim 11, further transmitting from the server to the sender an acknowledgement of delivery of the electronic information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server authenticating a sender of the message using the identifier of the sender.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the recipient is a member of the private domain; and

creating a temporary entry for the recipient within the database if the recipient is not found within the database to allow the recipient to receive the electronic information after obtaining software that enables the recipient to download the electronic information from the private domain, without the sender re-sending the electronic information.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the private routing address includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a sequence of characters that are compatible with a public domain and are publicly routable over the public domain of the network, and the second portion comprises a different sequence of characters that are not compatible with the public domain of the network but are routable within the private domain of the network, wherein the private routable address as a whole is not routable within the public domain of the network.