Method, System, and Apparatus for Providing Self-Destructing Electronic Mail Messages
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus for providing a self-destructing e-mail messages are described. An e-mail client application provides a user interface through which the sender of an e-mail message can enter the message and a time period for destruction of the message. Once the sender has provided this information, the e-mail client application sends a request to an e-mail server application to transmit the self-destructing e-mail message. The e-mail client application may also receive self-destructing e-mail messages. When a self-destructing e-mail message is received, the destruction date associated with the e-mail message is identified and the message is destroyed at the specified time. The e-mail client application can also limit the number and type of operations that may be performed on a self-destructing e-mail. An e-mail server application is also provided that receives requests from the e-mail client application to transmit self-destructing e-mail messages and perform other functions.
50 Citations
50 Claims
-
1-30. -30. (canceled)
-
31. A method for transmitting self-destructing electronic mail messages comprising:
-
receiving a request, at an electronic mail server, from a sender to send a self-destructing electronic mail message, the request identifying a time period after which the self-destructing electronic mail message is to be destroyed, the request comprising a designation that prevents an electronic mail client of an intended recipient in the home domain of the sender from performing prohibited operations that result in duplication of contents of the self-destructing electronic mail message; sending the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail address of the intended recipient; and deleting any instances of the self-destructing electronic mail message that are being stored at the electronic mail server after the sending and after expiration of the time period. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. An apparatus for transmitting self-destructing electronic mail messages, the apparatus comprising:
-
a processor; and a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising; receiving a request, at an electronic mail server, from a sender to send a self-destructing electronic mail message, the request identifying a time period after which the self-destructing electronic mail message is to be destroyed, the request comprising a designation that prevents an electronic mail client of an intended recipient in the home domain of the sender from performing prohibited operations that result in duplication of contents of the self-destructing electronic mail message; sending the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail address of the intended recipient; and deleting any instances of the self-destructing electronic mail message that are being stored at the electronic mail server after the sending and after expiration of the time period. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for transmitting self-destructing electronic mail messages, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
-
receiving a request, at an electronic mail server, from a sender to send a self-destructing electronic mail message, the request identifying a time period after which the self-destructing electronic mail message is to be destroyed, the request comprising a designation that prevents an electronic mail client of an intended recipient in the home domain of the sender from performing prohibited operations that result in duplication of contents of the self-destructing electronic mail message; sending the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail address of the intended recipient; and deleting any instances of the self-destructing electronic mail message that are being stored at the electronic mail server after the sending and after expiration of the time period. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
Specification