Electronic mail system with authentication/encryption methodology for allowing connections to/from a message transfer agent
DCFirst Claim
1. In an electronic mail (e-mail) system, a method for sending an e-mail message using a secured connection that employs encryption, the method comprising:
- receiving at a message transfer agent (MTA) a request from a client for establishing a secured connection with the MTA for sending an e-mail message;
attempting to authenticate the client, through use of a certificate, in order to identify the client as approved for establishing a secured connection with the MTA;
if the client cannot be authenticated, terminating the method without establishing the secured connection and without sending the e-mail message;
if the client can be authenticated, establishing the secured connection between the client and the MTA;
determining whether the encryption employed for the secured connection meets a predefined minimum encryption strength;
if the encryption employed does not meet the predefined minimum encryption strength, terminating the secured connection without sending the e-mail message, whereupon the method terminates; and
if the encryption employed does meet the predefined minimum encryption strength sending the e-mail message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail (“e-mail”) system is described that enforces authentication or encryption to/from Mail Transfer Agents and from Mail User Agents. In one embodiment, for example, an electronic mail (e-mail) system is described that comprises: a message transfer agent (MTA) available for a client to connect to; program logic for authenticating the client, through use of a certificate, in order to identify the client as approved for establishing a secured connection with the MTA; program logic for establishing a secured connection between the client and the MTA in instances where the client can be authenticated; program logic for testing encryption strength of the secured connection; and program logic for terminating the secured connection in instances where the secured connection has inadequate encryption strength.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In an electronic mail (e-mail) system, a method for sending an e-mail message using a secured connection that employs encryption, the method comprising:
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receiving at a message transfer agent (MTA) a request from a client for establishing a secured connection with the MTA for sending an e-mail message; attempting to authenticate the client, through use of a certificate, in order to identify the client as approved for establishing a secured connection with the MTA; if the client cannot be authenticated, terminating the method without establishing the secured connection and without sending the e-mail message; if the client can be authenticated, establishing the secured connection between the client and the MTA; determining whether the encryption employed for the secured connection meets a predefined minimum encryption strength; if the encryption employed does not meet the predefined minimum encryption strength, terminating the secured connection without sending the e-mail message, whereupon the method terminates; and if the encryption employed does meet the predefined minimum encryption strength sending the e-mail message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In an electronic mail (e-mail) system, a method for sending an e-mail message using a secured connection that employs encryption, the method comprising:
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attempting at a first message transfer agent (MTA) to establish a secured connection with a second MTA for sending an e-mail message; attempting to authenticate the second MTA, through use of a certificate, in order to identify the second MTA as approved for establishing a secured connection with the first MTA; if the second MTA cannot be authenticated, terminating the method without establishing the secured connection and without sending the e-mail message; if the second MTA can be authenticated, establishing the secured connection between the first MTA and the second MTA; determining whether the encryption employed for the secured connection meets a predefined minimum encryption strength; if the encryption employed does not meet the predefined minimum encryption strength, terminating the secured connection without sending the e-mail message, whereupon the method terminates; and if the encryption employed does meet the predefined minimum encryption strength, sending the e-mail message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An electronic mail (e-mail) system comprising:
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a message transfer agent (MTA) available for a client to connect to; program logic for authenticating the client, through use of a certificate, in order to identify the client as approved for establishing a secured connection with the MTA; program logic for establishing a secured connection between the client and the MTA in instances where the client can be authenticated; program logic for testing encryption strength of the secured connection; and program logic for terminating the secured connection in instances where the secured connection has inadequate encryption strength. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification