Reduced traceability electronic message system and method

• US 7,610,345 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Inventors: Shah, Amit Jindas, Collins, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thuha T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepperd; Eric W
• Application Number:
  US11/401,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/205, 345/1.1, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

An electronic messaging system and method with reduced traceability. An electronic message is separated into a message content and container (header) information. In one aspect, the message content and header information are displayed separately. In another aspect, an electronic message is permanently automatically deleted from the system at a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of reducing traceability of an electronic message having header information and a message content, the method comprising:

providing a first display including at least a portion of the header information via a first computer of a first user;

in response to a first request from said first user, providing a second display including the message content via said first computer, the message content and the header information not being displayed at the same time to reduce traceability of said electronic message;

automatically deleting the header information at a first time that occurs in a period starting at the time of the first request and ending with the time of termination of the second display; and

automatically deleting the message content at a second time that occurs after the first time.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first time is upon displaying said second display.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second time is upon closing of said second display.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the electronic message from a second user of a second computer; and

storing the message content and the header information until display.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said message content is stored separately from said header information.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said method is performed so that following said receiving the electronic message, no indication of the electronic message is left on said second computer.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said storing of the header information and the message content includes storing the header information and the message content using one or more server computers.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein said storing of said header information and said message content includes storing said header information and said message content using said first computer.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein said electronic message is created at said second computer by:

utilizing a third display having an interface to input said recipient address; and

utilizing a fourth display having an interface to input said message content, wherein said third and fourth displays are not displayed at the same time.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said recipient address is communicated from said second computer separately from said message content.

11. A method according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the electronic message is entered at said second computer using a display-based keyboard.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating a first message ID with the electronic message, said first message ID associating said message content and said header information.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating a first reply ID with said electronic message, said first reply ID representing said first user without itself providing identifying information about said first user.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said header information includes an information selected from the group consisting of a first reply ID, a first message ID, a date associated with said electronic message, a display name representing said first user, and any combinations thereof.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an electronic reply message from said first user in response to the electronic message, said electronic reply message including a reply message content;

determining an identification of said first user using a first reply ID associated with the electronic message;

deleting said first reply ID;

identifying reply header information for said electronic reply message;

associating a second reply ID with said electronic reply message, said second reply ID representing said second user without itself providing identifying information about said second user; and

storing said reply message content separately from said reply header information.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions implementing a method of reducing traceability of electronic messages, the instructions comprising:

a set of instructions for providing a first display including at least a portion of the header information via a first computer of a first user;

a set of instructions for in response to a first request from said first user, providing a second display including the message content via said first computer, the message content and the header information not being displayed at the same time to reduce traceability of said electronic message;

a set of instructions for automatically deleting the header information at a first time that occurs in a period starting at the time of the first request and end with the time of termination of the second display; and

a set of instructions for automatically deleting the message content at a second time that occurs after the first time.

17. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said first time is upon displaying said second display.

18. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said second time is upon closing of said second display.

19. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving the electronic message from a second user of a second computer; and

a set of instruction for storing the message content separately from the header information until display.

20. A computer readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising:

a set of instructions for displaying a third display having a first interface at said first computer for inputting a recipient address; and

a set of instructions for displaying a fourth display having a second interface at said first computer for inputting said message content, said first and second displays not being displayed at the same time.

21. A computer readable medium according to claim 20, further comprising a ninth set of instructions for receiving at least a portion of each of said recipient address and/or said message content using a display-based keyboard.

22. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising a tenth set of instructions for associating a first message ID with the electronic message, said first message ID associating said message content and said header information.

23. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising an eleventh set of instructions for associating a first reply ID with said electronic message, said first reply ID representing said first user without itself providing identifying information about said first user.

24. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving an electronic reply message from said first user in response to the electronic message, said electronic reply message including a reply message content;

a set of instructions for determining an identification of said first user using a first reply ID associated with the electronic message;

a set of instructions for deleting said first reply ID;

a set of instructions for identifying reply header information for said electronic reply message;

a set of instructions for associating a second reply ID with said electronic reply message, said second reply ID representing said first user without itself providing identifying information about said second user; and

a set of instructions for storing said reply message content separately from said reply header information.

25. A system for reducing traceability of electronic messages, the system comprising:

an electronic message receiver for receiving one or more electronic messages;

an electronic message storage module, said electronic message storage module being in communication with said electronic message receiver and storing header information and message content for each of said one or more electronic messages;

a display generator, said display generator being in communication with said electronic message storage module and being configured to utilize said message ID in generating;

a first information representing a first display image including at least some of said header information; and

a second information representing a second display image including said message content, said first and second display images not being displayable at the same time to reduce the traceability of said one or more electronic messages; and

a message deletion module, said message deletion module being configured to delete said header information at a first time that occurs in a period starting with the second display image and configured to delete said message content at a second time that occurs after the first time.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said first time occurs upon the display of said second display image.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein said second time occurs upon the closing of said second display image.

28. A system according to claim 25, wherein said electronic message storage module separately stores header information from message content.

29. A system according to claim 25, further comprising a message ID generator, said message ID generator generating a message ID for each of said one or more electronic messages and associating said message ID with a corresponding one of said one or more electronic messages.

30. A system according to claim 25, further comprising a reply ID generator, said reply ID generator generating a reply ID for each of said one or more electronic messages and associating said reply ID with a corresponding one of said one or more electronic messages.

31. A system according to claim 25, wherein said header information includes an information selected from the group consisting of said reply ID, said message ID, a date associated with a corresponding one of said one or more electronic message, a display name representing a sender of a corresponding one of said one or more electronic messages, and any combinations thereof.

32. A system according to claim 25, further comprising a display-based keyboard generator, said display-based keyboard generator providing a display-based keyboard for inputting at least a portion of said one or more electronic messages.

33. A system according to claim 25, further comprising:

a reply message receiver, said reply message receiver being configured to receive a reply message to each of said one or more electronic messages;

a reply generator, said reply generator being in communication with said reply message receiver, associating said reply message with a corresponding reply ID for a corresponding one of said one or more electronic messages, and associating said reply message with a corresponding sender of said corresponding one of said one or more electronic messages.

34. A system for reducing traceability of an electronic message having header information and a message content, the system comprising:

means for receiving the electronic message from a first user;

means for storing the header information and the message content;

means for providing a first display image including at least some of the header information;

means for providing a second display image including the message content, said first and second display images not being displayable at the same time to reduce the traceability of the electronic message;

means for automatically deleting the header information at a first time that occurs is a of termination of said second display image; and

means for automatically deleting the message content at a second time that occurs after the first time.

35. A system according to claim 34, further comprising:

means for associating a first message ID with the electronic message, said first message ID associating the message content and the header information; and

means for associating a first reply ID with the electronic message, said first reply ID representing said first user without itself providing identifying information about said first user.

36. A computer-implemented method of reducing traceability of an electronic message having header information and a message content, the method comprising:

receiving the electronic message from a first user of a first computer;

storing the message content and the header information, the electronic message being created at the first computer by;

utilizing a first display having an interface to input a recipient address; and

utilizing a second display having an interface to input the message content, wherein the first and second displays are not displayed at the same time, and the recipient address is sent from the first computer separately from the message content;

providing a third display including at least a portion of the header information via a second computer of a second user;

in response to a first request from the second user, providing a fourth display including the message content via the second computer, the message content and the header information not being displayed at the same time to reduce traceability of the electronic message;

automatically deleting the header information at a first time that occurs in a period starting at the time of the first request and ending with the time of termination of the fourth display; and

automatically deleting the message content at a second time.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the first time is upon displaying the fourth display.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the second time upon closing of the fourth display.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the message content is stored separately from the header information.

40. A method according to claim 36, wherein the method is performed so that following said receiving the electronic message, no indication of the electronic message is left on the first computer. second time is upon closing of the fourth display.

41. A method according to claim 36, wherein said storing of the header information and the message content includes storing the header information and the message content using one or more server computers.

42. A method according to claim 36, wherein said storing of the header information and the message content includes storing the header information and the message content using the second computer.

43. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

associating a first message ID with the electronic message, the first message ID associating the message content and the header information.

44. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

associating a first reply ID with the electronic message, the first reply ID representing the first user without itself providing identifying information about the first user.

45. A method according to claim 36, wherein the header information includes an information selected from the group consisting of a first reply ID, a first message ID, a date associated with the electronic message, a display name representing the first user, and any combinations thereof.

46. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

receiving an electronic reply message from the second user in response to the electronic message, the electronic reply message including a reply message content;

determining an identification of the second user using a first reply ID associated with the electronic message;

deleting the first reply ID;

identifying reply header information for the electronic reply message;

associating a second reply ID with the electronic reply message, the second reply ID representing the second user without itself providing identifying information about the second user; and

storing the reply message content separately from the reply header information.