Secure messaging system with automatic recipient enrollment
First Claim
1. A method for sending a secure message to a receiver comprising:
- determining whether a receiver is enrolled by determining whether the receiver has a public key;
if the receiver is enrolled and has a public key, encrypting the message using the receiver'"'"'s public key and sending the encrypted message to the receiver;
if the receiver is not enrolled and does not have a public key, sending the message to the receiver using a delivery method that does not require the receiver to have a pair of public and private keys prior to sending the message; and
when the receiver accesses the message sent with the delivery method, establishing a public key for encrypting subsequent messages sent to the receiver and making the receiver enrolled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A public-key based secure messaging system with automatic receiver enrollment is disclosed. A sender in the system first determines whether a receiver has a public key. If the receiver has a public key, the messages will be sent to the receiver using a standard public-key based encryption. If the receiver does not have a public key, the first message will be sent to the receiver using a delivery method that does not require the receiver to have a pair of public and private keys prior to sending the message. However, when the receiver accesses the first message, a pair of public and private keys will be automatically generated at the receiver and the public key will be made available for encrypting subsequent messages sent to the receiver.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for sending a secure message to a receiver comprising:
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determining whether a receiver is enrolled by determining whether the receiver has a public key; if the receiver is enrolled and has a public key, encrypting the message using the receiver'"'"'s public key and sending the encrypted message to the receiver; if the receiver is not enrolled and does not have a public key, sending the message to the receiver using a delivery method that does not require the receiver to have a pair of public and private keys prior to sending the message; and
when the receiver accesses the message sent with the delivery method, establishing a public key for encrypting subsequent messages sent to the receiver and making the receiver enrolled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A secure messaging system for sending a message to a receiver comprising:
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a public-key based delivery apparatus for encrypting the message using the receiver'"'"'s public key and sending the encrypted message to the receiver; an automatic enrolling delivery apparatus for sending the message to the receiver using a delivery method that does not require the receiver to have a pair of public and private keys prior to sending the message, and when the receiver accesses the message sent with the delivery method, establishing a public key for encrypting subsequent messages sent to the receiver and making the receiver enrolled; a device for determining whether the receiver is enrolled by determining whether the receiver has a public key; and a delivery engine for delivering the message to the receiver using the public-key based delivery apparatus if the receiver is enrolled and has a public key, or using the automatic enrolling delivery apparatus if the receiver is not enrolled and does not have a public key. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification