Secure encrypted email server

• US 8,327,157 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visitech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vistech Corp.
• Inventors: West, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US12/705,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 713/181, 713/189, 713193-194, 726 2- 3, 726 26- 30
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A computing system utilizing a local or remote secure email server that intercepts secure message that include an identifying domain extension provides secure data transmissions between internet or intranet users. The secure email messages can only be accessed from the secure email server by an intended recipient.

Claims

1. An electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages comprising;

a first server including a microprocessor and a controller for receiving and disseminating email messages composed by a sender;

a secure server including a microprocessor, a controller and a database for storage of email messages communicating with the first server;

a first computer workstation where the sender composes email messages connected to and in communication with the first server;

a second computer workstation where a recipient receives an email message from the secure server;

wherein the secure server is connected directly to the internet for sending of the invitation to the recipient;

wherein an encrypted email message is composed by the sender at the first computer workstation and the secure server stores the encrypted email message and sends an unencrypted invitation to the second computer workstation, the invitation including a link defining an access path for the recipient to view the encrypted email message stored on the secure server;

wherein the link is an attachment to the email invitation which provides the access path to the recipient; and

wherein the access path is secured by a password.

2. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secure email message composed by the sender is sent encrypted from at least the first server to the secure server for storage.

3. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secure server is located remote from the first computer workstation and connected to the first computer workstation via the internet.

4. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secure server is connected to the first computer workstation via an intranet.

5. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a domain extension key which is added by the sender to the recipient'"'"'s domain by which the secure server recognizes an encrypted message to be stored at the secure server.

6. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 5 wherein the domain extension key further comprises a sender identifier portion that is compared by the secure server against a look-up table of authorized senders.

7. The electronic mail server system for handling encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a subject field security key that is placed by the sender in the subject field of an email message by which the secure server recognizes an encrypted message to be stored at the secure server.

8. A method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages comprising the steps of:

providing a first server including a microprocessor and a controller for receiving and disseminating email messages composed by a sender;

providing a secure server including a microprocessor, a controller and a database for storage of email messages communicating with the first server;

connecting a first computer workstation where the sender composes email messages with the first server;

providing a second computer workstation where a recipient receives an email message from the secure server;

connecting the secure server directly to the internet for sending of the invitation to the recipient;

composing an encrypted email message by the sender at the first computer workstation and storing the encrypted email message at the secure server and sending an unencrypted invitation from the secure server to the second computer workstation including a link defining an access path for the recipient to view the encrypted email message stored on the secure server;

providing the link as an attachment to the email invitation which provides the access path to the recipient; and

securing the access path defined between the recipient and the stored email message by a password.

9. The method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of sending the secure email message composed by the sender encrypted from at least the first server to the secure server for storage.

10. The method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of locating the secure server remote from the first computer workstation and connected to the first computer workstation via the internet.

11. The method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of connecting the secure server to the first computer workstation via the intranet.

12. The method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of adding a domain extension key to the recipient'"'"'s domain by which the secure server recognizes an encrypted message to be stored at the secure server.

13. The method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of placing a subject field security key in the subject field of an email message by which the secure server recognizes an encrypted message to be stored at the secure server.

14. A method of sending and viewing encrypted email messages comprising the steps of:

providing a first server including a microprocessor and a controller for receiving and disseminating email messages composed by a sender;

providing a secure server including a microprocessor, a controller and a database for storage of email messages communicating with the first server;

connecting a first computer workstation where the sender composes email messages with the first server;

providing a second computer workstation where a recipient receives an email message from the secure server;

connecting the secure server directly to the internet for sending of the invitation to the recipient;

composing an encrypted email message by the sender at the first computer workstation which includes an encrypted message indentifying annotation in at least one of the recipient'"'"'s domain and the encrypted email message subject line;

storing the encrypted email message at the secure server and sending an unencrypted invitation from the secure server to the second computer workstation including a link defining an access path for the recipient to view the encrypted email message stored on the secure server;

providing the link as an attachment to the email invitation which provides the access path to the recipient;

securing the access path defined between the recipient and the stored email message by a password; and

providing the recipient with a password the use of which permits the recipient to complete the access path and view the encrypted email message stored on the secure server.