Methods and systems for providing a secure electronic mailbox

• US 8,356,187 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Cook, Jon L., Ray, Christine, Rogerson, Cathy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Louie, Oscar
• Application Number:
  US12/357,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 4, 726/7, 726/22, 726 26- 30, 713150-155, 713/168, 713/170, 713/188, 713/189, 713/193, 380/59, 380/255, 709204-206, 715/752, 379/93.24
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

A secure electronic mailbox is provided to a customer having an electronic account. The electronic account links the secure electronic mailbox to a physical address of the customer. The customer can send and receive secure and non-secure messages via the secure electronic mailbox. The customer can also access electronic services such as electronic bill presentment and payment using the secure electronic mailbox.

Claims

1. A method performed by a central processing unit executing computer executable instructions stored in a memory device configured for providing secure electronic services to a user on a network, the user having an electronic account linked to a postal address of the user, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user on the network using an electronic registration system;

permitting the user to access the secure electronic storage location over the network, if the user has an electronic account on the electronic registration system;

receiving a selection of a service provider that the user approves to have access to the secure electronic storage location over the network; and

granting access to the secure electronic storage location to the selected service provider to enable the selected service provider to send a message to the secure electronic storage location of the user;

receiving an electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

wherein the user can select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to the postal address of the user without revealing the postal address of the user to the selected service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an advertisement message from the selected service provider and storing the advertisement message in the secure electronic storage location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user can select at least one option to filter the advertisement message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an e-mail message from the selected service provider and storing the e-mail message in the secure electronic storage location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the e-mail message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the secure electronic location includes an in box, an out box, and a trash box for the e-mail message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an electronic postmarked message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic postmarked message in the secure electronic storage location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the electronic postmarked message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic postmarked message is a United States Postal Service electronic postmarked message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic postmarked message is a United States Postal Service electronic postmarked message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a secure electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the secure electronic message in the secure electronic storage location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the secure electronic message.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic message directed to the user;

verifying that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria; and

storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location, after it has been verified that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria is met if the electronic message does not carry a virus.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria is met if the sender of the electronic message is authenticated.

16. A system comprising a central processing unit executing computer executable instructions stored in a memory device configured for providing secure electronic services to a user on a network, the user having an electronic account linked to a postal address of the user, the instructions comprising:

an establishing component configured to establish a secure electronic storage location for the user on the network using an electronic registration system;

a permitting component configured to permit the user to access the secure electronic storage location over the network, if the user has an electronic account on the electronic registration system;

an authorization receiving component configured to receive a selection of a service provider that the user approves to have access to the secure electronic storage location over the network; and

a granting component configured to grant access to the secure electronic storage location to the selected service provider to enable the selected service provider to send a message to the secure electronic storage location of the user;

an electronic message receiving component configured to receive an electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

wherein the user can select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to the postal address of the user without revealing the postal address of the user to the selected service provider.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an advertisement receiving component configured to receive an advertisement message from the selected service provider and storing the advertisement message in the secure electronic storage location.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user can select at least one option to filter the advertisement message.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an e-mail receiving component configured to receive an e-mail message from the selected service provider and storing the e-mail message in the secure electronic storage location.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the e-mail message.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the secure electronic location includes an in box, an out box, and a trash box for the e-mail message.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an electronic postmark receiving component configured to receive an electronic postmarked message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic postmarked message in the secure electronic storage location.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the electronic postmarked message.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the electronic postmarked message is a United States Postal Service electronic postmarked message.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the electronic postmarked message is a United States Postal Service electronic postmarked message.

26. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a secure message receiving component configured to receive a secure electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the secure electronic message in the secure electronic storage location.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the user can select at least one filter option to filter the secure electronic message.

28. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a criteria receiving component configured to receive an electronic message directed to the user;

a verifying component configured to verify that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria; and

a storing component configured to store the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location, after it has been verified that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the predetermined criteria is met if the electronic message does not carry a virus.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the predetermined criteria is met if the sender of the electronic message is authenticated.

31. A computer readable memory device having computer executable code stored therein for providing secure electronic services to a user on a network, the user having an electronic account linked to a postal address of the user, the computer executable code comprising:

an establishing module configured to establish a secure electronic storage location for the user on the network using an electronic registration system;

a permitting module configured to permit the user to access the secure electronic storage location over the network, if the user has an electronic account on the electronic registration system;

a receiving module configured to receive a selection of a service provider that the user approves to have access to the secure electronic storage location over the network; and

a granting module configured to grant access to the secure electronic storage location to the selected service provider to enable the selected service provider to send a message to the secure electronic storage location of the user;

an electronic message receiving module configured to receive an electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

wherein the user can select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to the postal address of the user without revealing the postal address of the user to the selected service provider.

32. A system configured to provide secure electronic services to a user on a network, the user having an electronic account linked to a postal address of the user, comprising:

means for establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user on the network using an electronic registration system;

means for permitting the user to access the secure electronic storage location over the network, if the user has an electronic account on the electronic registration system;

means for receiving a selection of a service provider that the user approves to have access to the secure electronic storage location over the network; and

means for granting access to the secure electronic storage location to the selected service provider to enable the selected service provider to send a message to the secure electronic storage location of the user;

means for receiving an electronic message from the selected service provider and storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

wherein the user can select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to the postal address of the user without revealing the postal address of the user to the selected service provider.