Methods and systems for providing a secure electronic mailbox

• US 8,769,632 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): LWIN, MAUNG T
• Application Number:
  US13/611,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/4
• 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
• 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 a secure electronic service to a user, the method comprising:

establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user;

receiving an electronic message from a service provider having access to the secure electronic storage location, the electronic message comprising information relating to a service provided by the service provider;

storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

enabling the user to approve the electronic message, wherein approving the electronic message accepts the service provided by the service provider; and

enabling the user to select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to a physical mailing address of the user without revealing the physical mailing address to the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an approval of the electronic message from the user; and

sending an indication of the approval to the service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an advertisement message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises an electronic bill.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein approving the electronic message accepts to pay the electronic bill.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provided by the service provider comprises one of a government service and a legal service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user further comprises:

enabling the user to register an account using an electronic registration system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the user with at least one option to filter the electronic message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria,

and wherein storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location further comprises storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location after it has been verified that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure electronic storage location is organized by a service type of the electronic message.

11. A system comprising a central processing unit executing computer executable instructions stored in a memory device configured for providing a secure electronic service to a user, the instructions comprising:

establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user;

receiving an electronic message from a service provider having access to the secure electronic storage location, the electronic message comprising information relating to a service provided by the service provider;

storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location;

enabling the user to approve the electronic message, wherein approving the electronic message accepts the service provided by the service provider; and

enabling the user to select at least one filter option for selective delivery of the electronic message to a physical mailing address of the user without revealing the physical mailing address to the service provider.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving an approval of the electronic message from the user; and

sending an indication of the approval to the service provider.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic message is an advertisement message.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic message comprises an electronic bill.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein approving the electronic message accepts to pay the electronic bill.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the service provided by the service provider comprises one of a government service and a legal service.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein establishing a secure electronic storage location for the user further comprises:

enabling the user to register an account using an electronic registration system.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

providing the user with at least one option to filter the electronic message.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

verifying that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria,

and wherein storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location further comprises storing the electronic message in the secure electronic storage location after it has been verified that the electronic message meets a predetermined criteria.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the secure electronic storage location is organized by a service type of the electronic message.