Communication system for providing the delivery of e-mail message

• US 8,949,601 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regify AG
• Original Assignee: Regify AG
• Inventors: Schmid, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Benoit, Esther
• Application Number:
  US12/159,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,958 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

A communication system comprising a sender unit, a recipient unit and a control unit, wherein the sender unit is adapted to generate an electronic message, to send the electronic message directly to the recipient unit, and to send a sending information message to the control unit indicating that the sender unit has sent the electronic message to the recipient unit, wherein the recipient unit is adapted to receive the electronic message directly from the sender unit and to send a receipt information message to the control unit, the receipt information message indicating that a user of the recipient unit has received the electronic message.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a sender node;

a recipient node; and

a plurality of control entities in communication with the sender node and the recipient node;

wherein the sender node is adapted to generate an electronic message to be transmitted to the recipient node and to send a sending information message to one of the control entities indicating that the electronic message is transmitted to the recipient node;

wherein the recipient unit node is adapted to receive the electronic message and to send a receipt information message to the control node, the receipt information message indicating that a user of the recipient node has received the electronic message;

wherein the sender node is adapted to generate the electronic message as an encrypted electronic message by encrypting electronic data;

wherein a first control entity is communicatively coupled to the sender node in a manner that a transmission of a sender message from the sender node to the first control entity is indicative of an identity of the sender node;

wherein the sender message includes decryption key information;

wherein a second control entity is communicatively coupled to the first control entity;

wherein the first control entity is adapted to forward the sender message to the second control entity in a manner that the second control entity is not aware of the identity of the sender node;

wherein a third control entity is communicatively coupled to the recipient node in a manner that a transmission of a recipient message between the recipient node and the third control entity is indicative of an identity of the recipient node;

wherein the recipient message comprises a decryption key adapted to decrypt the encrypted electronic message;

wherein the third control entity is communicatively coupled to the second control entity;

wherein the third control entity is adapted to exchange data with the second control entity in a manner that the second control entity is not aware of the identity of the recipient node;

wherein the second control entity is a clearing server adapted to manage a decryption key transaction in an anonymous way; and

wherein the first control entity is a provider-server and the third control entity is a provider-server.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the sender node is adapted to notify an event that a user of the recipient node has accessed the electronic message.

3. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the sender node is adapted to notify an event that a user of the recipient node has not accessed the electronic message during a time interval exceeding a predetermined threshold time interval.

4. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the sender message is the sending information message, particularly is a sending information message comprising a decryption key adapted to decrypt an encrypted electronic message.

5. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the recipient message comprises the receipt information message.

6. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the group consisting of the first control entity and the third control entity is a provider server.

7. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the first control entity and the third control entity are different provider servers.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, adapted as an anonymous transaction management system, particularly as an anonymous clearing system.

9. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the group consisting of the sender node, the recipient node, and the control node is adapted for preventing accessibility to information included in the electronic message in case that a predetermined attachment to the electronic message is lacking.

10. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the sender node is adapted for mandatorily attaching a predetermined attachment to the electronic message.

11. The communication system according to claim 9,

wherein the predetermined attachment comprises at least one of the group consisting of an identification of a user of the sender node, an authentication of a user of the sender node, an obligation of a user of the sender node, and a logo characterizing a user of the sender node.

12. A communication method using a plurality of control entities comprising, a first control entity, a second control entity communicatively coupled to the first control entity, the second control entity being a clearing server, and a third control entity communicatively coupled to the second control entity, the first control entity being a first provider-server and the third control entity being a second provider-server, the method comprising:

generating with a sender node, an electronic message as an encrypted electronic message by encrypting electronic data,

transmitting the electronic message to a recipient node,

communicatively coupling the first control entity to the sender node in a manner that a transmission of a sender message from the sender node to the first control entity is indicative of an identity of the sender node, wherein the sender message includes decryption key information,

communicatively coupling the third control entity to the recipient node in a manner that a transmission of a recipient message between the recipient node and the third control entity is indicative of an identity of the recipient node,

sending a sending information message from the sender node to the clearing server indicating that the electronic message is transmitted to the recipient node;

forwarding, by the first control entity, the sender message to the second control entity in a manner that the second control entity is not aware of the identity of the sender node,

receiving, with the recipient node, the electronic message,

sending a receipt information message from the recipient node to the clearing server, the receipt information message indicating that a user of the recipient node has received the electronic message,

wherein the recipient message comprises a decryption key adapted to decrypt the encrypted electronic message;

wherein the third control entity is adapted to exchange data with the second control entity in a manner that the second control entity is not aware of the identity of the recipient node; and

wherein the second control entity is a clearing server with a processor and a storage device adapted to manage a decryption key transaction in an anonymous way.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a first provider-server;

a clearing server with a processor and a storage device, the clearing server communicatively coupled to the first provider-server; and

a second provider-server communicatively coupled to the clearing server;

wherein the first provider-server is adapted to receive a sending information message from a sender node, the sending information message indicating that an electronic message is transmitted to a recipient node, and wherein the second provider-server is adapted to receive a receipt information message from the recipient node, the receipt information message indicating that a user of the recipient node has received the electronic message;

the first provider-server communicatively coupled to the sender node in a manner such that a transmission of a sender message from the sender node to the first provider-server is indicative of an identity of the sender node;

wherein the sender message includes decryption key information;

the first provider-server adapted to forward the sender message to the clearing server in a manner that the clearing server is not aware of the identity of the sender node;

the second provider-server communicatively coupled to the recipient node in a manner that a transmission of a recipient message between the recipient node and the second provider-server is indicative of an identity of the recipient node;

wherein the recipient message comprises a decryption key adapted to decrypt the encrypted electronic message; and

wherein the second provider-server is adapted to exchange data with the clearing server in a manner such that the clearing server is not aware of the identity of the recipient node.