System and method for convenient and secure electronic postmarking using an electronic postmarking terminal

• US 9,178,862 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isaac Daniel Inventorship Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Isaac S. Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cervetti, David Garcia
• Application Number:
  US14/083,395
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 713/176, 713/170, 713/183, 726/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity

Abstract

A method that includes using a user input device to allow a user to log-in to an e-mail account or user account, using the user input device to allow the user to enter an electronic message or select an electronic message, generating a first checksum based on the electronic message, transmitting the first checksum to a server, encrypting the electronic message, using a communications module to receive a unique postal identifier from a server and associate the unique postal identifier with the encrypted electronic message, and using a communications module to transmit the encrypted electronic message to a recipient client via a computer network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first electronic postmarking terminal, wherein the first electronic postmarking terminal comprises;

a first processor;

a document scanner connected to the first processor;

a communications module connected to the first processor and operative to connect to a computer network; and

a user input device connected to the first processor;

a server connected to the first electronic postmarking terminal via the computer network;

a recipient client connected to the computer network; and

computer executable instructions readable by the first processor and operative to;

use the user input device to allow a user to log-in to the user'"'"'s e-mail account or user account;

allow the user to add a recipient to a contact list, and if the recipient accepts the addition, then establish a unique encryption key for the user and recipient to use to decrypt messages sent between the user and recipient;

obtain or use the server to obtain at least one license, electronic postmark from a government postal authority, wherein the at least one license or electronic postmark may comprise a unique postal identifier;

use the scanner to scan a physical document and convert it into a digital document or use the user input device to allow the user to enter an electronic message;

generate a first checksum based on the digital document or electronic message, and transmit the first checksum to the server;

encrypt the electronic message or digital document;

use the communications module to receive the unique postal identifier from the server and associate the unique postal identifier with the encrypted electronic message or digital document; and

use the communications module to transmit the encrypted electronic message or digital document to the recipient client via the computer network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server comprises an electronic postmark server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user e-mail account comprises an account with a third-party e-mail provider.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the third-party e-mail provider comprises a web-based third party e-mail provider.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the recipient client comprises a second processor and computer executable instructions readable by the second processor and operative to decrypt the encrypted electronic message or digital document, use a display device connected to the second processor to display the decrypted electronic message or digital document, generate a second checksum based on the decrypted electronic message or digital document, receive the first checksum from the server, compare the first checksum with the second checksum and if the first checksum and second checksum are different, then alert a user of the recipient client or transmit an alert to the server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic postmarking terminal comprises a document printer, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to receive an encrypted electronic message or digital document, decrypt the encrypted electronic message or digital document, and use the document printer to print the electronic message or digital document.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to:

allow the user to access the contact list, wherein the contact list is stored on the server;

allow the user to select the recipient from the contact list;

encrypt the electronic message or digital document using 256 bit encryption;

set or trigger automatic deletion of the electronic message or digital document;

prevent the forwarding of the electronic message or digital document;

allow for the recall of the electronic message or digital document;

block printing of the electronic message or digital document;

use the communications module to connect to a POP or SMTP address or server associated with the user'"'"'s e-mail account;

divert non-encrypted received e-mail to a special folder;

store the encrypted or non-encrypted electronic message or digital document on the server;

operate a SMTP or POP server on the first electronic postmarking terminal;

or

associate the unique postal identifier with the contents, subject, sender, recipient, attachments, time, date, or size of the electronic message or digital document.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the recipient client comprises a second electronic postmarking terminal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to allow the user to connect to a third party e-mail provider or account therewith, and retrieve or send messages using the third party e-mail provider.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to allow the user to purchase at least one electronic postmark, or a plurality or block of electronic postmarks, wherein each electronic postmark comprises a unique identifier.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic postmark comprises an electronic postmark issued by at least one governmental postal authority or agency.

12. The systems of claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises a ballot, survey, or poll and the recipient comprises an election official or an election authority.

13. The systems of claim 1, wherein the first electronic postmarking terminal comprises a location determination device, and wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to use the location determination device to determine and verify a location of the first electronic postmarking terminal, and if the electronic postmarking terminal is used to submit a ballot, then verify the legitimacy of the ballot.

14. A system comprising:

a first electronic postmarking module, wherein the first electronic postmarking module comprises;

a first processor;

a communications module connected to the first processor and operative to connect to a computer network; and

a user input device connected to the first processor; and

computer executable instructions readable by the first processor and operative to;

use the user input device to allow a user to log-in to the user'"'"'s e-mail account or user account;

allow the user to add a recipient to a contact list, and if the recipient accepts the addition, then establish a unique encryption key for the user and recipient to use to decrypt messages sent between the user and recipient;

obtain or use a server to obtain at least one license, electronic postmark from a government postal authority, wherein the at least one license or electronic postmark may comprise a unique postal identifier;

use the user input device to allow the user to enter an electronic message or select an electronic message;

generate a first checksum based on the electronic message, and transmit the first checksum to the server;

encrypt the electronic message;

use the communications module to receive the unique postal identifier from the server and associate the unique postal identifier with the encrypted electronic message; and

use the communications module to transmit the encrypted electronic message to a recipient client via the computer network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the server comprises an electronic postmark server.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the recipient client comprises a second processor and computer executable instructions readable by the second processor and operative to decrypt the encrypted electronic message, use a display device connected to the second processor to display the decrypted electronic message, generate a second checksum based on the decrypted electronic message, receive the first checksum from the server, compare the first checksum with the second checksum and if the first checksum and second checksum are different, then alert a user of the recipient client or transmit an alert to the server.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the recipient client comprises a second processor and computer executable instructions readable by the second processor and operative to decrypt the encrypted electronic message, use a display device connected to the second processor to display the decrypted electronic message, generate a second checksum based on the decrypted electronic message, transmit the second checksum to the server, which compares the first checksum with the second checksum and if the first checksum and second checksum are different, then alert a user of the recipient client or transmit an alert to the server.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first electronic postmarking module comprises a document printer, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to receive an encrypted electronic message, decrypt the encrypted electronic message or digital document, and use the document printer to print the electronic message.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to:

allow the user to access the contact list, wherein the contact list is stored on the server;

allow the user to select the recipient from the contact list;

encrypt the electronic message or digital document using 256 bit encryption;

set or trigger automatic deletion of the electronic message;

prevent the forwarding of the electronic message;

allow for the recall of the electronic message;

block printing of the electronic message;

use the communications module to connect to a POP or SMTP address or server associated with the user'"'"'s e-mail account;

divert non-encrypted received e-mail to a special folder;

store the encrypted or non-encrypted electronic message on the server;

operate a SMTP or POP server on the first electronic postmarking module;

associate the unique postal identifier with the contents, subject, sender, recipient, attachments, time, date, or size of the electronic message or digital document;

where the electronic message comprises a video, a presentation, an image animation, or a recording, then prevent the recipient from downloading or saving the electronic message, preventing the recipient from fast forwarding, pausing, rewinding, or replaying the electronic message;

or

where the electronic message comprises a video, a presentation, an image animation, or a recording, then display the electronic message in a window, or provide a user with a user interface to open or play the electronic message, wherein the user interface comprises at least one virtual input means, wherein the virtual input means comprises at least one virtual button.

20. The systems of claim 14, wherein the electronic message comprises a ballot, survey, or poll and the recipient client comprises an election official or an election authority.

21. The systems of claim 14, wherein the first electronic postmark module comprises a location determination device, and wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to use the location determination device to determine and verify a location of the first electronic postmarking module, and if the electronic postmarking module is used to submit a ballot, then verify the legitimacy of the ballot.

22. A method comprising:

using a user input device to allow a user to log-in to an e-mail account or user account;

allowing the user to add a recipient to a contact list stored on a server, and if the recipient accepts the addition, then establishing a unique encryption key for the user and recipient to use to decrypt messages sent between the user and recipient;

obtaining or using the server to obtain at least one license, electronic postmark from a government postal authority, wherein the at least one license or electronic postmark may comprise a unique postal identifier;

using the user input device to allow the user to enter an electronic message or select an electronic message;

generating a first checksum based on the electronic message;

transmitting the first checksum to a server;

encrypting the electronic message;

using a communications module to receive a unique postal identifier from a server and associate the unique postal identifier with the encrypted electronic message; and

using a communications module to transmit the encrypted electronic message to a recipient client via a computer network.