Communication system having message encryption

• US 9,240,978 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/347,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 713/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding

Abstract

A system includes a communication device configured to transmit a message to an unsecured server. A secured server is in communication with the communication device, and is configured to receive the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the unsecured server, encrypt the message, and transmit the encrypted message to the unsecured server.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a communication device configured to

designate, by a user input of destination information including an email address in a subject field as part of a message and based on a priority associated with the message, whether the message is to be sent to a destination server that is unsecured,

determine the destination server based on the email address designated in the subject field as part of the message and the priority associated with the message,

transmit the message to the destination server based on whether the message designates that the destination server is unsecured, and

store the destination information that indicates whether the destination server of the transmitted message is unsecured,

a secured server, in communication with the communication device and distinct from the destination server, configured to

receive the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured,

encrypt the message, and

transmit the encrypted message to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, for forwarding the encrypted message to a target computing device.

2. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to automatically redirect the message intended for the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, to the secured server.

3. The communication system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the communication device is configured to automatically redirect the message to the secured server based on destination information stored in the subject field.

4. The communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the destination information designates the destination server.

5. The communication system as set forth in claim 4, wherein-the email address designates the destination server according to predefined criteria.

6. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secured server is configured to monitor communication sent from the communication device, determine whether the destination server of the message is the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, and selectively intercept the message if the message designates the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

7. The communication system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the subject field includes at least one addressing field and wherein the secured server is configured to automatically intercept the message based on destination information stored in the addressing field.

8. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secured server is configured to attach the encrypted message as an attachment to a new message and transmit the new message to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

9. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secure server is configured to encrypt the message in accordance with a user identification and password, and

wherein the communication device is configured to prompt the user for the user identification and password and decrypt the encrypted message in accordance with the user identification and password received from the user.

10. The communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the secure server and the communication device require the same user identification and password to authorize the user.

11. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to store the destination information in a first list that includes a listing of destination servers that are predetermined to be unsecured servers.

12. The communication system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to store and utilize a second list to automatically redirect the message from the destination server to the secured server.

13. The communication system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the second list includes a listing of destination servers that are predetermined to be secured servers.

14. A method comprising:

designating, by a user input of destination information including an email address in a subject field as part of a message and based on a priority associated with the message, whether the message is to be sent to a destination server that is unsecured;

determining the destination server based on the email address designated in the subject field as part of the message and the priority associated with the message;

storing the destination information that indicates whether the destination server of the transmitted message is unsecured;

receiving, at a secured server that is distinct from the destination server, the message transmitted by a communication device and designating the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured;

encrypting the message at the secured server; and

transmitting the encrypted message to the destination server, based on whether the message designates that the destination server is unsecured, for forwarding the encrypted message to a target computing device.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring communication between the communication device and the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured; and

intercepting the message if the message designates the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein monitoring communication between the communication device and the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, includes extracting destination information from the subject field of the message and determining whether the extracted destination information designates the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising automatically redirecting the message from the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, to the secured server.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising extracting destination information from the subject field of the message transmitted from the communication device, and determining whether the extracted destination information designates the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

19. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

attaching the encrypted message as an attachment to a new message; and

transmitting the new message to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured.

20. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising transmitting decryption information with the encrypted message.

21. A communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the processor executes an application stored in the memory to;

designate, by a user input of destination information including an email address in a subject field as part of a message and based on a priority associated with the message, whether the message is to be sent to a destination server that is unsecured,

determine the destination server based on the email address designated in the subject field as part of the message and the priority associated with the message,

transmit the message to the destination server based on whether message designates that the destination server is unsecured, and

store the destination information that indicates whether the destination server of the transmitted message is unsecured,

such that a secured server, distinct from the destination server;

communicates with the communication device by receiving the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, to encrypt the message, and

transmits the encrypted message to the destination server, when such destination server is determined to be unsecured, and

forwards the encrypted message to a target computing device.