Electronic message recipient handling system and method with media component and header information separation

• US 9,338,111 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vaporstream, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Joseph, Shah, Amit Jindas
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US14/572,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 715/752, 726/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

An electronic messaging system and method with reduced traceability. Separate displays are provided at a recipient user device for separately displaying via the user device header information of an electronic message and message content including a media component. The message content and the header information are correlated with a unique identifier. The header information is displayed in a message list via a first display. The message content including a media component is displayed via a second display. The display of the header information via the first display does not include a display of the media component. Methods, systems, and computer readable media with separation of the display of media component and header information in various implementations may provide for reduced traceability of an electronic message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of handling an electronic message at a recipient user mobile device in a networked environment, the electronic message including a message content and a header information that corresponds to the message content, the recipient user mobile device having access to electronic instructions, the electronic instructions being stored at the recipient user mobile device and/or at a server, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays via the recipient user mobile device using a display generator that acts upon a display element of the recipient user mobile device to provide the plurality of reduced traceability displays, the display generator including the electronic instructions, the plurality of reduced traceability displays including a first display presenting a header information of an electronic message received at the recipient user mobile device and a second display presenting a message content of the electronic message, the message content including a media component, the first display being generated by the display generator such that the first display does not include a display of the media component via the first display such that a single screen capture of both the header information and the media component is prevented, the first and second displays not being displayed to the user at the same time;

receiving a selection by the recipient user via the first display, the selection directed to a portion of a message list corresponding to the header information; and

in response to the selection, providing a second display via the recipient user device, the second display displaying the message content including the media component.

2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information about a sender of the electronic message that itself provides a traceable identity of the sender.

3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information that in itself identifies a user sending the electronic message, a recipient user of the electronic message, or a date associated with the electronic message.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the display generator acts with the display element to generate the second display such that the second display displays the message content including the media component without displaying the header information.

5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the media component includes information selected from the group consisting of an image, video, audio, and any combinations thereof.

6. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the media component includes an image.

7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the display generator acts with the display element to generate the second display such that screenshot logging at the recipient user mobile device is prevented from capturing the media component.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the display generator acts with the display element to generate the second display such that the simultaneous capture of the media component and the header information via screenshot logging is prevented at the recipient user mobile device.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the header information and the message content are received at the recipient user device via a network, wherein the header information and the message content are communicated over the network separately.

10. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the message content is received from a server computer and the method further comprises deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs after said providing a second display.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs upon the second display being closed.

13. A machine readable hardware storage medium containing machine executable instructions implementing a method of handling an electronic message at a recipient user mobile device in a networked environment, the electronic message including a message content and a header information that corresponds to the message content, the instructions comprising:

a set of instructions for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays via the recipient user mobile device, the set of instructions for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays including instructions for acting upon a display element of the recipient user mobile device to provide the plurality of reduced traceability displays, the plurality of reduced traceability displays including a first display presenting a header information of an electronic message received at the recipient user mobile device and a second display presenting a message content of the electronic message, the message content including a media component, the first display being generated by the display generator such that the first display does not include a display of the media component via the first display such that a single screen capture of both the header information and the media component is prevented, the first and second displays not being displayed to the user at the same time;

a set of instructions for receiving a selection by the recipient user via the first display, the selection directed to a portion of a message list corresponding to the header information; and

a set of instructions for providing, in response to the selection, a second display via the recipient user device, the second display displaying the message content including the media component.

14. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information about a sender of the electronic message that itself provides a traceable identity of the sender.

15. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information that in itself identifies a user sending the electronic message, a recipient user of the electronic message, or a date associated with the electronic message.

16. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the second display displays the message content including the media component without displaying the header information.

17. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said set of instructions for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays includes a set of instructions for preventing screenshot logging at the recipient user device from capturing the media component.

18. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said set of instructions for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays includes a set of instructions for preventing the simultaneous capture of the media component and the header information via screenshot logging at the recipient user device.

19. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions for receiving the message content from a server computer and a set of instructions for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs after said providing a second display.

20. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions for receiving the message content from a server computer and a set of instructions for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs upon the second display being closed.

21. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions for receiving the message content from a server computer and a set of instructions for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer.

22. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the media component includes information selected from the group consisting of an image, video, audio, and any combinations thereof.

23. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the media component includes an image.

24. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said set of instructions for providing a plurality of displays includes a set of instructions for preventing the simultaneous capture of the media component and the header information via screenshot logging at the recipient user device.

25. A machine readable hardware storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions for receiving the header information and the message content at the recipient user device via a network, wherein the header information and the message content are communicated over the network separately.

26. A system for handling an electronic message comprising:

a means for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays via the recipient user mobile device, the set of instructions for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays including instructions for acting upon a display element of the recipient user mobile device to provide the plurality of reduced traceability displays, the plurality of reduced traceability displays including a first display presenting a header information of an electronic message received at the recipient user mobile device and a second display presenting a message content of the electronic message, the message content including a media component, the first display being generated by the display generator such that the first display does not include a display of the media component via the first display such that a single screen capture of both the header information and the media component is prevented, the first and second displays not being displayed to the user at the same time;

a means for receiving a selection by the recipient user via the first display, the selection directed to a portion of a message list corresponding to the header information; and

a means for providing, in response to the selection, a second display via the recipient user device, the second display displaying the message content including the media component.

27. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information about a sender of the electronic message that itself provides a traceable identity of the sender.

28. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein the message content including a media component does not include information that in itself identifies a user sending the electronic message, a recipient user of the electronic message, or a date associated with the electronic message.

29. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein the media component includes information selected from the group consisting of an image, video, audio, and any combinations thereof.

30. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein the media component includes an image.

31. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein said means for providing a plurality of reduced traceability displays includes a means for preventing screenshot logging at the recipient user device from capturing the media component.

32. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein said means for providing a plurality of displays includes a means for preventing the simultaneous capture of the media component and the header information via screenshot logging at the recipient user device.

33. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, further comprising a means for receiving the header information and the message content at the recipient user device via a network, wherein the header information and the message content are communicated over the network separately.

34. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, further comprising a means for receiving the message content from a server computer and a means for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer.

35. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, further comprising a means for receiving the message content from a server computer and a means for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs after said providing a second display.

36. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, further comprising a means for receiving the message content from a server computer and a means for deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer, wherein said deleting the message content including the media component from the server computer occurs upon the second display being closed.

37. A system for handling an electronic message according to claim 26, wherein the second display displays the message content including the media component without displaying the header information.