Electronic messaging exchange

• US 9,787,724 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen, Woody, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US15/003,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20160156625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 37910008, 379199, 705 64, 705408, 705306, 707 9, 382101, 709206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.

Claims

1. A secure electronic message exchange system comprising:

a workstation configured to authenticate a login request by a local user, and to allow the local user to generate an electronic message using one of a plurality of input methods, wherein after a predetermined number of failed attempts, the local user is denied additional attempts and an administrator is notified of a failed authentication associated with the local user; and

a multi-function unit for receiving the electronic message from the workstation, wherein the multi-function unit modifies the electronic message to create a modified message for transmission to a control platform;

the control platform, in electronic communication with the multi-function unit, configured to transmit the modified message to a remote user, thereby starting an electronic message conversation with the remote user,

wherein the control platform is configured to perform automated monitoring of the electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user using word spotting,

wherein the control platform is configured to terminate the electronic message conversation in response to the word spotting detecting a prohibited conversation between the local user and the remote user and to notify the administrator of the prohibited conversation,

wherein the multi-function unit sends the modified message to the control platform via a wireless communication medium, and

wherein the control platform is configured to authenticate a login request by the remote user, and to make the electronic message available to the remote user in response to a successful authentication of a login request by the remote user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control platform is further configured to determine whether the remote user is an acceptable contact of the local user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control platform is further configured to restore the terminated electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user in response to a command from the administrator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control platform is further configured to block future messages from the local user in response to a command from the remote user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control platform comprises a server that stores data related to the electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input methods includes email, hand-written message, text message, instant message, voice call, and voice message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the workstation is further configured to authenticate the local user using at least one of a biometric information.

8. A secure electronic message exchange system comprising:

a control platform configured to receive an electronic message from a remote user after authenticating a login request by the remote user;

a multi-function unit for receiving the electronic message from the control platform, wherein the multi-function unit modifies the electronic message to create a modified message for transmission to a workstation; and

the workstation, in communication with the multi-function unit, configured to deliver the modified message to a local user, thereby starting an electronic message conversation with the local user;

wherein the control platform is configured to send the electronic message to the multi-function unit via a wireless communication medium,

wherein the control platform is configured to perform automated monitoring of the electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user using word spotting,

wherein the control platform is further configured to terminate the electronic message conversation in response to the word spotting detecting a prohibited conversation between the local user and the remote user and to notify an administrator of the prohibited conversation,

wherein the control platform is further configured to authenticate a login request by the local user,

wherein after a predetermined number of failed authentication attempts, the local user is denied additional attempts and the administrator is notified of a failed authentication associated with the local user, and

wherein the multi-function unit is configured to transmit the modified message to the local user after the login request by the local user is authenticated by the control platform.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control platform comprises a server.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the control platform is further configured to determine whether the remote user is an acceptable contact of the local user prior to sending the electronic message to the workstation.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the workstation is further configured to display the electronic message for the local user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the workstation is further configured to print the electronic message for delivery to the local user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the control platform comprises a server that stores data related to the electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic message is composed as at least one of an email, a hand-written message, a text message, an instant message, a voice call, and a voice message.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the control platform is further configured to restore the terminated electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user in response to a command from the administrator.

16. A method for securely exchanging electronic messages, comprising:

authenticating a login request by a local user, wherein after a predetermined number of failed attempts, the local user is denied additional attempts and an administrator is notified of a failed authentication associated with the local user;

receiving a first electronic message, wherein the first electronic message is generated by the local user at a workstation, using one of a plurality of input methods;

modifying the first electronic message at a multi-function unit to create a modified message;

transmitting the modified message from the multi-function unit to a control platform via a first communications medium, thereby starting an electronic message conversation between the local user and a remote user;

performing, at the control platform, automated monitoring of the electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user using word spotting;

wherein the control platform is configured to terminate the electronic message conversation in response to the word spotting detecting a prohibited conversation between the local user and the remote user and to notify the administrator of the prohibited conversation, and

providing, at the control platform, the first electronic message to the remote user in response to a successful authentication of a login request by the remote user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control platform comprises a server.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the automated monitoring comprises determining at least one of:

whether the first electronic message contains instances of predetermined words or phrases or whether the remote user is an acceptable contact of the local user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the control platform is further configured to restore the terminated electronic message conversation between the local user and the remote user in response to a command from the administrator.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, at the control platform, a second electronic message composed by the remote user;

transmitting the second electronic message to the workstation via a second communications medium; and

providing, at the workstation, the second electronic message to the local user.