Method, system, and apparatus for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages

• US 20030131060A1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, Short, Shannon M., Hartselle, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• 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 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for providing a self-destructing e-mail messages are described. An e-mail client application provides a user interface through which the sender of an e-mail message can enter the message and a time period for destruction of the message. Once the sender has provided this information, the e-mail client application sends a request to an e-mail server application to transmit the self-destructing e-mail message. The e-mail client application may also receive self-destructing e-mail messages. When a self-destructing e-mail message is received, the destruction date associated with the e-mail message is identified and the message is destroyed at the specified time. The e-mail client application can also limit the number and type of operations that may be performed on a self-destructing e-mail. An e-mail server application is also provided that receives requests from the e-mail client application to transmit self-destructing e-mail messages and perform other functions.

Claims

1. A method for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, comprising:

receiving a request to send a self-destructing electronic mail message, the request comprising a message body and a time period within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed;

transmitting the request to an electronic mail client application; and

destroying all instances of the self-destructing electronic mail message after the time period has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed after it has been opened and closed on the electronic mail client application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting an electronic mail message to the electronic mail client application indicating that the self-destructing electronic mail message has been destroyed after the destruction of the self-destructing electronic mail message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic mail message sent to the electronic mail client application after the destruction of the self-destructing electronic mail message comprises an identity of the sender of the self-destructing electronic mail message and an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message was sent and destroyed.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

encrypting the self-destructing electronic mail message prior to transmitting the self-destructing electronic mail message to the electronic mail client application.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 1.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a security warning message prior to transmitting the request in response to determining that an intended recipient of the self-destructing electronic mail message is located beyond a home domain associated with the electronic mail server application.

8. A method for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, the method comprising:

receiving a request to transmit a self-destructing electronic mail message comprising a message body and a time period within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed; and

transmitting the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail server application configured to provide self-destructing electronic mail messages.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a self-destructing electronic mail message sent from the electronic mail server application; and

destroying all instances of the electronic mail message sent from the electronic mail server after a period of time specified in the self-destructing electronic mail message has elapsed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents the self-destructing electronic mail message from being printed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents the self-destructing electronic mail message from being forwarded.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents the self-destructing electronic mail message from being saved.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents the self-destructing electronic mail message from being moved.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents the self-destructing electronic mail message from being copied or cut to a clipboard.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

restricting a set of operations that may be performed on the self-destructing electronic mail message in a manner that prevents a screen display containing the self-destructing electronic mail message from being captured.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 8.

18. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 8.

19. A system for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages, the system comprising:

an electronic mail server application operative to receive a request to transmit a self-destructing electronic mail message, to transmit the self-destructing electronic mail message to an electronic mail client application, and to cause all instances of the self-destructing electronic mail message to be destroyed after a period of time specified in the request; and

an electronic mail client application operative to transmit the request to the electronic mail server application, the request comprising an electronic mail message body and specifying a period of time within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to receive a self-destructing electronic mail message sent from the electronic mail server application and to destroy the electronic mail message sent from the electronic mail server after a period of time specified in the self-destructing electronic mail message has elapsed.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent the self-destructing electronic mail message from being printed.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent the self-destructing electronic mail message from being forwarded.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent the self-destructing electronic mail message from being saved.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent the self-destructing electronic mail message from being moved.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent the self-destructing electronic mail message from being copied or cut to a clipboard.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to prevent a screen display containing the self-destructing electronic mail message from being captured.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the period of time within which the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed comprises an indication that the self-destructing electronic mail message should be destroyed immediately after it has been read on the electronic mail client application.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the electronic mail server application is further operative to transmit an electronic mail message to the electronic mail client application indicating that the self-destructing electronic mail message has been destroyed after the destruction of the self-destructing electronic mail message.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the electronic mail server application is further operative to encrypt the self-destructing electronic mail message and wherein the electronic mail client application is operative to decrypt the self-destructing electronic mail message.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the electronic mail client application is further operative to provide a security warning message prior to transmitting the request in response to determining that an intended recipient of the self-destructing electronic mail message is located beyond a home domain associated with the electronic mail server application.