Modification of data packets so as to send them to a destination via a third party

• US 20040030752A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Selgas, Thomas Drennan, Massing, Michael Brian, Gmuender, John Everett
• Application Number:
  US10/417,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• 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 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• 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 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.

Claims

1. Apparatus for securing the transmission of data over a network comprising:

sending means for a sending party to send one of more data packets in a secure format to a final recipient via a third party;

management means for a third party to obtain the network address of the final recipient from embedded information contained within the one or more data packets sent by the sending party in a secured format; and

forwarding means for a third party to forward the one or more data packets to the final recipient at the network address obtained from information embedded within the data packets.

2. Method of providing anonymity relative the transmission of data over a network comprising the steps of:

preparing a data stream from a sending party, wherein the data stream comprises header information, at least a portion of which includes the network address of the sending party and the network address of one or more final recipients; and

transparently and securely modifying the header information by substituting the network address of a third party for the addresses of the sending and receiving parties;

making available to the third party from the sending party the address of the intended final recipient;

sending the modified data stream from the sending party to said third party for later forwarding to the address of the final recipient.

3. A method of securing the transmission of data over a network comprising the steps of:

sending data packets to a third party for retransmission to a final recipient;

informing the third party of the address of the final recipient; and

forwarding

4. The method claim 3 comprising in addition:

addressing the data packets with the third party as both the sender and recipient.

5. The method of claim 3 comprising in addition:

placing the final recipient address data in the message body of at least one of the data packets.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising in addition:

encrypting the message body of the data packets before sending to said third party; and

deciphering of the address of the final recipient before forwarding of the data packets by the third party.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising the additional steps of:

placing a from party alias, which alias may be known only to said third party, as the from party in the message body before encryption;

placing a recipient party alias, which alias may not be known by said third party, as the actual recipient party in the message body before encryption;

placing the subject matter data in the message body before encryption;

sending the data packets to said third party with the third party also listed in the header as the sending party and having an innocuous subject matter in the header;

deciphering of the message body of received data packets, by the third party, to decrypt the stored TO and FROM header information;

rebuilding the data packet header, by said third party, to list a recipient alias as both the TO and FROM parties; and

sending the data packet, including both the originally encrypted message body and the rebuilt data packet header, to the address of the final recipient.

8. Apparatus for securing the transmission of data over a network comprising:

sending party security means for sending data packets from a sending party to a third party for retransmission to a final recipient;

third party security means for obtaining the network address of the final recipient; and

third party means for forwarding the data packets to the network address of said final recipient.

9. Apparatus for providing anonymity relative the transmission of data over a network comprising:

sending party security means for, transparently to the sending party, modifying header information originating with the sending party, in data packets intended for transmission to a final recipient, by listing a third party as both the sending and receiving party;

means for making available to said third party from the sending party the address of the intended final recipient; and

means for sending the modified data packets from the sending party to said third party for later forwarding to the address of said final recipient.

10. A method of providing anonymity of a given network user in the transmission and reception of data comprising the steps of:

interacting over the network with a third party for both sending data packets to a final recipient and receiving data packets transmitted from another party;

transmitting outgoing data packets from said given network user to said third party with the third party listed in a header as both the TO and FROM parties;

transmitting incoming data packets to said given network user from said third party with the given network user being listed in a header by an alias, as both the TO and FROM parties; and

changing the alias used for said given network user in accordance with predetermined conditions.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising the additional steps of:

inserting the correct final recipient address information of at least one recipient in the message body before encrypting the message body of outgoing data packets; and

decrypting at least some of the final recipient address information from the message body upon receipt of incoming data packets by said given network user.

12. A method of sending email over a network comprising the steps of:

composing an email message with at least one original recipient name in the TO portion of a readable header;

requesting at least one recipient alias address from a service provider;

placing at least a portion of the at least one original recipient name in an encrypted message body of the email; and

sending the encrypted email to the recipient alias address.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising the additional steps of:

composing an email message with original subject matter information in the subject matter portion of the readable header;

placing at least a portion of the original email subject matter information in the encrypted message body of the email;

using at least one recipient alias address as both the TO and FROM portions of the readable header and inserting at least one set of substitute subject matter information in the readable header of the email; and

decrypting the email upon receipt by the recipient and substituting the original header information into the readable header of the email message.