Automatic delivery selection for electronic content

• US 20040139314A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZixCorp Systems, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ZixCorp Systems, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, David P., Kalan, John, Liu, Gary G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/151
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• 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 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

Claims

1. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system comprising:

identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient; and

sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying includes selecting from direct delivery, gateway delivery, and message center delivery methods.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising identifying a preferred ordering of delivery methods from among the delivery methods and attempting to deliver the message to the recipient in accordance with the ordering.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the direct delivery includes encrypting the message using public key encryption and retrieving a public key for the recipient to encrypt the message.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the gateway delivery method includes encrypting the message using public key encryption, encrypting the message using the public key of a recipient gateway that is coupled between the sender and the recipient, delivering the message encrypted to a recipient'"'"'s gateway, and decrypting the message at the recipient'"'"'s gateway prior to sending the message to the recipient.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising scanning the decrypted message at the recipient'"'"'s gateway for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising dropping the message if the scanning step detects inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising logging the detected content.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the gateway delivery method includes

directing the message from the sender to a sending gateway;

scanning the message for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content; and

processing the message if the scanning step detects inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of processing includes dropping the message.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of processing includes logging the message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a best method for delivery of a message includes considering content of the message.

13. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system comprising:

identifying a best method from among a plurality of delivery methods for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient;

sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method;

if the sending step fails, determining an order from among the remaining plurality of delivery methods for attempting additional delivery attempts; and

sending the message in accordance with the determined delivery order until the message is delivered or all delivery methods have been attempted.

14. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system comprising:

determining an order from among a plurality of electronic delivery methods for delivery of the message from a sender to the recipient; and

sending the message in accordance with the determined delivery order until the message is delivered or all delivery methods have been attempted.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is set using preferences of the sender and the recipient.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is set based at least in part on the contents of the message.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is set dynamically at the time for sending.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is preset.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein delivery methods are selected from direct, gateway and message center methods.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein direct delivery includes encrypting the message using public key encryption and retrieving a public key for the recipient to encrypt the message.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein gateway delivery includes encrypting the message using public key encryption, encrypting the message using the public key of a recipient gateway that is coupled between the sender and the recipient, delivering the message encrypted to a recipient'"'"'s gateway, and decrypting the message at the recipient'"'"'s gateway prior to sending the message to the recipient.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising scanning the decrypted message at the recipient'"'"'s gateway for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the gateway delivery method includes

directing the message from the sender to a sending gateway;

scanning the message for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content; and

processing the message if the scanning step detects inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is set by a corporate entity associated with the sender or the recipient.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the order is pre-selected as direct, gateway, then message center methods.

26. The method of claim 14 where the order is pre-selected as gateway, direct and message center methods.

27. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of setting the order includes determining if the recipient or a recipient gateway has a public key that is accessible to the communication system, and if not, using a message center delivery method as the only delivery method.

28. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the method comprising:

at the sender, determining if an encryption client is available to encrypt a message, and if so, then,

locating a public key for the recipient or a recipient gateway;

if none are found, then delivering the message to a message center for delivery to the recipient; and

if a public key is located, encrypting the message and sending the message to the recipient either directly or through the recipient gateway.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the message includes content for pay, and the method further includes at the time for pick-up of the message at the message center, requiring the recipient to provide evidence of payment prior to delivering the message to the recipient.

30. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the method comprising:

at the sender, composing a message and sending the message to the recipient intercepting the message at a gateway between the sender and the recipient;

locating a public key for the recipient or a recipient gateway;

if none are found, then delivering the message to a message center for delivery to the recipient; and

if a public key is located, encrypting the message at the gateway and sending the message to the recipient either directly or through the recipient gateway.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising

scanning the message for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content at the gateway;

and

processing the message if the scanning step detects inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content.

32. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the communication system including a message center and the sender connected to the message sender, the method comprising:

at the sender, composing a message and sending the message to the message center;

locating a public key for the recipient or a recipient gateway;

if none are found, storing the message in a message store and communicating with the recipient to indicate a message is available for pick-up at the message center; and

if a public key is located, encrypting the message at the message center and sending the message to the recipient either directly or through the recipient gateway.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the message includes content for pay, and the method further includes at the time for pick-up at the message center, requiring the recipient to provide evidence of payment prior to delivering the message to the recipient.

34. A method for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the method comprising:

at the sender, determining if an encryption client is available to encrypt a message, and if so, then,

locating a public key for a recipient gateway, the recipient gateway located between the sender and the recipient in the communication system;

if no key is found, then delivering the message to a message center for delivery to the recipient;

if a public key is located, encrypting the message and sending the message to the recipient through the recipient gateway; and

at the recipient gateway, decrypting the message and scanning the message for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content prior to delivery to the recipient.

35. A computer program product for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system, the computer program product operable to cause a computer to execute instructions to:

identify a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient; and

send the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

36. A computer program product for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the computer program product operable to cause a computer to execute instructions to:

at the sender, compose a message and sending the message to the recipient intercept the message at a gateway between the sender and the recipient;

locate a public key for the recipient or a recipient gateway;

if none are found, then deliver the message to a message center for delivery to the recipient; and

if a public key is located, encrypt the message at the gateway and sending the message to the recipient either directly or through the recipient gateway.

37. A computer program product for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the communication system including a message center and the sender connected to the message sender, the computer program product operable to cause a computer to execute instructions to:

at the sender, compose a message and sending the message to the message center;

locate a public key for the recipient or a recipient gateway;

if none are found, store the message in a message store and communicate with the recipient to indicate a message is available for pick-up at the message center; and

if a public key is located, encrypt the message at the message center and send the message to the recipient either directly or through the recipient gateway.

38. A computer program product for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system from a sender to a recipient connected to the communication system, the computer program product operable to cause a computer to execute instructions to:

at the sender, determine if an encryption client is available to encrypt a message, and if so, then,

locate a public key for a recipient gateway, the recipient gateway located between the sender and the recipient in the communication system;

if no key is found, then deliver the message to a message center for delivery to the recipient;

if a public key is located, encrypt the message and send the message to the recipient through the recipient gateway; and

at the recipient gateway, decrypt the message and scan the message for inappropriate, unwanted or unauthorized content prior to delivery to the recipient.