METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SENDING AND RELEASING PENDING MESSAGES

• US 20090235332A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Randall, Donald H. JR., Vu, Michael Vinh, Weisskopf, Michael John, Nuzzi, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes

Abstract

A system for releasing pending messages. An electronic message is received via a network from a sending client device. The electronic message includes a request to place the electronic message in a pending file and an authorization to release data. The electronic message is placed in the pending file and the authorization to release data is stored in a storage device. An authorization is received to release the electronic message from the pending file. Then, it is determined whether the authorization to release the electronic message matches the stored authorization to release data. In response to determining that a match is found, the electronic message is released from the pending file. Then, the released electronic message is sent to a receiving client device via the network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for releasing pending messages, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an electronic message via a network from a sending client device, wherein the electronic message includes a request to place the electronic message in a pending file and an authorization to release data;

placing the electronic message in the pending file;

storing the authorization to release data in a storage device to form stored authorization to release data;

receiving an authorization to release the electronic message from the pending file;

determining whether the authorization to release the electronic message matches the stored authorization to release data;

responsive to determining that a match is found, releasing the electronic message from the pending file to form a released electronic message; and

sending the released electronic message to a receiving client device via the network.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the authorization to release the electronic message and the stored authorization to release data do not match, sending a notification to a sender of the electronic message that an invalid authorization to release the electronic message has been received.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification to an intended recipient of the electronic message with instructions on how to receive the released electronic message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the instructions are successfully completed prior to sending the released electronic message to the intended recipient.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a configurable period of time has elapsed; and

responsive to determining that the configurable period of time has elapsed, destroying the electronic message.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an e-mail.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is an instant message.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the authorization to release data is one of biometric data, radio frequency identification data, or bar code data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the biometric data, the radio frequency identification data, and the bar code data are obtained from a scanner/reader coupled to the sending client device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is encrypted with an encryption key, and wherein a decryption key is required in the receiving client device to view the released electronic message.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the instructions direct the intended recipient to call a specified telephone number, listen to a pre-recorded message regarding a context of the electronic message, and acknowledge that the context of the electronic message is understood by inputting a specified input.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the specified input is one of a specific voice command or a specific keypad command.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein acknowledgment that the context of the electronic message was understood is recorded by a server device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the authorization to release the electronic message from the pending file must be received from each of a plurality of individuals.

15. A data processing system for releasing pending messages, comprising:

a bus system;

a storage device connected to the bus system, wherein the storage device includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive an electronic message via a network from a sending client device, wherein the electronic message includes a request to place the electronic message in a pending file and an authorization to release data;

place the electronic message in the pending file;

store the authorization to release data in a storage device to form stored authorization to release data;

receive an authorization to release the electronic message from the pending file;

determine whether the authorization to release the electronic message matches the stored authorization to release data;

release the electronic message from the pending file to form a released electronic message in response to determining that a match is found; and

send the released electronic message to a receiving client device via the network.

16. A computer program product for releasing pending messages, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therein, the computer usable medium comprising;

computer usable program code configured to receive an electronic message via a network from a sending client device, wherein the electronic message includes a request to place the electronic message in a pending file and an authorization to release data;

computer usable program code configured to place the electronic message in the pending file;

computer usable program code configured to store the authorization to release data in a storage device to form stored authorization to release data;

computer usable program code configured to receive an authorization to release the electronic message from the pending file;

computer usable program code configured to determine whether the authorization to release the electronic message matches the stored authorization to release data;

computer usable program code configured to release the electronic message from the pending file to form a released electronic message in response to determining that a match is found; and

computer usable program code configured to send the released electronic message to a receiving client device via the network.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to send a notification to a sender of the electronic message that an invalid authorization to release the electronic message has been received in response to a determination that the authorization to release the electronic message and the stored authorization to release data do not match.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to send a notification to an intended recipient of the electronic message with instructions on how to receive the released electronic message.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to determine whether the instructions are successfully completed prior to sending the released electronic message to the intended recipient.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to determine whether a configurable period of time has elapsed; and

computer usable program code configured to destroy the electronic message in response to determining that the configurable period of time has elapsed.