Selective acceptance of electronic messages in communication systems

• US 8,046,825 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Clarke, Christopher D., Haff, Maurice W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, BRANDON S
• Application Number:
  US12/661,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 : Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 : Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 : Recoverability

Abstract

A file authentication requesting device that stores a computer program for requesting authentication of files in digital systems, the device comprises a confirmation request system that generates a request for a confirmation receipt from a third party authenticator authenticating the attributes of a file; a transferring system that transfers attributes of at least one file to be authenticated to the third party authenticator from the device that requested the confirmation; and a receiving system that receives the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes, after authentication by the third party authenticator; wherein, at least one file authentication is received from the third party authenticator. Corresponding processing devices, media, systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A device in an electronic communication system for controlling electronic communication with remote devices, comprising:

a selective acceptance system that evaluates against selective acceptance criteria communications requests from at least one remote device, and accepts only communication requests from remote devices satisfying the selective acceptance criteria, the selective acceptance criteria comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of a user of the requesting remote device, and a communication address listed in a destination file;

a communications system that receives from requesting communication devices only communications that are the subject of communications requests that have been accepted by the selective acceptance system; and

the destination file that comprises communication addresses for remote devices linked to an identification comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device and an identification of a user of the requesting remote device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a destination file that lists communication addresses for remote devices comprising at least one of addresses to which the device may send communication requests and addresses from which it may receive communication requests.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a selective acceptance system that may be configured at the device to accept communications only from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

4. The device of claim 1, in which the selective acceptance system automatically determines based on authenticated identity criteria linked to communication addresses whether or not it will accept communication from the remote device.

5. The device of claim 1, in which the communication addresses in the destination file comprise at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

6. The device of claim 1, in which the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

7. An electronic communication system comprising a plurality of electronic communication devices, comprising:

a communication device that communicates with remote devices, the communication device comprising a selective acceptance system that evaluates communications requests from the remote devices, and accepts communications requests in accordance with selective acceptance criteria comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of a user of the requesting remote device, and a communication address listed in a destination file;

a communications system that receives a communication from a requesting remote device when the communications request from the requesting remote device has been accepted;

a destination file that lists the communication address of the at least one remote device linked to an identification comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device and an identification of a user of the requesting remote device; and

a remote communication device whose communication address is listed in the destination file and linked to an identification.

8. The system of claim 7, in which the communication device further comprises a selective acceptance system that automatically accepts communications from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

9. The system of claim 7, in which the communication device further comprises a selective acceptance system that automatically rejects communications from remote devices not having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

10. The system of claim 7, in which the communication device further comprises a selective acceptance system that may be configured at the device to accept communications only from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

11. The system of claim 7, in which the communication addresses in the destination file are at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

12. The system of claim 7, in which the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

13. A method for controlling communications between communication devices by selective acceptance of communication requests from remote devices in an electronic communication system, comprising:

storing a destination file comprising, for each of one or more remote devices, a communication address of the remote device linked to an identification comprising at least one of an identification of the remote device and an identification of a user of the remote device;

evaluating communications requests from the remote devices to determine whether each satisfies selective acceptance criteria comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of a user of the requesting remote device, and a communication address listed in the destination file;

accepting only communications requests determined to satisfy the selective acceptance criteria; and

receiving from requesting remote devices only communications that are the subject of an accepted communications request.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically accepting communications from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically rejecting communications from remote devices not having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, automatically determining whether or not to accept communication from the remote device based on authenticated identity criteria linked to communication addresses.

17. The method of claim 13, in which the selective acceptance system is configured at the receiving device to accept communications only from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

18. The method of claim 13, in which the communication addresses in the destination file are at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

19. The method of claim 13, in which the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising authenticating a received communication using an electronic postmark provided by a postal authority.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic postmark provided by a postal authority is among the selective acceptance criteria.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a program that causes an electronic communication system to control electronic communication with remote devices, comprising:

a selective acceptance code segment that evaluates communications requests from the remote devices, and accepts only communication requests from remote devices satisfying selective acceptance criteria, the selective acceptance criteria comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of a user of the requesting remote device, and a communication address listed in a destination file;

a communications code segment that receives from requesting remote devices only communications that are the subject of communications requests that have been accepted; and

a destination file code segment that stores at least communication addresses for remote devices linked to an identification comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device and an identification of a user of the requesting remote device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising a selective acceptance code segment that automatically accepts communications from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising a selective acceptance code segment that automatically rejects communications from remote devices not having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising a selective acceptance code segment that automatically determines whether or not to accept communication from the remote device based on authenticated identity criteria linked to communication addresses.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, in which the selective acceptance code segment may be configured to accept communications only from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, in which the communication addresses in the destination file are at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, in which the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a program for execution in an electronic communication system, comprising:

a selective acceptance code segment that evaluates communications requests from remote devices, and accepts only communications requests that satisfy selective acceptance criteria comprising at least a communication address listed in a destination file;

a communications code segment that receives from requesting remote devices only communications that are the subject of approved communications requests; and

a destination file code segment that stores a destination file code segment that stores at least communication addresses for communication addresses at least for remote devices from which it may receive communication requests and remote devices to which it may send communication requests,

wherein the selective acceptance code segment automatically accepts communications from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file and automatically rejects communications from remote devices not having communication addresses listed in the destination file,

and wherein the selective acceptance code segment is configurable to accept communications only from remote devices having communication addresses listed in the destination file.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the selective acceptance code segment further automatically determines whether or not to accept communication from the remote device based on authenticated identity criteria comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of a user of the requesting remote device, and linked to communication addresses.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the communication addresses in the destination file are Internet addresses.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the communication addresses in the destination file are Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

34. A data transmission device that conveys messages, the messages comprising:

a first communications request directed to a receiving device from a first requesting remote device, the first communications request being accepted by the receiving device based upon its satisfaction of selective acceptance criteria of the receiving device comprising at least one of an identification of the requesting remote device, an identification of the user of the requesting remote device, and a communication address listed in a destination file listing communication addresses for remote devices from which the receiving device may receive communication requests and remote devices to which the receiving device may send communication requests; and

a second communications request directed to the receiving device from a second requesting remote device, the second communications request being rejected by the receiving device based upon its failure to satisfy the selective acceptance criteria.

35. The data transmission device of claim 34 wherein the conveyed messages further comprise a communications acceptance directed to the first requesting remote device by the receiving device in response to the first communications request.

36. The data transmission device of claim 34 wherein the conveyed messages further comprise a communication directed to the receiving device from the first requesting remote device based upon acceptance by the receiving device of the first communications request.

37. The data transmission device of claim 36 wherein the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

38. The data transmission device of claim 36 wherein the communication addresses in the destination file comprise at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

39. A method for selective acceptance of communication requests from remote devices in an electronic communication system to control communications between communication devices, comprising:

for each of a plurality of remote devices from which communication requests will be accepted, storing in a destination list destination information for the remote device comprising at least a destination address of the remote device;

receiving a plurality of communications requests from a requesting network device;

in response to the receipt of each communication request;

comparing identifying information for the requesting remote device with the stored destination list;

prohibiting communications from the requesting remote device if identifying information for the requesting remote device is not within the destination list;

accepting communications requests from the requesting remote device if identifying information for the requesting remote device is within the destination list; and

receiving communications corresponding to the communications request from the requesting remote device if the communications request has been accepted.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the destination list is stored in a local device by which the method is performed.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the destination list is stored in a remote device.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising automatically determining whether or not to accept communication requests from remote devices based on authenticated identity criteria linked to device communication addresses within the destination list.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the communication addresses in the destination list are at least one of Internet addresses and Public Switched Telephone Network addresses.

44. The method of claim 39 in which the communication comprises at least one of a text message and a file.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising authenticating a received communication using an electronic postmark provided by a postal authority.