US5552897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secure communication apparatus and method
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-07
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Granted: 1996-09-03
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Expires: 2014-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A communication apparatus (e.g., a fax apparatus) provides secure message transmission by sending messages having an unrestricted portion (e.g., a header) and a restricted portion (e.g., the body of the message). The unrestricted portion is always outputted at the receiving apparatus; however, access to the restricted portion is provided only in response to receiving predetermined information from a user (e.g., a message recipient). This information may include either the use of a password or the use of a PIN code following the insertion of a user's smart card into the receiving apparatus. If the restricted portion is encrypted, the user must either provide the decryption key to enable the receiving apparatus to decrypt the restricted message or his/her smart card must perform the actual decryption of the restricted message.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Mandelbaum
- 👤 B. Waring Partridge, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/44; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04M3/387; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/32; H04L9/3226; H04L9/3234; H04M3/42; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/60; H04M2203/609; H04M3/382
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A communication apparatus for receiving a sender's message over a facility comprising means for receiving and storing the message including an unrestricted portion and a restricted encrypted portion, first output means for outputting the unrestricted portion of the received message to a user, the unrestricted portion including information identifying an encryption key used to encrypt the restricted portion, second output means, responsive to predetermined information received from the user, for outputting the restricted portion of the message to the user, a smart card interface means and wherein said predetermined information includes a user-entered person identification number (PIN) entered after the user's smart card is inserted into said interface, means responsive to said received PIN for enabling said interface means to output said encryption key identification information and said restricted encrypted portion to said smart card for use in decrypting said restricted encrypted portion by said smart card and wherein said interface means receives a decrypted restricted portion from said smart card, via said interface, for output via said second output means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A communication apparatus for receiving a sender's message over a facility comprising means for receiving and storing the message including an unrestricted portion and a restricted encrypted portion, first output means for outputting the unrestricted portion of the received message to a user, the unrestricted portion including information identifying an encryption key used to encrypt the restricted portion, second output means, responsive to predetermined information received from the user, for outputting the restricted portion of the message to the user, a smart card interface means and wherein said predetermined information includes a user-entered person identification number (PIN) entered after the user's smart card is inserted into said interface, means responsive to said received PIN for enabling said interface means to output said encryption key identification information and said restricted encrypted portion to said smart card for use in decrypting said restricted encrypted portion by said smart card and wherein said interface means receives a decrypted restricted portion from said smart card, via said interface, for output via said second output means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication apparatus of claim 1 the unrestricted portion includes information indicating whether or not the restricted portion is encrypted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication apparatus of claim 2 wherein the unrestricted portion includes information indicating a type of encryption key used to encrypt the restricted portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of messages are received and wherein the unrestricted portion includes recipient identification for each received message and wherein said predetermined information identifies the user as the recipient in at least one of the plurality of fax messages to be outputted to the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication apparatus is a fax apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication apparatus is a multi-media apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A communication apparatus for transmitting a message over a facility, comprising first input means for receiving a first user input to be transmitted as a message, second input means for receiving a second user input requesting that the message delivery be restricted to an intended recipient, and requesting that the message be encrypted using a user-selected encryption key selected from a plurality of predetermined encryption keys, means, responsive to said second user input, for sending a message including an unrestricted portion and a restricted portion, the unrestricted portion being arranged to be outputted to a recipient at a receiving location for identifying an intended recipient and one or more encryption flags indicating said user-selected encryption key used to encrypt the restricted portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A communication apparatus for transmitting a message over a facility, comprising first input means for receiving a first user input to be transmitted as a message, second input means for receiving a second user input requesting that the message delivery be restricted to an intended recipient, and requesting that the message be encrypted using a user-selected encryption key selected from a plurality of predetermined encryption keys, means, responsive to said second user input, for sending a message including an unrestricted portion and a restricted portion, the unrestricted portion being arranged to be outputted to a recipient at a receiving location for identifying an intended recipient and one or more encryption flags indicating said user-selected encryption key used to encrypt the restricted portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication apparatus of claim 7 wherein said user-selected encryption key is the intended recipient's public key K RP as indicated by said one or more encryption flags.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication apparatus of claim 7 wherein said user-selected encryption key is the user's private key K SS as indicated by said one or more encryption flags.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communication apparatus of claim 9 wherein the user's public key is sent as part of the unrestricted portion of the message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication apparatus of claim 7 further including a smart card interface and wherein said second user input includes recipient information received from a smart card inserted into said interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The communication apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a smart card interface for displaying an address book of a smart card inserted therein, the address book being used by the user to select the intended recipient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-03 | 2000-03-04 | 2000-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-03 | 2004-03-04 | 2004-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-03 | 2008-03-04 | 2008-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |