Patent US6356937B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6356937B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interoperable full-featured web-based and client-side e-mail system
Assignee: Mec Management LLC
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Filing: 1999-07-06
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Granted: 2002-03-12
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Expires: 2019-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A full-featured e-mail system is used in both Internet-based and client-side (personal computer) forms. In each form, either basic e-mail service is provided to system subscribers or a secure, premium service with authentication, concealment, integrity, and non-repudiation functions for electronic messaging services is provided. In either form and at either level of service, subscribers can work off-line on their own computers with proprietary software loaded or, alternatively, on-line on any computer with an Internet connection. The system is interoperable, to preserve security, with all S/MIME compliant software applications, even for those users not subscribing to a service implementing the disclosed system. Digital certificates can be provided as a security service of the disclosed system, rather than requiring a second source with separate verification procedures. As additional optional features, the subscriber can control compression of outgoing attachment files, rather than having that function absent or operate in some automatic way. Decompression of such file attachments when received occurs automatically for subscribers, without having to invoke a different program or system. Interactive help features, book hierarchy uniformity for messages, accounts, certificates, virus warnings, and dual naming capability are also provided and available to subscribers in both the Web-based and the client-side application forms disclosed herein, and in both basic and premium service levels.
Inventors
- 👤 David Montville
- 👤 Adam Montville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/3263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of providing a secure electronic messaging service to each of a plurality of subscribers, using a server and a personal computer both connected to a global computer network, the method comprising the steps: programming each of a server application and a personal computer application with a secure e-mail messaging service configured to interact with and to shadow the other application via said network as to personal information, settings, and files of an individual one of said subscribers; storing said information, settings, and files both on said server and on said personal computer running said application, for access off-line solely through the personal computer of said subscriber and for access on-line by said subscriber through any computer having capability to communicate with said server; allowing access to said messaging service via said server for a subscriber's sending and receiving electronic messages; and providing a digital certificate security service from each of the server and the computer together with the messaging service.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of providing a secure electronic messaging service to each of a plurality of subscribers, using a server and a personal computer both connected to a global computer network, the method comprising the steps: programming each of a server application and a personal computer application with a secure e-mail messaging service configured to interact with and to shadow the other application via said network as to personal information, settings, and files of an individual one of said subscribers; storing said information, settings, and files both on said server and on said personal computer running said application, for access off-line solely through the personal computer of said subscriber and for access on-line by said subscriber through any computer having capability to communicate with said server; allowing access to said messaging service via said server for a subscriber's sending and receiving electronic messages; and providing a digital certificate security service from each of the server and the computer together with the messaging service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the server of the messaging service from a personal computer using the Web-based form of service further comprises the step of using an S/MIME compliant application to connect between the computer and said server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a digital signature security service includes verifying the identity of the sender, the integrity of the message, and the fact of the sending by the sender.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , further including the step of decompressing automatically a compressed attachment to a message upon its reaching and being opened by a subscriber.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of providing secure e-mail service to a subscriber, the service being accessible equally from an e-mail program on a computer of the subscriber and via the Internet (a global computer network) from other computers which may be used by the subscriber, the method comprising the steps: loading the e-mail program onto the subscriber's computer, the program being one for composing and displaying e-mail messages thereon while the computer is off-line, using personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and for providing at least one of address, e-mail account, and message book features; providing an e-mail service on an Internet server accessible by said subscriber, the service and the program on the subscriber's computer each shadowing the content of the other for said personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and for each of the address, account, and message books of the subscriber; allowing access to the e-mail service on said subscriber's computer and from any other computer via a modem or the Internet; synchronizing and updating the personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and the features and content in the subscriber's program and in the e-mail service on the Internet server upon each access of the subscriber's computer to the Internet server and e-mail service after a change in either, and providing from each of the e-mail server and the user's computer, with one or more messages a digital signature security service for verifying the identity of the sender, the integrity of the messages sent, and the fact of the sending by the sender, whereby to provide nearly identical, secure e-mail services to the subscriber whether the subscriber is using his/her own computer which is running the application or is logged-in to the server from a different computer through the Internet.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of providing secure e-mail service to a subscriber, the service being accessible equally from an e-mail program on a computer of the subscriber and via the Internet (a global computer network) from other computers which may be used by the subscriber, the method comprising the steps: loading the e-mail program onto the subscriber's computer, the program being one for composing and displaying e-mail messages thereon while the computer is off-line, using personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and for providing at least one of address, e-mail account, and message book features; providing an e-mail service on an Internet server accessible by said subscriber, the service and the program on the subscriber's computer each shadowing the content of the other for said personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and for each of the address, account, and message books of the subscriber; allowing access to the e-mail service on said subscriber's computer and from any other computer via a modem or the Internet; synchronizing and updating the personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and the features and content in the subscriber's program and in the e-mail service on the Internet server upon each access of the subscriber's computer to the Internet server and e-mail service after a change in either, and providing from each of the e-mail server and the user's computer, with one or more messages a digital signature security service for verifying the identity of the sender, the integrity of the messages sent, and the fact of the sending by the sender, whereby to provide nearly identical, secure e-mail services to the subscriber whether the subscriber is using his/her own computer which is running the application or is logged-in to the server from a different computer through the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of accessing the e-mail service from a computer other than the subscriber's computer further comprises the step of using an S/MIME compliant application to connect between the other computer and the server.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of decompressing any compressed attachment automatically when it reaches and is opened by a subscriber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
184 words
A secure, encrypted, digitally-certified e-mail service application for a personal computer that is also accessible for similar use over a global computer network, the service application comprising: a full-featured e-mail program for loading onto a subscriber's personal computer, the program configured to receive personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and having at least one of address book, e-mail account book, and message book files provided therein; a network-based e-mail service system configured to shadow the subscriber's e-mail program as to content and having the same ones of address book, account book, and message book files as said program on said personal computer, the system synchronizing and updating itself and the program on the personal computer as and after either is changed and upon connecting the subscriber's personal computer to the e-mail service system via a modem or the network, and means for providing a digital signature security service directly from either of the subscriber's computer or the network server, the signature service verifying the identity of the sender, the integrity of the message, and the fact of the sending by the subscriber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
A secure, encrypted, digitally-certified e-mail service application for a personal computer that is also accessible for similar use over a global computer network, the service application comprising: a full-featured e-mail program for loading onto a subscriber's personal computer, the program configured to receive personal information, settings, and files of the subscriber and having at least one of address book, e-mail account book, and message book files provided therein; a network-based e-mail service system configured to shadow the subscriber's e-mail program as to content and having the same ones of address book, account book, and message book files as said program on said personal computer, the system synchronizing and updating itself and the program on the personal computer as and after either is changed and upon connecting the subscriber's personal computer to the e-mail service system via a modem or the network, and means for providing a digital signature security service directly from either of the subscriber's computer or the network server, the signature service verifying the identity of the sender, the integrity of the message, and the fact of the sending by the subscriber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The e-mail service application of claim 8 , wherein the server of the e-mail service is configured for access to any computer used by the subscriber using an S/MIME compliant application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The e-mail service application of claim 8 , wherein the service further is configured to decompress any compressed attachment automatically when it reaches and is opened by the subscriber.
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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) | 2005-03-11 | 2005-09-10 | 2006-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-11 | 2009-09-10 | 2010-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-11 | 2013-09-10 | 2014-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |