A messaging system in which a sender is able to receive certification of receipt of messages sent to a receiver that ensures that only the desired recipient gains access to the messages. Also, the messaging system sends between a sender and a receiver both encrypted communications and decryption information used to decipher the encrypted communications.
A network apparatus communicates a recorded message from a calling party to a called party. A messaging controller accepts commands from the calling party and plays and records digital media including the recorded message. An encryption encoder/packager is coupled to the message controller for encrypting the recorded message in response to an encryption key and for packaging the encrypted recorded message with an identifier to produce a protected message file. A notification system sends a notification message for the called party to announce the protected message file. A message distributor delivers the protected message file to the called party when requested by the called party. A license server maintains the encryption key and the identifier and responds to a validated request for a license from the called party, wherein the validated request includes the identifier, and wherein the license includes a decryption key for accessing the protected message file.
A technique, and system(s) implementing the technique, allow an encrypted message to be sent directly to a recipient, and when the recipient opens the message, the recipient's system sends a request to an arbiter server to retrieve decryption information to decrypt the message. When the arbiter server receives the request for the decryption information, the arbiter server generates evidence of the request and sends the decryption information to the recipient. In this way, an evidentiary trail, that cannot be repudiated, can be used to establish that the recipient received and attempted to open the message.
A coupler includes an analog port for interfacing with a telephone answering system a network port that is adapted for connection to an insecure network. The security problem associated with eavesdropping over insecure network is overcome by encrypting the messages that exit through the coupler's network port. In one embodiment, the coupler and the telephone answering system are distinct hardware elements and the coupler is connected to the TAD. In another embodiment, a single processor and associated memory perform the functions of the coupler's controller and of the telephone answering system, thus forming a single device that has an analog port for connecting to the public switched telephone network, as well as a port for connection to the insecure network. In yet another embodiment, the coupler/TAD combination includes a control port to allow connection to the control port of an ISDN telephone.
A method and system for electronic messaging in which a sender of an electronic message receives a return receipt, without having to send the message contents to a third party. The sender contacts a server to obtain an encryption key to encrypt the message. The server returns an encryption key along with key retrieval information to the sender. The key retrieval information can be used to obtain from the server the decryption key corresponding to the returned encryption key. The sender encrypts the message using the encryption key and sends the message, along with the key retrieval information, to the recipient. The recipient sends the key retrieval information to the server to retrieve the corresponding decryption key. The recipient then decrypts the encrypted message received from the sender using the decryption key. When the recipient sends a request to obtain the decryption key, the server notifies the sender when the key has been successfully retrieved. The fact that the decryption key was retrieved by the recipient indicates to the sender that the recipient received the message.
The present invention provides a method, a computer-readable medium and a digital content delivery service system for sending and validating/auditing delivery of e-media. The method includes the steps of: obtaining/receiving e-media of a sender/user wherein the sender/user has indicated a requested type of delivery of the e-media to a client/receiving party, wherein the client is a software application; accessing an account of the sender/user to obtain sender/user information; sending the e-media to the client/receiving party; and receiving a validation/audit of the requested type of delivery upon receipt/consumption of the e-media by the client/receiving party.
