System For, And Method Of, Providing The Transmission, Receipt And Content Of An E-Mail Message To A Recipient

Abstract

A server transmits a message and attachments from a sender to a recipient. A hash is provided of (a) the message, (b) an identification of the sender and (c) a hash of the attachments to form a data string. Instructions may be included for the recipient to send a hashed encryption of the string to a website at the server by registered electronic mail which provides options to obtain other electronic advantages. To authenticate the message, the recipient transmits the message, the attachments and the hashed encryption of the string to the server website. The server decrypts and detaches the hashed encryption of the string to provide a first string and hashes the message, the sender identification and the hashed attachments in the first string to form a second string. The server also detaches and hashes the attachments from the message received at the server website to form first hashed attachments and detaches the hashed attachments from the string to form second hashed attachments. When the first and second hashed attachments match and the first and second strings match, the server authenticates the message to the recipient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a method of providing for an authentication of a message provided by a sender and transmitted electronically via registered mail by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps of:
 including the message within a data element which allows the message to be reconstructed even if portions of the message are subsequently corrupted.   
     
     
         2 . In a message as set forth in  claim 1  in which
 attachments to the message are included within the data element. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 a portion of the message original content is included within the data element. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 digital digests of at least portions of the original message are included within the data element. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 at least portions of the data element are created by using methods of digital compression. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 at least portions of the data element are encrypted. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein
 the digitally compressed portions of the data elements are encrypted. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 a digital digest is provided of portions of the data element other than the message. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 the data element includes an identification of the sender. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 digital digests are provided of the file attachments of the message and wherein 
 a copy of the message is included in the data element without attachments. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein
 the data element includes an identification of the sender. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein
 first digital digests of the attachments are included within the data element and are detached from the data element to form first digital digests of the attachments and wherein the attachments are included with the message in a transmission by the recipient to the server associated with the sender and wherein   the attachments are separated from the message at the server and second digital digests are provided of the attachments at the server and wherein   the first and second digital digests are compared at the server and wherein if the digital digests match, the attachments are attached to the message.   
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein
 the message and the attachments are sent by the server to the recipient to authenticate the message at the recipient. 
 
     
     
         14 . In a method of providing for an authentication of a message provided by a sender and transmitted via registered mail by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps of:
 providing at the server the message and the file attachments of the message,   providing at the server a string including an identification of the sender and the message without the file attachments and a hash of the file attachments,   providing an encrypted hash of the string,   attaching the message and the file attachments to the encrypted hash of the string, designated an address at the server where an authentication of the message and the file attachments is to be provided, and   transmitting to the recipient (a) the identification and address of the sender, (b) the message, (c) the file attachments and (d) the encrypted hash of the string for use in subsequently authenticating the message and the file attachments at the recipient.   
     
     
         15 . In a method of authenticating a message provided by a sender and transmitted by registered mail by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps at the server of: providing attachments to the message,
 providing the message stripped of the attachments, hashing the attachments,   combining into a string the information identifying the sender, the hashed attachments and the message,   hashing and encrypting the string,   providing instructions in an HTML format of how to validate the message by inviting anyone wishing to authenticate the message to send the message and encrypted hash of the string and the attachments of the message to a particular address at the server, and   introducing the message and the encrypted hash of the string to the instructions in the HTML format, and   sending the message, the HTML file attached to the message and the encrypted hash of the string are sent to the particular address at the server.   
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein
 the sender has the right to select individual ones of a number of different service options including: 
 Send for Official use Only 
 Use a Reply Registered Feature 
 Use a Digital Seal Feature 
 Send encrypted (with Outlook Security integration), and 
 Send digitally signed (with Outlook security integration). 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of authenticating to a recipient a message provided by a sender and transmitted via registered mail by a server to the recipient where the recipient also receives from the server an attachment to the message and a string defined by an encrypted hash of (a) the identity of the sender, (b) the message stripped of the attachment, (c) a hash of the attachments and (c) a hash of (a), (b) and (c) and also receives an identification of a website at the server where the message is to be authenticated, the steps of:
 receiving at the server website the message, the attachments and the string defined by the encrypted hash of the message, the attachments and the encrypted hash of the message, the identify of the sender and the hash of the attachments,   detaching, decrypting and dehashing the encrypted harshed string to provide (a) the identify of the sender, (b) hashes of the attachments (c) the original message stripped of the attachments and (d) the hash of (a), (b) and (c),   providing a hash of (a), (b) and (c),   comparing the hash received at the server website of (a), (b) and (c) and the hash generated at the server website of (a), (b) and (c)   detaching the attachments from the message received at the server website and hashing the attachments,   comparing the hashed attachments received at the server website in the string and the hashed attachments separated from the string at the server website, and   authenticating the message received in the string at the server website when the hashed attachments being compared at the server website are the same and when the hashes received and generated at the server website are the same.   
     
     
         18 . In a method of authenticating a message provided by a sender and transmitted by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps and server of
 providing an e-mail of the message from the server to the recipient,   operating a member to provide for the transmission of the message as registered e-mail from the server to the recipient   providing the sender with the following service options when the server operates the member to send the message by a registered e-mail,   Send Registered   Send Register Unmarked   Send for Official use Only   Use a Reply Registered Feature   Use a Digital Seal Feature   Send Encrypted (with Outlook Security integration)   Send Digitally Signed (with Outlook security integration), and   Selecting individual one(s) of the service options when the server operates the member to provide for the transmission as registered e-mail from the server to the recipient.   
     
     
         19 . In a method as set forth in  claim 18 , the step of
 sending the message from the server to the recipient by registered e-mail with the selected one(s) of the service options.   
     
     
         20 . In a method of authenticating a message provided by a sender and transmitted by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps at the server of:
 providing attachments to the message,   providing the message stripped of the attachments,   hashing the attachments,   combining into a string information identifying the sender, the hashed attachments and the message stripped of the attachments,   hashing and encrypting the string,   providing instructions in an HTML format of how to validate the message by inviting anyone wishing to authenticate the message to send the message, encrypted hash of the string and the hashed attachments of the message to a particular website at the server,   introducing the message and the encrypted hash of the string to the instructions in the HTML format, and   operating a member to provide for the transmission of the message, the hashed attachments to the message and the encrypted hash of the string to the instructions in the HTML format on a registered mail basis.   
     
     
         21 . In a method as set forth in  claim 20 , including the step of
 transmitting the string of the message, the identification of the sender and the hashed attachments to the recipient when the sender operates the member.   
     
     
         22 . In a method as set forth in  claim 21 , including the step of
 operating a member to provide for the transmission of registered e-mail by the server to the recipient.   
     
     
         23 . In a method as set forth in  claim 22 , including the step of:
 providing the sender with the following options when the server operates the member to provide for the transmission of the message to the recipient by registered mail:   Send Register Unmarked   Send for Official use Only   Use a Reply Registered Feature   Use a Digital Seal Feature   Send encrypted (with Outlook Security integration), and   Send digitally signed (with Outlook security integration).   
     
     
         24 . In a method of providing for an authentication of a message originating at a sender and transmitted with file attachments by a server on a registered basis to a recipient designated by the sender the steps of:
 decrypting and dehashing a first string which includes (a) the message, (b) the identification of the sender, (c) the hash of the file attachments and (d) the hash of (a), (b), and (c) to provide a first string,   preparing a hash of (a) the message, (b) the identification of the sender and the hash of the file attachments in the first string to provide a second string, and   comparing the first and second strings to provide for an authentication of the message.   
     
     
         25 . In a method as set forth in  claim 24 , the step of:
 when the first and second strings are the same, providing for the passage of the message in the first string to the server for passage of the message to the recipient.   
     
     
         26 . In a method of authenticating a message provided by a sender and transmitted by a server with file attachments to a recipient, the steps at the server of:
 providing a message and attachments of the message,   providing a hash of the attachments,   combining the message, the hashed attachments and the information identifying the   sender,   hashing the combination of the message, the hashed attachments and the information identifying the sender to provide a string,   hashing and encrypting the string,   providing a file which contains the encrypted hashed string in an HTML format, adding the message to the file, and   operating a member to provide for the transmission of the message and the file on a registered basis to the recipient.   
     
     
         27 . In a method as set forth in  claim 26  the steps of:
 providing instructions in an HTML format at the server to the recipient to transmit the file and the message to the recipient, and 
 transmitting the message, the attachments and the encrypted hashed string in the HTML format to the recipient. 
 
     
     
         28 . In a method as set forth in  claim 27  wherein
 the instructions invite anyone wishing to authenticate the message to transmit the message, the attachments and the encrypted hashed string to a particular website at the server. 
 
     
     
         29 . In a method of providing for an authentication of a message originating at a sender and transmitted by a server with file attachments to a recipient designated by the sender, the steps of:
 providing at the server the message and the file attachments of the message,   providing at the server a string including a hash of (a) an identification of the sender, (b) the message without the file attachments and (c) a hash of the file attachments,   providing an encrypted hash of the string,   attaching the message to the encrypted hash of the string,   designating a website at the server where an authentication of the message and the file attachment is to be provided,   operating a member to provide for the transmission of a message from the server to the recipient on a registered basis, and   transmitting to the recipient on a registered basis (a) the identification and address of the sender, (b) the message, (c) the hash of the file attachments and (d) the hash of (a), (b) and (c) to provide a string for use in subsequently authenticating the message and the file attachments at the recipient.   
     
     
         30 . A method of authenticating to a recipient a message provided by a sender and transmitted by a server as registered mail to the recipient where the recipient also receives from the server an attachment to the message and a string defined by a hash of (a) the identity of the sender, (b) the message stripped of the attachment, (c) a hash of the attachment and (d) a hash of (a), (b), and (c) to define a string and also receives an indication of a website at the server where the message is to be authenticated and where the registered message also includes service options of:
 Send Register Unmarked   Send for Official use Only   Use a Reply Registered Feature   Use a Digital Seal Feature   Send encrypted (with Outlook Security integration), and   Send digitally Signed (with Outlook security integration)   receiving at the server website the message, the hashed attachments and the identity of the sender and the string defined by the hash of the message, the hashed attachments and the encrypted hash of the message, the identity of the sender and the hash of the attachments,   detaching, decrypting and dehashing the encrypted hashed string to provide (a) the identity of the sender, (b) hashes of the attachments, (c) the original message stripped of the attachments and (d) a hash of (a), (b) and (c),   providing a hash of (a), (b) and (c),   comparing the hash received at the server website of (a), (b) and (c) and the hash generated at the server website of (a), (b) and (c)   detaching the attachments from the message received at the server website,   comparing the attachments received at the server website and the attachments separated from the string at the server website, and   authenticating the message received in the string at the server website when the attachments being compared at the server website are the same and when the hashes received and generated at the server website are the same.   
     
     
         31 . In a method of providing for an authentication of a message originating at a sender and transmitted with file attachments by a server on a registered basis to a recipient designated by the sender, the steps of:
 decrypting and dehashing a first string which includes (a) the message, (b) an identification of the sender, (c) the hash of the file attachments and (d) the hash of (a), (b) and (c),   dehashing the hashed attachments from the first string to provide for first hashed attachments,   detaching the attachments from the message received at the server website,   providing a hash of the attachments detached from the message received at the server to provide for second hashed attachments, and   comparing the first and second hashed attachments to provide for an authentication of the message.   
     
     
         32 . In a method as set forth in  claim 30  wherein
 when the first and second hashed attachments are the same, providing for the passage of the message in the string to the server for the passage of the message to the recipient.