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.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 receiving the message by the server from the sender;   generating by the server a digital signature of the message;   generating by the server a file containing, in HTML format, an identity of the sender;   concealing the digital signature of the message in the file;   attaching the file containing the identity of the sender and the concealed digital signature to the message by the server;   transmitting from the server to the recipient the message and the attached file;   receiving information related to the message and the attached file by the server from the recipient;   providing digital signatures of the message and the attached file by the server; and   authenticating the message to the recipient by the server on the basis of the information received by the recipient from the server and on the basis of the digital signatures provided by the server.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the server to the sender the message and the attached file and the digital signature of the message.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 receiving from the sender the message and the attached file and the digital signature of the message;   producing digital fingerprints of the message, the attached file and the digital signature; and   comparing the digital fingerprints relating to the message, and the digital fingerprints relating to the attached file, to determine whether the message and the attached file are authentic.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 generating an indication of authenticity of the message;   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 transmitting an indication of the authenticity of the message through the internet to the recipient.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the message is received by the server through the internet and wherein the message and the digital signature of the message are transmitted to the recipient through the internet. 
     
     
         39 . A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 receiving the message by the server from the sender;   generating by the server an encrypted version of the message;   generating by the server a file containing, in HTML format, an identity of the sender;   concealing the encrypted version of the message in the file;   attaching the file to the message by the server;   transmitting from the server to the recipient the message and the attached file;   receiving information related to the attached file by the server from the recipient;   decrypting by the server the encrypted message from the received information related to the attached file; and   providing to the recipient by the server the decrypted contents of the message on the basis of the received information related to the attached file.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 ,
 wherein the message is received by the server through the internet; and   wherein the message and the attached file are transmitted by the server to the recipient through the internet.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 ,
 wherein the decrypted message is transmitted through the internet by the server to the recipient.   
     
     
         42 . A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient, and for displaying the message to the recipient, through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 receiving, by the server, a message from the sender;   generating, by the server, an encrypted version of the message;   generating, by the server, a file containing, in HTML format, an identity of the sender;   concealing, by the server, the encrypted version of the message in the file;   attaching, by the server, the file to the message in a manner providing a clickable link accessible by a recipient of the message and attached file, the clickable link configured to connect with a web server;   transmitting the message and the attached file from the server to the recipient;   receiving, by the server, information related to the attached file from the recipient;   decrypting, by the server, the encrypted message from the received information related to the attached file; and   providing to the recipient by the server the decrypted contents of the message on the basis of the received information related to the attached file.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 transmitting the encrypted message and the identity of the sender to the web server when the recipient clicks on the clickable link;   decrypting, by the web server, the encrypted message;   displaying to the recipient the decrypted message and the identity of the sender.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 displaying a message to the recipient containing instructions for processing the message.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for downloading the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to the recipient. 
     
     
         46 . A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 receiving the message by the server from the sender;   generating by the server an encrypted version of the message;   generating by the server a file containing an identity of the sender;   concealing the encrypted version of the message in the file;   attaching the file to the message by the server;   transmitting from the server to the recipient the message and the attached file;   receiving by the server information related to the attached file from the recipient;   decrypting by the server the encrypted message from the received information related to the attached file; and   providing to the recipient by the server the decrypted contents of the message on the basis of the received information related to the attached file.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein attaching the file to the message by the server includes providing a clickable link accessible by the recipient of the message and attached file, the clickable link configured to connect with a web server. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 transmitting the encrypted message to the web server when the recipient clicks on the clickable link;   decrypting, by the web server, the encrypted message;   displaying to the recipient the decrypted message and the identity of the sender.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 displaying a message to the recipient containing instructions for processing the message.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for downloading the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to the recipient. 
     
     
         51 . A system for authenticating a message from a sender to a recipient through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 a server having a processor programmed by software commands to:
 receive a message from the sender, 
 generate an encrypted version of the message, 
 generate a file containing an identity of the sender, 
 conceal the encrypted version of the message in the file, 
 attach the file to the message, 
 transmit the message and the attached file to the recipient, 
 receive information related to the attached file from the recipient, 
 decrypt the encrypted message from the received information related to the attached file, and 
 provide the decrypted contents of the message on the basis of the received information related to the attached file to the recipient. 
   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the file is in the format of an HTML file. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the processor is also programmed by software commands to include a clickable link associated with the attached file, the clickable link being accessible by the recipient of the message and attached file, and configured to connect with a web server when the clickable link is actuated. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the web server receives the encrypted message when the recipient clicks on the clickable link, and
 the web server is programmed by software commands to decrypt the encrypted message and to display the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to recipient.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the web server is further programmed by software commands to display a message to the recipient containing instructions for processing the message. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for downloading the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to the recipient. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for viewing a representation of the decrypted message and the identity of the sender. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for authenticating the recipient before display of the encrypted message to the recipient. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving information related to the message by the server from the recipient. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising receiving information related to the message by the server from the recipient. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising receiving information related to the message by the server from the recipient. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the process is also programmed by software commands to receive information related to the message from the recipient. 
     
     
         63 . A system for authenticating a message from a sender to a recipient through a server displaced from the recipient, comprising:
 a server having a processor programmed by software commands to:
 receive a message from the sender, 
 generate an encrypted version of the message, 
 generate a file containing an identity of the sender, 
 conceal the encrypted version of the message in the file, 
 store the file, 
 transmit the message and information related to the stored file to the recipient, 
 receive information related to the stored file from the recipient, 
 decrypt the encrypted message from the received information related to the stored file, and 
 provide the decrypted contents of the message on the basis of the received information related to stored file to the recipient. 
   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is also programmed by software commands to include a clickable link associated with the stored file, the clickable link being accessible by the recipient of the message, and configured to connect with a web server when the clickable link is actuated. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the web server receives information related to the encrypted message when the recipient clicks on the clickable link, and
 the web server is programmed by software commands to decrypt the encrypted message and to display the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to recipient.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the web server is further programmed by software commands to display a message to the recipient containing instructions for processing the message. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for downloading the decrypted message and the identity of the sender to the recipient. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the instructions for processing the message include instructions for authenticating the recipient before display of the decrypted message to the recipient. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further programmed by software commands receive information related to the authentication of the recipient from the recipient. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further programmed by software commands to delete the file after the decrypted message has been provided to the recipient.