Secure messaging center

Abstract

A secure messaging system is disclosed wherein messages are transmitted to a user based on a feature unique to the user, such as an account number. The user authenticates himself, then messages associated with the user can be displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 authenticating, by a computer based system for securely accessing a message, a first intended recipient using a second identifier associated with the intended recipient;   capturing, by the computer based system, a browser type and IP address of the authenticated first intended recipient;   determining, by the computer based system, the message that is associated with a first identifier of the first intended recipient; and   allowing, by the computer based system, access to the message associated with the first identifier by the first intended recipient via a secure website.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is an account code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second identifier is at least one of a combination of a user identification and password, and a physical characteristic of the first intended recipient identifiable by a biometric identification system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes:
 a message portion; and   an attachment file in a format that is different from a format of the message portion.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes at least one of customer account information, a financial statement, a special offer, a response to an inquiry, and a transaction confirmation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising encrypting the secure website to view the message using an encryption method. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising notifying, by the computer based system, the first intended recipient of the message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising notifying, by the computer based system, the first intended recipient of the message via a notification message, wherein the notification message contains at least one of an address of and a link to the secure website. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is not transmitted via email. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content of the message is not communicated over unsecure channels. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is stored in a common storage area of a database. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is stored for dynamic access by a second intended recipient via the secure website. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to no second identifier being associated with the first intended recipient, the first intended recipient is prompted to at least one of create and register the second identifier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one of a second address of and link to a secure webpage on the secure website, the secure webpage containing the message, in response to successfully authenticating the first intended recipient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the message having multiple intended recipients, a separate copy of the message is not stored in the database for each intended recipient. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a processor for securely accessing a message,   a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,   the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:   authenticating, by the computer based system, a first intended recipient using a second identifier associated with the intended recipient;   capturing, by the computer based system, a browser type and IP address of the authenticated first intended recipient;   determining, by the computer based system, the message that is associated with a first identifier of the first intended recipient; and   allowing, by the computer based system, access to the message associated with the first identifier by the first intended recipient via a secure website.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising notifying, by the computer based system, the first intended recipient of the message via a notification message, wherein the notification message contains at least one of an address of and a link to the secure website. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the message is stored for dynamic access by a second intended recipient via the secure website. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein in response to no second identifier being associated with the first intended recipient, the first intended recipient is prompted to at least one of create and register the second identifier. 
     
     
         20 . An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system for securely accessing a message, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:
 authenticating, by the computer based system, a first intended recipient using a second identifier associated with the intended recipient;   capturing, by the computer based system, a browser type and IP address of the authenticated first intended recipient;   determining, by the computer based system, the message that is associated with a first identifier of the first intended recipient; and   allowing, by the computer based system, access to the message associated with the first identifier by the first intended recipient via a secure website.