Anonymous Email System Using Intermediary Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing email systems require senders to know the recipient's mailbox address, limiting anonymous communication and privacy discussions between strangers.
Innovation Solution
A mail sending method and email system that encapsulates mail templates without receiver or sender mailbox IDs, randomly selects a receiver mailbox ID from a list based on location or demographics, and caches anonymous mails for delivery, allowing anonymous communication and privacy discussions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sender includes the receiver's mailbox address in the mail, then the mail can be delivered to the correct recipient, but the sender and receiver cannot communicate anonymously about privacy issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the email system acts as a mediator between sender and receiver. The system generates a temporary mailbox address that forwards emails to the actual receiver without the sender knowing the real address. This intermediary layer preserves delivery reliability while protecting privacy by decoupling the sender's knowledge from the receiver's actual identity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the mailbox address into multiple components: a public temporary address visible to the sender, and a private actual address kept secret. The system divides the addressing function into external communication (using temporary address) and internal routing (using actual address), allowing anonymous communication while maintaining accurate delivery through segmented address structure.
2Reliability
If the sender must know the receiver's mailbox address to send mail, then mail delivery is reliable, but the sender cannot send mail to strangers whose address is unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating temporary mailbox addresses and setting up forwarding rules before the sender needs to communicate. The email system proactively creates the intermediary address structure and routing logic in advance, enabling the sender to immediately communicate with strangers without needing to know their actual address, while ensuring reliable delivery through pre-configured forwarding mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the mail includes both sender and receiver mailbox IDs, then the communication channel is established, but users cannot freely discuss privacy related issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the temporary mailbox address as an intermediary that enables communication establishment without direct exposure of real identities. The sender interacts with the temporary address, which mediates the connection to the actual receiver, thus establishing the communication channel while the intermediary layer protects both parties' privacy by not requiring mutual knowledge of real addresses.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a mail sending method and an email system and relates to the field of internet communications. The method includes: receiving a mail sending request which carries a mail template filled out by a sender; encapsulating the mail template into an anonymous mail that includes no receiver mailbox ID and no sender mailbox ID; and obtaining a receiver mailbox ID and delivering the encapsulated anonymous mail to a mailbox corresponding to the obtained receiver mailbox ID. The email system includes: a receiving module, an encapsulating module, and a delivering module. The present invention enables a sender to send an anonymous mail to a stranger whose mailbox address is unknown to the sender and provides a service for users to talk about privacy issues.