Communication Apparatus Selective Encryption for Mixed Recipient Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication technologies, such as S/MIME, face challenges in managing and operating encryption keys, leading to issues when sending emails to multiple addresses, including those that do not support encrypted transmission, resulting in insecure data transmission and unintended disclosure of recipient information, especially in environments where not all addresses support S/MIME.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus and method that includes a designation unit for choosing between encrypted and plain text transmission, a setting unit for determining how to handle unsupported addresses, a selection unit for addressing, and a control unit to manage transmission based on these settings, ensuring secure transmission by converting addresses into groups that either receive encrypted or plain text data based on their S/MIME support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encrypted transmission is performed to all addresses, then security is improved, but transmission fails to addresses that do not support S/MIME
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission process by separating addresses into two groups: those that support S/MIME encryption and those that do not. The transmission unit transmits encrypted data only to S/MIME-supported addresses and plain text data to non-S/MIME addresses, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining security and ensuring compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If plain text transmission is used for compatibility, then adaptability is improved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the transmission method based on the recipient's capabilities. S/MIME-supported addresses receive encrypted data with high security, while non-S/MIME addresses receive plain text data. This localized approach to encryption ensures that security is applied only where it can be effectively utilized.
3Loss of information
If Bcc addresses are used to hide recipient information, then privacy is improved, but information on Bcc addresses is still disclosed in transmission data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes recipient address information from the transmission data entirely. Instead of including Bcc addresses or any recipient information in the transmitted data, the system transmits only the necessary encrypted or plain text content, thereby preventing any disclosure of recipient information while simplifying the transmission data structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a communication apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The communication apparatus sets, if it is designated to perform encrypted transmission, whether to not perform transmission to an address with respect to which encrypted transmission is not possible or to perform plain text transmission to the address, and an address is selected in a state where this setting has been configured. The communication apparatus determines whether or not the selected address is an address with respect to which the encrypted transmission is possible, and, if the result of the determination shows that the selected address is not the address with respect to which the encrypted transmission is possible, controls whether to not perform transmission to the selected address or to perform plain text transmission to the selected address, in accordance with the setting.