Electronic Business Postal System Secure Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current postal delivery systems for business documents are inefficient and insecure, relying on paper-based transactional mail that is costly, environmentally impactful, and lacks secure electronic communication options, particularly for sensitive business transactions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic business postal system with a closed access, secure messaging system that includes access portals, secured message servers, and address registries for authenticated users to send and retrieve electronic business mail, ensuring message integrity and delivery through a network of secured system nodes, using unique identifiers and cyclic redundancy checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paper-based transactional mail is used through the Postal Network, then secure distribution and universal availability are achieved, but handling costs and environmental impact increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical paper-based postal system with an electronic messaging system. Messages are transmitted as digital data through secured nodes rather than physical paper through postal facilities, eliminating paper consumption while maintaining secure distribution through cryptographic protocols and authenticated access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of message format from physical paper to electronic data. This transformation allows the same secure distribution function to be achieved without the environmental costs of paper, while enabling additional capabilities like automated tracking and electronic signatures
2Reliability
If businesses provide user account information on-line with business-controlled access, then information security is maintained, but user independence and data portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic messaging system that sits between the user and businesses. The user maintains control of their electronic mailbox and can independently access, manage, and port their transactional data between businesses without each business needing to provide direct on-line access, thus maintaining security while enabling user independence
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information access model into separate components: the user's electronic mailbox (controlled by the user) and the business systems (controlled by businesses). This segmentation allows each party to maintain control over their own systems while enabling secure information exchange, resolving the contradiction between security and user independence
3Speed
If email is used for business communications, then electronic delivery speed is improved, but message security and transactional reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security qualities to different parts of the messaging system. Secured nodes implement authenticated access, digital signatures, and encryption specifically for transactional messages, while maintaining the electronic speed of delivery. This localized application of security measures provides both speed and reliability without the constraints of traditional email
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic business postal system collects, clears and delivers electronic business mail through a closed access, secure messaging system. A collection subsystem consists of access portals that are associated with secured system nodes. The access portals provide authenticated users access to the system to send and retrieve electronic business mail that includes postal system electronic delivery addresses, physical delivery addresses, or both. Secured message servers that are associated with the respective access portals process the electronic business mail into uniquely identified messages for delivery over the system nodes and also process received messages to provide the corresponding electronic business mail to the intended recipients through associated access portals. A delivery subsystem directs the messages through the system nodes associated with the senders' access portals to the system nodes associated with the recipients' access portals. A clearance subsystem confirms the integrity of both the messages and their delivery and ensures that each message is delivered once and intact.