Email Confidentiality Processor for Automated Identity Concealment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for protecting e-mail user identities in electronic messaging systems rely on manual intervention, lacking an automated process to ensure confidentiality, especially when forwarding emails, which can lead to unintended exposure of sender and recipient identities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing e-mail user confidentiality, utilizing a confidentiality processor to identify and enforce privacy preferences for e-mail users, concealing display of e-mail addresses based on predefined rules and social network affiliations, ensuring that e-mail addresses are not exposed unless explicitly allowed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual methods are used to conceal e-mail addresses, then identity protection can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically concealing e-mail addresses before the e-mail is redistributed. The confidentiality processor proactively identifies and masks e-mail addresses in the TO, CC, and BCC fields, as well as in the message body, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistent identity protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The e-mail system serves itself by automatically managing confidentiality without requiring user action. The confidentiality processor autonomously detects e-mail addresses, determines whether they should be concealed based on privacy preferences, and applies masking accordingly, making the system self-sufficient in protecting user identities.
2Reliability
If e-mail addresses are automatically concealed, then privacy protection is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The confidentiality processor performs multiple functions within a single component: it scans e-mail addresses in various fields (TO, CC, BCC, body), retrieves privacy preferences from the directory service, determines concealment decisions, and applies masking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each task.
Solution Approach 2:
The directory service acts as an intermediary between the confidentiality processor and privacy preference data. Instead of hardcoding privacy rules, the system queries the directory service to dynamically retrieve user preferences, allowing flexible privacy management without increasing core system complexity.
3Reliability
If sender manually removes e-mail addresses, then identity protection is possible, but time is lost and errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical manual process of editing e-mail with an automated electronic processing system. The confidentiality processor uses algorithms to automatically detect, evaluate, and mask e-mail addresses, eliminating manual typing and editing while ensuring consistent application of privacy rules without human error.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by querying the directory service to retrieve privacy preferences for each recipient and using that information to determine whether to conceal e-mail addresses. This feedback loop ensures that the concealment decisions are accurate and aligned with user preferences, improving reliability.
4Reliability
If all e-mail addresses are concealed, then recipient privacy is protected, but legitimate communication needs may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality treatments to different e-mail addresses based on local conditions. Each e-mail address is evaluated individually against the recipient's privacy preferences and the relationship between senders and recipients. Some addresses are concealed while others are revealed, allowing the system to adapt to specific communication needs rather than applying a blanket policy.
Solution Approach 2:
The confidentiality system is dynamic rather than static. It adjusts its behavior based on real-time queries to the directory service, retrieving current privacy preferences and relationship information. This allows the system to adapt to changing communication contexts and user preferences, maintaining both privacy protection and communication flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing e-mail user confidentiality. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing e-mail user confidentiality can be provided. The method can include transmitting an e-mail message for delivery to multiple e-mail users and corresponding e-mail addresses, identifying a privacy preference for a particular one of the e-mail users; and, concealing a display within the e-mail message of an e-mail address associated with the particular one of the e-mail users responsive to the privacy preference.