Email Federation System for Secure Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current email systems lack an efficient method for users to access and share emails with others, often requiring manual forwarding and risking incorrect recipient addresses, which can lead to unintended recipients not receiving the emails.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for federating emails, where a first user can request access to emails of a second user by providing an identifier and criteria, with verification to ensure authorization, allowing authorized users to view emails that match the specified criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual forwarding is used to share emails, then users can control email distribution, but time consumption increases and errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic email forwarding based on predefined rules and criteria. When an email is received, the system automatically determines which users should receive it based on the email content, sender, and configured rules, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining accurate delivery control
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback mechanisms to track and monitor email distribution. Users can view which emails have been forwarded and to whom, allowing for verification and correction of any potential errors in the automated distribution process
2Ease of operation
If users manually forward emails, then they can share information, but the risk of incorrect recipient addresses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing email content and matching it against predefined criteria to determine recipients. This eliminates manual typing of addresses and selection of recipients, thereby preventing errors while maintaining ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the sender and recipients. Instead of directly addressing users, the system acts as a mediator that processes email information, applies rules, and automatically routes to correct recipients, reducing human error in the process
3Reliability
If email access is restricted to individual accounts, then security is maintained, but accessibility and sharing efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides universal access by allowing multiple users to access emails based on their roles, permissions, and predefined criteria. Instead of limiting access to individual accounts only, the system enables any authorized user to view emails that match their access rules, thereby enhancing versatility while maintaining security through controlled permission frameworks
Data Source
AI summary
A method of federating electronic mail (e-mail). A request can be received from a first user to view at least one e-mail of a second user, the request including at least one identifier corresponding to the second user and a criteria indicating a subject matter of the e-mail. The method further can include verifying whether the first user is authorized to access the e-mail of the second user that satisfies the criteria. Responsive to determining that the first user is authorized to view the e-mail of the second user that satisfies the criteria, the first user can be provided access to view the at least one e-mail that satisfies the criteria.