Email Verification System for Secure Transaction Confirmations

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for confirming securities transactions, such as mailing paper records, are costly and time-consuming, and the use of email confirmations is unreliable due to potential misdirection or interception by unauthorized servers.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that verifies the email delivery path by comparing server information with known acceptable servers, ensuring that email messages are sent through secure and correct routes, and providing alternative delivery methods if issues are detected, such as printing and mailing confirmations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If paper confirmations are mailed to clients, then delivery reliability is improved, but delivery time increases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery reliabilityVSAvoiddelivery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical postal delivery system with an electronic email delivery system. The confirmation message is transmitted digitally through email protocols, eliminating the need for physical printing, envelope insertion, and postal transport. This substitution reduces delivery time from several days to near-instantaneous delivery while maintaining reliability through digital transmission protocols and confirmation tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the confirmation message in electronic format rather than requiring the original physical document. The confirmation is replicated and transmitted as an email message, allowing the client to receive an identical copy of the trade confirmation information electronically. This copying approach enables rapid reproduction and distribution without the constraints of physical document handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If paper confirmations are mailed to clients, then delivery security is improved, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery securityVSAvoidcosts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical postal delivery system with an electronic email delivery system. The confirmation message is transmitted digitally through email protocols, eliminating the need for physical printing, envelope insertion, and postal transport. This substitution reduces delivery time from several days to near-instantaneous delivery while maintaining reliability through digital transmission protocols and confirmation tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive electronic email messages instead of expensive physical postal services. Each confirmation is transmitted as a low-cost digital message through standard email infrastructure, eliminating the need for continuous investment in physical document production and postal services. The marginal cost of sending each additional confirmation is minimal compared to the cost of printing and mailing physical documents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Speed

If email confirmations are sent, then delivery speed is improved, but delivery reliability deteriorates due to potential misdirection or interception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery speedVSAvoiddelivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary verification of the recipient's email address and mail server credentials before sending the confirmation. The system checks the validity of the email domain, verifies the existence of the mail server, and confirms proper authentication credentials in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the email is directed to the correct recipient through a verified channel, preventing misdirection while maintaining rapid electronic delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors the delivery status of email confirmations and can detect failures or anomalies in the delivery process. If an email bounces back or fails to deliver, the system receives feedback about the delivery failure and can take corrective action, such as retrying delivery or switching to an alternative confirmation method. This feedback loop maintains reliability by ensuring that delivery issues are detected and addressed promptly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8484294B1System and method for verified delivery of e-mail messages
Publication Date: 2013.07.09 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
  • US8484294B1 patent drawing
  • US8484294B1 patent drawing
  • US8484294B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method delivers e-mail messages if it can validate the master name server, MX record, or both for the mail domain in the address of the message. Otherwise, the message may be sent by alternate means, such as a message printed and mailed.