Relay Apparatus Encoding Indecent Email Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic mail filtering programs may inadvertently reveal indecent or improper content to users when they mistakenly open junk mail, as they directly display the body text without adequate protection.
Innovation Solution
A relay apparatus that encodes predetermined character strings indicating improper content using a predetermined encoding process, such as Base 64, and transmits the encoded data as an attachment, preventing direct decoding and display on the terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the terminal directly displays the body text of received electronic mail, then the user can easily view the content, but the user may inadvertently view indecent or improper descriptions in junk mail
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus performs preliminary encoding of the mail body text before transmission, converting readable text into encoded format (e.g., Base64). This preliminary action ensures that when the user views the mail, the content is already in a protected encoded state, preventing inadvertent exposure to indecent content while maintaining ease of viewing for legitimate emails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding layer between the mail content and the user. The encoded text acts as a mediator that conceals the original meaning of the content. Users can still view and interact with the encoded content, but the indecent or improper descriptions remain hidden unless deliberately decoded, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of viewing and protection from harmful content.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the relay apparatus encodes the mail body text, then indecent content is protected from unintended viewing, but the user cannot directly read the content without decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus changes the parameter of the mail body from readable text to encoded text (e.g., Base64 encoding). This parameter change transforms the content into a format that protects indecent descriptions while still being displayable. The encoded content maintains its informational value but requires additional user action (clicking to view) to reveal the original meaning, thus balancing protection with accessibility.
3Reliability
If the terminal displays an alternative screen for junk mail, then users are warned about potential junk mail, but users may mistakenly select the icon and view the encoded content which still reveals indecent descriptions
Solution Approach 1:
The relay apparatus performs preliminary encoding of the mail body before it reaches the terminal's display stage. This means that even when users mistakenly click on the junk mail icon or attachment, they are only viewing already-encoded content that conceals indecent descriptions. The preliminary encoding action prevents the harmful effect of mistaken selection from occurring in the first place.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a technique which prevents description offensive to public order and morals, included in an electronic mail, from meeting the eyes of a receiver. If an electronic mail message is included in a payload part of a data packet delivered from a communication interface 11-2, a control section 13 of a relay apparatus 10-m determines whether a character string offensive to public order and morals is included in a body text part thereof. If the character string offensive to public order and morals is included therein, the control section 13 generates hiding data by encoding the body text part in a mail body of the original electronic mail message. The control section 13 overwrites a hiding notification character string in the body text part in the original electronic mail message, generates a body text-hidden electronic mail message which describes the hiding data in a content body of a part different from the body text part, and transmits it to a terminal 20-i.