Virtual Mailbox Alias Mapping for Secure Address Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional address change methods are inadequate for individuals who frequently relocate or prefer not to share their physical address due to safety concerns, such as cyberstalking.
Innovation Solution
A virtual personal mailbox system that allows users to create an alias, enabling mail and parcels to be sent to a virtual address which is then mapped to their real-time physical location, using a server to encrypt and decrypt the actual address for delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user shares their physical address for mail delivery, then mail and parcels can be delivered to them, but their safety is compromised due to concerns with cyberstalking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual mailbox address as an intermediary between the sender and the user's actual physical address. The virtual address (e.g., username@virtualmailbox.com) acts as a mediator that receives mail and parcels without exposing the user's real location, thereby eliminating safety risks while maintaining delivery reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the user's physical address in the form of an email-style virtual mailbox address. This copy serves the same function of receiving mail but does not reveal the actual physical location, thus protecting user safety while ensuring reliable delivery
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user updates their physical address frequently due to relocation, then they can live in multiple locations, but the complexity of updating address information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to autonomously update their physical address associated with their virtual mailbox through automated processes. When a user relocates, they simply update their profile with the new address, and the system automatically redirects future mail deliveries without requiring senders to know or update the address information
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual mailbox address serves as a universal, permanent receiving point that works across multiple physical locations. A single virtual address can be associated with different physical addresses over time, allowing users to maintain one consistent mail-receiving identifier regardless of how many times they relocate
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to receive an alias for a user, the alias representing a particular person, transmit a request to a server computing device, the request comprising a representation of the alias, query at least one database using the representation of the alias to determine a realtime physical address for the particular person, receive a response from the server computing device, the response comprising an encrypted representation of the realtime physical address for the particular person, and decrypt the realtime physical address for the particular person by the server computing device and send at least one object to the realtime physical address for the particular person.