Patent ID: 7346779
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for securing an electronic document for electronic mail communication between enterprises, the method comprising: attaching at least one e-mail address and biometric characteristic of a sender of the electronic mail communication at a first enterprise to electronic identification information of the sender to form an e-mail address-biometric characteristic-electronic identification information combination; attaching the e-mail address-biometric characteristic-electronic identification information combination to at least one e-mail address of a recipient at a second enterprise to form an inner data envelope; encrypting the inner data envelope to form an inner encrypted data envelope; attaching the inner encrypted data envelope to the electronic document to be sent to form an inner encrypted data envelope—electronic document combination; encrypting the inner encrypted data envelope-electronic document combination to form an outer encrypted envelope; and sending the outer encrypted envelope as the electronic mail communication to a group of multiple recipients; wherein upon receipt of the electronic mail communication by the group of multiple recipients, the communication is partially decrypted to expose the sender's biometric characteristic; and wherein decryption of the electronic document is determined by the sender specifying whether the electronic document can be opened by each recipient individually or whether the electronic document can only be opened when the entire group of multiple recipients is present.