Secure communication tool for use alongside non-secure communications

A method of communicating through a less secure messaging system provides an option of masking messages sent from a second party to a first party so that they are unreadable when received by the first party. For some embodiments, it may be that they are visible, but unreadable, other embodiments, not visible. In either case, an authorization may be provided by the first party to make the masked messages readable messages, for many embodiments until a session rule makes the readable message a masked message again.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a secure communication tool, possibly for use within a less secure environment, such as within unsecure messaging systems such as Apple Messages, Facebook Messenger or other traditionally unsecure messaging platforms having non-secure communications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Apple Corporation recently released a product called Business Chat which allows businesses to chat with consumers through Messages. A different text bubble pallet, such as black and gray and instead of blue, is provided with that product which can indicate the consumer is messaging with a business rather than with an individual. The product hopes to expose advantages of a richer chat experience to businesses without forcing a user to install a different messaging application. The level of security provided by this new product is not known to the applicant.

Traditionally, if an individual has a Smartphone operating on the iOS platform and leaves that phone unlocked, anyone can pick up that phone and open Messages to then read any of the messages contained therein. Some of those messages may contain personal information such as Protect Health Information (PHI), which is protected under HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or other private data desired particularly by businesses and others not to become public. Short Message Service (SMS), also known as text messages, are typically unencrypted at some point during the delivery process, thus rendering an SMS channel insecure.

There are no access controls once Messages or Messenger is opened. Accordingly, there is a need in the marketplace for making traditionally less secure communication systems more secure, particularly both Facebook and Apple are each believed to have over two billion users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a present object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved communications tool for use with less secure messaging systems to make at least some messages or communications more secure.

It is another object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved messaging tool for use with at least one of Messages and Facebook Messenger.

It is a present object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved messaging tool.

Within traditionally unsecure environments such as Apple Messages, the applicant has discovered a way to provide for more secure communication preferably achieving at least one if not two if not three of the objectives: (a) providing encryption of data from one user to another, (b) encryption of the data at rest for at least one party, if not both, and/or (c) access controls as well, preferably while still permitting unsecure communications at the option of the user through the same communication tool.

Accordingly, in accordance with many embodiments of the present invention, a tool is provided for use such as with the Apple Messages application whereby the tool cooperates with that with system to provide a method of sending and/or receiving encrypted messages from one device to another for encryption. Continued possible encryption on at least one if not both ends can be provided so that stored information at rest is encrypted. Additionally, access controls and/or session rules are preferably provided within the messaging system itself so as to be able to positively identify a particular user and/or to permit access to at least certain messages.

Furthermore, some embodiments may provide a mechanism using traditional communication technology such as Apple Messages and/or Facebook Messenger to provide a secure messaging option so as to facilitate communications such as HIPAA regulated information for the medical industry, sufficient security to enable the financial industries to communicate with their customers as well, and/or other purpose, preferably while simultaneously permitting unsecured communication within the same channel. There may be additional markets which can benefit from this technology as well.

Messaging applications and tools have been around for many years. In more recent years Apple has allowed developers to insert apps within the Messages platform such as Open Table (which permits users to make restaurant reservations through the Messages platform) and can allow for the transmission of video, audio, images and/or other data. While many improvements are available through the app store for the Messages experience, the applicant is unaware of any capability of being able to provide security for at least some transmitted message through the Messages platform. Accordingly, at least one embodiment of the applicant's tool provides for encrypted messaging within this environment.

Such a capability provides not only for an ability for the users to maintain information confidential but can also comply with HIPAA and/or various financials security regulations for privacy and/or other privacy concerns that users and/or businesses might have.

Data received by the end user could be encrypted at rest in a cloud database server.

Some embodiments of the applicant's method and application envision data being sent from a user to the applicant where it is stored on the applicant's server in an encrypted form while also being sent to an intended recipient which could also have the app used thereon (and the message possibly be stored in an encrypted manner as well until access controls are sufficiently provided). At the applicant's server as well as on both of the sending (second party) and receiving (first party) devices, the data could be stored in a secured format so that it could be safe at rest.

Additionally, session rules could be provided in many different ways, possibly to specific messages. Specifically, when using the messaging service with a “secure” message which might otherwise appear, if the messaging service has not been used for a period of time such as ten minutes, then the secure message may be masked such as by having an overlay provided thereon where the message becomes unreadable and/or made at least partially unreadable to the point of not being able to discern the information contained therein until the user re-enters the authorization control such as a PIN, password and/or other authorization. The “secure message” could also be removed (so that it does not appear at all and there might not even been any indication that it does exist) until authorization is provided.

Other session rules could include logging out, placing the messaging tool in a background mode, allowing a period of time to elapse after entering the program, turning the screen off or some other action or inaction.

Not only can encryption be provided, but data may be protected specifically by the session rules to permit the timing out and/or other session rules being applied. At rest the data (for at least selected messages, while possibly still permitting access to less secure communications) could be stored in an encrypted form. The applicant believes this technology could be applied not only to Apple Messages but also to Facebook Messenger and possibly other messaging applications which are less secure than desired by the applicant for at least some messages.

What is particularly attractive about this technology is that a less secure messaging service can be utilized to provide a more secure environment for at least some messages possibly while still permitting communications of a non-sensitive nature in the traditional manner. Specifically, the less secure environments account for over two billion users across the world. These users are unlikely to change their messaging service to a different messaging service, but could greatly benefit from an ability to utilize secure communications within the communication programs they currently utilize. Additionally, unsecured messages could still be sent and received utilizing the exact same system for at least some embodiments.

Many text could contain some data which might be PHI such as a first name or last name, social security number and/or any of eighteen possible identifiers currently recognized as PHI. Others may be utilized.

Accordingly, once someone opens up their Messages or less secure communications portal, in order to read secure messages, at that time they may be able to provide a login or other authorization to read all or at least a plurality of secure messages. A separate authorization would not likely be needed to read unsecure messages. If they were to send a secure message, they may only need to touch an icon which may provide for security of that message not only when it is sent but also as it is stored on the device. As it relates to the Messages system, it may recognize that something is being sent but doesn't necessarily know what it is. It might be treated no different from the Messages program as SMS data and/or some type of audio or image or video file (except that it is encrypted).

After a period of time (or other session rules are applied) secure message(s) can then be masked such as by making it temporarily disappear, blurring the text, imposing a logo or other layer over it, imposing confidential over it while making it unreadable or doing something so that the text is not readable possibly while indicating that there is a secure message at that location which might be accessed. In order to access the message it is likely that the user can click on the message to then possibly then provide a PIN, an authorization code, a passcode, or some other authorization which, once properly entered, can then allow the user to view the content of the secure message(s).

This way the data at rest may be maintained in an encrypted format. Thus the data, even if someone improperly accessed someone's phone such as by picking it up and viewing it, they would be unable to view any of the secure messages as they would lack the access controls to access the data.

Accordingly, what this tool provides is a messaging tool within a less secure messaging environment to provide at least one of access controls to at least certain messages, encryption of data from one user to another and preferably the ability to maintain encryption of data at rest at least at one of the two of the sending and/or receiver. Text bubble may be color coded to reflect the encrypted nature of the message/communication when viewed.

Possible uses of this technology may include fitness, health, medical, finance and/or other industries.

While the applicant has investigated a need for this tool as it relates to the Apple Messages product and Facebook Messenger, it may be possible that other Android, Google or other messaging systems may also benefit from such technology.

In addition to time related session rules, such as a pure clock which ends the ability to view ten minutes later, an activity clock which starts on the counting down at the end of the last contact, a switch program which could then lock information if the Messages is put in a background mode or a lock screen mode. Other session rules could be applied as well.

The proposed tool provides a way to provide compliance with not only the financial industry and HIPAA but possibly other environments which also could benefit from securely communicating data from one party and another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a screen shot of a Messages account showing conversation between two parties (first and second) with text bubbles portions12,14,16and18on an electronic device of first party such as a smartphone, tablet, etc. Text bubble18is shown as being confidential which shows a mask20disposed on top of an underlying text bubble18. Other masks20are described above and could take on various forms, or the text bubble18might not be visible at all or provided in other forms.

Of course, the user of this capability is likely to have downloaded an app which can be acquired from the app store or other online store just by clicking on an icon22and then downloading from the app store so that the program possibly inserts an icon24and/or other icon within the screen10. By tapping on the mask20or other location such as on icon24or other location, an access control box26may appear as shown inFIG. 2into which one could enter a PIN and if the correct PIN is then entered then the text bubble18could then be viewed. Other authorizations as are known in the art could be provided as well.

It is possible that text bubble18could be a different color than non-secure text bubbles12,14,16to indicate its confidential nature. Once secure text bubble18is actually viewable for some embodiments, then the session rules can start then being applied if not already started so that if one of the session rules is met, the text bubble18is then covered back over or removed. Other similarly secured communications could also be covered back over with masks20and/or removed. Not only can sending text bubbles18be covered with mask20, but also received text bubbles14could also be covered over with masks20or temporarily. Unsecured texts bubbles such as12,16would likely not be covered over or removed for many embodiments. They could remain viewable like they presently are provided. It may also be possible to subject unsecure text bubbles such as12,16to the security protocol such as by clicking on the icon24and performing a certain set of steps and/or performing other steps for at least some embodiments.

In order to send a secure message, it may be possible to add a second send button30other than traditional send button28so that a sender could select which of secure send button30and non-secure send button28communication to provide for any particular send.

The establishment of the secure communication is not particularly difficult particularly when the app is downloaded to the smart device by the user. At this point and/or at later points, security keys can be used for each of the users and/or each of the messages as well is well known within encryption technology.

FIG. 4shown a flow chart showing a process of a presently preferred embodiment. Specifically, a party enters a less secure messaging service at step100. At step102the applicant's tool may be downloaded, if not already done so, and/or implemented.

If a secure message is desired to be read at step104, then a secure message or other icon or even a particular message can be clicked on. In the illustrated embodiment, message18, mask20, and/or icon24could be clicked on at step106so that authorization could be provided at step108such as using screen26to then remove the mask20and/or make visible the text bubble(s)18and possibly others in this conversation or even possibly up to all in the messaging program at step110. They may appear with a different colored text bubble than unsecure or other text bubbles for some embodiments.

In order to send the secure message at step112user can either click on the icon24at step114and/or select a second send option30to send the message as opposed to an unsecure send message button28at step114. The message can then be sent at step116. Secure messages18or others can then subjected to session rules at step118which can be the same or different session rules which can apply to reading secured messages at step110which can include timing out after a period of inactivity, timing out after a period of opening either the Messages service at step100, or the other time period, placing the Messages in the background mode, locking the screen and/or other session rules. Once the session rule is met, then the secure messages are preferably masked with masks20and/or temporarily removed until the user enters the appropriate authorization provided by the particularly embodiment which could include one of a variety of possibilities, whether it be a PIN or other authorization.

Remember this messaging tool may provide not only the ability to send encrypted messages within a less secure messaging protocol but also (and/or) provide an ability to store messages in an encrypted mode on each of the devices and the applicants server (remote) so that they are not visible without entering at least the authorization code as well as the ability to provide access controls so that a third party which lacks the authorization controls cannot access secure information merely by opening the less secure messaging application on a device of an individual such as if a third party picks up a smart phone and opens the Messages application, possibly while simultaneously permitting unsecured communications to proceed through the same application.

To the applicant knowledge, no party has the ability to provide this service.

For many embodiments, this tool is specifically differentiated from possible existing messaging systems designed to provide secure communication because the applicants technology is designed to be utilized within the framework of a less secure communication protocol which are presently widely accepted across the communications industry to the point of having somewhere over two billion users as it relates to Facebook Messenger and Apple Messages combined. These users are not likely to quickly switch messaging apps. Instead the applicant has developed a way to use those less secure messaging applications in a more secure manner. In many embodiments, both secure and non-secure communications can occur within the same platform, for which the applicant is unaware of any party performing such a capability.