SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENSURING USER PRIVACY IN NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS.

摘要

A system and method for ensuring user privacy in a messaging system where a message is sent from a sender (104) to a recipient (112) via a service provider (108). Information pertaining to the identification of a sender and recipient of a message is encrypted so that a third party cannot determine who is sending the message to whom. Specifically, delivery information of the message if reformatted (304) to indicate that the service provider is the recipient. The identification of the actual recipient is encrypted (308) and sent (312) along with the message to the service provider. Upon receipt, the service provider decrypts (408) the actual recipient information to determine the identification of the actual recipient. The service provider reformats (412) the delivery information to indicate that the actual recipient is the recipient of the message and that the service provider is the sender of the message. The identification of the actual sender is encrypted (416) and sent (420) along with the message to the actual recipient. The recipient receives the message from the service provider. The recipient may decrypt the encrypted identification of the actual sender to learn who sent the message. The message contents may optionally be encrypted as well to ensure message privacy as well as user privacy.