US-12621273-B2 - Decentralized messaging inbox

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing a decentralized messaging system that allows users to exchange messages via an inbox maintained through a distributed ledger. A messaging inbox can be created for a user in a distributed ledger using an inbox address that includes a string of alphanumeric numbers without an identifying domain name or identifying information about the user. Furthermore, a user may define content preferences associated with the inbox that can be used by the distributed ledger to filter content received in the inbox to minimize unwanted or undesired content provided to the user.

Inventors

• Alaric M. Eby
• ANDRAS L. FERENCZI

Assignees

• AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230621

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system, comprising: a computing device comprising a processor and a memory; and machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: receive a request to generate a first messaging inbox for a user in a distributed ledger based at least in part on a plurality of user-defined preferences; generate an inbox address and a corresponding key-pair for the first messaging inbox; and cause the first messaging inbox to be registered and a public key of the corresponding key-pair to be stored in the distributed ledger based at least in part on the inbox address and in a different location on the distributed ledger from a second messaging inbox for the user with a plurality of distinct user-defined preferences from the first messaging inbox.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inbox address comprises a string of alphanumeric characters that represents a destination in the distributed ledger, the string of alphanumeric characters lacking a domain name.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least obtain at least one user preference to associate with the first messaging inbox.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein one or more messages sent to the first messaging inbox are filtered according to the at least one user preference.
5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to send a request to the distributed ledger to determine whether a message associated with the inbox address is stored in the distributed ledger.
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least obtain a message that is stored in the distributed ledger according to the inbox address.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least decrypt the message using a private key of the corresponding key-pair associated with the inbox address.
8. 8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least render the message on a display of the computing device.
9. 9 . A method, comprising: receiving a request from a messaging application to create a first messaging inbox for a user based at least in part on a plurality of user-defined preferences; generating an inbox address for the first messaging inbox, the inbox address representing a destination in a distributed ledger; and causing the first messaging inbox to be registered on the distributed ledger based at least in part on the inbox address and in a different location on the distributed ledger from a second messaging inbox for the user with a plurality of distinct user-defined preferences from the first messaging inbox.
10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the inbox address comprises a string of alphanumeric characters that represents the destination in the distributed ledger, the string of alphanumeric characters lacking a domain name.
11. 11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating a cryptographic key-pair for the first messaging inbox, the cryptographic key-pair comprising a private key and a public key, the public key being stored in the distributed ledger based at least in part on the inbox address.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising encrypting the private key and storing the private key in a data store.
13. 13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: obtaining a message from the distributed ledger, the message being stored in the distributed ledger according to the inbox address.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , decrypting the message using a private key of a cryptographic key pair associated with the first messaging inbox.
15. 15 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to at least: generate an inbox address for a user and a corresponding key-pair for a first messaging inbox associated with the inbox address; register the first messaging inbox on a distributed ledger based at least in part on the inbox address and in a different location on the distributed ledger from a second messaging inbox for the user with a plurality of distinct user-defined preferences from the first messaging inbox; and obtain a message from the distributed ledger, the message being stored in the distributed ledger according to the inbox address.
16. 16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to at least receive a request from a messaging application to generate the first messaging inbox in the distributed ledger.
17. 17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the request includes one or more user-defined attributes associated with the first messaging inbox.
18. 18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein one or more messages sent to the first messaging inbox are filtered according to the one or more user-defined attributes.
19. 19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to at least decrypt the message based at least in part on a private key of the corresponding key-pair.
20. 20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the inbox address lacks a domain name.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/709,269, filed on Dec. 10, 2019, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Users can be associated with email addresses, or other types of unique identifiers for messaging accounts that allow users to send or receive messages over a network. Typically, email addresses include a user name and a domain name that is associated with the email server that acts as an intermediary in sending and receiving messages for user accounts. Personal email addresses can typically include at least a portion of a user's name that is associated with the messaging account. Users can use email addresses for communicating with third party entities (e.g., marketing companies, businesses, individuals, etc.) over a network. As a user establishes an on-line presence, he or she may be required to provide an email address or other messaging address to set up accounts with social media platforms, electronic commerce platforms, banking platforms, and/or any other type of platform. As the user provides an email address to set up an account or expand his or her online presence, his or her email address as well as other corresponding information provided along with the email address may become publicly available. As such, third party entities may be able to search public platforms to either obtain a user's email address and/or use a user's email address to obtain personal information about the user. An email address can be used to obtain a person's name, social media profiles, phone numbers, addresses, job status, and/or other information. Additionally, third party entities can use publicly available or otherwise obtained email addresses to send unwanted marketing information or other types of information to the user. Accordingly, anonymity may be advantageous where parties conduct transactions or communicate with strangers without face-to-face contact and are wary of giving out personal information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. FIGS. 1A-1D are pictorial diagrams of example user interfaces rendered according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2A and 2B are drawings of a network environment according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3-5 are sequence diagrams illustrating examples of functionality implemented as portions of the network environment of FIG. 2 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6-7 are flowcharts illustrating examples of functionality implemented as portions of the network environment of FIG. 2 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Disclosed are various approaches for implementing a decentralized messaging system that allows users to privately exchange messages via an inbox maintained through a distributed ledger. In particular, a user may wish to establish an inbox for messaging with third party entities that allows the user to maintain his or her privacy and/or identity without disclosing his or her primary messaging address. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a messaging inbox can be created for a user in a distributed ledger using an inbox address comprising a string of alphanumeric numbers which does not include identifying information about the user. Furthermore, the user may define content preferences associated with the inbox that can be used by the distributed ledger to filter content received in the inbox to minimize unwanted or undesired content provided to the user. Users can be linked to email addresses, or other types of messaging addresses, such that third party entities (e.g., marketing companies, businesses, individuals, etc.) can determine identifying information about a user based on his or her email address. In some situations, individuals may use an email address to set up accounts with social media platforms, electronic commerce platforms, banking platforms, and/or any other type of platform. As a user provides an email address to set up an account or further establish an online presence, his or her email address as well as other corresponding information provided along with the email address may become publicly available. As such, third party entities may search public platforms to either obtain a user's email address and/or use a user's email address to obtain personal information about the user based on the email address. For example, an email address can be used to obtain a person's name