Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

John Thorne

Michael J Strauss

Marie L Davis

A method, system, and product for communicating data text messages, such as E-Mail, between computers connected to a network while providing selectable degrees of security for each message. The methodology comprises the procedure of creating in the originating computer a data message having a header which specifies, in addition to the address of the intended recipient computer, one or more security parameters which control the processing of the data message in the recipient computer. The security parameters include instructions for erasure of the data message following its storage in the recipient computer. The security parameters also include instructions as to whether or not copying, archiving, forwarding and printing of the data message is permitted. The recipient computer processes the data message in accord with the instructions. The erasure is of such a nature as to render the data message irretrievable following erasure.

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Washington, DC, United States of America

John Thorne