Authentication of electronic data
View Patent ↗Systems and techniques for transmitting electronic data by receiving, at a communications system host, electronic data transmitted from a sender and addressed to an intended recipient; authenticating the electronic data based on attributes of the electronic data and appending information to the electronic data indicating that the electronic data has been authenticated.
1. A method of rendering electronic content to an intended user in a user interface that visually distinguishes official electronic content from unofficial electronic content, the method comprising:
receiving first electronic content for display to the intended user from a first entity;
receiving second electronic content for display to the intended user from a second entity;
determining, by a processor, that the first entity has normal privileges to provide the first electronic content;
determining, by the processor, that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges that enable the trusted entity to provide trusted electronic content;
configuring, by the processor at, the first electronic content to be rendered as unofficial electronic content using an unofficial format; and
configuring, by the processor, the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content using a trusted format, wherein the trusted format visually distinguishes the trusted electronic content from the unofficial electronic content using a presented graphical element that signifies, to the intended user, that the trusted electronic content originated from a trusted entity having the special privileges.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content using a trusted format comprises:
at a client device associated with the intended user, formatting for display the second electronic content with the presented graphical element that signifies, to the intended user, that the trusted electronic content originated from a trusted entity.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
concurrently displaying in a single user interface, at a client device associated with the intended user, the first electronic content as unofficial electronic content using the unofficial format, and the second electronic content as trusted electronic content using the trusted format, the trusted format visually distinguishing the trusted electronic content from the unofficial electronic content.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic content and the second electronic content are provided to the intended user in a browser application in response to a query from the intended user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content contain advertisement information; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized advertiser.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content correspond to content posted to a discussion group; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized member of the discussion group.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content correspond to instances of an application program for installation on a client device associated with the intended user; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized source of the application program.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content correspond to news content posted to a news service; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized source of news content.
9. The method of claim 1 , configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content to the intended user comprises associating, with the second electronic content, an icon indicative of an endorsement.
10. The method of claim 1 , configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content to the intended user comprises associating, with the second electronic content, a distinctive border to be displayed around the second electronic content.
11. The method of claim 1 , configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content to the intended user comprises associating, with the second electronic content, a header to be displayed in a distinctive border around the second electronic content.
12. The method of claim 1 , configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content to the intended user comprises associating, with the second electronic content, a textual label signifying an endorsement.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical element is a seal, an icon, a border, or a label.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content to the intended user further comprises including an identity of the trusted entity along with the presented graphical element.
15. A system for rendering electronic content to an intended user in a user interface that visually distinguishes official electronic content from unofficial electronic content, the system comprising:
one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving first electronic content for display to the intended user from a first entity;
receiving second electronic content for display to the intended user from a second entity;
determining that the first entity has normal privileges to provide the first electronic content;
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges that enable the trusted entity to provide trusted electronic content;
configuring the first electronic content to be rendered as unofficial electronic content using an unofficial format; and
configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content using a trusted format, wherein the trusted format visually distinguishes the trusted electronic content from the unofficial electronic content using a presented graphical element that signifies, to the intended user, that the trusted electronic content originated from a trusted entity having the special privileges.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first electronic content and the second electronic content are provided to the intended user in a browser application in response to a query from the intended user.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content contain advertisement information; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized advertiser.
18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for rendering electronic content to an intended user in a user interface that visually distinguishes official electronic content from unofficial electronic content, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors, the one more programs comprising instructions for:
receiving first electronic content for display to the intended user from a first entity;
receiving second electronic content for display to the intended user from a second entity;
determining that the first entity has normal privileges to provide the first electronic content;
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges that enable the trusted entity to provide trusted electronic content;
configuring the first electronic content to be rendered as unofficial electronic content using an unofficial format; and
configuring the second electronic content to be rendered as trusted electronic content using a trusted format, wherein the trusted format visually distinguishes the trusted electronic content from the unofficial electronic content using a presented graphical element that signifies, to the intended user, that the trusted electronic content originated from a trusted entity having the special privileges.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the first electronic content and the second electronic content are provided to the intended user in a browser application in response to a query from the intended user.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein:
the first electronic content and the second electronic content contain advertisement information; and
determining that the second entity is a trusted entity having special privileges comprises authenticating the second entity as an authorized advertiser.