Abstract: Originators of newsletters, market research, scientific facts, discussions, encyclopedias, etc. may elect to avoid the effort of managing and sending this information directly. This invention offers a subscription service for management and delivery of a customized, formatted, document containing information selected to specified user preferences. Delivery is via e-mail through the user's internet service provider. The customized document may appear to have come directly from the subscriber originator. The number of articles in the document, along with the frequency by which it is automatically generated, is determined by the service, contract with the subscribing originator. Furthermore, by maintaining a translation/addressing conversion mechanism at the level of the Internet service provider, all user preferences and anonymity are preserved. The invention also may offer a truncated version of its customized document for transmission to a PDA.

Abstract: Encryption/decryption capable terminal units, such as FAX point-of-sale units, on non-secure telecommunications, use public keys for accessing selected target terminals, but make their messages secure by encryption according to private keys. Each subscriber terminal registers, with a central database controller, a unique public key code. Each terminal includes a quick-access storage for a finite number of telephone numbers and related public keys for other terminals. To send a message, the source FAX first queries its local storage for the public key of the target terminal. If the public key is present, it sends a message encrypted with the public key for the target terminal, along with a digital signature. When the message is transmitted, the encrypted public key for the target terminal, and the digital signature of the source terminal user's private key are combined to form a message packet for decryption by the target terminal.