FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of message/file exchange applications, more specifically, the invention enables to manipulate the exchanged message/file in various ways.

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are various applications for message/file exchange, such as, chat applications. These applications allow message and/or file exchange between two individuals/users or within a predefined group. Most of these applications also support an End to End encryption for enhanced security and privacy. Some of the applications can also allow switching between group chat to private chat with a group member and/or allow receiving of message at specific locations.

However, there is a need in the art for systems, devices and methods that can allow communicating overtly and covertly various types of data, while allowing selective viewing/hearing of the covertly data sections, and optionally allowing dynamic subgroup creation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in embodiments thereof, provides systems, devices and methods that can allow communicating, overtly and covertly, of various types of data (such as text messages, voice messages and files), while allowing selective viewing/hearing of the covertly data sections, and/or dynamic (per message) subgroup creation.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods, devices, and systems that enable communicating over a wireless network (such as, cellular network) between communicating devices (such as, cellular phones), various types of data (including, for example, text messages, files, including: images, pictures, documents, audio files, music files, video files, and the like), such that the data includes overtly and covertly data sections, while allowing selective manipulation of the communicated data.

In some embodiments, the data includes a mixture of overtly and covertly sections such that in the manipulated data (for example, a message that includes the mixture of such data), the overtly sections can be viewed/heard by all users that participate in the communication (“subgroup”), while the covertly sections can be viewed/heard only by selected subgroup/s (“secret subgroup/s”) thereof. In some embodiments, the data includes only covertly sections. In some embodiments, the recipient(s) list can be determined by the sender.

In some embodiments, the covertly sections may be encoded using selected invisible characters.

In some embodiments, the selective manipulation of the covertly data may be restricted to specific users (“secret subgroup/s”), specific time, specific location, spatio-temporal distribution, and the like, or any combination thereof.

According to further embodiments, a second authentication means (for example, physical mean, such as, dedicated barcode, QR code and/or RF-ID such as Near Field Communication (NFC) element) may be used, to allow viewing/hearing of the covertly sections.

In some embodiments, an additional dedicated hardware device (such as, external display/earplugs) may be used, to allow viewing/hearing of the covertly sections.

In some embodiments, the viewing/hearing restrictions of the covertly messages can be determined/changed per each message.

According to some embodiments, the disclosed methods, devices and systems are advantageous over currently used methods and systems for message exchange, as they allow or have the ability to: Manipulatively send overtly and covertly text messages and files (pictures, documents, music, video clips, etc.) to individual users, groups of users and/or subgroups of users, with or without end to end encryption; Include multiple overtly and covertly sections within the same message; Use selected invisible characters to encode the covertly sections; Dynamically ban (per message) members from receiving the message (creating a “subgroup”); Dynamically ban (per message) members from reading (or listening to) the covertly sections (creating a “secret subgroup”); Use multiple levels of manipulation (creating more than one “secret subgroup”); Set geographical (location based) decrypt restriction; Set time and date decrypt restrictions; Set geographical decrypt restrictions combined with time and date decrypt restrictions; Force group decryption restrictions; Restrict the number of users that can download a file (for example, on a “first come first serve” basis); Add time restrictions to a file, apart from the restrictions set to the message; Use a dedicated external display/earplugs to view/hear the covertly data sections; Use NFC and/or QR, as a second authentication; Use the NFC and/or QR as a digital signature of the sender; Create special tattoos to serve as the QR code; Assimilate the NFC and QR tags in fabric, clothing, smart watch, watches, fitness trackers, hats; and the like; use dedicated external display/earplugs to view/hear the covertly sections.

In some embodiments, the systems, devices and methods disclosed herein can be readily implemented within or added on existing communication applications (such as, chat applications). In some embodiments, the methods disclosed can be in the form of an application and the systems and devices may include communication system (such as, portable devices, readable storage media, servers, etc.), capable of executing the disclosed methods.

According to some embodiments, there is provided a method for dynamic communication of overtly and covertly data sections, the method may include sending and/or receiving a message, said message may include overtly and covertly data sections, wherein the covertly data is selectively manipulated by a sender of the message, wherein the dynamic communication may include creation of a sub group.

In some embodiments, there is provided a method for dynamic communication, the method includes one or more of the steps of: creating a sub group of member(s); creating a message comprising overtly data section(s) and covertly data section(s); selectively manipulating the covertly data section(s) by a sender; and sending the message to the subgroup.

In some embodiments, the subgroup may include one or more secret subgroup(s), or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the message is received by member(s) of the subgroup.

In some embodiments, selectively manipulating the covertly data may include adding one or more restrictions to the message decryption, such that viewing and/or hearing the message by member(s) of the subgroup is selective.

According to some embodiments, the data may include text messages, images, documents, audio files, video files, or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, the method may further include adding a file to the message, wherein the downloading of the file by the member(s) of the subgroup is selective.

In some embodiments, the method may further include distributing a symmetric key. According to some embodiments, the distribution of the symmetric key may be performed via 3rd party chat application.

According to some embodiments, sending and/or receiving the message in the subgroup may be performed via 3rd party chat application.

According to some embodiments, the selective viewing and/or hearing includes validating that the recipient is approved to view/hear the covert data sections of the message, wherein the recipient is a member of the secret subgroup.

According to some embodiments, the validating step may further include determining one or more of: that a time restriction is met, that a location restriction is met, that a force group decryption restriction is met, or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, the selective viewing and/or hearing may be subject to the use of a dedicated external hardware. According to some embodiments, the dedicated external hardware may be in the form of external display and/or earplugs.

According to some embodiments, the step of downloading an attached file may include validating that the recipient is approved to download the attached file.

According to some embodiments, the validating step may further include determining one or more of: time restriction is met; and/or number of users that already downloaded the file restriction is met, or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, the method may be used for communicating the message between at least two end users, between groups of users and/or between sub-groups of users.

According to some embodiments, the dynamic communication may be determined or modified per each message.

According to some embodiments, the selective manipulation of the covertly data may be determined or modified per each message.

According to some embodiments, multiple overtly and covertly sections may be included within the same message.

According to some embodiments, the method may further include an additional authentication step for identifying specific users.

According to some embodiments, the additional authentication step may include use of such means as, RF-ID such as Near Field Communication (NFC) tag and/or Quick Response (QR) code means.

According to some embodiments, the NFC and/or QR may be assimilated in, embedded with or associated with wearables. According to some embodiments, the QR may be in the form of a QR tattoo(s).

According to some embodiments, the additional authentication may serve as the recipient's second authentication and/or as the sender's digital signature.

According to some embodiments, the method may be executed on a portable communication device comprising one or more of: a processor, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a display unit, an input unit, a graphical user interface (GUI), location service mechanism. or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, the portable communication device may be a smartphone.

According to some embodiments, there is provided a portable communication device comprising one or more of: a processor, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a display unit, an input unit, a graphical user interface (GUI), location service mechanism, or combinations thereof, said communication device is capable of executing a method for dynamic communication of overtly and covertly data sections, the method comprising sending and/or receiving a message, said message may include overtly and covertly data sections, wherein the covertly data is selectively manipulated by a sender of the message, wherein the dynamic communication may include creation of a sub group.

According to some embodiments, the sub group may include one or more secret subgroup(s), or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, selectively manipulating the covertly data may include adding one or more restrictions to the message decryption to create overt and covert data sections in the message, such that viewing and/or hearing the message by member(s) of the subgroup is selective.

According to some embodiments, there is provided a system for communicating overtly and covertly data sections, the system may include: a portable communicating device; local executable instructions that when executed on the portable communicating device allow communicating overtly and covertly data sections; and one or more dedicated hardware device(s) capable of displaying and/or playing the covertly sections.

According to some embodiments, the local executable instructions for communication of overtly and covertly data sections may include sending and/or receiving a message, said message may include overtly and covertly data sections, wherein the covertly data is selectively manipulated by a sender of the message.

According to some embodiments, the communication may be dynamic.

According to some embodiments, the dynamic communication include creation of a sub groups.

According to some embodiments, the subgroup may include one or more secret subgroup(s), or any combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, selectively manipulating the covertly data by the system, includes adding one or more restrictions to the message decryption to create overt and covert data sections in the message, such that viewing and/or hearing the message by one or more end users is selective.

According to some embodiments, the dedicated external hardware of the system is in the form of external display and/or earplugs.

According to some embodiments, the system may further include an additional authentication step for identifying specific users.

According to some embodiments, the additional authentication may include of RF-ID such as Near Field Communication (NFC) tag and/or Quick Response (QR) code means. According to some embodiments, the NFC and/or QR may be assimilated in, embedded with or associated with wearables. In some embodiments, the QR may be in the form of special QR tattoos.

According to some embodiments, the portable communication device of the system may include one or more of: a processor, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a display unit, an input unit, a graphical user interface (GUI), location service mechanism, or any combination thereof.

Further embodiments, features, advantages and the full scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

