Delivering content in digital postal envelope

A computer-implemented method for generating a digital document, the method comprising:

• encrypting private content, including a first content portion and a second content portion;
• specifying security data that controls access to the private content;
• specifying presentation data that defines a graphical representation of an addressed postal envelope on which a first intended recipient and a second intended recipient of the private content are represented as addressees, wherein the presentation data defines a first access control icon for the first intended recipient and a second access control icon for the second intended recipient on the stamp side of the postal envelope, the first and second access control icons being user selectable to request permission to access the first content portion and the second content portion respectively;
• and
• generating a digital document including the encrypted private content, the security data and the presentation data.

A computer-implemented method for processing digital documents comprising:

• receiving a digital document, the digital document including private content, having a first content portion and a second content portion, and presentation data that defines a graphical representation of an addressed postal envelope that has a stamp side on which a first intended recipient and a second intended recipient of the private content are represented as addressees;
• in a user interface, presenting the graphical representation of the addressed postal envelope and a first access control icon for the first intended recipient and a second access control icon for the second intended recipient on the stamp side of the postal envelope that are selectable to request access to the first content portion and the second content portion respectively, wherein the presenting is performed by one or more data processing apparatus;
• receiving user input selecting the first access control icon in the user interface to request access to the first content portion;
• and
• providing access to the first content portion in response to the received user input.

A computer program product, encoded on a machine-readable storage device, for generating a digital document, operable to cause one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• encrypting private content, including a first content portion and a second content portion;
• specifying security data that controls access to the private content;
• specifying presentation data that defines a graphical representation of an addressed postal envelope on which a first intended recipient and a second intended recipient of the private content are represented as addressees, wherein the presentation data defines a first access control icon for the first intended recipient and a second access control icon for the second intended recipient on the stamp side of the postal envelope, the first and second access control icons being user selectable to request permission to access the first content portion and the second content portion respectively;
• and
• generating a digital document including the encrypted private content, the security data and the presentation data.

A computer program product, encoded on a machine-readable storage device, for processing digital documents, operable to cause one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a digital document, the digital document including private content, having a first content portion and a second content portion, and presentation data that defines a graphical representation of an addressed postal envelope that has a stamp side on which a first intended recipient and a second intended recipient of the private content are represented as addressees;
• in a user interface, presenting the graphical representation of the addressed postal envelope and a first access control icon for the first intended recipient and a second access control icon for the second indented recipient on the stamp side of the postal envelope that are selectable to request access to the first content portion and the second content portion respectively;
• receiving user input selecting the first access control icon in the user interface to request access to the first content portion;
• and
• providing access to the private content in response to the received user input.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• at least one computer readable medium storing a software program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for generating a digital document;
• the software program product comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• encrypting private content, including a first content portion and a second content portion;
• specifying security data that controls access to the private content;
• specifying presentation data that defines a graphical representation of an addressed postal envelope on which a first intended recipient and a second intended recipient of the private content are represented as addressees, wherein the presentation data defines a first access control icon for the first intended recipient and a second access control icon for the second intended recipient on the stamp side of the postal envelope, the first and second access control icons being user selectable to request the permission to access the first content portion and the second content portion respectively;
• and
• generating the digital document including the encrypted private content, the security data and the presentation data.