By combining the two notations of ring signature and authenticated encryption together, we introduce a new type of authenticated encryption signature, called ring authenticated encryption, which has the following properties: signer-ambiguity, signer-verifiability, recipient-designation, semantic-security, verification-convertibility, verification-dependence and recipient-ambiguity. We also give a variant that does not hold the property of recipient-ambiguity but can make a verifier know to whom a signature is sent when he checks its validity.