System and method for password protecting a distribution list

• US 20030097597A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, John Ervin
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

A method for password protecting a subscriber-created distribution list in a wireless network includes receiving in a wireless network a subscriber-created password and a distribution list of a plurality of destination addresses, storing the distribution list and the subscriber-created password in a data structure within the wireless network, associating the subscriber-created password with the distribution list, and limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password.

Claims

1. A method for password protecting a distribution list in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving in a wireless network a subscriber-created password and the distribution list comprising a plurality of destination addresses;

storing the distribution list and the subscriber-created password in a data structure within the wireless network;

associating the subscriber-created password with the distribution list; and

limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting the subscriber-created password from a subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a flag in the data structure to indicate that the distribution list is password protected.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password further comprises:

requesting the subscriber-created password from a subscriber;

comparing a password entered by the subscriber to a password stored in the data structure; and

displaying the distribution list if the password entered by the subscriber matches the password stored in the data structure.

5. A system for password protecting a distribution list in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a computer device for receiving in a wireless network a subscriber-created password and the distribution list comprising a plurality of destination addresses; and

limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password; and

a database for storing the distribution list and the subscriber-created password in a data structure within the wireless network;

wherein the subscriber-created password is associated with the distribution list.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the computer device is further configured to request the subscriber-created password from a subscriber.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the database comprises a flag to indicate that the distribution list is password protected.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the computer device is further operable to:

request the subscriber-created password from a subscriber;

compare a password entered by the subscriber to a password stored in the database; and

allow access to the distribution list if the password entered by the subscriber matches the password stored in the data structure.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving in a wireless network a subscriber-created password and the distribution list comprising a plurality of destination addresses;

storing the distribution list and the subscriber-created password in a data structure within the wireless network;

associating the subscriber-created password with the distribution list; and

limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further having computer-executable instructions for performing:

requesting the subscriber-created password from a subscriber.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further having computer-executable instructions for performing:

setting a flag in the data structure to indicate that the distribution list is password protected.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein limiting access to the distribution list based on the subscriber-created password further comprises:

requesting the subscriber-created password from a subscriber;

comparing a password entered by the subscriber to a password stored in the data structure; and

displaying the distribution list if the password entered by the subscriber matches the password stored in the data structure.