Method and apparatus for accessing information in a private database

• US 20040260698A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: MacMillan, Bruce Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/601,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

A method for accessing information in a private database is disclosed. The method includes, at an e-mail server, receiving a request from a wireless communication device to access the information in the private database, sending a query to retrieve the information, receiving a response to the query, where the response includes the information, and sending the information to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A method for accessing information in a private database, the method comprising:

at an e-mail server,

receiving a request from a wireless communication device to access the information in the private database;

sending a query to retrieve the information;

receiving a response to the query, wherein the response includes the information; and

sending the information to the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request includes receiving an e-mail from the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the e-mail from the wireless communication device includes receiving the e-mail from one of a wireless telephone, a wireless pager and a wireless personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the query includes authorizing access to the private database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein authorizing access to the private database includes identifying an e-mail address of the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein authorizing access to the private database includes comparing the e-mail address of the wireless communication device with a list of authorized e-mail addresses.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein authorizing access to the private database includes confirming that the list of authorized e-mail addresses includes the e-mail address of the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the query includes identifying text in the e-mail.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying text in the e-mail includes identifying a word associated with the information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the word in the e-mail includes identifying an acronym associated with the information.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying text in the e-mail includes identifying a phrase associated with the information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying text in the e-mail includes identifying a number associated with the information.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying text in the e-mail includes identifying a letter and a number associated with the information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the response includes receiving the information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the information to the wireless communication device includes sending an e-mail to the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the e-mail server,

receiving a second request from the wireless communication device, wherein the second request is for accessing additional information;

sending a second query, wherein the second query is for retrieving the additional information;

receiving a response to the second query, wherein the response to the second query includes the additional information; and

sending the additional information to the wireless communication device.

17. An apparatus for accessing information in a private database, the apparatus comprising:

an e-mail server for accessing the private database, wherein the e-mail server is configured for communication with a wireless communication device and includes;

an identification module for identifying an e-mail address of the wireless communication device; and

an authorization module for authorizing the e-mail server to access the private database and forward the information to the wireless communication device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the e-mail server comprises a portion of an Intranet.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the e-mail server comprises a portion of an Extranet.

20. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

identify an e-mail address of a wireless communication device; and

authorize an e-mail server to access information in a private database and forward the information to the wireless communication device.