System and Method for Processing Encoded Messages for Exchange with a Mobile Data Communication Device

• US 20100124333A1
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Godfrey, James A., Little, Herbert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing

Abstract

A system and method are provided for pre-processing encrypted and/or signed messages at a host system before the message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device. The message is received at the host system from a message sender. There is a determination as to whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device. For each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device, the message is processed so as to modify the message with respect to one or more encryption and/or authentication aspects. The processed message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver. The system and method may include post-processing messages sent from a wireless mobile communications device to a host system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the host system to one or more receivers.

Claims

1. A method of processing an encoded message at a host system, the method comprising:

receiving the encoded message addressed to a plurality of message receivers; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

generating a processed encoded message by removing a session key from the encoded message that is unrelated to the wireless mobile communication device to which the encoded message is to be transmitted; and

transmitting the processed encoded message to the corresponding wireless mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received encoded message comprises an S/MIME (Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) encrypted message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received encoded message comprises a PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encrypted message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a processed encoded message further comprises removing a RecipientInfo list from the encoded message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processed encoded message comprises a new message that has been generated from the encoded message based upon at least one encryption aspect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of generating a processed encoded message comprises decrypting the encoded message; and

the decrypted message is used to generate the processed encoded message that is to be transmitted to the wireless mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the encoded message includes an encrypted session key for each of the plurality of message receivers; and

the method further comprises the steps of, for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

generating an intermediary message for the wireless mobile communication device with only the encrypted session key for the corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

transmitting the intermediary message to the wireless mobile communication device so that the session key may be decrypted at the wireless mobile communication device and transmitted to the host system, wherein the decrypted session key is received by the host system;

decrypting the encoded message using the decrypted session key; and

transmitting the decrypted encoded message to the wireless mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the received encoded message comprises an encrypted message body; and

the processed encoded message sent to the wireless mobile communications device comprises substantially all of the encrypted message body.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein redirection means is used in said determining step.

10. A computer-implemented system for processing an encoded message at a host system, the system comprising:

a data processor;

a computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for commanding the data processor to execute steps comprising;

receiving the encoded message addressed to a plurality of message receivers; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

generating a processed encoded message by removing a session key from the encoded message that is unrelated to the wireless mobile communication device to which the encoded message is to be transmitted; and

transmitting the processed encoded message to the corresponding wireless mobile communication device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the received encoded message comprises an S/MIME (Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) encrypted message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the received encoded message comprises a PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encrypted message.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of generating a processed encoded message further comprises removing a RecipientInfo list from the encoded message.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processed encoded message comprises a new message that has been generated from the encoded message based upon at least one encryption aspect.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the step of generating a processed encoded message comprises decrypting the encoded message; and

the decrypted message is used to generate the processed encoded message that is to be transmitted to the wireless mobile communication device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the encoded message includes an encrypted session key for each of the plurality of message receivers; and

the method further comprises the steps of, for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

generating an intermediary message for the wireless mobile communication device with only the encrypted session key for the corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

transmitting the intermediary message to the wireless mobile communication device so that the session key may be decrypted at the wireless mobile communication device and transmitted to the host system, wherein the decrypted session key is received by the host system;

decrypting the encoded message using the decrypted session key; and

transmitting the decrypted encoded message to the wireless mobile communication device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the received encoded message comprises an encrypted message body; and

the processed encoded message sent to the wireless mobile communications device comprises substantially all of the encrypted message body.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein redirection means is used in said determining step.

19. Computer-readable storage medium or mediums encoded with instructions that cause a processor to perform a method for processing an encoded message at a host system, said method comprising:

receiving the encoded message addressed to a plurality of message receivers; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

generating a processed encoded message by removing a session key from the encoded message that is unrelated to the wireless mobile communication device to which the encoded message is to be transmitted; and

transmitting the processed encoded message to the corresponding wireless mobile communication device.

20. A computer-implemented system for processing an encoded message at a host system, the system comprising:

means for receiving the encoded message addressed to a plurality of message receivers; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

means for generating a processed encoded message by removing a session key from the encoded message that is unrelated to the wireless mobile communication device to which the encoded message is to be transmitted; and

means for transmitting the processed encoded message to the corresponding wireless mobile communication device.