Method and system for event notification for wireless PDA devices

• US 6,842,628 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Soriano, Fermin, Arnold, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/944,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/426.1, 455/556.2, 713/155, 713/156, 713/176, 713/181
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• 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 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/106 Packet or message integrity

Abstract

A method for transmitting verified notification messages from a service provider to a PID (personal information device) user. The method includes the step of registering a plurality of users and providing each of the users with respective public and private encryption keys. A message is then received from a first user of the plurality of users. The received message is signed with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key. A signature of the message is verified by using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key. The authority of the first user to transmit notification messages is then verified. The message is then resigned with the second user'"'"'s private encryption key and transmitted to at least a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the second user verifies the signature by using the second user'"'"'s public encryption key. Thus, the encryption provides a reliable means for differentiating between regular notifications and emergency notifications and is secure for authenticating and authorizing the messages sent from the service provider. A priority can be assigned to the message in accordance with a priority indicated by the first user. The message can be transmitted with the assigned priority to the second user, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the assigned priority. The encryption keys can be stored in a database of the service provider.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting verified notification messages from a service provider to a PID (personal information device) user, the method comprising the steps of:

registering a plurality of users and providing each of the users with respective public and private encryption keys;

receiving a message from a first user of the plurality of users, the message signed with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key;

verifying a signature of the message by using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key;

verifying the first user has an authority to transmit notification messages; and

transmitting the message to at least a second user of the plurality of users, the message signed with the second user'"'"'s private encryption key, wherein the second user verifies the signature by using the second user'"'"'s public encryption key.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of assigning a priority to the message in accordance with a priority indicated by the first user.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of transmitting the message with the assigned priority to the second user, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the assigned priority.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing the respective encryption keys in a database of the service provider.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of each of the plurality of users storing their respective encryption key.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is not transmitted to the second user if the first user does not have the authority to transmit notification messages.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of generating a message digest and encrypting the message digest with the second user'"'"'s private encryption key to generate the signature.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the step of decrypting the signature using the second user'"'"'s public encryption key and a message digest.

9. The method of claim 1 further including the step of appending a message ID when transmitting the message, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the message ID and identify duplicate messages.

10. The method of claim 1 further including the step of receiving a list of recipients of the plurality of users and transmitting the message from the first user to the list of recipients.

11. A computer readable media having computer readable instructions for implementing a method for transmitting verified notification messages from a service provider to a PID (personal information device) user, the instructions when executed by a computer system cause the service provider to perform a method comprising the steps of:

a) registering a plurality of users and providing each of the users with respective public and private encryption keys;

b) receiving a message from a first user of the plurality of users, the message signed with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key;

c) verifying a signature of the message by using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key;

d) verifying the first user has an authority to transmit notification messages; and

e) transmitting the message to at least a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the second user verifies the signature by using the second user'"'"'s public encryption key.

12. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of assigning a priority to the message in accordance with a priority indicated by the first user.

13. The computer readable media of claim 12 further including the step of transmitting the message with the assigned priority to the second user, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the assigned priority.

14. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of storing the respective encryption keys in a database of the service provider.

15. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of each of the plurality of users storing their respective encryption key.

16. The computer readable media of claim 11 wherein the message is not transmitted to the second user if the first user does not have the authority to transmit notification messages.

17. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of generating a message digest and encrypting the message digest with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key to generate the signature.

18. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of decrypting the signature using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key and a message digest.

19. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of appending a message ID when transmitting the message, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the message ID and identify duplicate messages.

20. The computer readable media of claim 11 further including the step of receiving a list of recipients of the plurality of users and transmitting the message from the first user to the list of recipients.

21. A verified notification system for allowing a service provider to send emergency message notifications to personal information devices, comprising a computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the memory having computer readable instructions stored therein, which when executed by the computer system, cause service provider to perform the steps of:

a) registering a plurality of users and providing each of the users with respective public and private encryption keys;

b) receiving a message from a first user of the plurality of users, the message signed with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key;

c) verifying a signature of the message by using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key;

d) verifying the first user has an authority to transmit notification messages; and

e) transmitting the message to at least a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the second user verifies the signature by using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein step e) further includes the step of assigning a priority and a message ID to the message in accordance with a priority indicated by the first user.

23. The system of claim 21 further including the step of storing the respective encryption keys in a database of the service provider.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the message is not transmitted to the second user if the first user does not have the authority to transmit notification messages.

25. The system of claim 21 further including the step of generating a message digest and encrypting the message digest with the first user'"'"'s private encryption key to generate the signature.

26. The system of claim 21 further including the step of decrypting the signature using the first user'"'"'s public encryption key and a message digest.

27. The system of claim 21 further including the step of maintaining a list of authorized recipients the first user is authorized to send notification messages to.

28. The system of claim 21 further including the steps of:

receiving a list of recipients of the plurality of users from the first user;

checking the list of recipients against the list of authorized recipients for the first user; and

transmitting the message from the first user to the list of recipients if the check is successful.