System and method for remotely configuring a desktop mailbox

• US 7,797,386 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Burns, Anthony George
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIU, HO T
• Application Number:
  US10/789,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,391 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/220, 709/227, 709/248, 709/168, 709/213, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/426.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/412.1, 717/168, 717/167, 370/313, 370/338, 370/278, 370/503, 711/147, 711/148
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method and system for remotely configuring a desktop mailbox manager. A mobile node operable to communicate within a wireless network includes a remote desktop controller to generate configuration messages for transmission to a home node at which the desktop mailbox manager is located. When reconfiguration is required, reconfiguration criteria are formulated, usually at the direction of the user. The reconfiguration criteria are then used by the remote desktop controller to create a reconfiguration message, which is addressed for delivery to the home node. A network connection is established, and the reconfiguration message is transmitted. A network server associated with the base station through which the mobile node is communicating with the network routes the message to a server associated with the home node, utilizing an appropriate gateway if necessary. The message is stored on the server until the home node establishes communication and then the message is downloaded to the home node. In the home node, the message is used to reconfigure the desktop manager.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a communication network having at least a mobile node and a home node, the home node having a configured desktop email manager capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home node, according to how the home-node desktop email manager is configured, and the mobile node comprising a memory device operable to store a current configuration status included in a confirmation message, said apparatus for reconfiguring the home-node desktop email manager from the mobile node, said apparatus comprising:

a configuration status request message generator selectably coupled to the communication network and configured for selectably generating a status summary request for transmission to the home node in order to determine the current configuration of the desktop email manager;

a receiver configured to receive a configuration status summary of the current configuration of the desktop email manager;

a reconfiguration message generator selectably coupled to the communication network for generating a reconfiguration message comprising instructions to make changes to a home-node configuration file for reconfiguring the effectuation of disposition of the email messages responsive to the reconfiguration message;

a transmitter configured to transmit the reconfiguration message to the home-node, wherein the home-node performs the reconfiguration of the home-node desktop email manager if the home-node determines the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home-node desktop email manager;

whereby a first type email message received at the home node from the communication network is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, email messages being unchanged by dispositions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disposition is comprised of at least one of:

filtering an email message;

deleting an message, replying to an email message; and

forwarding an email message.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication network is a cellular communication network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration message generator is resident in the mobile node.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mobile node includes an organizer database that may be synchronized with a home-node organizer database over the communication network, and wherein the reconfiguration message is transmitted with the organizer synchronization data.

6. A method for reconfiguring a home-node desktop email_manager through a communication network, the home-node desktop email manager being capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home node, according to how the home-node desktop email manager is configured, said method comprising:

providing a mobile node operable to communicate in the communication network, the mobile node comprising a memory device operable to store a current configuration status summary included in a confirmation message, if any, from the home node subsequent to a reconfiguration;

transmitting to the mobile node a configuration status message if a configuration status summary request message has been received;

generating a reconfiguration message comprising instructions to make changes to a home-node configuration file to request initiation of reconfiguration of disposition of the email messages;

transmitting the reconfiguration message to the home node via the communication network;

determining at the home node whether changes identified in the reconfiguration message are logically inconsistent with the current desktop email manager settings; and

performing the reconfiguration of the home-node desktop email manager requested in the reconfiguration message if the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home-node desktop email manager;

whereby a first type email message received at the home node from the communication network is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, email messages being unchanged by dispositions.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a confirmation message indicating that the requested reconfiguration has been made.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising requesting a desktop email manager configuration status summary.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the desktop email manager configuration status summary, wherein the step of generating a reconfiguration message is not performed until the desktop email manager configuration status summary is received.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the reconfiguration message is generated in the mobile node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile node includes an organizer database that may be synchronized with a home-node organizer database over the communication network, and wherein the reconfiguration message is transmitted with the organizer synchronization data.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile node comprises a Web browser, and further comprising:

requesting a Web page from a Web site on a server via the communication network;

receiving the Web page;

displaying at least a portion of the Web page;

interacting with the displayed portion of the Web page to indicate changes to the home-node desktop email manager; and

transmitting the indicated changes to the server.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reconfiguration message is generated in the server.

14. Apparatus for a home node of a communication network having a mobile node comprising a memory device operable to store a current configuration status message, the home node having a configured desktop email manager capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home node, according to how the home-node desktop email manager is configured, said apparatus comprising:

a configuration status summary generator configured to generate a mobile-node-terminated configuration status summary of a current configuration of the email manager responsive to a status summary request; and

a home node reconfiguration message processor configured to effectuate reconfiguration of configuration of the disposition of email messages responsive to reception of a reconfiguration message that comprises instructions to make home-node, configuration-file changes;

a receiver configured to receive the reconfiguration message from the mobile node, wherein the home-node performs the reconfiguration of the home-node desktop email manager if the home-node determines the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home-node desktop email manager;

whereby a first type email message received at the home node from the communication network is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, email messages being unchanged by dispositions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a home-node message generator for generating a mobile-node-terminated reconfiguration confirmation message.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the home-node message generator is operable to generate a mobile-node-terminated message indicating whether changes requested in the reconfiguration message can be made.