Enterprise access configuration

• US 7,827,604 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Tosey, Joseph Peter Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Okeke; Izunna
• Application Number:
  US11/888,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/14, 726/29, 713/165
• US Class Current: 726/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution in which a script containing general security parameters and access policies in a file is placed on an appropriate internal server. The location of the script may then be stored on an external server. When an end-user within the organization decides to purchase a wireless network device, he may attach it to his existing computer. The computer then may retrieve the security file location from the external server, retrieve the security file from the internal server using the security file location, and program the security file into the wireless device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for configuring access from a wireless network device to an enterprise, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a security file location external server retriever configured to retrieve a security file location from a server external to the enterprise;

a security file internal server retriever coupled to the security file location external server retriever and configured to retrieve a security file from a server internal to the enterprise using the security file location;

a security file wireless network device programmer coupled to the security file internal server retriever and configured to program the security file into the wireless network device; and

a remaining security parameters wireless network device forwarder coupled to the security file internal server retriever and configured to forward any remaining security parameters to the wireless network device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a security file access protocol retriever coupled to the security file internal server retriever and configured to retrieve a security file access protocol from the server external to the enterprise.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further configured to retrieve a security file from a server internal to the enterprise using the security file location and the security file access protocol.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is further configured to receive an email address from a user having the wireless network device;

and

the security file is unique to a domain covering the email address.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server internal to the enterprise is a web server.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server internal to the enterprise is a file server.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server internal to the enterprise is a database server.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to receive a communication from the wireless network device to an access server internal to the enterprise, the communication sent using a configuration stored in the security file.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is an email server.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is a push messaging server.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is an instant messaging server.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is an intranet web browsing server.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is an intranet file access server.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is an intranet application access server.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is a virtual private network (VPN) access server.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the access server is a VPN key distribution server.

17. An apparatus for accessing an enterprise from a wireless network device by using a computer, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a security file location external server retriever configured to retrieve a security file location from a server external to the enterprise; and

a security file internal server retriever coupled to the security file location external server retriever and configured to retrieve a security file from a server internal to the enterprise using the security file location, the wireless network device coupled to the computer, the security file programmed into the wireless network device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a security file access protocol retriever coupled to the security file internal server retriever and configured to retrieve a security file access protocol from the server external to the enterprise.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further configured to retrieve a security file from a server internal to the enterprise using the security file location and the security file access protocol.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to forward any remaining security parameters to the wireless network device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to send an email address from a user having the wireless network device to a server internal to the enterprise.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to send a communication from the wireless network device to an access server internal to the enterprise, the communication sent using a configuration stored in the security file.