System and method for processing encoded messages for exchange with a mobile data communication device

• US 8,205,084 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Godfrey, James A., Little, Herbert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy, Pramila
• Application Number:
  US12/686,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/170
• 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 before the encoded message is transmitted to a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving at the host system the encoded message from a message sender addressed to one or more message receivers, wherein the encoded message comprises a digital signature, a certificate, and a message body;

determining whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding mobile communication device; and

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

processing the encoded message to rearrange the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the digital signature and the certificate; and

transmitting the processed message to a mobile communication device that corresponds to a first message receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded message further comprises a certificate revocation list, and wherein the processing further comprises rearranging the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the certificate revocation list.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is transmitted to the mobile communications device before the certificate is transmitted.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the certificate is transmitted to the mobile communications device in response to a request from the mobile communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises verifying the digital signature and indicating a digital signature verification status.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises

attaching digital signature-related information to the encoded message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the host system comprises a server.

8. A host system configured to process an encoded message before the encoded message is transmitted to a mobile communication device, comprising:

a data processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable memory containing instructions for commanding the data processor to execute a method, comprising;

receiving at the host system the encoded message from a message sender addressed to one or more message receivers, wherein the encoded message comprises a digital signature, a certificate, and a message body;

determining whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding mobile communication device; and

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

processing the encoded message to rearrange the digital signature and certificate in the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the digital signature and the certificate; and

transmitting the processed message to a mobile communication device that corresponds to a first message receiver.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the encoded message further comprises a certificate revocation list, and wherein the processing further comprises rearranging the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the certificate revocation list.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the digital signature is transmitted to the mobile communications device before the certificate is transmitted.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the certificate is transmitted to the mobile communications device in response to a request from the mobile communications device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing further comprises verifying the digital signature and indicating a digital signature verification status.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing further comprises

attaching digital signature-related information to the encoded message.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the host system comprises a server.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of processing an encoded message at a host system before the encoded message is transmitted to a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving at the host system the encoded message from a message sender addressed to one or more message receivers, wherein the encoded message comprises a digital signature, a certificate, and a message body;

determining whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding mobile communication device; and

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

processing the encoded message to rearrange the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the digital signature and the certificate; and

transmitting the processed message to a mobile communication device that corresponds to a first message receiver.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the encoded message further comprises a certificate revocation list, and wherein the processing further comprises rearranging the encoded message so that the message body is transmittable to the mobile communications device before the certificate revocation list.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the digital signature is transmitted to the mobile communications device before the certificate is transmitted.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the certificate is transmitted to the mobile communications device in response to a request from the mobile communications device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the processing further comprises verifying the digital signature and indicating a digital signature verification status.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the processing further comprises attaching digital signature-related information to the encoded message.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the host system comprises a server.