Handling receipts in cross component message processing

• US 8,719,579 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Vats, Nikhil, Singh, Ravi, Sherkin, Alexander, Adams, Neil Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US13/297,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/181
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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 12/106 Packet or message integrity

Abstract

By automatically obtaining the entirety of a received message to be included, an outgoing message that includes the received message can be processed in a manner that securely and accurately represents the intended outgoing message. Alternatively, a server can assemble a composite message from a new message and an original message and, in cooperation with a wireless messaging device, sign the composite message. In both the above contexts, handling message receipts when message processing ahead of message transmission involved more than one component may be facilitated by storing appropriate expected receipt content during the message processing, either on the device or the server. Validation of the receipt can then be accomplished through use of the stored expected receipt content in a manner that retains the benefits of message processing ahead of message transmission that involves more than one component.

Claims

1. At a mobile wireless communication device, a method of processing an electronic message, said method comprising:

detecting receipt of an instruction to arrange transmission of a message and a signature for said message, where said message is to include a new message and an original message;

transmitting a processing request to a server associated with said mobile wireless communication device, said request including said new message, a reference to said original message and an indication that a receipt is to be requested;

generating expected receipt content;

storing said expected receipt content;

receiving a signing request from said server, said signing request including a hash of said message;

storing said hash in association with said expected receipt content;

obtaining a private cryptographic key;

employing said private cryptographic key to sign said hash to form a digital signature; and

transmitting said digital signature to said server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said new message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said storing said expected receipt content further comprises storing said expected receipt content in association with said new message.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising associating an index with said new message.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said storing said expected receipt content further comprises storing said expected receipt content in a cache.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said storing said expected receipt content further comprises associating said expected receipt content with said index.

7. A mobile wireless communication device comprising a processor to:

detect receipt of an instruction to arrange transmission of a message and a signature for said message, where said message is to include a new message and an original message;

transmit a processing request to a server associated with said mobile wireless communication device, said request including said new message, a reference to said original message and an indication that a receipt is to be requested;

generate expected receipt content;

store said expected receipt content;

receive a signing request from said server, said signing request including a hash of said message;

store said hash in association with said expected receipt content;

obtain a private cryptographic key;

employ said private cryptographic key to encrypt said hash to form a digital signature; and

transmit said digital signature to said server.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor in a mobile wireless communication device, cause said processor to:

detect receipt of an instruction to arrange transmission of a message and a signature for said message, where said message is to include a new message and an original message;

transmit a processing request to a server associated with said mobile wireless communication device, said request including said new message, a reference to said original message and an indication that a receipt is to be requested;

generate expected receipt content;

store said expected receipt content;

receive a signing request from said server, said signing request including a hash of said message;

store said hash in association with said expected receipt content;

obtain a private cryptographic key;

employ said private cryptographic key to encrypt said hash to form a digital signature; and

transmit said digital signature to said server.

9. A method of processing a receipt message, said method comprising the following computer-implemented steps:

receiving, from a sender, a new message;

appending an original message to said new message to form a composite message;

storing, in memory, expected receipt content, said expected receipt content generated based on said composite message;

transmitting, to a recipient, said composite message;

receiving, from said recipient, a receipt message;

determining that said receipt message includes a receipt;

extracting said receipt from said receipt message;

obtaining, from said memory, said expected receipt content;

validating said receipt based on said expected receipt content to obtain a validation result;

transmitting said receipt message to said sender; and

transmitting said validation result to said sender.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

extracting a receipt signature from said receipt message;

verifying said receipt signature based on said expected receipt content; and

amending said validation result to include an indication that receipt signature has been verified.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

encrypting said composite message to form an encrypted composite message;

wherein said transmitting said composite message comprises transmitting said encrypted composite message.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said obtaining said expected receipt content comprises locating said expected receipt content in a cache.

13. A mail server comprising a processor to:

receive, from a sender, a new message;

append an original message to said new message to form a composite message;

store, in memory, expected receipt content, said expected receipt content generated based on said composite message;

transmit, to a recipient, said composite message;

receive, from said recipient, a receipt message;

determine that said receipt message includes a receipt;

extract said receipt from said receipt message;

obtain, from said memory, said expected receipt content;

validate said receipt based on said expected receipt content to obtain a validation result;

transmit said receipt message to said sender; and

transmit said validation result to said sender.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor, cause said processor to:

receive, from a sender, a new message;

append an original message to said new message to form a composite message;

store, in memory, expected receipt content, said expected receipt content generated based on said composite message;

transmit, to a recipient, said composite message;

receive, from said recipient, a receipt message;

determine that said receipt message includes a receipt;

extract said receipt from said receipt message;

obtain, from said memory, said expected receipt content;

validate said receipt based on said expected receipt content to obtain a validation result;

transmit said receipt message to said sender; and

transmit said validation result to said sender.