Content-based notification and user-transparent pull operation for simulated push transmission of wireless email

• US 20060224750A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Patents, Inc. (Brian Yates)
• Original Assignee: Rockliffe Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Davies, John, Chapman, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

Exemplary system, method, software and apparatus embodiments provide for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device, as a simulated push operation, for devices which do not have push capability. The system comprises a database, a server, and may also include a second web server for user account configuration. The database is adapted to store user account configuration and preference information. The server is adapted to receive a first message having a first protocol, such as SMTP, and to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided. When the content-based notification is to be provided, the server is adapted to extract a subset of information from the first message, and using the subset of information, to create a second message having a second, different protocol, such as SMS. The second message is transferred to a wireless network for transmission to the mobile device, with the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message. The information extracted from the first message enables a user to determine whether they want to download the complete message, as a user-transparent pull operation, and typically includes the from, to, size, date, subject fields, and a portion of the body of the first message, up to the remaining capacity of the second message.

Claims

1. A method of creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the method comprising:

receiving a first message having a first protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;

determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided;

when the content-based notification is to be provided, extracting a subset of information from the first message; and

using the subset of information, creating a second message having a second protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, the second protocol being different than the first protocol, the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encapsulating the second message as a data payload in a third message having a third protocol;

providing an address header for the third message for the mobile device; and

transmitting the third message to a wireless network for extraction of the second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) or an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, wherein the second protocol is Short Message Service (SMS), and wherein the third protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP), an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Instant Messaging and Presence Leverage Extensions (SIMPLE), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), or Instant Messaging (IM).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises:

authenticating an account of the recipient of the first message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises:

filtering the first message using at least one security filter of a plurality of security filters, the plurality of security filters comprising at least two filters of the following group;

Directory Harvest Attack Protection;

Secure Sockets Layer;

Transport Layer Security;

Real-time Blacklist Lookup;

an allowable message list;

a prohibited message list; and

a user-defined security processes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises at least one of the following processes:

modifying, rejecting, deleting, redirecting, archiving, logging or quarantining the first message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering the first message using at least one filter of a plurality of filters, the plurality of filters comprising at least two filters of the following group;

an anti-virus filter;

an anti-spam filter;

a sieve rule filter;

an insertion filter; and

a user-defined filter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting the subset of information from the first message further comprises applying a plurality of sieve rule processes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting the subset of information from the first message further comprises selecting a plurality of fields of the first message, the plurality of fields comprising at least two of the following fields:

a “

FROM”

field;

a “

TO”

field;

a “

DATE”

field;

a “

SIZE”

field;

a “

SUBJECT”

field;

a “

CC”

field;

all or a variable portion of a “

BODY”

field up to a remaining capacity of the second message;

an attachment type;

an attachment name;

a number of attachments;

an attachment size;

an inserted tag;

an inserted message;

an inserted banner;

an inserted spam score;

an email group designation;

or a user-defined field.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of creating the second message further comprises differentially selecting the plurality of fields based on whether the first message was transmitted as a message forward or as a direct message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol has a first information capacity and the second protocol has a second information capacity, and wherein the second information capacity is substantially less than the first information capacity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message further comprises a user response indication or link.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a user request, transferring the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user request is transmitted using a fourth protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing user access through a web server for user account configuration and user preference determination.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

storing user account configuration and preference information in a database.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises:

determining at least one user preference of a plurality of user preferences, the plurality of user preferences comprising at least two of the following user preferences;

day of the week, time of day, one or more keywords, sender, location, spam score, type of attachment, or forwarded account.

18. A system for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the system comprising:

a database storing user account configuration and preference information; and

a server coupled to the database, the server adapted to receive a first message having a first protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;

to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided;

when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information from the first message;

using the subset of information, to create a second message having a second protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, the second protocol being different than the first protocol, and the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in a third message having a third protocol;

to provide an address header for the third message for the mobile device; and

to transmit the third message to a wireless network for extraction of the second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) or an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, wherein the second protocol is Short Message Service (SMS), and wherein the third protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP), an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Instant Messaging and Presence Leverage Extensions (SIMPLE), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), or Instant Messaging (IM).

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to authenticate an account of the recipient of the first message.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to filter the first message using at least one security filter of a plurality of security filters, the plurality of security filters comprising at least two filters of the following group:

Directory Harvest Attack Protection;

Secure Sockets Layer;

Transport Layer Security;

Real-time Blacklist Lookup;

an allowable message list;

a prohibited message list; and

a user-defined security processes.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to modify, reject, delete, redirect, archive, log or quarantine the first message.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to filter the first message using at least one filter of a plurality of filters, the plurality of filters comprising at least two filters of the following group:

an anti-virus filter;

an anti-spam filter;

a sieve rule filter;

an insertion filter; and

a user-defined filter.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to apply a plurality of sieve rule processes to the first message.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to extract the subset of information from the first message by selecting a plurality of fields of the first message, the plurality of fields comprising at least two of the following fields:

a “

FROM”

field;

a “

TO”

field;

a “

DATE”

field;

a “

SIZE”

field;

a “

SUBJECT”

field;

a “

CC”

field;

all or a variable portion of a “

BODY”

field up to a remaining capacity of the second message;

an attachment type;

an attachment name;

a number of attachments;

an attachment size;

an inserted tag;

an inserted message;

an inserted banner;

an inserted spam score;

an email group designation;

or a user-defined field.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the server is further adapted to create the second message by differentially selecting the plurality of fields based on whether the first message was transmitted as a message forward or as a direct message.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the first protocol has a first information capacity and the second protocol has a second information capacity, and wherein the second information capacity is substantially less than the first information capacity.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to, in response to a user request, transfer the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the user request is transmitted using a fourth protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).

31. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a web server coupled to the database, the web server adapted to provide user access for user account configuration and user preference determination, and to store user account configuration and preference information in the database.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided by determining at least one user preference of a plurality of user preferences, the plurality of user preferences comprising at least two of the following user preferences:

day of the week, time of day, one or more keywords, sender, location, spam score, type of attachment, or forwarded account.

33. An apparatus for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface couplable to a communication channel to receive a first message having a Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) of the plurality of communication protocols and to transmit a third SMTP message to a wireless network for extraction of a second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device;

a memory storing user account configuration and preference information; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, the processor adapted to authenticate an account of the recipient of the first message;

to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided;

when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information by selecting a plurality of fields from the first message and, using the subset of information, to create the second message having a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message;

to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in the third message and to provide an address header for the third message for the mobile device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to filter the first message using at least one security filter of a plurality of security filters, the plurality of security filters comprising at least two filters of the following group:

Directory Harvest Attack Protection;

Secure Sockets Layer;

Transport Layer Security;

Real-time Blacklist Lookup;

an allowable message list;

a prohibited message list; and

a user-defined security processes.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to modify, reject, delete, redirect, archive, log or quarantine the first message.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to filter the first message using at least one filter of a plurality of filters, the plurality of filters comprising at least two filters of the following group:

an anti-virus filter;

an anti-spam filter;

a sieve rule filter;

an insertion filter; and

a user-defined filter.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to apply a plurality of sieve rule processes to the first message to select the plurality of fields of the first message, the plurality of fields comprising at least two of the following fields:

a “

FROM”

field;

a “

TO”

field;

a “

DATE”

field;

a “

SIZE”

field;

a “

SUBJECT”

field;

a “

CC”

field;

all or a variable portion of a “

BODY”

field up to a remaining capacity of the second message;

an attachment type;

an attachment name;

a number of attachments;

an attachment size;

an inserted tag;

an inserted message;

an inserted banner;

an inserted spam score;

an email group designation;

or a user-defined field.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is further adapted to create the second message by differentially selecting the plurality of fields based on whether the first message was transmitted as a message forward or as a direct message.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to, in response to a user request transmitted using a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), to transfer the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.

40. A system for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the system comprising:

a database storing user account configuration and preference information;

a first server coupled to the database, the first server adapted to provide user web access for user account configuration and user preference determination; and

a second server coupled to the database, the second server adapted to receive a first message having a Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) of the plurality of communication protocols;

to authenticate an account of the recipient of the first message;

to filter the first message using a plurality of filters;

to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided;

when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information by differentially selecting a plurality of fields from the first message and, using the subset of information, to create a second message having a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;

to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in a third SMTP message;

to provide an address header for the third SMTP message for the mobile device;

to transmit the third SMTP message to a wireless network for extraction of the second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device as the content-based notification of the first message;

to receive a user request transmitted using a fourth protocol, wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP); and

in response to the user request, to transfer the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.

41. A tangible medium storing machine-readable instructions for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the tangible medium storing machine-readable instructions comprising:

a first program construct of a plurality of program constructs, the first program construct adapted to provide for storing user account configuration and preference information;

a second program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the second program construct adapted to determine whether the content-based notification should be provided for a received first message having a Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) of the plurality of communication protocols;

a third program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the third program construct adapted, when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information by differentially selecting a plurality of fields from the first message;

a fourth program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the fourth program construct adapted to use the subset of information to create a second message having a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;

a fifth program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the fifth program construct adapted to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in a third SMTP message and to provide an address header for the third SMTP message for the mobile device;

a sixth program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the sixth program construct adapted to receive a user request transmitted using a fourth protocol, wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP); and

a seventh program construct of the plurality of program constructs, the seventh program construct adapted, in response to the user request, to transfer the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.