E-mail messaging to/from a mobile terminal

• US 20060240805A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks International Oy (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Salorinne, Seppo, Vuornos, Lauri, Backholm, Ari, Ketonen, Marko, Saarilahti, Antti, Salmi, Petri
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• 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 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Systems and methods for sharing an e-mail address between a host system (100) and a mobile terminal (102) addressable by a temporary wireless identity (122D) in an access network (114). A terminal identifier (122A) is assigned to the mobile terminal (102) or its user. The system comprises a connectivity function (600) and a messaging centre (110) that collectively maintain an association (610, 612) between the terminal identifier (122A), encryption information (122C) and the temporary wireless identity (122D). When detecting an e-mail message addressed to the terminal identifier (122A), the connectivity function encrypts the e-mail message with the encryption information (122C). The messaging centre determines the temporary wireless identity (122D) of the mobile terminal and transmits the encrypted e-mail message to the mobile terminal which receives and decrypts the encrypted e-mail message.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal has an e-mail address under the e-mail server, and permanent terminal identity and a temporary identity in an access network, the method comprising:

installing a connectivity function and a messaging centre that are operationally coupled to each other, wherein the connectivity function is operationally coupled to the e-mail server and the messaging centre is operationally coupled to the access network;

the connectivity function detecting the e-mail message at the e-mail server, encrypting at least part of the e-mail message to create an encrypted e-mail message and sending the encrypted e-mail message to the messaging centre;

the messaging centre detecting the encrypted e-mail message and sending it via the access network to the mobile terminal;

the mobile terminal receiving and decrypting encrypted e-mail message.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising packing the at least part of the e-mail message before transmission to the mobile terminal and unpacking it after transmission to the mobile terminal.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the packing comprises omitting the e-mail address when creating an encrypted e-mail message.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising performing the following acts at the messaging centre:

generating encryption information at the mobile terminal;

conveying the encryption information via a secure channel to the connectivity function, after authenticating the entity that conveys the encryption information or by utilizing an already-performed authentication of the entity.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a control message at the mobile terminal, wherein the control message relates to an e-mail message and indicates one of the following operations;

marking the e-mail message as read or unread, or deleting the e-mail message;

in response to the control message, performing one of the following acts at the e-mail server;

if the control message indicates marking the e-mail message as read or unread, marking the e-mail message as indicated by the control message; and

if the control message indicates deleting, moving the e-mail message to a folder containing deleted e-mail messages.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying the e-mail message:

by the e-mail address between the e-mail server and the connectivity function;

by the permanent terminal identity between the connectivity function and the messaging centre; and

by the temporary identity between the messaging centre and the mobile terminal.

7. A connectivity function for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal has an e-mail address under the e-mail server, and permanent terminal identity and a temporary identity in an access network, the connectivity function comprising:

logic means for maintaining an association between the e-mail address, the permanent terminal identifier and encryption information assigned to the mobile terminal;

a first interface for operational coupling to the e-mail server, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the e-mail message identified by the e-mail address;

encryption means for encrypting the e-mail message received via the first interface, wherein the encryption means are configured to retrieve the encryption information from the association based on the terminal identifier;

a second interface for operational coupling to a messaging centre configured to forward e-mail messages to the access network, wherein the second interface is configured to transmit the encrypted e-mail message identified by the permanent terminal identity.

8. A connectivity function according to claim 7, further comprising a filtering logic for omitting an attachment and/or one or more portions of message body from the e-mail message, in response to the attachment or message body, respectively, exceeding a predetermined size.

9. A connectivity function according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined size is user-settable.

10. A connectivity function according to claim 7, further comprising means for omitting the e-mail address from an e-mail message directed to the mobile terminal and/or adding the e-mail address to an e-mail message originated by the mobile terminal.

11. A messaging centre for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal has an e-mail address under the e-mail server, and permanent terminal identity and a temporary identity in an access network, the messaging centre comprising:

logic means for maintaining an association between the permanent terminal identity and the temporary identity;

a first interface for operational coupling to a connectivity function that is operationally coupled to the e-mail server, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the e-mail message identified by the permanent terminal identity;

an address translation logic coupled to the logic means, for converting the e-mail message received via the first interface to an e-mail message identified by the temporary wireless identity;

a second interface for operational coupling to the access network, configured to transmit the converted e-mail message via the access network to the mobile terminal.

12. A messaging centre according to claim 12, further comprising means for conveying control messages generated by the mobile terminal to the e-mail server, wherein each control message indicates an act to be performed on an e-mail message but does not include an e-mail message.