System and method for authenticating a user for accessing an email account using authentication token

• US 20070073817A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: TeamOn Systems Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gorty, Suryanarayana
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A system authenticates a user for accessing an electronic mailbox of the user from a remote device and obtaining electronic mail (email). An email server is provided by an email service provider and contains the electronic mailbox of the user. A mobile office platform is operative for accessing the email server and determines if an authentication token is required to access the electronic mailbox of the user. An authentication token is received from the email server or other server if an authentication token is required. Access is attempted to the electronic mailbox of the user using the authentication token. The authentication token is stored for subsequent use by the user to access their electronic mailbox if access to the electronic mailbox using the token has been successful.

Claims

1. A system for authenticating a user for accessing an electronic mailbox of the user from a remote device and obtaining electronic mail (email), which comprises:

an email server provided by an email service provider; and

a mobile office platform operative for,

accessing the email server provided by the email service provider,

determining if an authentication token is required to access the electronic mailbox of the user,

receiving an authentication token from the email server if an authentication token is required,

attempting access to the electronic mailbox of the user using the authentication token, and

storing the authentication token for subsequent use by the user to access the electronic mailbox of the user if access to the electronic mailbox using the authentication token has been successful.

2. A system according to claim 1, which further comprises a mobile wireless communications device that receives user email from the mobile office platform.

3. A system according to claim 1, which further comprises a database operative with the mobile office platform for storing the authentication token for subsequent use when the user attempts access through the mobile office platform.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile office platform includes an email server, and further including a direct access proxy for accessing and retrieving user emails from the electronic mailbox of the user.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said mobile office platform includes a database for storing the authentication token for subsequent use when the user attempts access to the electronic mailbox of the user through the mobile office platform.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile office platform is operative for initially accessing the electronic mailbox with a user identification and email address.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said mobile office platform is operative for discarding the user identification and email address if the authentication token can access the electronic mailbox of the user.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said mobile office platform is operative for retaining the user identification and email address if an authentication token is not required for accessing the electronic mailbox of the user.

9. A method of authenticating a user for accessing an electronic mailbox of the user from a remote device and obtaining electronic mail (email), which comprises:

accessing from a mobile office platform an email server provided by an email service provider and containing the electronic mailbox of the user;

determining if an authentication token is required to access the electronic mailbox of the user;

receiving an authentication token from the email server if an authentication token is required;

attempting access to the electronic mailbox of the user using the authentication token; and

storing the authentication token for subsequent use by the user if access to the electronic mailbox using the token has been successful.

10. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises accessing the electronic mailbox from a direct access proxy that retrieves and delivers any user email to the remote device of the user.

11. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises receiving user email on a mobile wireless communications device.

12. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises initially accessing the email server with a user identification and user email address.

13. A method according to claim 12, which further comprises discarding the user identification and email address if the authentication token can access the electronic mailbox of the user.

14. A method according to claim 12, which further comprises retaining the user identification and email address if an authentication token is not required for accessing the electronic mailbox of the user.

15. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises storing the authentication token on a database for subsequent use when the user attempts access through the third-party email server.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for executing functions comprising:

accessing an electronic mail server that includes the electronic mailbox of a user when a user identification and password is entered;

determining if an authentication token is required to access the electronic mailbox of the user;

receiving an authentication token from the email server if an authentication token is required;

attempting access to the electronic mailbox of the user using the authentication token; and

storing the authentication token for subsequent use by the user to access their electronic mailbox if access to the electronic mailbox using the authentication token has been successful.

17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions are operative for storing the authentication token on a database for subsequent use when the user attempts access.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions are operative for delivering email messages to a mobile wireless communications device.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions are operative for accessing the email server with a user identification and email address.

20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the computer-executable instructions are operative for discarding the user identification and email address if the authentication token can access the electronic mailbox.

21. A computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the computer-executable instructions are operative for retaining the user identification and email address if an authentication token is not required for accessing the electronic mailbox of the user.