METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTELLIGENT ERROR MESSAGING

• US 20090187796A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Nell P., Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., Kirkup, Michael G., Little, Herbert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0686 Additional information in the notification, e.g. enhancement of specific meta-data
• 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 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing intelligent error messaging is disclosed wherein a user of a mobile communications device is provided with descriptive error messaging information to assist the user in overcoming errors associated with the processing of electronic messages and data. For example, when the mobile device is being used to decrypt a cryptographically secured electronic message, and a problem is encountered, program logic of the device provides the user with (1) an indication of exactly what problem is preventing opening of the message, for example, a required cryptographic key is not available; (2) an indication of exactly what may be done to overcome the problem, for example, what utilities should be run on the device; and (3) exactly what data, if any, needs to be downloaded to the device, for example, what cryptographic keys should be downloaded.

Claims

1. An electronic communications device comprising:

a processor capable of processing electronic mail messages received at the electronic communications device; and

program logic resident on a memory of said electronic communications device operable to

determine if an electronic mail message received at the electronic communications device is encrypted,

if the received electronic mail message is encrypted, determine if there is a problem that prevents opening of the received electronic mail message at the electronic communications device, and

if there is a problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, automatically display an intelligent error message at the electronic communications device;

wherein said intelligent error message comprises an indication of the problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, an indication of how the problem is solvable, and an indication of information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device.

2. The electronic communications device of claim 1, wherein said information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device comprises information identifying a digital certificate that comprises data for decrypting the received electronic mail message.

3. The electronic communications device of claim 2, wherein said program logic is operable to download the digital certificate to the electronic communications device.

4. The electronic communications device of claim 1, wherein the electronic communications device is connected via an interface to a host processor that is capable of performing operations in accordance with said intelligent error message.

5. The electronic communications device of claim 4, wherein said interface is hard-wired.

6. The electronic communications device of claim 4, wherein said interface is wireless.

7. The electronic communications device of claim 1, wherein the indication of how the problem is solvable comprises an indication of which one or more utilities are to be run on the electronic communications device.

8. The electronic communications device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving said electronic messages.

9. The electronic communications device of claim 1, wherein said electronic communications device is a wireless communications device.

10. A method of processing electronic messages on an electronic communications device, the method comprising:

processing an electronic mail message received at said electronic communications display, for display on said electronic communications device, wherein said processing comprises;

determining if the received electronic mail message is encrypted if the received electronic mail message is encrypted, determining if there is a problem that prevents opening of the received electronic mail message at the wireless communications device; and

if there is a problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, automatically displaying an intelligent error message at the electronic communications device;

wherein the intelligent error message comprises an indication of the problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, an indication of how the problem is solvable, and an indication of information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device comprises information identifying a digital certificate that comprises data for decrypting the received electronic mail message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising downloading the digital certificate to the electronic communications device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the indication of how the problem is solvable comprises an indication of which one or more utilities are to be run on the electronic communications device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the electronic mail message at said electronic communications device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said electronic communications device is a wireless communications device

16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor of an electronic communication device, cause the processor to perform a method of processing electronic messages on the electronic communications device, wherein the method comprises:

processing an electronic mail message received at said electronic communications display, for display on said electronic communications device, wherein said processing comprises;

determining if the received electronic mail message is encrypted;

if the received electronic mail message is encrypted, determining if there is a problem that prevents opening of the received electronic mail message at the wireless communications device; and

if there is a problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, automatically displaying an intelligent error message at the electronic communications device;

wherein the intelligent error message comprises an indication of the problem that prevents the opening of the received electronic mail message, an indication of how the problem is solvable, and an indication of information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein said information that needs to be loaded on the electronic communications device comprises information identifying a digital certificate that comprises data for decrypting the received electronic mail message.

18. The medium of claim 17, further comprising downloading the digital certificate to the electronic communications device.

19. The medium of claim 16, wherein the indication of how the problem is solvable comprises an indication of which one or more utilities are to be run on the electronic communications device.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises receiving the electronic mail message at said electronic communications device.

21. The medium of claim 16, wherein said electronic communications device is a wireless communications device