System and Method for Processing Encoded Messages for Exchange with a Mobile Data Communication Device

• US 20100115264A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Godfrey, James A., Little, Herbert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/153
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 63/0442 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 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• 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 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing

Abstract

A system and method are provided for pre-processing encrypted and/or signed messages at a host system before the message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device. The message is received at the host system from a message sender. There is a determination as to whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device. For each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device, the message is processed so as to modify the message with respect to one or more encryption and/or authentication aspects. The processed message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver. The system and method may include post-processing messages sent from a wireless mobile communications device to a host system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the host system to one or more receivers.

Claims

1. A method of processing an encoded message at a host system before the encoded message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving at the host system the encoded message from a message sender addressed to a plurality of message receivers;

determining whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

processing the encoded message so as to modify the encoded message with respect to an authentication aspect; and

transmitting the processed message to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to a first message receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a certificate aspect of the encoded message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a certificate revocation list aspect of the encoded message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a sender'"'"'s digital signature aspect of the encoded message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the encoded message comprises a digital signature, a certificate, and a message body; and

processing comprises rearranging the digital signature and certificate in the encoded message so that the message body is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device before the digital signature and the certificate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the digital signature is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device before the certificate is allowed to be transmitted.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the certificate is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device only in response to a request from the wireless mobile communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the authentication aspect comprises a digital signature; and

processing comprises verifying the digital signature and indicating a digital signature verification status.

9. A method of processing an encoded message from a wireless mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless mobile communication device, an encoded message addressed to one or more message receivers;

attaching digital signature-related information onto the encoded message; and

sending the encoded message with the attached signature-related information to the one or more message receivers.

10. A host system configured to process an encoded message before the encoded message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

a data processor;

a computer-readable memory containing instructions for commanding the data processor to execute a method, comprising;

receiving at the host system the encoded message from a message sender addressed to a plurality of message receivers;

determining whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device; and

for each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device;

processing the encoded message so as to modify the encoded message with respect to an authentication aspect; and

transmitting the processed message to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a certificate aspect of the encoded message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a certificate revocation list aspect of the encoded message.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication aspect comprises a sender'"'"'s digital signature aspect of the encoded message.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the encoded message comprises a digital signature, a certificate, and a message body; and

the step of processing comprises the step of rearranging the digital signature and certificate in the encoded message so that the message body is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device before the digital signature and the certificate.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the digital signature is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device before the certificate is allowed to be transmitted.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the certificate is transmitted to the wireless mobile communications device only in response to a request from the wireless mobile communications device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the authentication aspect comprises a digital signature; and

processing comprises verifying the digital signature and indicating a digital signature verification status.

18. A system for processing an encoded message from a wireless communication device, the system comprising:

a data processor;

a computer-readable memory containing instructions for commanding the data processor to execute a method comprising;

receiving an encoded message addressed to one or more message receivers from a wireless mobile communication device;

attaching digital signature-related information onto the encoded message; and

sending the encoded message with the attached signature-related information to the one or more receivers.