System and method for globally and securely accessing unified information in a computer network

• US 7,039,679 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Good Technology Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Bui, Hong Q., Zuleeg, Christopher R., Wagle, Prasad, Mendez, Daniel J., Cowan, David J., Ying, Christine C., Bailes, R. Stanley, Aptekar-Strober, Joanna A., Riggins, Mark D., Quinlan, Sean Michael, Ng, Mason
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckill, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US10/741,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/248, 709/202, 709/203, 709/100, 713/400, 370/350
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2876 Pairs of inter-processing entities at each side of the network, e.g. split proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• 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 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A client stores a first set of workspace data, and is coupled via a computer network to a global server. The client may be configured to synchronize portions of the first set of workspace data with the global server, which stores independently modifiable copies of the portions. The global server may also store workspace data which is not downloaded from the client, and thus stores a second set of workspace data. The global server may be configured to identify and authenticate a user seeking global server access from a remote terminal, and is configured to provide access to the first set or to the second set. Further, services may be stored anywhere in the computer network. The global server may be configured to provide the user with access to the services. The system may further include a synchronization-start module at the client site (which may be protected by a firewall) that initiates interconnection and synchronization with the global server when predetermined criteria have been satisfied.

Claims

1. An e-mail system for providing synchronized communication of independently modifiable e-mails over an Internet between a local area network (LAN) server secured by a LAN firewall with at least one normally open LAN firewall port, and each of a plurality of smart-phone devices, said system comprising:

a global server secured by a global server firewall having a global server firewall port therein;

a first Internet communication channel coupling said LAN server to said global server through said open LAN firewall port and said global server firewall port;

a plurality of second Internet communication channels, each coupling said global server to a respective one of said smart-phone devices;

at least one translator for translating e-mail data of different formats such that e- mails transmitted to said global server and said smart-phone devices are of a format or formats which are acceptable thereto;

at least one storage device for storing version information indicating differences between independently modifiable e-mails;

a general synchronization module responsive to a synchronization start command to synchronize different independently modifiable e-mails; and

a synchronization-start module coupled to said general synchronization module, said synchronization-start module being responsive to an existence of predetermined criteria to produce and send a synchronization start command to said general synchronization module.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the normally open port is an HTTP port.

3. A system, according to claim 1, wherein the normally open port is an HTTPS (SSL).

4. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is located at the LAN server.

5. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said LAN includes a client device and wherein said storage device is located at said client device.

6. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is located at said global server.

7. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is located at one or more of said plurality of said smart-phone devices.

8. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said translator is located at said LAN server.

9. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said LAN includes a client device and wherein said translator is located at said client device.

10. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said translator is located at said global server.

11. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said translator is located at one or more of said plurality of said smart-phone devices.

12. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said general synchronization module is located at said LAN server.

13. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said LAN includes a client device and wherein said general synchronization module is located at said client device.

14. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said general synchronization module is located at said global server.

15. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said general synchronization module is located at one or more of said plurality of said smart-phone devices.

16. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization-start module is located at said LAN server.

17. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said LAN includes a client device and wherein said synchronization-start module is located at said client device.

18. A system, according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization-start module is located at one or more of said plurality of said smart-phone devices.