E-mail messaging to/from a mobile terminal

• US 7,643,818 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Vuornos, Lauri, Salorinne, Seppo, Ketonen, Marko, Backholm, Ari, Salmi, Petri, Saarilahti, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/282,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• 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 system for forwarding an e-mail message, the system comprising:

a connectivity application executable by a processor in a data network to;

detect the e-mail message at an e-mail server,

encrypt at least part of the e-mail message, and

send the encrypted e-mail message; and

a messaging centre configured to receive the encrypted e-mail message from the connectivity application and to transmit the encrypted e-mail message via an access network to a mobile terminal for decryption, the access network establishing a tunnel between the messaging centre and the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having an e-mail address under the e-mail server and a permanent terminal identity assigned to the mobile terminal and a temporary identity in the access network, the temporary identity based on an identifier of the tunnel to the mobile terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging centre is further configured to pack the at least part of the e-mail message before transmission to the mobile terminal and to unpack the at least part of the e mail message after transmission to the mobile terminal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging centre is further configured to pack the at least part of the e-mail message by omitting the e-mail address.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal being configured to generate encryption information and to convey the encryption information via a secure channel to the connectivity application after authentication.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to generate a control message relating to the e-mail message and indicating one of the following operations:

marking the e-mail message as read or unread or deleting the e-mail message and wherein the e-mail server responds to the control message by marking the e-mail message as read or unread when the control message indicates marking the e-mail message as read or unread and moving the email message to a folder containing deleted e-mail messages when the control message indicates deleting the messages.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging centre is further configured to identify the e-mail message using the e-mail address the permanent terminal identity, and the temporary identity.