Connectivity function for forwarding e-mail

• US 7,769,400 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks International Oy (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Salorinne, Seppo, Vuornos, Lauri, Backholm, Ari, Ketonen, Marko, Saarilahti, Antti, Salmi, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• APPLICATION: US 20090075683A1
• Time in patent office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/414, 455/446, 455/434
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/38 in combination with wireless systems mobile application service signalling using messaging, e.g. SMS, H04W4/12
• 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 supporting authentication of entities communicating through a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or paths for security, 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 12/0013 of user plane, e.g. user traffic
• 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

Methods and systems of connectivity for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal having an e-mail address under the e-mail server are provided. An e-mail address may be associated with a permanent identifier and encryption information of the mobile terminal. After receipt of an e-mail message addressed using the e-mail address from the e-mail server, the e-mail message may be encrypted using the stored encryption information. The mobile terminal may be identified using the association between the e-mail address and the permanent identifier of the mobile terminal. The e-mail message may then be provided to a messaging center for forwarding to the identified mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can decrypt and/or unpack the message using the encryption information.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

storing an e-mail address of the mobile terminal, an associated permanent identifier of the mobile terminal, and associated encryption information generated by the mobile terminal;

receiving the e-mail message associated with the e-mail address and sent by the e-mail server;

encrypting the e-mail message using the stored encryption information; and

transmitting the encrypted e-mail message to the mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the mobile terminal based on the e-mail address of the e-mail message and the stored association with the permanent identifier of the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein encrypting the e-mail message further comprises packing the e-mail message by omitting at least part of the e-mail message when at least part of the e-mail message exceeds a predetermined size specification.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein size specification is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the omitted part of the e-mail message is the e-mail address.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising adding the e-mail address to a reply message sent by the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the encryption information generated by the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption information is based on an activation code of the mobile terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging centre transmits the e-mail message to the mobile terminal using a temporary identifier of the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein mobile terminal receives and decrypts the e-mail message using the encryption information.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile terminal unpacks the e-mail message.

12. A system for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, the system comprising:

a memory for storing an e-mail address of the mobile terminal, an associated permanent identifier of the mobile terminal, and associated encryption information generated by the mobile terminal;

an encryption engine configured to encrypt the e-mail message using the stored encryption information, wherein the e-mail message is received from the e-mail server;

a processor configured to execute software stored in memory, the execution of the software resulting in the identification of the mobile terminal based on the e-mail address of the e-mail message and the stored association with the permanent identifier of the mobile terminal; and

a communications interface configured to transmit the encrypted e-mail message to the identified mobile terminal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive the e-mail message from the e-mail server.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive the encryption information and to provide the encryption information to the memory for storage.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the encryption engine is further configured to pack the e-mail message.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a packing filter configured to omit at least part of the e-mail message when the at least part of the e-mail message exceeds a predetermined size specification.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive user input concerning the size specification.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile terminal receives and decrypts the e-mail message using the encryption information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile terminal unpacks the message.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processing device to perform a method of forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

storing an e-mail address of the mobile terminal, an associated permanent identifier of the mobile terminal, and associated encryption information generated by the mobile terminal;

receiving the e-mail message associated with the e-mail address and sent by the e-mail server;

encrypting the e-mail message using the stored encryption information;

identifying the mobile terminal based on the e-mail address of the e-mail message and the stored association with the permanent identifier of the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the encrypted e-mail message to the identified mobile terminal.