System and method for remotely configuring a desktop mailbox

• US 8,326,934 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Burns, Anthony George
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shiu, Ho
• Application Number:
  US12/876,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100333181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method and system for remotely configuring a desktop mailbox manager. A mobile node operable to communicate within a wireless network includes a remote desktop controller to generate configuration messages for transmission to a home node at which the desktop mailbox manager is located. When reconfiguration is required, reconfiguration criteria are formulated, usually at the direction of the user. The reconfiguration criteria are then used by the remote desktop controller to create a reconfiguration message, which is addressed for delivery to the home node. A network connection is established, and the reconfiguration message is transmitted. A network server associated with the base station through which the mobile node is communicating with the network routes the message to a server associated with the home node, utilizing an appropriate gateway if necessary. The message is stored on the server until the home node establishes communication and then the message is downloaded to the home node. In the home node, the message is used to reconfigure the desktop manager.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a home-node email manager program and reconfiguring the home-node email manager program from a mobile-node through a communication network, the home-node email manager program being capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home node, in accordance with a configuration of the home-node email manager program and wherein the mobile node includes a memory device operable to store a mobile node security feature identification and a current configuration status, said method comprising:

receiving a mobile-node-generated status summary request that requests a current configuration of the home-node email manager program;

returning a configuration status summary of a first configuration to the mobile-node-generated status summary request, said first configuration being the current configuration of the home node email manager program when the status summary request is received;

receiving, at the home-node email manager program, which is configured with said first configuration and at which a home node security identification is established, a reconfiguration message from the mobile-node, said reconfiguration message including the mobile node security feature identification and a reconfiguration change to a home node reconfiguration file for reconfiguring effectuation of an email-disposition change;

checking said home node security feature identification against said mobile node security feature identification;

when said home node security feature identification and said mobile node security feature identification match, comparing the included reconfiguration change with said first configuration to determine if the reconfiguration change is considered to be proper and logically consistent with said first configuration; and

when said reconfiguration change is determined to be proper and logically consistent with said first configuration, reconfiguring the home-node email manager program to a second configuration including the email-disposition change of said reconfiguration change, wherein a first type email message received at the home node is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type of disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, the email messages unchanged by dispositions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message to the mobile-node indicating results of said comparison of the included reconfiguration change with said first configuration.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said acknowledgement message includes a request for mobile-node reconfirmation message when said reconfiguration change is determined to be incompatible with said first configuration.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuring the home-node email manager program is accomplished directly at the home-node device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile node and home node security feature identification comprises a password.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile node and home node security feature identification further comprises a specifying of only certain mobile-nodes as authorized to have reconfiguration messages executed by the home-node.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a confirmation message to said mobile-node, said confirmation message including a summary of said home-node desktop manager program second configuration.

8. Apparatus for a home-node of a communication network having a mobile-node comprising a memory device operable to store a mobile node security feature identification and a current configuration status message, the home-node including an home node email manager program capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home-node, in accordance with a first configuration of the home-node email manager program, said apparatus comprising:

a computing device executing the home-node email manager program with the first configuration including an enablement of a mobile-node reconfiguration capability that configures the home-node email manager program with the first configuration and a home node security feature identification established for the home-node email manager program;

a receiver that receives a status summary request, which requests a current configuration of the home-node email manager program, and that receives a mobile-node-communicated reconfiguration message, said reconfiguration message including the mobile node security feature identification and instructions to make a reconfiguration change to a home node configuration file for reconfiguring effectuation of disposition of the email messages responsive to the reconfiguration message;

a configuration status summary returner that returns a configuration status summary of the first configuration of the home node email manager to the mobile node;

a security feature identification checker that checks said mobile node security feature identification against said home node security feature identification;

a comparator that compares the instructions to make said reconfiguration change with said first configuration of the home-node email manager program to determine if the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home node email manager program when said mobile node security feature identification and said home node security feature identification match;

a home-node email manager program reconfigurer that reconfigures the home-node email manager program to a second configuration of the home-node email manager program including said reconfiguration change when said reconfiguration change is determined to be proper and logically consistent with said first configuration of said home node email manager program, wherein a first email type message received at the home node is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type of disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, the email being unchanged by dispositions; and

a transmitter that transmits a confirmation message to said mobile-node, said confirmation message including a summary of said second configuration of said home-node email manager program.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a transmitter that transmits an acknowledgement message to the mobile-node indicating results of said comparison of the included reconfiguration change with said first configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said acknowledgement message includes a request for mobile-node reconfirmation message when said reconfiguration change is determined to be incompatible with said first configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mobile node and home node security feature identification comprises a password.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mobile node and home node security feature identification further comprises a specification of only certain mobile-nodes as being authorized to have reconfiguration messages executed by the home-node.

13. Apparatus for a communication network having at least a mobile-node and a home-node, the home-node including a configured email manager program capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home-node in accordance with a configuration of the home-node email manager, and the mobile-node comprising a memory device operable to store a mobile-node security feature identification and a current configuration status included in a confirmation message, said apparatus for reconfiguring the home-node email manager from the mobile node, said apparatus comprising:

a configuration status request message generator selectably coupled to the communication network and configured for selectably generating a status summary request for transmission to the home node in order to determine the current configuration of the email manager;

a receiver configured to receive a configuration status summary of the current configuration of the email manager;

a reconfiguration message generator selectably coupled to the communication network for generating a reconfiguration message comprising a mobile-node security feature identification and instructions to make changes to a home-node configuration file for reconfiguring the effectuation of disposition of the email messages responsive to the reconfiguration message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the reconfiguration message to the home-node wherein the home-node performs the reconfiguration of the home-node email manager when said mobile-node security feature matches a home-node security feature and when the home-node determines the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home-node desktop email manager;

whereby a first type email message received at the home-node from the communication network is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, the email messages being unchanged by dispositions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, said receiver further configured to receive an acknowledgement message from the home-node indicating results of said comparison of the included reconfiguration change with said first configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said security feature identification comprises a password.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said security feature identification further comprises a specification of only certain mobile-nodes as authorized to have reconfiguration messages executed by the home-node.

17. A method for reconfiguring a home-node desktop email program from a mobile-node through a communication network, the home-node desktop email manager being capable of automatically effectuating a plurality of different dispositions for different email messages received at the home node, in accordance with a configuration of the home-node email manager and wherein the mobile-node includes a memory device operable to store a mobile-node security feature identification and a current configuration status included in a confirmation message, said method comprising:

selectably generating a status summary request at a configuration status request message generator selectably coupled from the mobile-node to the communication network for transmission to the home node in order to determine the current configuration of the email manager;

receiving a configuration status summary of the current configuration of the email manager at the mobile-node;

generating at the mobile-node a reconfiguration message comprising a mobile-node security feature identification and instructions to make changes to a home-node configuration file for reconfiguring the effectuation of disposition of the email messages responsive to the reconfiguration message; and

transmitting the reconfiguration message to the home-node wherein the home-node performs the reconfiguration of the home-node email manager when said mobile-node security feature matches a home-node security feature and when the home-node determines the reconfiguration message is considered to be proper and logically consistent with the home-node desktop email manager;

whereby a first type email message received at the home-node from the communication network is automatically provided a first type of disposition prior to receipt of the reconfiguration message and provided a second type disposition after receipt of the reconfiguration message, the email messages being unchanged by dispositions.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving an acknowledgement message from the home-node indicating results of said comparison of the included reconfiguration change with said first configuration.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said security feature identification comprises a password.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said security feature identification further comprises a specifying of only certain mobile-nodes as authorized to have reconfiguration messages executed by the home-node.