# US 8,572,189 B2 · Method and system for configuring E-mail for mobile devices

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- Number: US 8,572,189 B2
- Document ID: US8572189B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/522,901
- Filed: 2008-01-10
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-01-10
- Assignees: Nuance Communications, Inc.
- Applicants: Brian Roundtree; Jake A. Russell
- Inventors: Brian Roundtree; Jake A. Russell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8572189B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L 51/58: Message adaptation for wireless communication
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A software and/or hardware facility that allows users to enable e-mail on a mobile device in an automated fashion. Using a mobile device, a user selects an e-mail service that they desire to access. An access request is made from the mobile device to a configuration management server. The configuration management server sends an e-mail, SMS message, or other message to the user or to a system administrator with the access request. The user or system administrator is presented with a form that allows the user or administrator to provide sufficient information to enable e-mail service for the mobile device. The configuration management server may store the received information in a database so that the information can be re-used by other mobile device users having the same e-mail domain. The information is transmitted to the mobile device and is used to enable e-mail service on the device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing configuration parameters to a mobile device to allow the mobile device to access an e-mail service, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a user to access an e-mail service, the request transmitted from a mobile device of the user and containing an e-mail address of the user having a domain name corresponding to the e-mail service;
querying a configuration settings database to determine whether configuration parameters associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address are stored in the configuration settings database, the database storing configuration parameters associated with a plurality of domain names and a plurality of e-mail services, each e-mail service having an associated system administrator;
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are stored in the configuration settings database, transmitting the stored configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service; and
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are not stored in the configuration settings database, querying a system administrator of the requested e-mail service for configuration parameters associated with the domain name that are necessary to access the e-mail service, receiving configuration parameters from the system administrator, and transmitting the received configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters that are queried to the system administrator are dependent on the e-mail service in the plurality of e-mail services to which access is being sought.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein querying a system administrator for configuration parameters comprises:
prompting the user for an address associated with the system administrator;
receiving the system administrator address from the user; and
transmitting a message to the system administrator at the received system administrator address.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the address is an e-mail address and the message is an e-mail message.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the address is an instant messaging address and the message is an instant message.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the address is a VPN service address.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein querying a system administrator for configuration parameters comprises transmitting a message to the user with instructions to the user to forward the message to the system administrator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein querying a system administrator for configuration parameters includes providing a link to a form that is completed by the system administrator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the form contains a plurality of data fields, a portion of which are pre-populated with data.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the configuration parameters received from the system administrator in the configuration settings database, the received configuration parameters being associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user when the mobile device has been configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the user to install additional applications used in conjunction with the e-mail service.

### Claim 13

A system for providing configuration parameters to a mobile device to allow the mobile device to access an e-mail service, the system comprising:
a configuration settings database that contains a plurality of domain names and configuration parameters associated with each of the plurality of domain names; and
a configuration server coupled to the configuration settings database and configured to:
receive a request from a user to access an e-mail service, the request transmitted from a mobile device of the user and containing an e-mail address of the user having a domain name corresponding to the e-mail service;
query the configuration settings database to determine whether configuration parameters associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address are stored in the configuration settings database, the database storing configuration parameters associated with a plurality of domain names and a plurality of e-mail services, each e-mail service associated with a system administrator;
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are stored in the configuration settings database, transmit the stored configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service; and
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are not stored in the configuration settings database, query a system administrator of the requested e-mail service for configuration parameters associated with the domain name that are necessary to access the e-mail service, receive configuration parameters from the system administrator, and transmit the received configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration parameters that are queried to the system administrator are dependent on the e-mail service in the plurality of e-mail services to which access is being sought.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the query to a system administrator for configuration parameters comprises:
prompting the user for an address associated with the system administrator;
receiving the system administrator address from the user; and
transmitting a message to the system administrator at the received system administrator address.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the address is an e-mail address and the message is an e-mail message.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the address is an instant messaging address and the message is an instant message.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the address is a VPN service address.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the query to a system administrator for configuration parameters comprises transmitting a message to the user with instructions to the user to forward the message to the system administrator.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the query to a system administrator for configuration parameters includes providing a link to a form that is completed by the system administrator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the form contains a plurality of data fields, a portion of which are pre-populated with data.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration server is further configured to store the configuration parameters received from the system administrator in the configuration settings database, the received configuration parameters being associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration server is further configured to notify the user when the mobile device has been configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration server is further configured to direct the user to install additional applications used in conjunction with the e-mail service.

### Claim 25

A method of providing configuration parameters to a mobile device to allow the mobile device to access an e-mail service, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a user to access an e-mail service, the request transmitted from a mobile device of the user and containing an e-mail address of the user having a domain name corresponding to the e-mail service;
querying a configuration settings database to determine whether configuration parameters associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address are stored in the configuration settings database, the database storing configuration parameters associated with a plurality of domain names and a plurality of e-mail services;
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are stored in the configuration settings database, transmitting the stored configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service; and
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are not stored in the configuration settings database, prompting the user for an address associated with the requested e-mail service of the user to which a configuration form should be sent, receiving, from the user, an address to which the configuration form should be sent, transmitting to the received address a configuration form containing a plurality of data fields for receiving configuration parameters associated with the domain name that are necessary to access the e-mail service, receiving configuration parameters in a completed configuration form, and transmitting the received configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of data fields is dependent on the e-mail service in the plurality of e-mail services to which access is being sought.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the received address is an e-mail address.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the received address is associated with a system administrator.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the received address is associated with the user.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein a portion of the plurality of data fields are pre-populated with data.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising storing the received configuration parameters in the configuration settings database, the received configuration parameters being associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address.

### Claim 32 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising notifying the user when the mobile device has been configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 33

A system for providing configuration parameters to a mobile device to allow the mobile device to access an e-mail service, the system comprising:
a configuration settings database that contains a plurality of domain names and configuration parameters associated with each of the plurality of domain names; and
a configuration server coupled to the configuration settings database and configured to:
receive a request from a user to access an e-mail service, the request transmitted from a mobile device of the user and containing an e-mail address of the user having a domain name corresponding to the e-mail service;
query the configuration settings database to determine whether configuration parameters associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address are stored in the configuration settings database, the settings database storing configuration parameters associated with a plurality of domain names and a plurality of e-mail services;
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are stored in the configuration settings database, transmit the stored configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service; and
if configuration parameters associated with the domain name are not stored in the configuration settings database, prompt the user for an address associated with the e-mail service of the user to which a configuration form should be sent, receive from the user an address to which the configuration form should be sent, transmit to the received address a configuration form containing a plurality of data fields for receiving configuration parameters associated with the domain name that are necessary to access the e-mail service, receive configuration parameters in a completed configuration form, and transmit the received configuration parameters to the mobile device of the user so that the mobile device can be configured to access the e-mail service.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of data fields is dependent on the e-mail service in the plurality of e-mail services to which access is being sought.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the received address is an e-mail address.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the received address is associated with a system administrator.

### Claim 37 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the received address is associated with the user.

### Claim 38 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein a portion of the plurality of data fields are pre-populated with data.

### Claim 39 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the configuration server is further configured to store the received configuration parameters in the configuration settings database, the received configuration parameters being associated with the domain name from the user's e-mail address.

### Claim 40 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein the configuration server is further configured to notify the user when the mobile device has been configured to access the e-mail service.