PASSWORDLESS ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL) COMMUNICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM
20190182248 ยท 2019-06-13
Inventors
Cpc classification
H04L63/0876
ELECTRICITY
H04L61/106
ELECTRICITY
H04L51/48
ELECTRICITY
H04W4/14
ELECTRICITY
H04L63/0853
ELECTRICITY
H04L51/046
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
Disclosed is a passwordless electronic mail (e-mail) communication method and system. The method includes receiving a cell phone number inputted by a user over a user communication device for registering the user with a server hosting a passwordless email service website with a domain name, sending a SMS message including a verification code to the user using Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) APIs, authenticating the user communication device using the received verification code, and in response to a successful authentication of the user communication device of the user: converting the received cell phone number into a predefined text email address containing the cell phone number and the domain name, and facilitating the user with transmission and reception of e-mails globally, to and from another user using the converted predefined text email address.
Claims
1. A passwordless electronic mail (e-mail) communication method, comprising: receiving data inputted over an e-mail client installed on a user communication device of a first user for registering the first user with a first server hosting a passwordless email service website with a domain name, wherein the data for registering the user communication device of the first user with the first server comprising at least one of: a cell phone number, and a country code; sending, by the first server, a Short Message Service (SMS) message comprising a verification code to the user communication device of the first user using Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) APIs; authenticating, by the first user, the user communication device using the received verification code; and, in response to a successful authentication of the user communication device of the first user: converting, by the first server, at least one of: the cell phone number, and the country code of the first user into a predefined text email address comprising the cell phone number and the domain name, and facilitating the first user with transmission and reception of e-mails globally, to and from a second user using the predefined text email address.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined text email address is in format: <cell phone number>@<domain name>.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined text email address is in the format: <country code><cell phone number>@<domain name>.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification code sent to the user communication device of the first user comprises at least one of a one-time password, a PIN code, and a CAPTCHA.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically capturing and storing, by the first server an identity of the user communication device of the first user, wherein the identity of the user communication device is captured before sending the SMS message with the verification code to the first user.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identity comprises at least one of an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, and a mobile equipment identifier (MEID) number of the user communication device.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the identity of the user communication device of the first user captured and stored by the first server enables the first server to auto verify the first user's registration status with the first server, thereby facilitating the first user to auto login on the e-mail client installed on the user communication device associated therewith.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission and reception of the e-mails globally to and from the second user by the first user using the predefined text email address is facilitated via the first server, if the second user is found to be registered with the first server.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission and reception of the e-mails globally to and from the second user by the first user using the predefined text email address is facilitated via the first server and a second server, if the second user is found to be unregistered with the first server.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second server comprising a third-party email server.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising notifying the second user about new e-mails, and prompting the second user to install the e-mail client on a user communication device of the second user, in response to detecting the second user is unregistered with the first server.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating and assigning one or more tasks to the second user by the first user, and creating and sharing one or more calendar events with the second user by the first user.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling, the first user to select a first contact from a plurality of contacts present in a phonebook of the user communication device associated therewith to send and receive emails globally to and from the selected first contact without needing to enter the predefined text email address associated with the first contact, if the selected first contact is already registered with the first server, and providing, a user interface in response to the selection of the first contact, wherein the user interface facilitates the first user to compose a new e-mail, reply to an email, forward the email to the first contact.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling, the first user to select a second contact from the plurality of contacts present in the phonebook of the user communication device associated therewith to send and receive emails globally to and from the selected second contact by utilizing a third party email address owned by the selected second contact, if the selected second contact is unregistered with the first server, and providing, the user interface in response to the selection of the second contact, wherein the user interface facilitates the first user to compose a new e-mail, reply to an email, forward the email to the second contact, address the e-mail for transmission to the second contact.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user communication device of the first user with the verification code further comprising: receiving the verification code inputted on the e-mail client installed on the user communication device of the first user; comparing the received verification code with the verification code sent to the user communication device of the first user; and authenticating the user communication device of the first user if the verification code inputted on the user communication device by the first user matches the verification code sent to the first user.
16. A passwordless electronic mail (e-mail) communication system, comprising: a first server hosting a passwordless email service website with a domain name, a user communication device of a first user with an e-mail client installed thereon, wherein the first server configured to: receive data inputted over the e-mail client installed on the user communication device of the first user for registering the first user with the first server, wherein the data for registering the user communication device of the first user with the first server comprising at least one of: a cell phone number, and a country code; send a Short Message Service (SMS) message comprising a verification code to the user communication device of the first user using Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) APIs; in response to receiving the verification code by the first user, authenticate the user communication device associated therewith; and in response to a successful authentication of the user communication device of the first user: convert at least one of: the cell phone number, and the country code of the first user into a predefined text email address comprising the cell phone number and the domain name of the passwordless email service website, and facilitate the first user with transmission and reception of e-mails globally, to and from a second user using the predefined text email address.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the verification code sent to the user communication device of the first user comprises at least one of a one-time password, a PIN code, and a CAPTCHA.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the predefined text email address is in format <cell phone number>@<domain name>.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the predefined text email address is in format <country code><cell phone number>@<domain name>.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first server further configured to automatically capture and store an identity of the user communication device of the first user, wherein the identity of the user communication device is captured before sending the SMS message with the verification code to the first user.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the identity of the user communication device of the first user captured and stored by the first server enables the first server to auto verify the first user's registration with the first server, thereby facilitating the first user to auto login on the e-mail client installed on the user communication device associated therewith.
22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first server further configured to facilitate: transmission and reception of the e-mails globally to and from the second user by the first user using the predefined text email address, if the second user is found to be registered with the first server; transmission and reception of the e-mails globally to and from the second user by the first user using the predefined text email address via a second server, if the second user is found to be unregistered with the first server; notifying the second user about new e-mails, and prompting the second user to install the e-mail client on a user communication device of the second user, in response to detecting the second user is unregistered with the first server; enabling the first user to create and assign one or more tasks to the second user; and enabling the first user to create and sharing one or more calendar events with the second user.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second server comprising a third-party email server.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] For a better understanding of the aforementioned objectives, aspects and embodiments of the present invention, as well as additional aspects and embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the description of embodiments provided below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] As used in the specification, the singular forms a, an and the may also include plural references. For example, the term a user, a user communication device) may include a plurality of users and user communication devices. Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements in the accompanying figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. There may be additional components described in the foregoing application that may not be depicted on the described drawings. In the event such a component is described, but not depicted in a drawing, the absence of such components from the drawing should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification.
[0021] Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention utilizes a combination of components, which constitutes methods and systems for a passwordless email communication between various users. Accordingly, the components have been represented, showing only specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. For the purpose of this invention, the terms user, sender, first user and so on are interchangeably used in the following description. Likewise, the terms user, recipient, second user and so on are interchangeably used in the following description
[0022] References to one embodiment, an embodiment, another embodiment, one example, an example, another example, an aspect, another aspect and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase in an embodiment does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
[0023] Further, the words comprising, having, containing, and including, and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as first and second and so on used in this description are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements.
[0024] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to
[0025] The system environment 100 includes a passwordless email service providing server 102 (referred to as server hereafter), one or more database servers such as a database server 104, and a network 106. The system environment 100 further includes a user communication device 108 associated with the user/sender 110, and a user communication device 112 associated with the user/recipient 114. The user communication devices 108,112 may include but not limited to mobile phones and the like devices. The server 102, the user communication device 108, and the user communication device 112 may communicate with each other over a communication network such as the network 106. The server 102, and the database server 104 may also communicate with each other over the same network 106 or over a different network.
[0026] The server 102 is a computer, a software framework, or a combination thereof, that may provide a generalized approach to create the application server implementation for realizing the present invention. The server 102 of the present invention is configured to host a passwordless email service website owned by an email service provider such as for example: www.passwordlessemailservice.com with a domain name as passwordlessemailservice.com. Further, the server 102 is configured to make available an email client to users 110,114 (via the network 106) registered with it, so that the users 110,114 can access the services of the server 102 over the email client installed on the communication devices 108,112 associated therewith.
[0027] Although the present disclosure is explained by considering that the system 100 is implemented on the server 102, it may be understood that the system 100 may also be implemented in a variety of computing systems, such as a mainframe computer, a network server, cloud, and the like. The server 102 may be realized through various web-based technologies such as, but not limited to, a Java web-framework, a .NET framework, a PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) framework, or any other web-application framework. The server 102 may be configured to operate on one or more operating systems such as Windows, Android, Unix, Ubuntu, Mac OS, or the like.
[0028] The server 102 typically include at least one processor, an input/output (I/O) interface, and a memory. The processor may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions or program instructions stored in the memory (any computer-readable medium known in the art). Preferably, one or more set of instructions/programs that defines the functions of the server 102 would be stored in the memory which will then be executed by the processor to make the functionality of the server 102 realizable.
[0029] The server 102 may further include an I/O interface comprising a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like. The I/O interface may allow the server 102 to interact with the users 110, 114 through the user communication devices 108 or 112 associated with the user 110 and the user 114 respectively. Further, the I/O interface may enable the server 102 to communicate with other communication devices, such as web servers and external data servers such as external third-party email servers 116. The I/O interface may further facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite. In one embodiment of the invention, the users 110, 114 may access the server 102 and associated functionality in the form of one or more user interfaces and perform various operations using the email client installed over the user communication devices 108, 112, enabled via the I/O interface and various communication interfaces. The system architecture or implementation for the server 102 is very briefly described here, the same would be described in more detailed with respect to the
[0030] The database or database server 104 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code, executable by the circuitry that may be configured to perform one or more data management and storage operations such as receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting queries, data, or content. In an embodiment, the database server 104 may be a data management and storage computing device that may be communicatively coupled to the server 102, the user communication device 108, or the user communication device 112 via the network 106 to perform the one or more operations. In an exemplary embodiment, the database server 104 may be configured to manage and store data related to the users 110,114, for example, profile information related to the users 110, 114, cell phone numbers associated with the users 110, 114, store incoming email messages from the users 110, 114, store identity associated with the user communication devices 108,112, events and tasks created by the users 110, 114 and so on.
[0031] In an embodiment, the database server 104 may be configured to receive a query from the server 102 for retrieval of the stored information, For example, query on retrieval of an identity of the communication device 108 of the user 110 to help the user auto login onto the email client installed thereon. Based on the received query, the database server 104 may be configured to communicate the requested information to the server 102. Examples of the database server 104 may include, but are not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop, or a network of computer systems.
[0032] The network 106 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code, executable by the circuitry that may be configured to transmit SMS messages, emails and requests between various entities, such as the server 102, the server 116, the database server 104, the user communication device 108, and the user communication device 112. Examples of the network 106 include, but are not limited to, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a satellite network, the Internet, a fiber optic network, a coaxial cable network, an infrared (IR) network, a radio frequency (RF) network, cellular phone link for the mobile phone users to send and receive SMS messages and combinations thereof. Various entities in the system environment 100 may connect to the network 106 in accordance with various wired and wireless communication protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication protocols, or any combination thereof.
[0033] The server 102 of the present invention includes one or more functional modules that facilitate the user/sender 110 to send and receive email messages globally to and from the user/recipient 114 using a special text email address that's formed by using the cell phone of the user 110 and the domain name of the passwordless email service website hosted on the server 102. Referring to the
[0034] The email messaging module 202 is configured to receive an email message from the sender 110 and direct the email to the recipient 114 if both the sender 110 and the recipient 114 are registered with the server 102. If the recipient 114 is found to be non-registered with the server 102, then the email messaging module 202 may direct the incoming email message from the user 110 via a third party email server 116 with which the recipient might be registered in order to deliver the email to the intended recipient 114. Also, if no email account is found to be associated with the recipient 114 and stored in the database server 104, the messaging module 202 may automatically create an email account for the recipient 114 and store in the database server 104. The email messaging module 202 is preferably implemented using SMTP, LMTP or other similar server protocols. The email messages to and from the users 110, 114 is stored in email store 208.
[0035] The SMS gateway 204 is implemented using Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) APIs. The Short Message Service (SMS) messages sent by the server 102 to the user communication device 108 of the user 110 using the SMS server/gateway 204.
[0036] The phone number to a predefined text email address conversion module 206 coverts the data (that's cell phone number) inputted by the user 110 into a predefined text email format address that includes the cell phone number of the user 110 and the domain name of the passwordless email serve website hosted on the server 102. The generated predefined text email address may be in the following forms: <cell phone number>@<domain name> or <country code><cell phone number>@<domain name>. Assuming, the user 110 inputs his cell phone number as 1245214589 then the predefined text email address to which the phone number gets converted would be: 1245214589@passwordlessemailservice.com or 245214589@ passwordlessemailservice.com
[0037] The event and task module 210 configured to facilitate the user 110 to create and assign one or more tasks to the other user 114, and create and share one or more calendar events with the other user 114. Particularly, the user 110 can create any calendar event and invite other user 114. Once the invite is sent, the other user 114 can either accept or reject the invitation for the event. Likewise, the user 110 can create and assign the task to the other user 114 and can also receive the tasks from the other users 114. The user 114 can either accept or reject the assigned task.
[0038] Referring to
[0039] An embodiment of the present invention, or portions thereof, may be implemented as computer readable code on the computer system 200. As described above, the passwordless e-mail service providing server 102 of the
[0040] Referring to the
[0041] As seen in the
[0042] At steps 404, the server 102 receives the inputted data, particularly data includes 5101445222 and/or 15101445222. Besides receiving the inputted data, according to an embodiment, the server 102 automatically captures and stores (in the server database 104) an identity of the user communication device 108 associated with the user 110. The identity preferably includes but not limited to an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, and a mobile equipment identifier (MEID) number of the user communication device 108. The identity of the user communication device 108 of the user 110 enables the server 102 to automatically verify the user's registration status with it, thereby facilitating the user 110 to auto login on the e-mail client installed on the user communication device 108 without requiring the user 110 to remember any login credentials such as username and password. The identity of the user communication device 108 is captured and stored before sending the SMS message with the verification code to the user 110 as shown in step 406.
[0043] Upon receiving the inputted data along with the identity of the device 108 as described above, at the step 406, the server 102 then sends a Short Message Service (SMS) message using the SMS gateway 204 facilitated by PHP APIs. The SMS message includes a verification code to be used by the user 110 to authenticate the user communication device 108. The verification code may include but not limited to a one-time password, a PIN code, and a CAPTCHA.
[0044] Following the step 406, at step 408, the authentication of the user communication device 108 using the received verification code takes place. The authentication of the user communication device 108 with the verification code further necessitates the server 102 to receive the verification code inputted by the user 110 on the user communication device 108, compare the received verification code with the verification code sent to the user communication device 108 of the user 110, and finally, authenticate the user communication device 108 of the user 110 if the verification code inputted on the user communication device 108 by the user 110 matches the verification code sent to the user 110.
[0045] Following the step 408, upon successful authentication of the user communication device 108, the method proceeds to step 410. The step 410 describes conversion of the received data into a predefined text e-mail address containing the domain name of the service website hosted on the server 102. Considering the example presented at the steps 402, and 404, at the step 410, the module 206 of the server 102 converts the received data (5101445222 and/or 15101445222) into predefined text e-mail address of following formats: 15101445222@passwordlessemailservice.com Or 5101445222 @passwordlessemailservice.com.
[0046] Although the example shows the domain name in the format .com, it should be understood that scope of the present invention is not limited to any specific domain format thus any other domains such as for example .net, .co.in and so on may be used depending on what domain is owned by the email service provider or related to the service provider's website. Once the inputted data is converted to the predefined text email address format, the generated or converted predefined text email address is then stored in the server database 104 by the server 102 for future use and operations.
[0047] At step 412, upon conversion of the inputted data to the predefined text email address associated with the user 110, a user account related to the user 110 is created and stored in the database server 104. The server 102 then facilitates the user 110 to send and receive email messages globally to and from any other users 114 using the predefined text email address associated with the user 110. The transmission and reception of the e-mails globally using the predefined text email addresses of the users is facilitated by the email messaging module 202 discussed above.
[0048] As shown in the
[0049] As seen in the
[0050] According to other embodiment, the user 110 can also use the UIs 800 or 1000 to send emails (fresh emails or ccs) to other users 114 who are not registered with the server 102 and may or may not be in the user 110 related phonebook 906. For example, the user 110 can send emails to other users 114 who are users of various other email servers (third-party email servers 116) or email service providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL or other business related email servers etc. The user 110 can use at least one email address belonging to such users 114 and then address the email message using that third party provided email address to send to the user 114. For example, assuming the other user/recipient 114 to have a Gmail address as user@gmail.com, then the user/sender 110 can use this third party provided email address associated with the user 114 to send the email message. The user 110 can address the email message using to: address bars 1009 and/or cc: address bar 1010 to send the email message to the other user 114. Whenever, there is transmission and reception of the email messages between the user 110 and the other users 114 of the other email services, it necessitates the server 102 to communicate with the third party server 116 as well in order to route the incoming email messages to and from the user 110 and the other users 114. The email messaging module 202 of the server 102 receives the email messages from the user/sender 110 and direct the email to the user/recipient 114 and vice versa. During such email messages routing to and from the users 110, 114, the email messages are stored in the email store 208. The server 102 also notifies the other users 114 of other third party email services about new e-mails, and prompts the users 114 to install the e-mail client on the user communication devices associated therewith, in response to detecting the users 114 are unregistered with the server 102.
[0051] Referring to the
[0052] Referring to the
[0053] The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this application pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope of the present invention.