page 1 of 29 net-scale technologies, inc. network based personal information and messaging services...

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Net-Scale Technologies, Inc.

Network Based Personal Information Network Based Personal Information and Messaging Servicesand Messaging Services

Urs Muller ([email protected])Beat Flepp ([email protected])

Net-Scale Technologies, Inc.Keyport, NJ, USAwww.net-scale.com

FDIS San FranciscoAugust 12–13, 2002

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OutlineOutline

1. Complexity of Today’s Messaging Reality

2. Solution: Separation of Messaging and Access Infrastructure

3. Steps for Realizing the Solution

4. Economics of the Solution

5. Concluding Remarks

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1.1. Complexity of Today’s Messaging Complexity of Today’s Messaging RealityReality

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MailboxesMailboxes

• E-Mail– Company– Personal– Dedicated for mailing lists and newsgroups

• Voicemail– Company– Mobile– Home

• Fax– Delivered as e-mail

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Unified Messaging/CommunicationUnified Messaging/Communication

• Does not solve the problem of multiple mailboxes

• Multiple mailboxes are here for a reason– Separated for different purposes (e.g., home

and work)– Separated because of multiple service

providers involved (e.g., office and mobile voicemail)

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““Explosion” of Access DevicesExplosion” of Access Devices

• Multiple PCs– Work, home, notebook

• Web browsers– PC, Internet café, Web kiosk

• Handheld devices– Pocket PC, Palm, BlackBerry

• Mobile Phones– Various generations of WAP Phones

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Reasons for Continuously Using Reasons for Continuously Using Different Access DevicesDifferent Access Devices

• Buying a new PC or laptop

• Travel– Internet cafés and Web kiosks– Using a guest office or a friend’s PC

• Broken, stolen, or shared laptop

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Data Storages InvolvedData Storages Involved

Network message store(often limited space)

Local message store

User profile Mailbox credentials Address book Signatures User settings

Network side Client side

Message serverMessage client

Storagelayer

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Main ProblemMain Problem

The existence of multiple message servers and multiple message clients leads to a fragmentation of message and user profile data that is hard to manage.

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2.2. Solution: Separation of Messaging Solution: Separation of Messaging and Access Infrastructureand Access Infrastructure

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Separation of Messaging and Access Separation of Messaging and Access InfrastructureInfrastructure

E-mailserver(s)

AddressBooks/

Directories

Message Access Server

Message Access Server

Voicemailserver(s)

VoiceXMLServer

UserProfile

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AT&T WorldNet: Message CenterAT&T WorldNet: Message Center

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PropertiesProperties

• Access to all message types and mailboxes from almost any device

• Single ID and password for multiple mailboxes

• No installation nor configuration required

Drawback: User Profile proprietary and not accessible through the network

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User Profile in the NetworkUser Profile in the Network

User Profile Server

UserProfile

1

2

2

e.g.,cache

Message client

1. Client retrieves user’s mailbox information from profile server in the network.

2. Client contacts all message servers.

Message server 1

Message server 2

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Extensibility of the ConceptExtensibility of the Concept

• All types of message clients – PC based and Web based

• Other services and features– Address books and directories– Network file storage– Calendar, to-do lists, notes– Collaboration tools (shared address books, shared

folders, web publishing)

• Agents– Message filtering, prioritizing– Auto filing, aging– Self learning junk mail filters– Deferring of messages to a later date

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Extended Service OpportunitiesExtended Service Opportunities

User profile

Message server(s)

Calendar server(s)

File storage

Web server(s)

WebInterface 1

Web browsersPC Internet café, kiosk

Pocket PCPalmWAP PhoneBlackberry

Client softwarePCPocket PCPalmBlackberry . . .

WebInterface 2

Agents

AddressBooks/

Directories

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Data Stored in a Network User ProfileData Stored in a Network User Profile

• Mailbox access information and login credentials (e-mail, voicemail)

• Address book: either directly or as a pointer to external address book(s)

• E-mail and other settings (e.g., signatures)

• Pointers and credentials for other resources, e.g., click-to-dial

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Example of a Web Client UIExample of a Web Client UI

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3.3. Steps for Realizing the SolutionSteps for Realizing the Solution

Definition of open specifications (standard) for user profile database

Implementation and deployment of a model service

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Open Specifications (Standard)Open Specifications (Standard)

• Access protocol(s)

• Data fields

• Interface for extensions (experimental and proprietary)

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Model ServiceModel Service

• Good implementation (reliable, fast, useful features)

• Large and economical network-based message store (e-mail server that is optimized for large mailbox size)

• Secure access method (encryption and onetime passwords)

• Secure message exchange

• IMAP4 front-end that maps mailboxes to folders (as a way to use old PC clients)

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Overview of Model ServiceOverview of Model Service

E-mailservers

Directories

Large e-mail store

User profile

Web Interface

IMAP4 InterfaceAddress

book

Web browsers

Local clients

LDAP

IMAP4HTTP

LDAP IMAP4

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Possible ObstaclesPossible Obstacles

• Trust for storing user passwords in the network

• End to end security

• Trust for storing user’s private encryption key in the network (for supporting message encryption)

• Trust for secure access to network profile (e.g., onetime passwords)

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4.4. Economics of the SolutionEconomics of the Solution

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Advantages to End UsersAdvantages to End Users

• Single ID and password to access multiple resources

• Dramatically reduced complexity for configuring PC based mail clients

• Consistent user settings available from all clients (vendor independent)

• Easy to block access to all accounts by changing a single password (the network profile password)

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Advantages to Vendors and Service Advantages to Vendors and Service ProvidersProviders

• Easier to make alternative clients popular (Palm, Pocket PC)

• Easier to sell services at Internet Cafés, Web kiosks, WebTV, and Hotel TV Internet access

• Reduced customer care cost for PC based e-mail clients

• Increased usage of messaging services increases network usage, e.g.,– Mobile phones– Hotel services, including sending messages and click-

to-dial

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Low Cost Market Introduction (about Low Cost Market Introduction (about 10,000 users)10,000 users)

• 2–4 Linux servers

• Sufficient disk space

• Commercial software: LDAP server, IMAP4 server, Web server

• Custom software: Web interface, IMAP4 interface

• Small amount of space in a data center (space, power, backup service, Internet access, and service monitoring)

• Limited customer care and billing infrastructure

• Target market: small businesses and home offices

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5.5. Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

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Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

• Today’s complexity of message access is overwhelming for many users

• A network user profile – dramatically reduces this complexity and– provides opportunities for many new services

(e.g., agents)

• A strategy for a low cost market introduction and acceptance exists

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network slide

message center slide

email slide

message types

access infrastructure

fragmentation of message

multiple message clients