Method and arrangement for delivering electronic messages

Abstract

Method for delivering electronic messages to a user including: receiving an electronic message from a sending party, said message containing a destination identity associated with said user, retrieving an IP address currently assigned to a terminal used by said user, based on said destination identity associated with said user, and delivering the electronic message to said terminal with the retrieved IP address as the destination address. A corresponding arrangement is also described.

1 . A method, executed in a messaging server for handling electronic messages for a user and delivering electronic messages directed to said user, comprising the following steps:
 receiving an electronic message from a sending party, said electronic message containing a destination identity associated with said user,   retrieving an Internet Protocol address currently assigned to a terminal used by said user, based on said destination identity associated with said user, and   delivering the electronic message to said terminal with the retrieved IP address as the destination address.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of receiving an electronic message is preceded by the step of registering the Internet Protocol address of the terminal in a Domain Name System Server connected to the messaging server.   
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 registering the Internet Protocol address of the terminal in the Domain Name System server is done by issuing a Dynamic Domain Name System update to the Domain Name System server.   
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of retrieving an Internet Protocol address includes:
 looking up the destination identity associated with the user in a directory connected to the messaging server to retrieve the terminal identity of the terminal used by the user, and   looking up the terminal identity of the terminal used by the user in the Domain Name System server to retrieve the Internet Protocol address currently assigned to the terminal used by the user.   
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of the protocols SMTP, LMTP or HTTP is used during said step of delivering the electronic message to the terminal.   
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electronic message is delivered to said terminal via at least one NAT node whereby a second messaging server is connected to said NAT node.   
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the electronic message is delivered to said terminal via said second messaging server.   
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal. 
   
   
       9 . A messaging server for handling electronic messages for a user and delivering electronic messages directed to said user, comprising:
 means for receiving an electronic message from a sending party, said message containing a destination identity associated with said user,   means for retrieving an Internet Protocol address currently assigned to a terminal used by said user, based on said destination identity associated with said user, and   means for delivering the electronic message to said terminal with the retrieved IP address as the destination address.   
   
   
       10 . The messaging server of  claim 9 , comprising:
 means for registering the Internet Protocol address of the terminal in a Domain Name System server, connected to the messaging server.   
   
   
       11 . The messaging server of  claim 10 , comprising:
 means for registering the Internet Protocol address of the terminal in the Domain Name System server by issuing a Dynamic Domain Name System update to the Domain Name System server.   
   
   
       12 . The messaging server of  claim 9 , comprising:
 means for looking up the destination identity associated with the user in a directory connected to the messaging server to retrieve the terminal identity of the terminal used by the user, and   means for looking up the terminal identity of the terminal used by the user in the Domain Name System server to retrieve the Internet Protocol address currently assigned to the terminal used by the user.   
   
   
       13 . The messaging server of  claim 9 , comprising:
 means for using one of the protocols SMTP, LMTP or HTTP during said step of delivering the electronic message to the terminal.   
   
   
       14 . The messaging server of  claim 9 , comprising:
 means for delivering the electronic message to said terminal via at least one NAT node whereby a second messaging server is connected to said NAT node.   
   
   
       15 . The messaging server of  claim 14 , comprising:
 means for delivering the electronic message to said terminal via said second messaging server.   
   
   
       16 . The messaging server of  claim 9 , wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal. 
   
   
       17 . A method of delivering electronic messages directed to a user, comprising the following steps:
 receiving an electronic message at a mail server, said message containing a mail address associated with said user,   retrieving an Internet Protocol address currently assigned to a terminal used by said user, based on said mail address associated with said user, and   delivering the electronic message to said terminal using the retrieved IP address of the terminal.   
   
   
       18 . A mail server for delivering electronic messages directed to a user, comprising:
 means for receiving an electronic message at the mail server, said message containing a mail address associated with said user,   means for retrieving an Internet Protocol address currently assigned to a terminal used by said user, based on said mail address associated with said user, and   means for delivering the electronic message to said terminal using the retrieved Internet Protocol address of the terminal.