Mobile server with multiple service connections

Abstract

A method of communicating between a mobile communications device and a plurality of services that are used by the mobile communications device. The method includes establishing, through a firewall and a wireless network, a first communications session between the mobile communications device and a mobile server located in an enterprise network with which the mobile communications device is associated; and establishing, concurrent with the first communications session at least one further communications session between the mobile server and a service, the at least one further communications session being established by the mobile server as a session proxy for the mobile communications device.

1 . At a mobile server located in an enterprise network with which a mobile communications device is associated, a method of facilitating communication between the mobile communications device and a plurality of services, the method comprising:
 establishing a first communications session with the mobile communications device; and   establishing, concurrent with the first communications session, a further communications session with a service external to the mobile server, the further communications session being established by the mobile server as a session proxy for the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 retrieving, from a configuration database at the mobile server, service identification information associated with the mobile communications device; 
 selecting, based on the service identification information, the service for the establishing of the further communications session. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, at the mobile server from the mobile communications device over the first communications session, a status notification message; 
 responsive to the receiving, transmitting, from the mobile server to the service over the further communications session, the status notification message on behalf of the mobile communications device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile server includes an email service for forwarding email messages to the mobile communications device and the service includes a peer to peer communications service for communications between mobile communications devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service is associated with a further mobile server located behind a further firewall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein establishing the first communication session further comprises establishing the first communication session through a firewall and a wireless network. 
     
     
         7 . A mobile server adapted to couple an enterprise network to a wireless communications network that is in wireless communication with a mobile communications device associated with the enterprise network, the mobile server comprising:
 a service manager adapted to:   establish a first communications session with the mobile communications device; and   establish, concurrent with the first communications session, a further communications session with a service external to the mobile server, the further communications session being established by the mobile server as a session proxy for the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile server of  claim 7  further comprising a configuration database storing service identification information associated with the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile server of  claim 8  wherein the service manager is configured to:
 retrieve the service identification information from the configuration database; and 
 select, based on the service identification information, the service for the establishing of the further communications session. 
 
     
     
         10 . The mobile server of  claim 7  wherein the service manager is configured to:
 receive, from the mobile communications device over the first communications session, a status notification message; and 
 transmit, from the mobile server to the service over the further communications session, the status notification message on behalf of the mobile communications devices. 
 
     
     
         11 . The mobile server of  claim 7  further comprising a messaging service module for forwarding email messages to the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile server of  claim 7  comprising a mobile data service module for adapting content for sending to the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile server of  claim 7  wherein the service manager is further adapted to establish the first communication session through a firewall and a wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a mobile server located in an enterprise network with which a mobile communications device is associated, configure the processor to:
 establish a first communications session with the mobile communications device; and   establish, concurrent with the first communications session, a further communications session with a service external to the mobile server, the further communications session being established by the mobile server as a session proxy for the mobile communications device.