Association of Address with Cloud Services Account

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017359331-A1
Application number	US-201615275222-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Jun 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for an electronic device. The method receives, through a communication address, an invitation to access a shared data asset via a cloud services platform. When the communication address is not associated with any account on the cloud services platform, the method identifies whether the device is associated with a cloud services account. When the device is associated with a cloud services account, the method prompts for input of a password for the cloud services account in order for the communication address to be associated with the cloud services account and for access to be enabled to the shared data asset.

First claim

1 . For an electronic device, a method comprising:
receiving, through a communication address, an invitation to access a shared data asset via a cloud services platform; when the communication address is not associated with any account on the cloud services platform, identifying whether the device is associated with a cloud services account; and when the device is associated with a cloud services account, prompting for input of a password for the cloud services account in order for the communication address to be associated with the cloud services account and for access to be enabled to the shared data asset.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication address is an e-mail address and the invitation is received via an e-mail.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication address is a phone number and the invitation is received via a text message.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication address is an account with a messaging application and the invitation is received via a message.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the device is not associated with a cloud services account, prompting for input of a username and password for a cloud services account in order to associate the communication address with the cloud services account.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein prompting for input of the password comprises:
receiving a request to verify the communication address; in response to the request, sending a message to the cloud services platform requesting verification of the communication address; receiving a separate communication, through the communication address, that requests verification of an association of the communication address with the cloud services account; and upon receiving selection of an item in the separate communication, displaying a prompt for the cloud services account password.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein access is enabled to the shared data asset by encrypting the shared data asset with a public key associated with the cloud services account.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein access is enabled to the shared data asset by encrypting a record with a public key associated with the cloud services account, wherein the encrypted record provides a key for accessing the shared data asset.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cloud services account is a first cloud services account, wherein the encryption is performed by a device associated with a second cloud services account.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the record is also encrypted with a public key associated with the second cloud services account.

11 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program for execution by at least one processing unit of an electronic device, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
receiving, through a communication address, an invitation to access a shared data asset via a cloud services platform; when the communication address is not associated with any account on the cloud services platform, identifying whether the device is associated with a cloud services account; and when the device is associated with a cloud services account, prompting for input of a password for the cloud services account in order for the communication address to be associated with the cloud services account and for access to be enabled to the shared data asset.

12 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the communication address is an e-mail address and the invitation is received via an e-mail.

13 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the communication address is a phone number and the invitation is received via a text message.

14 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the communication address is an account with a messaging application and the invitation is received via a message.

15 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for prompting for input of a username and password for a cloud services account in order to associate the communication address with the cloud services account, when the device is not associated with a cloud services account.

16 . An electronic device comprising:
a set of processing units; and a non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program for execution by at least one processing unit of an electronic device, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
receiving, through a communication address, an invitation to access a shared data asset via a cloud services platform;
when the communication address is not associated with any account on the cloud services platform, identifying whether the device is associated with a cloud services account; and
when the device is associated with a cloud services account, prompting for input of a password for the cloud services account in order for the communication address to be associated with the cloud services account and for access to be enabled to the shared data asset.

17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions for prompting for input of the password comprises:
receiving a request to verify the communication address; in response to the request, sending a message to the cloud services platform requesting verification of the communication address; receiving a separate communication, through the communication address, that requests verification of an association of the communication address with the cloud services account; and upon receiving selection of an item in the separate communication, displaying a prompt for the cloud services account password.

18 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein access is enabled to the shared data asset by encrypting the shared data asset with a public key associated with the cloud services account.

19 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein access is enabled to the shared data asset by encrypting a record with a public key associated with the cloud services account, wherein the encrypted record provides a key for accessing the shared data asset.

20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the cloud services account is a first cloud services account, wherein the encryption is performed by a device associated with a second cloud services account, wherein the record is also encrypted with a public key associated with the second cloud services account.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Bonnet Olivier
• HONG Van

Classifications

• H04L9/3226

  using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083) · CPC title

• H04L9/14

  using a plurality of keys or algorithms · CPC title

• H04L9/0841

  involving Diffie-Hellman or related key agreement protocols · CPC title

• H04L63/06

  for supporting key management in a packet data network (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08) · CPC title

• H04L9/0894

  Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage · CPC title