System and method for providing a unified messaging scheme in a mobile device

• US 20020116530A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Burgess, Gregory M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database

Abstract

Described is a system and method for receiving and distributing messages within a mobile device using multiple communication protocols. The invention provides a method for centrally controlling data flow throughout the communication system. The invention provides a means to receive a message over a communications medium, translate it to a first format for general use and further translate it to a second format for data storage. In one implementation, a data storage component communicates with an application, a form, a transport, and a data store. The application, the form, and the transport each communicate with the storage component by passing properties of a message to the storage component in a first format. The storage component translates the properties from the first format to a second format. The storage component then stores the translated properties in the data store in the second format.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for receiving and distributing a message within a mobile device, comprising:

a storage component in communication with at least one messaging component and a data store, wherein the messaging component communicates with the storage component by passing properties of a message to the storage component in a first format, and wherein the storage component is configured to translate the properties from the first format to a second format and to pass the translated properties to the data store.

2. The computer-implemented medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a mail application.

3. The computer-implemented medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a message form.

4. The computer-implemented medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a message transport.

5. The computer-implemented medium of claim 1, further comprising another messaging component that communicates with the at least one messaging component and the storage component using the first format.

6. The computer-implemented medium of claim 1, wherein the storage component further comprises at least one handler configured to perform the translation of the properties from the first format to the second format.

7. The computer-implemented medium of claim 6, wherein the handler is registered to translate a particular type of property, and wherein the storage component makes use of the handler if a property of the message corresponds to the particular type of property.

8. The computer-implemented medium of claim 6, wherein the handler is further configured to create a new property from a property passed to the storage component.

9. The computer-implemented medium of claim 8, wherein the handler if further configured to create an additional new property based on the property passed to the storage component.

10. A computer-readable medium, having computer executable-instructions for performing steps, comprising:

receiving a request to store a property of a message within a data store, the request being in a first format, the data store being configured to store data in a second format, the request including data associated with the property;

translating the data associated with the property from the first format into the second format; and

storing the data in the data store in the second format.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the property includes a descriptor that distinguishes the property from other properties.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the descriptor comprises a property type.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein translating the data comprises passing the data to a handler for processing, the handler being associated with the descriptor.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the handler is registered to process data of a type associated with the descriptor.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the handler is further configured to convert the property from the first format into the second format.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the handler if further configured to translate the property into at least one other property, the at least one other property conforming to the second format.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein storing the data in the data store comprises storing the data in a plurality of tables.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of tables corresponds to a message folder.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of tables is configured to contain certain properties, and another of the plurality of tables is configured to contain certain other properties.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein a table within the plurality of tables is configured as an overflow mechanism for another of the tables within the plurality of tables.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the overflow mechanism comprises a file system.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps, comprising:

receiving a request to retrieve a property of a message from a data store, the request being in a first format, the data store being configured to store data in a second format;

retrieving the data from the data store in the second format; and

translating the data associated with the property from the second format into the first format.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising passing the translated data to a component associated with the request.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the data is retrieved from at least one table in a plurality of tables.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the property includes a descriptor that distinguishes the property from other properties.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the descriptor comprises a property type.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein translating the data comprises passing the data to a handler for processing, the handler being associated with the descriptor.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the handler is registered to process data of a type associated with the descriptor.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the handler if further configured to convert the property from the first format into the second format.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the handler if further configured to translate the property into at least one other property, the at least one other property conforming to the second format.