Service-based compression of content within a network communication system
First Claim
1. A method for compressing an email message communicated from a server to a client, the method comprising:
- providing a compression module disposed between the server and the client for compressing at least a portion of the email message;
classifying a connection between the server and the client to determine whether the connection corresponds to an email service;
breaking the connection between the server and the client to form a first connection between the client and the compression module and a second connection between the compression module and the server in response to a determination that the connection corresponds to the email service;
receiving the email message from the server;
causing the compression module to compress at least a portion of the email message received from the server; and
transmitting the compressed email message to the client.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A service module incorporated within the network infrastructure intercepts packets communicated between a client and a server to determine whether the connection corresponds to an email service. If so, the service module breaks the connection by terminating the connection with the client at the service module and opening a separate connection between the service module and the server. Packets communicated between the client and the server may then be redirected to an email compression application that monitors messages communicated between the client and the server and processes the messages in accordance with the state of the email session. For messages corresponding to connection establishment, user authentication and other protocol-specific messages, for example, the email compression application may be configured to forward the messages to the originally intended destination. Messages corresponding to an email message data, however, are buffered within the email compression application. Once the entire message has been received, the email compression application may strip the message headers and any protocol-specific data, compress the data and attach new message headers corresponding to the compressed email message. The compressed and reformatted email message is then reinserted into the data stream for transmission to the intended destination. Because compression may occur between the server and client, compression may be performed without requiring special processing by the server before email messages are sent. Furthermore, because the email messages may be compressed in a format that can be readily decompressed using decompression libraries incorporated within the operating system of client devices, such as the CAB format or GZIP format, the client may decompress received email messages utilizing software already incorporated within the operating system of the client device, without requiring download or installation of special decompression software and/or coordination of compression/decompression of email messages with the server or sending party.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method for compressing an email message communicated from a server to a client, the method comprising:
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providing a compression module disposed between the server and the client for compressing at least a portion of the email message;
classifying a connection between the server and the client to determine whether the connection corresponds to an email service;
breaking the connection between the server and the client to form a first connection between the client and the compression module and a second connection between the compression module and the server in response to a determination that the connection corresponds to the email service;
receiving the email message from the server;
causing the compression module to compress at least a portion of the email message received from the server; and
transmitting the compressed email message to the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 32)
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19. A method for performing service-based compression of an email message within a communications network, the communications network including a client having an operating system with a decompressor, the method comprising:
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intercepting packets communicated between a client and a server, the packets containing data associated with an email session;
monitoring a state of the email session between the client and the server;
identifying transmission of the email message;
compressing at least a portion of the email message using a compression type compatible with the decompressor included in the operating system of the client; and
transmitting the compressed email message to the client. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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33. A method for compressing an email message, the method comprising:
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providing a socket compression module;
providing a second compression module for compressing portions of the email message;
receiving packets corresponding to the email message;
determining whether a destination device supports decompression compatible with the socket compression module;
compressing the email message using socket compression, if the destination device supports decompression compatible with the socket compression module;
otherwise, compressing the email message using the second compression module. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for compressing an original email message having at least one encapsulated part to form a corresponding compressed email message, the method comprising:
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extracting at least one encapsulated part from the original email message;
compressing the at least one encapsulated part;
generating a new message header for the compressed part; and
assembling each compressed part in an order corresponding to the order of the original email message. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A system for compressing an email message communicated from a server to a client, the system comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory unit, operably coupled to the processor, for storing data an instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate so as to;
classify a connection between the server and the client to determine whether the connection corresponds to an email service;
break the connection between the server and the client to form a first connection between the client and a compression module and a second connection between the compression module and the server in response to a determination that the connection corresponds to the email service;
compress at least a portion of the email message received from the server; and
transmit the compressed email message to the client.
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50. A system for performing service-based compression of an email message within a communications network, the system comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory unit, operably coupled to the processor, for storing data an instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate so as to;
intercept packets communicated between a client and a server, the packets containing data associated with an email session;
monitor a state of the email session between the client and the server;
identify transmission of the email message;
compress at least a portion of the email message using a compression type compatible with the decompressor included in the operating system of the client; and
transmit the compressed email message to the client.
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51. A system for compressing an email message, the system comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory unit, operably coupled to the processor, for storing data an instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate so as to;
receive packets corresponding to an email message;
determine whether a destination device supports socket decompression;
compress the email message using socket compression, if the device supports socket decompression;
otherwise, compress the email message using a second mode of compression.
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52. A system for compressing an original email message having one or more encapsulated parts, the system comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory unit, operably coupled to the processor, for storing data an instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate so as to;
extract at least one encapsulated part from the original email message;
compress the at least one encapsulated part;
generate a new message header for the compressed part; and
assemble each compressed part in an order corresponding to the order of the original email message.
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Specification