Reducing data storage requirements on mail servers

• US 20040024810A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jnagal, Amit K., Choubey, Utkarsh
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A mail server detects if an incoming message is addressed to multiple recipients, in which case redundant data storage is reduced. A single shared copy of the message is stored, and a reference message, which refers to the shared message, is provided to the addressed recipients. A record of the number of existing reference messages is maintained, and decremented as each reference message is deleted by recipients. When no reference messages remain, the shared message is also deleted. A record of recipients authorized to access the shared message is also maintained, and updated as recipients delete their reference messages.

Claims

1. A method for reducing data storage requirements of a mail server, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a single copy of an incoming message addressed to multiple recipients as a shared message on the mail server; and

copying reference messages to respective recipients of the incoming message, which reference messages refer to the shared message.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether an incoming message is addressed to multiple recipients.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

calculating a required amount data storage associated with the incoming message.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of:

comparing the calculated amount of data storage with a predetermined value.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining a record of the number of reference messages that refer to the shared message.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

decrementing the recorded number of references when one of the reference messages is deleted.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

deleting the shared message when the recorded number of references becomes zero.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

recording a modified copy of the shared message, if a recipient of the incoming email message attempts to edit the shared message.

9. Computer software for reducing data storage requirements of a mail server, recorded on a medium and able to be executed by a mail server capable of interpreting the computer software, the computer software comprising:

code means for storing a single copy of an incoming message addressed to multiple recipients as a shared message on the mail server; and

code means for copying reference messages to respective recipients of the incoming message, which reference messages refer to the shared message.

10. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for determining whether an incoming message is addressed to multiple recipients.

11. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for calculating a required amount data storage associated with the incoming message.

12. Computer software as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

code means for comparing the calculated amount of data storage with a predetermined value.

13. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for maintaining a record of the number of reference messages that refer to the shared message.

14. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for decrementing the recorded number of references when one of the reference messages is deleted.

15. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for deleting the shared message when the recorded number of references becomes zero.

16. Computer software as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

code means for recording a modified copy of the shared message, if a recipient of the incoming email message attempts to make a copy of the shared message.

17. A mail server having reduced data storage requirements, the mail server executing computer software as claimed in claim 9.