System and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device

• US 20040252727A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Castell, David, Veen, Raymond Vander, Mousseau, Gary P., Lazaridis, Mihal, Linkert, Barry, Ferguson, Tabitha
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/503
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/353 where the information comprises non-audio but is provided over voice channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 : Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 : Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device upon sensing a triggering event is provided. A redirector program operating at the host system enables a user to continuously redirect certain user-selected data items from the host system to the user'"'"'s mobile data communication device upon detecting that one or more user-defined triggering events has occurred. The redirector program operates in connection with event generating applications and repackaging systems at the host system to configure and detect a particular user-defined event, and then to repackage the user-selected data items in an electronic wrapper prior to pushing the data items to the mobile device. Included in the system is a program to manage information moved by the user within the host system or the mobile data communication device so that the move is made on both the host system and the mobile data communication device.

Claims

1. A system for two-way synchronization between electronic mailboxes stored at a host system and a mobile communication device, each of the electronic mailboxes being organized into a set of hierarchical folders for storing received messages, the system comprising:

means for receiving messages at the host system and storing the received messages in the set of hierarchical folders of the host system'"'"'s electronic mailbox;

means for determining whether to redirect the received messages from the host system to the mobile communication device and for each message that meets the determining step, for assigning a unique message ID to the message and redirecting the message with its unique message ID to the mobile communication device;

means for receiving the redirected messages at the mobile communication device and storing them in the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

means for coupling the mobile communication device to the host system;

means for synchronizing the set of hierarchical folders at the host system with the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

means for retrieving a first list of messages from the host system, wherein the first list of messages are those messages that met the determining step and were redirected to the mobile communication device;

means for retrieving a second list of messages from the mobile communication device;

means for comparing the first list of messages to the second list of messages to identify messages having the same unique message ID and for determining whether the messages having the same unique message ID are stored in the same folders within the respective sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device where the messages are stored; and

means for determining whether the messages having the same unique message IDs are stored in different folders within the respective sets of hierarchical folders and for determining which message should be moved and for moving that message so that the messages having the same unique message IDs are stored in the same folders within the respective sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for de-coupling the mobile communication device and the host system;

means for moving one of the messages at the mobile communication device so that it is stored in a different folder than the message having the same unique message ID at the host system;

means for transmitting a move command message from the mobile communication device to the host system to indicate that the message has been moved, the move command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the mobile communication device; and

means for moving the message corresponding to the unique message ID contained in the move command message at the host system so that it is stored in the same folder as the folder identified in the move command message.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for de-coupling the mobile communication device and the host system;

means for moving one of the messages at the host system that was redirected to the mobile communication device so that it is stored in a different folder than the message having the same unique message ID at the mobile communication device;

means for transmitting a move command message from the host system to the mobile communication device to indicate that the message has been moved, the move command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the host system; and

means for moving the message corresponding to the unique message ID contained in the move command message at the mobile communication device so that it is stored in the same folder as the folder identified in the move command message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system and the mobile communication device are coupled via a wired connection.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system and the mobile communication device are coupled via a wireless connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for synchronizing the set of hierarchical folders further comprises:

means for associating a unique folder ID with each folder in the sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device;

means for generating a folder list including the folder IDs of the set of hierarchical folders at the host system;

means for providing the folder list to the mobile communication device; and

means for updating the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device using the folder list so that the set matches the set of hierarchical folders at the host system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for associating a move flag with each of the messages having unique message IDs at both the host system and the mobile communication device; and

means for setting the move flag for each message that is moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system or the mobile communication device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for comparing further comprises means for examining the move flags for each of the messages having the same unique message IDs to determine if one of the messages have been moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system of the mobile communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for associating a folder ID with each message stored in the host system and the mobile communication device, wherein the folder IDs identify the folder location of each message within the respective sets of hierarchical folders; and

wherein the means for comparing further comprises means for comparing the folder IDs of the messages that have the same unique message ID to determine whether the messages are stored in the same folders within the respective sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the move message command is transmitted from the mobile communication device to the host system over a wireless connection, further comprising:

means for enabling the transmission of the move message commands at the mobile communication device, wherein a user of the mobile communication device can either enable or disable the transmission of the move message commands.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for de-coupling the mobile communication device and the host system;

means for moving a plurality of the messages at the mobile communication device so that the plurality of messages are stored in a different folders than the messages having the same unique message IDs at the host system;

means for generating a move command message for each of the plurality of messages that were moved, each move command message indicating that the message has been moved, the move command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the mobile communication device;

means for bundling the move message commands into a bundled transmission and transmitting the bundled transmission to the host system; and

means for moving the messages corresponding to the unique message IDs contained in the bundled move command messages at the host system so that the messages are stored in the same folders as the folders identified in the bundled move command messages.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for providing a message structure for storing the messages, the message structure including a header portion and a message portion, the header portion including fields for storing the unique message ID assigned to the message and also for storing an identification of the folder in which the message is stored.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for providing a folder structure for each of the folders in the set of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device, the folder structure including a folder identification field and a folder type field.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for designating at least one of the folders in the set of hierarchical folders as a deleted message folder using the folder type field of the folder so designated; and

means for periodically deleting all of the messages stored in the folder at the host system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether to redirect the received messages further comprises:

means for designating certain folders in the set of hierarchical folders at the host system for redirection; and

means for determining whether the received messages are stored in the designated folders, and if so, for assigning the unique message ID to those messages and redirecting them with the unique message IDs to the mobile communication device.

16. A method of synchronizing messages stored in electronic mailboxes at a host system and at a mobile communication device, each of the electronic mailboxes being organized into a set of hierarchical folders where the messages are stored, comprising the steps of:

redirecting messages received at the host system to the mobile communication device, each redirected message including a unique message ID;

storing the redirected messages in the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

synchronizing the set of hierarchical folders at the host system with the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

retrieving a first list of messages that were redirected from the host system to the mobile communication device and a second list of messages stored at the mobile communication device;

comparing the first list of messages to the second list of messages to identify messages having the same unique message ID and to determine whether the messages having the same unique message ID are stored in the same folders within the hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device; and

if the messages having the same unique message IDs are stored in different folders within the hierarchical folders then moving one of the messages so that the messages are stored in the same folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

moving one of the messages at the mobile communication device so that it is stored in a different folder than the message having the same unique message ID at the host system;

transmitting a command message to the host system indicating that the message has been moved, the command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the mobile communication device; and

moving the message corresponding to the unique message ID contained in the command message at the host system so that it is stored in the same folder as the folder identified in the command message.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

moving one of the messages at the host system that was redirected to the mobile communication device so that it is stored in a different folder than the message having the same unique message ID at the mobile communication device;

transmitting a command message to the mobile communication device to indicate that the message has been moved, the command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the host system; and

moving the message corresponding to the unique message ID contained in the command message at the mobile communication device so that it is stored in the same folder as the folder identified in the command message.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

coupling the host system and the mobile communication device via a wired connection.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

coupling the host system and the mobile communication device via a wireless connection.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the synchronizing the set of hierarchical folders step further comprises the steps of:

associating a folder ID with each folder in the sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device;

generating a folder list including the folder IDs of the set of hierarchical folders at the host system;

providing the folder list to the mobile communication device; and

updating the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device using the folder list.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

associating a move flag with each of the messages having unique message IDs at both the host system and the mobile communication device; and

setting the move flag for each message that is moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system or the mobile communication device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the comparing step further comprises the step of examining the move flags for each of the messages having the same unique message IDs to determine if one of the messages have been moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system of the mobile communication device.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

associating a folder ID with each message stored in the host system and the mobile communication device that identifies the folder location of each message; and

comparing the folder IDs of the messages that have the same unique message ID to determine whether the messages are stored in the same folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the command message is transmitted from the mobile communication device to the host system over a wireless connection, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the transmission of the command message at the mobile communication device, wherein a user of the mobile communication device can either enable or disable the transmission of the command message.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

moving a plurality of the messages at the mobile communication device so that the plurality of messages are stored in a different folders than the messages having the same unique message IDs at the host system;

generating a command message for each of the plurality of messages that were moved, each command message indicating that the message has been moved, the command message including the unique message ID of the moved message and an identification of the folder in which the message is presently stored at the mobile communication device;

bundling the command messages into a bundled transmission and transmitting the bundled transmission to the host system; and

moving the messages corresponding to the unique message IDs contained in the bundled command messages at the host system so that the messages are stored in the same folders as the folders identified in the bundled command messages.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a data structure for storing the messages, the data structure including a header portion and a message portion, the header portion including fields for storing the unique message ID assigned to the message and also for storing an identification of the folder in which the message is stored.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a data structure for each of the folders in the set of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device, the data structure including a folder identification field and a folder type field.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

designating at least one of the folders in the set of hierarchical folders as a deleted message folder using the folder type field; and

if the folder type field indicates that the folder is a deleted message folder, then periodically deleting all of the messages stored in that folder at the host system.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether to redirect the received messages at the host system to the mobile communication device by;

designating certain folders in the set of hierarchical folders at the host system for redirection; and

determining whether the received messages are stored in the designated folders, and if so, then assigning the unique message ID to those messages and redirecting them with the unique message IDs to the mobile communication device.

31. A message synchronization method, comprising the steps of:

redirecting messages received at a host system to a mobile communication device, each redirected message including a unique message ID;

storing the redirected messages in a set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

synchronizing a set of hierarchical folders at the host system with the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device;

comparing data regarding the messages stored at the host system with the messages stored at the mobile communication device to identify messages having the same unique message ID and to determine whether those messages are stored in the same folders within the hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device; and

if the messages having the same unique message IDs are stored in different folders within the hierarchical folders then moving one of the messages so that the messages are stored in the same folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

moving one of the messages at the mobile communication device;

providing information to the host system indicating that the message has been moved; and

moving the message at the host system so that it is stored in the same folder as the message at the mobile communication device.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

moving one of the messages at the host system;

providing information to the mobile communication device to indicate that the message has been moved; and

moving the message at the mobile communication device so that it is stored in the same folder as the message at the host system.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

coupling the host system and the mobile communication device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

coupling the host system and the mobile communication device via a wired or wireless connection.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the synchronizing the set of hierarchical folders step further comprises the steps of:

associating an identifier with each folder in the sets of hierarchical folders at the host system and the mobile communication device;

generating data including the identifiers of the set of hierarchical folders at the host system;

providing the data to the mobile communication device; and

updating the set of hierarchical folders at the mobile communication device using the data.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

associating a move indicator with each of the messages having unique message IDs at both the host system and the mobile communication device; and

setting the move indicator for each message that is moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system or the mobile communication device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the comparing step further comprises the step of examining the move indicators for each of the messages having the same unique message IDs to determine if one of the messages have been moved from one folder to another folder at either the host system of the mobile communication device.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

associating a folder ID with each message stored in the host system and the mobile communication device that identifies the folder location of each message; and

analyzing the folder IDs to determine whether the messages are stored in the same folders at the host system and the mobile communication device.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the information is transmitted from the mobile communication device to the host system over a wireless connection, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the transmission of the information at the mobile communication device, wherein a user of the mobile communication device can either enable or disable the transmission of the information.