Method and apparatus for monitoring multiple electronic mail systems
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring multiple electronic mail systems over a TCP/IP protocol network comprising the steps of:
- configuring an e-mail system polling process on a user machine;
polling a plurality of e-mail systems over a TCP/IP protocol network from said user machine;
retrieving data from said Plurality of e-mail systems concerning mail intended for said user; and
storing said data on said user machine in a format that permits the display of data pertaining to said plurality of e-mail systems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring multiple electronic mail systems includes the steps of: a) configuring an e-mail system polling process on a user'"'"'s machine; b) polling a number of e-mail systems from the user'"'"'s machine; c) retrieving data from the e-mail systems concerning mail intended for the user; and d) storing the data on the user'"'"'s machine in a format that permits the storage and retrieval of data pertaining to the plurality of e-mail systems. The polling can be accomplished in the background while the user is performing other tasks on the computer system. An apparatus for monitoring multiple electronic mail systems includes a digital processor, read/write memory coupled to the digital processor, and at least one external communication channel coupled to the digital processor permitting the digital processor to communicate with a plurality of external electronic mail systems. A poller of the apparatus is operative to generate inquiries over the communication channel to the plurality of electronic mail systems, a data retriever is operative to receive data concerning mail intended for a designated user, and a data handler is operative to store and retrieve data concerning the mail for the designated user. An article of manufacture of the present invention includes the poller, data retriever, and data handler stored in a machine-readable storage medium.
53 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring multiple electronic mail systems over a TCP/IP protocol network comprising the steps of:
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configuring an e-mail system polling process on a user machine;
polling a plurality of e-mail systems over a TCP/IP protocol network from said user machine;
retrieving data from said Plurality of e-mail systems concerning mail intended for said user; and
storing said data on said user machine in a format that permits the display of data pertaining to said plurality of e-mail systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A method for monitoring multiple electronic mail accounts comprising:
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obtaining access information for a plurality of e-mail accounts, where at least two of said plurality of e-mail accounts are hosted by different e-mail systems;
retrieving mail data from said plurality of e-mail accounts; and
consolidating said mail data from said plurality of e-mail accounts. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for monitoring multiple electronic mail accounts comprising:
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a digital processor;
read/write memory coupled to said digital processor;
at least one external communications channel coupled to said digital processor permitting said digital processor to communicate with a plurality of external electronic mail accounts, where at least two of said plurality of external electronic mail accounts are hosted by different e-mail systems;
a poller at least partially stored in said read/write memory and executable on said digital processor, said poller being operative to generate inquiries over said at least one communications channel to said plurality of electronic mail accounts;
a data retriever at least partially stored in said read/write memory and executable on said digital processor, said data retriever being operative to receive data concerning mail intended for a designated user from said plurality of electronic mail accounts; and
a consolidator developing data concerning mail for said designated user from said plurality of electronic mail accounts. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification