System and method for optimizing network communication in response to network conditions

• US 20050272452A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Khoury, Sami, Johnson, Karl S., Limont, David Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating communications between a mobile device and a network application are provided. A mobile device transmits a request for data change information that includes a time out interval. The network application receives the request and measures a time elapsed since the receipt of the data change request. The network application will only transmit a notification to the mobile device client if new data is received or the time out interval has elapsed. As notifications are received, the mobile client device tunes the time out interval based upon network and device parameters.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication between a mobile device and a network application, the method comprising:

obtaining a request for change of data, wherein the request for change of data includes a first set of expiration data for returning a response;

monitoring a time interval for providing a response to the request for change of data; and

transmitting a notification that no data has changed if the time interval exceeds an expiration period.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request for change of data corresponds to a request for new electronic mail messages.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a subsequent request for change of data, wherein the request for change of data includes a second set of expiration data for returning a response;

monitoring a time interval for providing a response to the subsequent request for change of data; and

transmitting a notification that no data has changed if the time interval exceeds a second expiration period.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the second set of expiration data is modified based on at least one network condition.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the second set of expiration data corresponds to an adjustment of the first set of expiration data based upon a comparison of a sum of the weights for a set of events related to communication between the mobile device and the network application.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the sum of the weights for the set of events corresponds to function of the weight of each event diminished by a time expired since the event occurred.

7. A method for facilitating communications between a mobile device and a network application, the method comprising:

transmitting a first request for change of data, wherein the request for change of data includes a first set of expiration data for returning a response;

determining an event corresponding to the first request for change of data;

generating a second set of expiration data for returning a response based upon at least one network condition; and

transmitting a second request for change of data, wherein the request for change of data includes the second set of expiration data for returning a response.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein determining an event corresponding to the first request for change of data includes obtaining a notification that no data has been changed in response to the request for change of data.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

monitoring a time interval for receiving a response to the request for change of data;

determining when the time interval exceeds an expiration period corresponding to the first set of expiration data; and

determining an event corresponding to the first request for change of data has occurred based on the time interval.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein generating a second set of expiration data for returning a response based upon at least one network condition includes generating the second set of expiration data based on at least one network condition.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second set of expiration data correspond to fixed time intervals and wherein generating a second set of expiration data for returning a response based upon at least one network condition includes:

associating a weight for a set of events related to communication between a mobile device and the network application;

obtaining the first set of expiration data; and

adjusting the first set of expiration data to generate the second set of expiration data based upon a comparison of a sum of the weights for the set of events to a set of thresholds.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein adjusting the first set of expiration data to generate the second set of expiration data based upon a comparison of a sum of the weights for the set of events to a set of thresholds includes increasing the first set of expiration data if the sum of the weights exceeds a maximum threshold.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein adjusting the first set of expiration data to generate the second set of expiration data based upon a comparison of a sum of the weights for the set of events to a set of thresholds includes decreasing the first set of expiration data if the sum of the weights exceeds a minimum threshold.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the sum of the weights for the set of events to a set of thresholds corresponds to function of the weight of each event diminished by a time expired since the event occurred.

15. A system for facilitating data exchange, the system comprising:

one or more client devices for generating a request for change of data, wherein the request for generating a change of data includes a first expiration time period;

at least one network application for receiving the request for change of data and transmitting a notification that no data has changed if a monitored time period corresponding to the first expiration time period;

wherein the one or more client devices transmits a subsequent request for change of data if an event has occurred, wherein the subsequent request for change of data includes a second expiration time period.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more client devices determines an event has occurred if the client device receives a notification that no data has been changed in response to the request for change of data from the network application.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one client device generates the second expiration time period data based upon at least one network condition and wherein the at least one network condition includes at least one condition internal to a mobile device and at least one condition external to a mobile device.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the second expiration time period corresponds to an adjustment of the first expiration time period based upon a comparison of a sum of the weights for a set of events related to communication between the mobile device and the network application.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the sum of the weights for the set of events to a set of thresholds corresponds to function of the weight of each event diminished by a time expired since the event occurred.

20. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the request for change of data corresponds to a request for new electronic mail messages.