Method and apparatus for efficiently managing "messages sent" file and resending of messages from mobile wireless communication device

• US 20060123085A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: May, Darrell R., Burns, Anthony G., Hardy, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

An enhanced email system incorporating mobile wireless communication devices includes program logic for efficiently managing (i.e., at least partially synchronizing) “messages sent” files in the mobile device and in a related message server. The exemplary program logic also more efficiently handles resending of previously sent email messages from the mobile wireless communication device (especially in the context of synchronized messages sent files) by sending to the message server only abbreviated unique message ID in the first instance. In this way, wireless bandwidth is conserved as is the device battery.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless email communication device capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated message server, said mobile device comprising:

a stored sent messages file including at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user recognizable message identifying data for each of plural previously sent email messages; and

message resend logic linked to said stored sent messages file which, in response to a user resend command initially sends to said associated server abbreviated resend message request that includes said unique message ID data but not an entire email message text.

2. A mobile wireless email communication device as in claim 1 wherein said message resend logic initially sends to said associated server a resend message request including as its data payload substantially only said unique message ID data.

3. A mobile wireless email communication device as in claim 1 wherein said message resend logic is also configured to respond to a subsequent request from said server to send to said server a more extensive resend message request that includes substantially an entire email message text.

4. A mobile wireless email communication device as in claim 1 further comprising:

sent message file synchronization logic which is configured to exchange communications with said message server related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the message server and thereby maintain in the mobile device sent messages file, for each sent message then stored at the message server, said at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user-recognizable message identifying data.

5. A mobile wireless email communications device as in claim 4 wherein:

said sent message file synchronization logic is also configured to send back to said server, upon request therefrom substantially an entire email sent message record if a full copy of such sent email message is not found at the server during a synchronization session.

6. A method for resending email messages from mobile wireless email communication device capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated message server, said method comprising:

maintaining a stored sent messages file including at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user recognizable message identifying data for each of plural previously sent email messages; and

in response to a user resent command, initially sending to said associated server abbreviated resend message request that includes said unique message ID data but not an entire email message text.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein:

said initially sending step sends to said associated server a resend message request including as its data payload substantially only said unique message ID data.

8. A method as in claim 6 further comprising:

in response to a subsequent request from said server, sending to said server from said device a more extensive resend message request that includes substantially an entire email message text.

9. A method as in claim 6 further comprising:

exchanging communications between said message server and said device related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the message server and thereby maintaining in the mobile device sent messages file, for each sent message then stored at the message server, said at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user-recognizable message identifying data.

10. A method as in claim 9 further comprising:

sending substantially an entire email send message record from the device to the server if a full copy of such sent email message is not found at the server during a synchronization session.

11. A stored computer program medium in which is stored at least one computer program which, when executed, effects a method for resending email messages from mobile wireless email communication device capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated message server, said method comprising:

maintaining a stored sent messages file including at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user recognizable message identifying data for each of plural previously sent email messages; and

in response to a user resend command, initially sending to said associated server abbreviated resend message request that includes said unique message ID data but not an entire email message text.

12. A stored computer program medium as in claim 11 wherein:

said initially sending step sends to said associated server a resend message request including as its data payload substantially only said unique message ID data.

13. A stored computer program medium as in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

in response to a subsequent request from said server, sending to said server from said device a more extensive resend message request that includes substantially an entire email message text.

14. A stored computer program medium as in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

exchanging communications between said message server and said device related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the message server and thereby maintaining in the mobile device sent messages file, for each sent message then stored at the message server, said at least (a) unique message ID data and (b) user-recognizable message identifying data.

15. A stored computer program medium as in claim 11 wherein said method further comprising:

sending substantially an entire email sent message record from the device to the server if a full copy of such sent email message is not found at the server during a synchronization session.

24. A stored computer program medium as in claim 12 wherein said method further comprises:

exchanging communications between said mobile wireless communication device and said server related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the mobile device and thereby maintain in the server sent messages file, for each sent message then stored in the mobile device, said (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text.

16. An email message server capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated mobile wireless communication device, said server comprising:

a stored sent messages file including (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text for each of a plurality of previously sent email messages; and

message resend logic linked to said sent messages file which, in response to an abbreviated resend message request received from mobile wireless communication device including said unique message ID data for a particular sent message to be resent, uses the unique message ID data to search for a respectively corresponding locally stored sent message text and, if found, to resend that found email message.

17. An email message server as in claim 16 wherein said message resend logic is also configured to send to said mobile wireless communication device a request for said respectively corresponding stored sent message text if it is not found locally at the server.

18. An email message server as in claim 16 further comprising:

sent message file synchronization logic which is configured to exchange communications with said mobile wireless communication device related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the mobile device and thereby maintain in the server sent messages file, for each sent message then stored in the mobile device, said (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text.

19. A method for resending email messages from an email message server capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated mobile wireless communication device, said method comprising:

maintaining a stored sent messages file including (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text for each of a plurality of previously sent email messages; and

in response to an abbreviated resend message request received from mobile wireless communication device including said unique message ID data for a particular sent message to be resent, using the unique message ID data to search for a respectively corresponding locally stored sent message text and, if found, to resend that found email message.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein a request for said respectively corresponding stored sent message text is sent to the device if it is not found locally at the server.

21. A method as in claim 19 further comprising:

exchanging communications between said mobile wireless communication device and said server related to the content of a respectively corresponding sent messages file at the mobile device and thereby maintain in the server sent messages file, for each sent message then stored in the mobile device, said (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text.

22. A stored computer program medium in which is stored at least one computer program which when executed, effects a method for resending email messages from an email message server capable of sending, receiving and re-sending email messages via an associated mobile wireless communication device, said method comprising:

maintaining a stored sent messages file including (a) unique message ID data, (b) user-recognizable message identifying data and (c) associated message text for each of a plurality of previously sent email messages; and

in response to an abbreviated resend message request received from mobile wireless communication device including said unique message ID data for a particular sent message to be resent, using the unique message ID data to search for a respectively corresponding locally stored sent message text and, if found, to resend that found email message.

23. A stored computer program medium as in claim 22 wherein a request for said respectively corresponding stored sent message is sent to the device if it is not found locally at the server.