Electronic mail recovery utilizing recorded mapping table

• US 20070192416A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gupta, Tarunkumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for retrieving deleted data is described. The present method includes receiving a request to locate deleted data. The request includes criteria for approximating said deleted data. The deleted data is stored in a recovery log. The method also includes receiving an affirmation that the located deleted data is the deleted data being requested. The affirmation is by the requester of said deleted data. The method further includes transmitting the recovered data to the requester upon receiving the affirmation.

Claims

1. A method of recovering an electronic mail message, said method comprising:

accessing a user generated query identifying a portion of said electronic mail message;

searching a table of stored header information to identify one or more electronic mail message candidates that match said query;

in response to a user selecting a first electronic mail message of said message candidates, obtaining a unique code identifying said first electronic mail message;

indexing said table with said unique code to identify a log in which a portion of said first electronic mail message is stored; and

scanning said log to recover said portion of said first electronic mail message.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said log is a redo log.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said header information contains sender information, receiver information and subject line information for deleted electronic mail messages.

4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein said table further comprises a mapping between unique codes identifying deleted electronic mail messages and logs in which portions of said deleted electronic mail messages are stored.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said portion of said first electronic mail message is a MIME formatted portion.

6. A method as described in claim 5 further comprising converting said portion of said first electronic mail message into a complete version of said first electronic mail message using an electronic mail server.

7. A method as described in claim 6 further comprising transmitting said complete version of said first electronic mail message to said user.

8. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising displaying identifying information related to said electronic mail message candidates on a display as part of a graphical user interface.

9. A computer system comprising a memory coupled to a processor wherein said memory is programmed with instructions to implement a method of recovering an electronic mail message, said method comprising:

accessing a user generated query identifying a portion of said electronic mail message;

searching a table of stored header information to identify one or more electronic mail message candidates that match said query;

in response to a user selecting a first electronic mail message of said message candidates, obtaining a unique code identifying said first electronic mail message;

indexing said table with said unique code to identify a log in which a portion of said first electronic mail message is stored; and

scanning said log to recover said portion of said first electronic mail message.

10. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said log is a redo log.

11. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said header information contains sender information, receiver information and subject line information for deleted electronic mail messages.

12. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said table further comprises a mapping between unique codes identifying deleted electronic mail messages and logs in which portions of said deleted electronic mail messages are stored.

13. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said portion of said first electronic mail message is a MIME formatted portion.

14. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising converting said portion of said first electronic mail message into a complete version of said first electronic mail message using an electronic mail server.

15. A method as described in claim 14 further comprising transmitting said complete version of said first electronic mail message to said user.

16. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising displaying information related to said electronic mail message candidates on a display as part of a graphical user interface.

17. A method of deleting an electronic mail message from a mail account, said method comprising:

in response to a request to delete said electronic mail message, performing the following;

identifying a current recovery log;

storing header information of said electronic mail message to a mapping table;

storing into said mapping table a mapping between said current recovery log and an identifier uniquely identifying said electronic mail message;

storing into said recovery log a portion of said electronic mail message; and

deleting said electronic mail message from said mail account.

18. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said portion of said electronic mail message is a MIME format.

19. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said recovery log is a redo log.

20. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said mapping table comprises respective mappings between a plurality of deleted electronic mail messages and logs into which portions of said deleted electronic mail messages are stored.