INTELLIGENT MESSAGE RECEIVING METHOD AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A method of receiving messages in a data communications network using a mobile communications terminal, said network comprising a server, said server being capable of receiving new messages, and in response to receiving said new messages, of making data relating to said new messages available for transmission to an associated mobile communications terminal,said method comprising performing functions which said mobile communications terminal is adapted to perform, the performance of said functions comprising:
- performing message receiving procedures, wherein during a message receiving procedure said mobile communications terminal is capable of receiving data relating to new messages for said mobile communications terminal received by said server since a previous message receiving procedure;
intermittently establishing connections in the network such that the terminal establishes a series of connections;
maintaining said connections for extended time intervals, wherein the mobile communications terminal is capable of performing a first said message receiving procedure over a connection after establishment of the connection and wherein the connection is extended beyond said first message receiving procedure such that, if the server receives a new message for said mobile communications terminal after said first message receiving procedure and during said extended time interval, the mobile communications terminal is capable of receiving said new message over said connection; and
terminating said connections in response to said extended time intervals elapsing, such that said series of connections are interspersed with periods during which said connections are not maintained.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications and in particular to messaging methods and systems using mobile communications terminals. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to email messaging and in accordance with the invention there is established a connection between at least one mobile communication terminal and a server for a specific period of time which allows messages to be communicated to the terminal. The duration of the connection is typically such as to allow more than one message to be received in any specific time period. The connection time periods are interspersed with periods of non connection and the duration and frequency of said connection time periods may be controlled with respect user selected modes of operation and/or an operating parameter of the mobile communication terminal.
119 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of receiving messages in a data communications network using a mobile communications terminal, said network comprising a server, said server being capable of receiving new messages, and in response to receiving said new messages, of making data relating to said new messages available for transmission to an associated mobile communications terminal,
said method comprising performing functions which said mobile communications terminal is adapted to perform, the performance of said functions comprising: -
performing message receiving procedures, wherein during a message receiving procedure said mobile communications terminal is capable of receiving data relating to new messages for said mobile communications terminal received by said server since a previous message receiving procedure; intermittently establishing connections in the network such that the terminal establishes a series of connections; maintaining said connections for extended time intervals, wherein the mobile communications terminal is capable of performing a first said message receiving procedure over a connection after establishment of the connection and wherein the connection is extended beyond said first message receiving procedure such that, if the server receives a new message for said mobile communications terminal after said first message receiving procedure and during said extended time interval, the mobile communications terminal is capable of receiving said new message over said connection; and terminating said connections in response to said extended time intervals elapsing, such that said series of connections are interspersed with periods during which said connections are not maintained. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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2. (canceled)
- 4. (canceled)
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6-7. -7. (canceled)
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9-11. -11. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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22. A method of receiving messages in a data communications network using a mobile communications terminal, said mobile communications terminal comprising an electric power source, said network comprising a server, and said method comprising performing functions which said mobile communications terminal is adapted to perform, the performance of said functions comprising:
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intermittently establishing connections to the server; determining if any new messages are present at the server; and altering a time characteristic of said intermittently established connections in order to reduce power usage for said electric power source. - View Dependent Claims (23, 26)
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- 24. (canceled)
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27-30. -30. (canceled)
- 38. A method of receiving messages in a data communications network using a mobile communications terminal, said network comprising a server capable of receiving new messages, and in response to receiving said new messages, of making data relating to said new messages available for transmission to an associated mobile communications terminal, said method comprising controlling the connection between the server and the mobile communication terminal to specific time intervals during which messages can be received by the terminal from the server and wherein the duration of said specific time intervals and the frequency of connection is controlled via the mobile communications terminal in response to a user selected operating mode of the terminal and/or at least one parameter of the operating condition of the mobile communications terminal at that time.
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40. (canceled)
Specification