IMAP Fetch Diff

• US 20100131603A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Riemers, Bill C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,229 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

An apparatus and a method for processing messages at a mail server. In one embodiment, the mail server receives and compares at least two messages, where each message has a same message identifier. The mail server generates a single message having the same message identifier and a differential message based on the comparison of the messages. The single message and the differential message are delivered to a mail client where the single message is assembled with the differential message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving at least two messages, each message having a same message identifier;

comparing the at least two messages; and

generating a single message having the same message identifier and a differential message based on the comparison of the at least two messages.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving further comprises:

processing the at least two messages at a mail server.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the mail server includes an IMAP server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the mail server includes a POP server.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

sending the single message and the differential message to a mail client.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

assembling the single message with the differential message at the mail client.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein comparing further comprises:

adding a diff type protocol to the mail server, the diff type protocol configured to return the differences between the at least two messages having the same message identifier.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the mail server includes an IMAP server.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the mail server includes a POP server.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

sending the single message and the differential message to a mail client.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

assembling the single message with the differential message at the mail client.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein comparing further comprises:

adding a diff type protocol to the mail server, the diff type protocol configured to return the differences between the at least two messages having the same message identifier.

8. A mail server comprising:

a message transfer agent module configured to receive at least two messages, each message having a same message identifier from a remote mail server; and

a diff module coupled to the message transfer agent module, the diff module configured to compare the at least two messages, to generate a single message having the same message identifier and a differential message based on the comparison of the at least two messages.

9. The mail server of claim 8 wherein the message transfer agent module is configured to receive, deliver, or store messages.

10. The mail server of claim 8 wherein the message transfer agent module uses a POP or an IMAP protocol.

11. The mail server of claim 8 wherein the message transfer agent module is configured to deliver the single message and the differential message to a mail client.

12. The mail server of claim 11 wherein the mail client is configured to assemble the single message with the differential message.

13. The mail server of claim 8 wherein the diff module includes a diff type protocol for the message transfer agent module, the diff type protocol configured to return the differences between the at least two messages having the same message identifier.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 12 wherein receiving further comprises:

processing the at least two messages at a mail server.

14. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising;

receiving at least two messages, each message having a same message identifier;

comparing the at least two messages; and

generating a single message having the same message identifier and a differential message based on the comparison of the at least two messages.