ADAPTIVE SYNCHRONIZATION OF SERVICE DATA

• US 20110246587A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Good Technology Holdings Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Friedman, Gregory S., Marl, Coyle B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,695 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]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for synchronizing service data between a data store and a device using the service data. These synchronization techniques may be used with a synchronization method and device that adaptively adjust synchronization parameters, such as the synchronization interval and quantity of synchronized data, on a per-end-user basis in response to actual end-user behavior. In particular, heavy users of service data are rewarded with improved synchronization parameters, such as a combination of shorter synchronization intervals and increased synchronization data quantities, which provides closer to “direct access” performance. Light users of service, on the other hand, are assigned lower cost synchronization parameters, such as longer synchronization intervals and/or decreased synchronization data quantities

Claims

1. Apparatus for adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to data in a first service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of data from the first service data store to a second service data store,

the apparatus being configured to set a polling interval, which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update data from the first service data store,

the apparatus being configured to detect a retrieval parameter relating to the retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user, and

the apparatus being configured to alter the polling interval on the basis of said retrieval parameter, with different end-users having different polling intervals depending on the retrieval parameter.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change in said retrieval parameter and to alter the polling interval in response to the detected change.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to increase the polling interval in response to the retrieval parameter falling below a predetermined threshold.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to reduce the polling interval in response to the retrieval parameter rising above a predetermined threshold.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first service data store comprises an e-mail service data store and the second service data store comprises an e-mail service data store.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store comprises e-mail data.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing a number of e-mails retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first data store is polled to provide access to new service data added to the first data store.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first data store is configured to receive new service data from a third service data store.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing a retrieval frequency for data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the retrieval frequency is calculated based on the two most recent data retrievals of data from the first service data store to the second service data store.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect and record the occurrence of each retrieval of service data associated with an end-user from the first service data store to the second service data store.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first service data store is accessible by the end user both using a telecommunications device, via a telecommunications infrastructure system, and via the second service data store.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second service data store is accessible via an internet e-mail service.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user is performed using the POP3 protocol.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to access an e-mail account on behalf of the user.

17. An adaptive unit for adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to data in a first service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of data from the first service data store to a second service data store,

the adaptive unit being configured to set a polling interval, which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update data from the first service data store,

the adaptive unit being configured to detect a retrieval parameter relating to the retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user, and

the adaptive unit being configured to alter the polling interval on the basis of said retrieval parameter, with different end-users having different polling intervals depending on the retrieval parameter.

18. An adaptive unit according to claim 17, wherein the adaptive unit is configured to detect a change in said retrieval parameter and to alter the polling interval in response to the detected change.

19. An adaptive unit according to claim 17, wherein the data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store comprises e-mail messages, and the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing of a number of e-mails retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

20. An adaptive unit according to claim 17, wherein the first data store is configured to receive new data from a third service data store and said retrieval of data from the first data store to the second data store comprises retrieval of said new data.

21. An adaptive unit according to claim 17, wherein the second service data store is accessible via an internet e-mail service.

22. An adaptive unit according to claim 17, wherein the adaptive unit is configured to access an e-mail account on behalf of the user.

23. A method of adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to data in a first service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of data from the first service data store to a second service data store, the method comprising:

setting a polling interval, which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update data from the first service data store;

detecting a retrieval parameter related to the retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user, and

altering the polling interval on the basis of said retrieval parameter, with different end-users having different polling intervals depending on the retrieval parameter.

24. A method according to 23, comprising detecting a change in said retrieval parameter and altering the polling interval in response to the detected change.

25. A method according to claim 23, comprising increasing the polling interval in response to the retrieval parameter falling below a predetermined threshold.

26. A method according to claim 23, comprising reducing the polling interval in response to the retrieval parameter rising above a predetermined threshold.

27. A method according to claim 23, in which the first service data store comprises an e-mail service data store and the second service data store comprises an e-mail service data store.

28. A method according to claim 23, in which the data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store comprises e-mail data.

29. A method according to claim 23, in which the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing a number of e-mails retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

30. A method according to claim 23, in which the first data store is polled to provide access to new service data added to the first data store.

31. A method according to claim 30, in which the first data store is configured to receive new service data from a third service data store.

32. A method according to claim 23, in which the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing a retrieval frequency for data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

33. A method according to claim 32, in which the retrieval frequency is calculated based on the two most recent data retrievals of data from the first service data store to the second service data store.

34. A method according to claim 23, comprising detecting and recording the occurrence of each retrieval of service data associated with an end-user from the first service data store to the second service data store.

35. A method according to claim 23, in which the first service data store is accessible both by the end user using a telecommunications device, via a telecommunications infrastructure system, and via the second service data store.

36. A method according to claim 23, in which the second service data store is accessible via an internet e-mail server.

37. A method according to claim 23, in which retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user is performed using the POP3 protocol.

38. A method according to claim 23, comprising accessing an e-mail account on behalf of the user.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executed by a computing device causing the computing device to perform a method of adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to data in a first service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of data from the first service data store to a second service data store, the method comprising:

setting a polling interval, which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update data from the first service data store;

detecting a retrieval parameter related to the retrieval of data from the first service data store to the second service data store on behalf of a specific end-user, and

altering the polling interval on the basis of said retrieval parameter, with different end-users having different polling intervals depending on the retrieval parameter.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, wherein said method comprises detecting a change in said retrieval parameter and altering the polling interval in response to the detected change.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, in which the data retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store comprises e-mail messages, and the retrieval parameter is based at least in part on a value representing a number of e-mails retrieved from the first service data store to the second service data store.

42. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, in which the first data store is configured to receive new data from a third service data store, and said retrieval of data from the first data store to the second data store comprises retrieval of said new data.

43. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, in which the second service data store is accessible via an internet e-mail service.

44. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, wherein the method comprises accessing an e-mail account on behalf of the user.

45. Apparatus for adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to e-mail messages in a first e-mail service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of data from the first e-mail service data store to a second e-mail service data store, the second e-mail service data store is accessible via an internet e-mail service,

the apparatus being configured to poll the first e-mail service data store according to a polling interval which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update e-mail messages the first e-mail service data store on behalf of each of a plurality of end-users, the polling interval varying between different end user,

the apparatus being configured to detect retrieval of e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail service data store on behalf of the given end-user, and

the apparatus being configured to alter the polling interval for the given end-user when a number of e-mail messages retrieved from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail data store on behalf of the given end-user changes.

46. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said first e-mail service data store is configured to receive new e-mail messages from a third e-mail service data store, and the retrieval of e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail service data store comprises retrieval of said new e-mail messages.

47. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the apparatus is configured to access an e-mail account on behalf of the given end-user.

48. A method of adapting a polling interval for updating data during provision of access to e-mail messages in a first e-mail service data store, the provision of access including intermittent retrieval of e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store to a second e-mail service data store, the second e-mail service data store being accessible via an internet e-mail service, and the method comprising:

polling the first service data store according to a polling interval which defines a periodic connection interval at which the first service data store is polled to update e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store on behalf of each of a plurality of end-users, the polling interval varying between different end-users;

detecting retrieval of e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail service data store on behalf of a given end-user; and

altering the polling interval for the given end-user when a number of e-mail messages retrieved from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail service data store on behalf of the given end-user changes.

49. A method according to claim 48, in which the first e-mail service data store is configured to receive new e-mail messages from a third e-mail service data store, and the retrieval of e-mail messages from the first e-mail service data store to the second e-mail data store comprises retrieval of said new e-mail messages.

50. A method according to claim 48, comprising accessing an e-mail account on behalf of the given end-user.