METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING CHANGED MAILBOXES IN AN INTERNET MESSAGE ACCESS PROTOCOL (IMAP) LIST
First Claim
1. A method in a server of providing to a client device, a list of mailboxes that store messages for a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a current mailbox reference number for each mailbox accessible by the user, wherein maintaining includes;
detecting a change of message content in any of the mailboxes; and
for each mailbox with a change of message content, updating an assigned current mailbox reference number to a value that is higher than any other current mailbox reference number for the mailboxes accessible by the user;
receiving from the client device, a request for the list of mailboxes, the request including a previous mailbox reference number obtained by the client device;
generating the list of mailboxes by selecting for the list, only those mailboxes whose current mailbox reference number is greater than the received previous mailbox reference number; and
sending the generated list of mailboxes to the client device, wherein the list includes only mailboxes having message content that has changed since the client device obtained the previous mailbox reference number.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) server for responding to a LIST request from an IMAP client device by returning a list containing only mailboxes having message content or metadata that has changed since the client device last synchronized with the mailboxes. The client device places in the LIST request, a BOXCHANGEDSINCE MODSEQ value, which is the highest modification sequence attribute (MODSEQ) value obtained by the client device when the client device last synchronized with the mailboxes. The server compares a current MODSEQ value for each mailbox with the BOXCHANGEDSINCE MODSEQ value received in the LIST request, and includes in the returned list, only mailboxes with current MODSEQ values higher than the BOXCHANGEDSINCE MODSEQ value received from the client device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method in a server of providing to a client device, a list of mailboxes that store messages for a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a current mailbox reference number for each mailbox accessible by the user, wherein maintaining includes; detecting a change of message content in any of the mailboxes; and for each mailbox with a change of message content, updating an assigned current mailbox reference number to a value that is higher than any other current mailbox reference number for the mailboxes accessible by the user; receiving from the client device, a request for the list of mailboxes, the request including a previous mailbox reference number obtained by the client device; generating the list of mailboxes by selecting for the list, only those mailboxes whose current mailbox reference number is greater than the received previous mailbox reference number; and sending the generated list of mailboxes to the client device, wherein the list includes only mailboxes having message content that has changed since the client device obtained the previous mailbox reference number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A server for providing to a client device, a list of mailboxes that store messages for a user, wherein the server includes a processor that executes a server application program stored in a non-transitory memory, wherein when the processor executes the server application program, the server is caused to:
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maintain a current mailbox reference number for each mailbox accessible by the user, wherein the server is configured to; detect a change of message content in any of the mailboxes; and for each mailbox with a change of message content, update an assigned current mailbox reference number to a value that is higher than any other current mailbox reference number for the mailboxes accessible by the user; receive from the client device, a request for the list of mailboxes, the request including a previous mailbox reference number obtained by the client device; generate the list of mailboxes by selecting for the list, only those mailboxes whose current mailbox reference number is greater than the received previous mailbox reference number; and send the generated list of mailboxes to the client device, wherein the list includes only mailboxes having message content that has changed since the client device obtained the previous mailbox reference number. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program stored thereon for operating on a server to provide to a client device, a list of mailboxes that store messages for a user, wherein the program comprises instructions that cause the server to perform the steps of:
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maintaining a current mailbox reference number for each mailbox accessible by the user, wherein maintaining includes; detecting a change of message content in any of the mailboxes; and for each mailbox with a change of message content, updating an assigned current mailbox reference number to a value that is higher than any other current mailbox reference number for the mailboxes accessible by the user; receiving from the client device, a request for the list of mailboxes, the request including a previous mailbox reference number obtained by the client device; generating the list of mailboxes by selecting for the list, only those mailboxes whose current mailbox reference number is greater than the received previous mailbox reference number; and sending the generated list of mailboxes to the client device, wherein the list includes only mailboxes having message content that has changed since the client device obtained the previous mailbox reference number. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification