Client/server electronic mail system for providng off-line client utilization and seamless server resynchronization
First Claim
1. An electronic mail (e-mail) server system for use in a client/server network system having at least one client connected to a server, comprising:
- a mail server, located in said server, that provides a plurality of e-mailing functions accessible across said client/server network system operating in an object-oriented environment and;
a client mail server, located in said client, that accesses said mail server and invokes said mail server to instantiate selected ones of said plurality of e-mail functions in said client mail server to enable said client to perform e-mail composing while in a disconnected state from said mail server; and
a log manager, coupled to said client mail server, that logs all e-mail activity performed by a user on said client while in said disconnect state and performs reconnection and resynchronization between said client and server for replaying said logged activity for execution by said mail server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail (E-Mail) server system is disclosed that is used within a client/server network system. Typically, the network system includes at least one client connected to a server. The E-Mail server system comprises a mail server, a client mail server, located within the client, and a log manager. The mail server, which is located within the server of the client/server network system, provides a plurality of E-Mail functions accessible across the client/server network system. The client mail server access the mail server and invokes the mail server to copy selected ones of a plurality of the E-Mail functions in the client mail server to enable the client to perform E-Mail composing while in a disconnected state from the mail server. The log manager logs all E-Mail activity performed by the user on the client while in the disconnected state and then performs reconnection and resynchronization between the client and server for replaying the logged activity for execution by the mail server. Optimally, the client/server network system operates in an object oriented environment so that the local client/server instantiates selected ones of class functions of the plurality of E-Mail functions.
198 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electronic mail (e-mail) server system for use in a client/server network system having at least one client connected to a server, comprising:
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a mail server, located in said server, that provides a plurality of e-mailing functions accessible across said client/server network system operating in an object-oriented environment and; a client mail server, located in said client, that accesses said mail server and invokes said mail server to instantiate selected ones of said plurality of e-mail functions in said client mail server to enable said client to perform e-mail composing while in a disconnected state from said mail server; and a log manager, coupled to said client mail server, that logs all e-mail activity performed by a user on said client while in said disconnect state and performs reconnection and resynchronization between said client and server for replaying said logged activity for execution by said mail server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of providing electronic mail services to a user in a disconnect state on a client/server network system, comprising:
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while said user is connected to said client/server network as a client, sending a user-initiated disconnect command to a server within said client/server network system; copying selected e-mail functions from said server to said client for use by said user; entering a disconnect state between said client and said server; performing e-mail operations with said selected e-mail functions by said user; logging said e-mail operations by storing e-mail operation sequences in a log queue and storing messages in a client message store; optimizing said e-mail operation sequences in said log queue; sending a user-initiated reconnect command from said client to said server; copying said logged e-mail operations from said client to said server; and processing said copied e-mail operations within said server. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product for providing electronic mail services to a user in a disconnect state on a client/server network system, said product comprising:
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while said user is connected to said client/server network as a client, instruction means for causing a computer to send a user-initiated disconnect command to a server within said client/server network system; instruction means for causing a computer to copy selected e-mail functions from said server to said client for use by said user; instruction means for causing a computer to enter a disconnect state between said client and said server; instruction means for causing a computer to perform e-mail operations with said selected e-mail functions by said user; instruction means for causing a computer to log said e-mail operations by storing e-mail operation sequences in a log queue and storing messages in a client message store; instruction means for causing a computer to optimize said e-mail operation sequences in said log queue; instruction means for causing a computer to send a user-initiated reconnect command from said client to said server; instruction means for causing a computer to copy said logged e-mail operations from said client to said server; and instruction means for causing a computer to process said copied e-mail operations within said server. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification