Accessing a post office system from a client computer using applets
First Claim
1. A method for accessing a folder of messages, comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a first connection between a client computer and a mail server including the folder of messages over a first network;
(b) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to parse messages in the folder to obtain a message header;
(c) downloading the message headers to the client computer;
(d) terminating the first connection between the client computer and the mail server after downloading the message headers;
(e) selecting with the client computer a displayed header;
(f) establishing a second connection between the client computer and the mail server;
(g) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to retrieve a body for each message whose header was selected;
(h) downloading the selected message bodies to the client computer;
(i) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to delete the selected messages from the folder in the mail server; and
(j) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to terminate the second connection between the client computer and the mail server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a system for accessing a folder of messages in a mail server, such as an inbox folder, outbox folder, draft message folder, etc. This disclosed system is especially suited for "offline" type protocols, such as POP3. A client computer establishes a first connection with a mail server including the folder of messages over a network. The client computer communicates a command to the mail server to parse messages in the folder to obtain message headers. The message headers are then downloaded to the client computer. After downloading the message headers, the first connection between the client computer and the mail server is terminated. The client computer may then be used to select at least one displayed header. After message headers are selected, a second connection is established between the client computer and the mail server. The client computer communicates a command to the mail server to retrieve a body for each message whose header was selected. The selected message bodies are then downloaded to the client computer. After downloading message bodies, the client computer communicates a command to the mail server to delete the selected messages from the folder in the mail server. The client computer then communicates a command to the mail server to terminate the second connection between the client computer and the mail server.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for accessing a folder of messages, comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a first connection between a client computer and a mail server including the folder of messages over a first network; (b) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to parse messages in the folder to obtain a message header; (c) downloading the message headers to the client computer; (d) terminating the first connection between the client computer and the mail server after downloading the message headers; (e) selecting with the client computer a displayed header; (f) establishing a second connection between the client computer and the mail server; (g) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to retrieve a body for each message whose header was selected; (h) downloading the selected message bodies to the client computer; (i) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to delete the selected messages from the folder in the mail server; and (j) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to terminate the second connection between the client computer and the mail server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for accessing a folder of messages, comprising:
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(a) means for establishing a first connection between a client computer and a mail server including the folder of messages over a network; (b) means for communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to parse messages in the folder to obtain a message header; (c) means for downloading the message headers to the client computer; (d) means for terminating the first connection between the client computer and the mail server after downloading the message headers; (e) means, performed by the client computer, for selecting a displayed header; (f) means for establishing a second connection between the client computer and the mail server; (g) means for communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to retrieve a body for each message whose header was selected; (h) means for downloading the selected message bodies to the client computer; (i) means for communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to delete the selected messages from the folder in the mail server; and (j) means for communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to terminate the second connection between the client computer and the mail server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture for use in programming a client computer, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program embodied therein that causes the client computer to perform the steps of:
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(a) establishing a first connection between the client computer and a mail server including the folder of messages over a network; (b) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to parse messages in the folder to obtain a message header; (c) downloading the message headers to the client computer; (d) terminating the first connection between the client computer and the mail server after downloading the message headers; (e) selecting with the client computer a displayed header; (f) establishing a second connection between the client computer and the mail server; (g) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to retrieve a body for each message whose header was selected; (h) downloading the selected message bodies to the client computer; (i) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to delete the selected messages from the folder in the mail server; and (j) communicating a command from the client computer to the mail server to terminate the second connection between the client computer and the mail server.
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18. The article of manufacture of 17, wherein the step of establishing the first connection between the client computer and the mail server further comprises the steps of:
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communicating between the client computer and a second server via the network using a first protocol; downloading a first applet from the second server into the client computer via the network using the first protocol; and executing the downloaded first applet in the client computer, wherein the executed first applet performs the steps of; (1) establishing the first and second connections between the client computer and the mail server via a second network using a second protocol; (2) displaying information in at least one of the message headers and message bodies downloaded from the mail server; and (3) generating and communicating the commands to the mail server. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification