Electronic mail object synchronization between a desktop computer and mobile device

• US 6,052,735 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Discolo, Anthony, Alam, Salim, Ulrich, Bryce
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/058,613
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/102, 709/505, 709/236, 709/237, 345/335
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• 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 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A desktop computer and a mobile device both contain personal information management systems, such as electronic mail applications. Objects maintained by the electronic mail applications are synchronized between the desktop computer and the mobile device such that attachments to electronic mail messages are receivable by the mobile device. The present invention also allows the user of the mobile device to dynamically retrieve individual electronic mail message attachments on a per message basis. Further, filtering techniques can be implemented such that, during synchronization, only predetermined attachments are automatically provided to the electronic mail message object store on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring objects, comprising:

providing a first computer including a first application program configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer, the first computer being configured to maintain attachments associated with the electronic mail messages, and the first computer including a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects;

providing a mobile device, coupled to the first computer, including a second object store, a second application program configured to maintain in the second object store a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device, the second application program being configured to receive the attachments associated with the electronic mail objects synchronized to the mobile device from the first computer;

selecting attachments to be synchronized to the mobile device; and

when the mobile device is next coupled to the first computer, transferring to the mobile device the selected attachments associated with the electronic mail objects synchronized to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting attachments includes selecting all attachments and wherein transferring to the mobile device the attachments comprises:

transferring all attachments associated with any of the electronic mail objects synchronized to the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a mobile device comprises:

providing the second application program configured to maintain in the second object store a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device wherein the second electronic mail object includes a property having a value indicative of whether the electronic mail message represented by the second electronic mail object includes an attachment.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein transferring to the mobile device the attachments comprises:

transferring preselected attachments to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein transferring preselected attachments comprises:

detecting an alteration in the second electronic mail object indicative of an attachment request; and

when the mobile device is next coupled to the first computer, transferring the attachment to the mobile device based on the attachment request.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first application program includes first application program interfaces, wherein the second application program includes second application program interfaces, and wherein transferring the attachment comprises:

communicating with the first application program through the first application program interfaces to retrieve the attachment from the first object store; and

communicating with the second application program through the second application program interfaces to deliver the attachment to the second object store.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein providing the first computer includes providing a synchronization component configured to communicate with the first and second application programs through the first and second application program interfaces, respectively, and wherein detecting an alteration comprises:

detecting the alteration in the second electronic mail object with the synchronization component.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein communicating with the first application program through the first application program interfaces is performed with the synchronization component.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein communicating with the second application program through the second application program interfaces is performed with the synchronization component.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein providing a mobile device comprises:

providing a user interface having attachment indicia indicative of whether the electronic mail message represented by the second electronic mail object includes an associated attachment; and

providing a user input device which provides a user input signal indicative of a request by the user to receive the attachment, the user input signal altering a property associated with the second electronic mail object.

11. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

before transferring the attachment to the mobile device, accessing, at the first computer, transmission parameters associated with the mobile device; and

transferring the attachment according to the transmission parameters accessed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring the attachment according to the transmission parameters includes:

retrieving conversion parameters indicative of a desired file conversion to be performed on the attachment; and

performing the desired file conversion on the attachment.

13. A mobile device couplable to a first computer, the first computer including a first application program configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer, a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects, and a synchronization component configured to synchronize the electronic mail objects from the first object store with objects from a second object store, the mobile device comprising:

a second object store; and

a second application program configured to maintain a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device, in the second object store, the second application program being configured to receive and store attachments associated with second electronic mail objects synchronized to the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 and further comprising:

a user interface providing attachment indicia indicative of whether the electronic mail message represented by the second electronic mail object includes an associated attachment; and

a user input device providing a user input signal indicative of a command by the user to receive the attachment, the user input signal altering a property associated with the second electronic mail object.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the first application program includes first application program interfaces and the second application program includes second application program interfaces, and wherein the mobile device is configured to provide the second electronic mail object to the first computer such that the synchronization component recognizes that the property has been altered and communicates with the first application program through the first application program interfaces to retrieve the attachment from the first object store and communicating with the second application program through the second application program interfaces to deliver the attachment to the second object store.

16. A method of transferring data from a first object store to a second object store, comprising:

providing a first computer including a first application program configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer, the first computer including a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects;

providing a mobile device, coupleable to the first computer, including a second object store, a second application program configured to maintain in the second object store a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device;

when the mobile device is next coupled to the first computer, synchronizing with the mobile device the electronic mail objects from the first computer;

prior to synchronizing, accessing a set of user defined filter parameters; and

wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing the electronic mail objects according to the filter parameters.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein synchronizing according to the filter parameters includes:

creating the second electronic mail object to provide only a user specified number of lines of text associated with the electronic mail message.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein synchronizing according to filter parameters comprises:

synchronizing the electronic mail objects according to a transport type used to transport the electronic mail message and identified in the first electronic mail object.

19. A mobile device coupleable to a first computer, the first computer including a first application program configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer, a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects, and a synchronization component configured to synchronize the electronic mail objects from the first object store with objects from a second object store, the mobile device comprising:

a second object store;

a second application program configured to maintain a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device, in the second object store; and

a plurality of electronic mail transports, each electronic mail transport being suitable for transmitting electronic mail messages.

20. The mobile device of claim 19 wherein the second application program is configured to receive and store attachments associated with second electronic mail objects synchronized to the mobile device.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a first computer including;

a first application program, having first application program interfaces, configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer;

a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects; and

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the electronic mail objects from the first object store with objects from a second object store;

a mobile device, coupleable to the first computer, including;

a second object store;

a second application program, having second application program interfaces, configured to maintain a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object, synchronized to the mobile device, in the second object store;

a user interface providing attachment indicia indicative of whether the electronic mail message represented by the second electronic mail object includes an associated attachment;

a user input device providing a user input signal indicative of a command by the user to receive the attachment and the associated electronic mail message, the user input signal altering a property associated with the second electronic mail object; and

the synchronization component being configured to recognize that the property has been altered and communicate with the first application program through the first application program interfaces to retrieve the attachment from the first object store and communicate with the second application program through the second application program interfaces to deliver the attachment to the second object store.

22. A method of transferring objects, comprising:

providing a first computer including a first application program configured to maintain electronic mail objects, one electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail message received by the first computer, and a first object store configured to store the electronic mail objects;

providing a mobile device, coupleable to the first computer, including a second object store, a second application program configured to maintain in the second object store a second electronic mail object corresponding to each electronic mail object synchronized to the mobile device, the second electronic mail object including a property having a value indicative of whether the electronic mail message represented by the second electronic mail object includes an attachment;

detecting an alteration in the second electronic mail object indicative of an attachment request; and

when the mobile device is next coupled to the first computer, transferring the attachment to the mobile device based on the attachment request.