Electronic mail interface for a network server

• US 6,230,156 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hussey, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/111,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/10, 707/104, 705/9, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 709/100, 709/223, 709/224, 709/206, 709/102
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A networked system for processing queries for a server in a distributed processing environment is provided. The system includes a plurality of clients disposed for communication with a database server through an electronic mail system. The server includes an electronic mail interface for receiving queries submitted by the clients and for transmitting the corresponding responses. A mail processor is also provided for processing the queries submitted by the clients and for submitting the queries to the request processor. The mail processor operates to provide bi-directional communication between the mail interface and the request processor. In addition, the mail processor retrieves mail messages from the mail interface, translates them into a format recognized by the request processor, receives query results from the request processor, and returns the results with the appropriate user identification to the mail interface. A scheduler, provided in connection with the server, provides automated scheduled execution of the mail processor in accordance with a set of programmed tasks.

Claims

1. A method for executing, by a networked database server in a distributed processing environment that includes an email system, an email received request submitted by a client in the form of an email message to an electronic mailbox associated with the networked database server for storing the email message from the client, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving, by an electronic mail interface within the networked database server and separate from the email system of the distributed processing environment, the email message from the electronic mailbox;

applying, by a scheduler within the networked database server and separate from the email system of the distributed processing environment, scheduling rules to the email message; and

if the email message satisfies the scheduling rules, (1) extracting, by an electronic mail processor within the networked database server and separate from the email system of the distributed processing environment, the email received request from the email message; and

(2) executing, by a request processor within the networked database server and separate from the email system of the distributed processing environment, the email received request.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

formulating an electronic mail response addressed to the client based upon a response issued by the request processor corresponding to the request.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

issuing the electronic mail response to an electronic mailbox associated with the client.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

storing email a set of messages retrieved by the electronic mail interface from the electronic mailbox within a mail inbox;

identifying a first message within the set of messages meeting a filter for selectively executing retrieved email messages; and

processing, by the electronic mail processor, the first message in accordance with the identifying step.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the filter includes a format code for instructing the request processor to submit the results of an executed request in a specified format.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the executing step comprises executing an operation associated with a database in accordance with the request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the request submitted by the client is a database query.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the database query is a Structured Query Language (SQL) query.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the request submitted by the client comprises a request to modify information associated with the database.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the request to modify information comprises a command to add information to the database.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the request to modify information comprises a command to delete information from the database.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the database operates independently from an email system.