Mail synchronization of remote and local mail systems
First Claim
1. A method for synchronization of a second mail system and a first mail system, the second mail system communicating with the first mail system through a public network, said method comprising:
- maintaining a first inbox for the first mail system, the first inbox having a first message list associated therewith;
establishing a secure connection between the first mail system and the second mail system through the public network;
requesting a second message list from the second mail system over the secure connection, the second message list being associated with a second inbox for the second mail system;
comparing the first message list with the second message list to identify missing messages, the missing messages are those messages that are identified as being present in the second inbox but not also present in the first inbox;
requesting the missing messages from the second mail system over the secure connection;
receiving the missing messages from the second mail system over the secure connection through the public network; and
inserting the missing messages that have been received into the first inbox of the first mail system;
deleting at least one of the messages from the second inbox that are known to be present in the first inbox.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved techniques for synchronizing different electronic mail mailboxes (accounts) of a user are disclosed. The user is able to effectively see and interact with only a single “virtual” mailbox, which is the synchronized combination of the two different electronic mailboxes. The electronic mailboxes are used to receive, store, read and send electronic mail over a network to electronic mailboxes associated with recipients. The electronic mail can include electronic messages that contain text, graphics or video. The synchronization of the two different electronic mailboxes can be performed automatically in a two-way manner without user interaction. The synchronization can also be performed securely even though electronic messages are transmitted over a public network.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for synchronization of a second mail system and a first mail system, the second mail system communicating with the first mail system through a public network, said method comprising:
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maintaining a first inbox for the first mail system, the first inbox having a first message list associated therewith;
establishing a secure connection between the first mail system and the second mail system through the public network;
requesting a second message list from the second mail system over the secure connection, the second message list being associated with a second inbox for the second mail system;
comparing the first message list with the second message list to identify missing messages, the missing messages are those messages that are identified as being present in the second inbox but not also present in the first inbox;
requesting the missing messages from the second mail system over the secure connection;
receiving the missing messages from the second mail system over the secure connection through the public network; and
inserting the missing messages that have been received into the first inbox of the first mail system;
deleting at least one of the messages from the second inbox that are known to be present in the first inbox. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for synchronizing a first inbox of a first electronic mail application with a second inbox of a second electronic mail application, the first electronic mail application and the second electronic mail application being connected through a public network, said method comprising:
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obtaining an action entry from an action list, the action list indicating changes that have occurred at the second inbox since last synchronization;
preparing a synchronization action message based on the action entry;
sending the synchronization action message to the first electronic mail application through the public network so that the first electronic mail application is able to perform the synchronization action of the synchronization action message to render the first inbox more consistent with the second inbox;
receiving an acknowledgement from the first electronic mall application that the synchronization action has been performed; and
thereafter removing the action entry from the action list when the acknowledgement has been received. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification