System and method for managing network bandwidth usage in the provision of an e-mail service

• US 7,237,028 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Internet LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Road Runner Holdco, LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Howard, Leddy, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Viet D.
• Application Number:
  US11/031,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

Bandwidth loading on the network is managed by pushing e-mail message traffic out to the edges of the network at times when bandwidth demand is low. To accomplish this, a user'"'"'s e-mail is cached at the proxy server nearest to his presumed location. This decentralizes the e-mail storage away from the mail server and spreads it out over the network at the various proxy servers. This cache action is preferably done when there is a lull in network traffic (e.g., at night). This has the effect of decentralizing the bandwidth demand on the overall network since the e-mail messages have a shorter distance to travel when retrieved by the user from the cache location at the proxy server.

Claims

1. A method of managing bandwidth usage in a network where electronic mail is retained for retrieval from a mail server, the method comprising:

selecting a time when network bandwidth load is low; and

pushing unretrieved mail messages to a proxy server at the selected time, wherein the pushed mail messages are cached at the proxy server, and wherein the proxy server is proximally located to a mail client served by the mail server;

receiving at the proxy server a POP check message from the mail client; and

sending from the proxy server a response to the POP request message comprising the unretrieved mail messages.

2. The method of managing bandwidth usage of claim 1, wherein selecting a time is based on when bandwidth load at a predetermined point in the network falls below a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of managing bandwidth usage of claim 1, wherein selecting a time is based on a predetermined time of day.

4. A mail server for use in a network where electronic mail is retained for retrieval from the mail server, the mail server comprising:

a processor, and a memory including software instructions adapted to enable the proxy server to perform the steps of;

selecting a time when network bandwidth load is low; and

pushing unretrieved mail messages to a proxy server at the selected time, wherein the pushed mail messages are cached at the proxy server and wherein the proxy server is proximally located to a mail client served by the mail server;

receiving at the proxy server a POP check message from the mail client; and

sending from the proxy server a response to the POP request message comprising the unretrieved mail messages.

5. The mail server of claim 4, wherein selecting a time is based on when bandwidth load at a predetermined point in the network falls below a predetermined threshold.

6. The mail server of claim 4, wherein selecting a time is based on at a predetermined time of day.

7. A network comprising:

at least one mail server where electronic mail is retained for retrieval by mail clients;

a plurality of proxy servers distributed about the network;

wherein the mail server caches unretreived mail messages at the proxy servers.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein unretrieved mail messages are cached at a selected time.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein the selected time is determined to be when bandwidth load at a predetermined point in the network falls below a predetermined threshold.

10. The network of claim 8, wherein the selected time is a predetermined time of day.

11. The network of claim 7, wherein the mail server synchronizes with the plurality of proxy servers periodically to ensure that when changes are made to a message on the mail server or on the proxy server that the changes are reconciled.

12. A network comprising:

a mail server where electronic mail is retained for retrieval by mail clients;

a plurality of proxy servers distributed about the network;

wherein the mail server comprises;

a processor, and a memory including software instructions adapted to enable the mail server to perform the steps of;

selecting a time when network bandwidth load is low; and

pushing unretrieved mail messages to a proxy server at the selected time, wherein the pushed mail messages are cached at the proxy server, and wherein the proxy server is proximally located to a mail client served by the mail server;

receiving at the proxy server a POP check message from the mail client; and

sending from the proxy server a response to the POP request message comprising the unretrieved mail messages.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein selecting a time is based on when bandwidth load at a predetermined point in the network falls below a predetermined threshold.

14. The network of claim 12, wherein selecting a time is based on at a predetermined time of day.