E-mail caching system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for caching e-mail data over a network, comprising:
- storing e-mail data on an e-mail server at a first network location;
accessing the network with a client at a second network location;
retrieving a site local e-mail message caching device (EMCD) IP address table with the client using IP address table information stored in a user'"'"'s mailbox;
comparing a network location of the client to the site local EMCD IP address table; and
selecting a site local (EMCD) for caching the e-mail data from the e-mail server based on the network proximity of the site local (EMCD) to the client;
said comparing comprising the steps of;
parsing the IP address table to retrieve at least one IP address record for a given (EMCD), wherein the IP address record includes at least one IP address/mask pair of an (EMCD);
wherein for each IP address/mask pair retrieved;
performing a first bitwise AND between a client local address and the mask of the address/mask pair;
performing a second bitwise AND between the table address and the mask of the address/mask pair;
comparing a resulting value from the first and the second bitwise AND for a match; and
in response to a match, including the table address in a resulting list of potential IP addresses for the site local (EMCD);
if there is no match, the address is discarded from consideration.
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Abstract
A system and method to improve data access over a network. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device for caching data from a server, such as e-mail messages, is provided at a location close to an end user. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a centrally stored address list is provided that may be accessed by a client to determine the best or nearest server for data access.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for caching e-mail data over a network, comprising:
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storing e-mail data on an e-mail server at a first network location; accessing the network with a client at a second network location; retrieving a site local e-mail message caching device (EMCD) IP address table with the client using IP address table information stored in a user'"'"'s mailbox; comparing a network location of the client to the site local EMCD IP address table; and selecting a site local (EMCD) for caching the e-mail data from the e-mail server based on the network proximity of the site local (EMCD) to the client; said comparing comprising the steps of; parsing the IP address table to retrieve at least one IP address record for a given (EMCD), wherein the IP address record includes at least one IP address/mask pair of an (EMCD); wherein for each IP address/mask pair retrieved; performing a first bitwise AND between a client local address and the mask of the address/mask pair; performing a second bitwise AND between the table address and the mask of the address/mask pair; comparing a resulting value from the first and the second bitwise AND for a match; and in response to a match, including the table address in a resulting list of potential IP addresses for the site local (EMCD); if there is no match, the address is discarded from consideration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15)
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7. A system for caching data over a computer network, comprising:
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a server having a first store for e-mail data at a first location; a client for accessing the e-mail data at a second location, the first location and the second location being connected over a network; and a site local e-mail message caching device (EMCD) at the second location comprising a second store for email data, wherein the site local EMCD is configured to act as a proxy for transmitting e-mail data between the server and the client, wherein the site local (EMCD) further comprising virtual e-mail clients that communicate with said server to cache transactions between said server and the (EMCD); said (EMCD) being located by maintaining an IP address table for the site local (EMCD) at said email server; placing the IP address table in an e-mail user'"'"'s mailbox at said e-mail server; in response to a user attempting to access said site local (EMCD) from a client, reading the IP address table from said e-mail user'"'"'s mailbox at said e-mail server; and parsing the IP address table to retrieve at least one IP address record for a given EMCD, wherein the IP address record includes at least one IP address/mask pair of an EMCD; wherein for each IP address/mask pair retrieved; performing a first bitwise AND between a client local address and the mask of the address/mask pair; performing a second bitwise AND between the table address and the mask of the address/mask pair; comparing a resulting value from the first and the second bitwise AND for a match; and in response to a match, including the table address in a resulting list of potential IP addresses for the site local (EMCD); if there is no match, the address is discarded from consideration. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for accessing an e-mail message caching device (EMCD), comprising:
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maintaining an e-mail server; providing a site local (EMCD); maintaining an IP address table for the site local (EMCD) at said e-mail server; placing the IP address table in an e-mail user'"'"'s mailbox at said e-mail server; in response to a user attempting to access said site local (EMCD) from a client, reading the IP address table from said e-mail user'"'"'s mailbox at said e-mail server; and parsing the IP address table to retrieve at least one IP address record for a given (EMCD), wherein the IP address record includes at least one IP address/mask pair of an EMCD; wherein for each IP address/mask pair retrieved; performing a first bitwise AND between a client local address and the mask of the address/mask pair; performing a second bitwise AND between the table address and the mask of the address/mask pair; comparing a resulting value from the first and the second bitwise AND for a match; and in response to a match, including the table address in a resulting list of potential IP addresses for the site local (EMCD); if there is no match, the address is discarded from consideration.
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16. A method for identifying a site local (EMCD), comprising:
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placing code on a client computer to retrieve an IP address table; acquiring the IP address table from an e-mail server; parsing the IP address table to retrieve at least one IP address record for a given EMCD, wherein the IP address record includes at least one IP address/mask pair of an EMCD; wherein for each IP address/mask pair retrieved; performing a first bitwise AND between a client local address and the mask of the address/mask pair; performing a second bitwise AND between the table address and the mask of the address/mask pair; comparing a resulting value from the first and the second bitwise AND for a match; and in response to a match, including the table address in a resulting list of potential IP addresses for the site local (EMCD); if there is no match, the address is discarded from consideration.
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Specification