Email access manager for a wireless communication device

• US 8,676,906 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabii, Khosro M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baturay, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US13/035,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20120221651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for management of email access for a wireless communication device (WCD). The techniques may utilize an email access manager that selects a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server and selects a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server based on context data regarding the WCD. The context data of the WCD may include one or more of quality of service (QoS) of network connections with the remote email server, battery status of the WCD, and user settings for the WCD. The email access manager monitors the context data from one or more managers, applications, and/or memory within the WCD. The techniques described herein enable an email application on a WCD to dynamically alter synchronization and transfer of email messages with a remote email server as appropriate given the context of the WCD.

Claims

1. A method of accessing email with a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a processor of the wireless communication device, context data regarding the wireless communication device, wherein the context data at least includes a battery status of the wireless communication device;

selecting, by the processor of the wireless communication device, a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server via a network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein selecting the synchronization mode comprises determining when to synchronize with the remote email server based on the battery status of the wireless communication device; and

once the wireless communication device is synchronized with the remote email server, selecting, by the processor of the wireless communication device, a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server over the network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein selecting the transfer mode comprises determining what types of email messages and content of the email messages to transfer based on the battery status of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing with the remote email server based on instructions regarding the selected synchronization mode; and

transferring email messages with the remote email server based on instructions regarding the selected transfer mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the network connection over which to synchronize with the remote email server from one or more network connections that have a quality of service (QoS) greater or equal to a QoS threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting the network connection from the network connections with QoS greater or equal to the QoS threshold further comprises selecting a preferred one of the network connections based on user settings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a synchronization mode further comprises selecting not to synchronize with the remote email server when all network connections have a quality of service (QoS) less than a QoS threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a synchronization mode further comprises selecting not to synchronize with the remote email server during quiet hours based on user settings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a synchronization mode further comprises selecting to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is wall plugged.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a synchronization mode further comprises selecting to only synchronize with the remote email server to transfer high-priority email messages based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a synchronization mode further comprises selecting to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency relative to the battery reserve based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a transfer mode further comprises selecting not to receive new email messages from the remote email server when an email cache within the wireless communication device is full.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a transfer mode further comprises selecting to transfer entire content of all email messages with the remote email server when the battery status of the wireless communication device is wall plugged.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a transfer mode further comprises selecting to transfer only high-priority email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a transfer mode further comprises selecting to transfer only header content of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a transfer mode further comprises selecting to transfer only a most recent email message in a chain of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the context data further comprises quality of service (QoS) of network connections between the wireless communication device and the remote email server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the context data further comprises user settings including one or more of synchronization frequency preferences, quiet hours, high-priority contacts, high-priority subjects, email message content transfer preferences, email message chain transfer preferences, a battery reserve threshold level, a network connection quality of service (QoS) threshold level, and a preferred network connection.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the context data further comprises email cache capacity.

18. A wireless communication device capable of accessing email, the wireless communication device comprising:

memory that stores at least some context data regarding the wireless communication device; and

an email access manager comprising one or more processors that monitors the context data, wherein the context data at least includes a battery status of the wireless communication device, selects a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server via a wireless network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected synchronization mode determines when to synchronize with the remote email server based on the battery status of the wireless communication device, and once the wireless communication device is synchronized with the remote email server, selects a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server over the network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected transfer mode determines what types of email messages and content of the email messages to transfer based on the battery status of the wireless communication device.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, further comprising an email access agent comprising one or more processors that:

synchronizes with the remote email server based on instructions received from the processor regarding the selected synchronization mode; and

transfers email messages with the remote email server based on instructions received from the processor regarding the selected transfer mode.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects the network connection over which to synchronize with the remote email server from one or more network connections that have a quality of service (QoS) greater or equal to a QoS threshold.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the email access manager selects a preferred one of the network connections with QoS greater or equal to the QoS threshold based on user settings.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects not to synchronize with the remote email server when all of the network connections have a quality of service (QoS) less than a QoS threshold.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects not to synchronize with the remote email server during quiet hours based on user settings.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication is wall plugged.

25. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to only synchronize with the remote email server to send high-priority email messages based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency relative to a level of battery reserve based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects not to receive new email messages from the remote email server when an email cache within the wireless communication device is full.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to transfer entire content of all email messages with the remote email server when the battery status of the wireless communication device is wall plugged.

29. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to transfer only high-priority email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to transfer only header content of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the email access manager selects to transfer only a most recent email message in a chain of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

32. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the context data further comprises quality of service (QoS) of network connections between the wireless communication device and the remote email server.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the context data further comprises user settings including one or more of synchronization frequency preferences, quiet hours, high-priority contacts, high-priority subjects, email message content transfer preferences, email message chain transfer preferences, a battery reserve threshold level, a network connection quality of service (QoS) threshold level, and a preferred network connection.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the context data further comprises email cache capacity.

35. A wireless communication device capable of accessing email, the wireless communication device comprising:

means for monitoring, by a processor of the wireless communication device, context data of the wireless communication device, wherein the context data at least includes a battery status of the wireless communication device;

means for selecting, by the processor of the wireless communication device, a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server via a wireless network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected synchronization mode determines when to synchronize with the remote email server based on the battery status of the wireless communication device; and

once the wireless communication device is synchronized with the remote email server, means for selecting, by the processor of the wireless communication device, a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server over the network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected transfer mode determines what types of email messages and content of the email messages to transfer based on the battery status of the wireless communication device.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising:

means for synchronizing with the remote email server based on instructions regarding the selected synchronization mode; and

means for transferring email messages with the remote email server based on instructions regarding the selected transfer mode.

37. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting the network connection over which to synchronize with the remote email server from one or more network connections have a quality of service (QoS) greater or equal to a QoS threshold.

38. The wireless communication device of claim 37, further comprising means for selecting a preferred one of the network connections based on user settings.

39. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting not to synchronize with the remote email server when all network connections have a quality of service (QoS) less than a QoS threshold.

40. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting not to synchronize with the remote email server during quiet hours based on user settings.

41. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is wall plugged.

42. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to only synchronize with the remote email server to send high-priority email messages based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

43. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to periodically synchronize with the remote email server with a frequency relative to the battery reserve based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

44. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting not to receive new email messages from the remote email server when an email cache within the wireless communication device is full.

45. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to transfer entire content of all email messages with the remote email server when the battery status of the wireless communication device is wall plugged.

46. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to transfer only high-priority email messages with from the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is less than a reserve threshold.

47. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to transfer only header content of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

48. The wireless communication device of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting to transfer only a most recent email message in a chain of email messages with the remote email server based on user settings when the battery status of the wireless communication device is battery reserve that is greater or equal to a reserve threshold.

49. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a wireless communication device to:

monitor context data of the wireless communication device, wherein the context data at least includes a battery status of the wireless communication device;

select a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server via a network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected synchronization mode determines when to synchronize with the remote email server based on the battery status of the wireless communication device; and

once the wireless communication device is synchronized with the remote email server, select a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server over the network connection based on one or more of the context data, wherein the selected transfer mode determines what types of email messages and content of the email messages to transfer based on the battery status of the wireless communication device.