Communications system with polling server providing dynamic record ID polling and related methods

• US 8,793,320 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kamat, Harshad
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman, Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US12/708,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 709/224, 709/225, 709/207, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A communications system may include at least one data storage device configured to store electronic messages and record identifications (IDs) therefor in respective accounts, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices each associated with a respective account. The system may further include at least one polling server configured to perform polling requests of the at least one data storage device and retrieve therefrom respective record IDs for each account, with each polling request being for a selectable number of record IDs. The polling server(s) may also be configured to selectively change the number of record IDs in each polling request based upon an estimated number of electronic messages stored in a respective account, and cause electronic messages to be delivered to respective mobile wireless communications devices based upon the record IDs.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

at least one data storage device configured to store electronic records and record identifications (IDs) therefor in at least one account;

at least one mobile wireless communications device associated with the at least one account; and

at least one polling server configured to

estimate a number of electronic records stored in the at least one account,

select a number of record IDs for a polling request based upon the estimated number,

perform the polling request of the at least one data storage device and retrieve therefrom respective record IDs for the at least one account based upon the selected number of record IDs, and

cause electronic records to be delivered to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the retrieved record IDs.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a time of completion of a prior request.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server has an available memory level;

and wherein the at least one polling server is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon the available memory level.

4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a target number of requests to retrieve all record IDs for a given account.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a minimum record ID request limit.

6. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a maximum record ID request limit.

7. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one polling server is configured to determine new and deleted electronic records for the accounts based upon the polled record IDs.

8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the electronic records comprise electronic messages.

9. The communications system of claim 8 wherein the electronic messages comprise electronic mail (email) messages.

10. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the electronic records comprise address book records, and the record IDs comprise address book record IDs.

11. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the electronic records comprise calendar records, and the record IDs comprise calendar record IDs.

12. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile wireless communications device comprises cellular devices.

13. A polling server for use with at least one data storage device configured to store electronic records and record identifications (IDs) therefor in at least one account and at least one mobile wireless communications device associated with the at least one account, the polling server comprising:

a storage device interface module configured to

estimate a number of electronic records stored in the at least one account,

select a number of record IDs for a polling request based upon the estimated number, and

perform the polling request of the at least one data storage device and retrieve therefrom respective record IDs for the at least one account based upon the selected number of record IDs; and

a mobile device interface module cooperating with the storage device interface module and configured to cause electronic records to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the retrieved record IDs.

14. The polling server of claim 13 wherein the storage device interface module is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a time of completion of a prior request.

15. The polling server of claim 13 wherein the storage device interface module has an available memory level;

and wherein the first interface module is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon the available memory level.

16. The polling server of claim 13 wherein the storage device interface module is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a target number of requests to retrieve all record IDs for a given account.

17. The polling server of claim 13 wherein the storage device interface module is configured to select the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon at least one of a minimum record ID request limit and a maximum record ID request limit.

18. The polling server of claim 13 wherein the electronic records comprise electronic messages.

19. A communications method comprising:

storing electronic records and record identifications (IDs) therefor in at least one account on at least one data storage device;

associating at least one mobile wireless communications device with the at least one account;

estimating a number of electronic records stored in the at least one account using at least one polling server;

selecting a number of record IDs for a polling request based upon the estimated number using the at least one polling server;

performing the polling request of the at least one data storage device and retrieving therefrom respective record IDs for the at least one account using the at least one polling server based upon the selected number of record IDs; and

causing electronic records to be delivered to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the record IDs using the at least one polling server.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting comprises selecting the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a time of completion of a prior request.

21. The method of claim 19

wherein the at least one polling server has an available memory level;

and wherein selecting comprises selecting the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon the available memory level.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting comprises selecting the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon a target number of requests to retrieve all record IDs for a given account.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting comprises selecting the number of record IDs in each polling request also based upon at least one of a minimum record ID request limit and a maximum record ID request limit.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising determining new and deleted electronic messages for the accounts based upon the polled record IDs using the at least one polling server.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the electronic records comprise electronic messages.