System and method for synchronizing email messages between an external email server a local email server and/or a wireless data processing device

• US 20080270547A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Michael Alyn, Glickstien, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,166,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for synchronizing email messages between an external email server a local email server and a wireless data processing device. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises a task queue comprised of a plurality of task entries, each entry associated with a particular user email account on the external email server and/or the local email server and representing a task to be performed in relation to the user email account; and a synchronizer to read synchronization tasks from the task queue and cause the synchronization tasks to be executed to synchronize email data stored on the external email server, the local email server and the wireless data processing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for synchronizing email messages between an external email server a local email server and a wireless data processing device comprising:

a task queue comprised of a plurality of task entries, each entry associated with a particular user email account on the external email server and/or the local email server and representing a task to be performed in relation to the user email account; and

a synchronizer to read synchronization tasks from the task queue and cause the synchronization tasks to be executed to synchronize email data stored on the external email server, the local email server and the wireless data processing device.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein, to synchronize the email data, the synchronizer performs the operations of:

connecting to the external email server using authentication data for the user account;

determining changes on the external email server since a last synchronization;

identifying and resolving any conflicts in email data between the external server and the local server;

uploading any changes to the email data on the local server to the remote server;

downloading any changes to the email data on the remote server to the local server; and

transmitting a notification to the wireless device to indicate the changes.

3. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a scheduler to add new synchronization tasks to the task queue according to a specified synchronization schedule.

4. The system as in claim 3 wherein the scheduler adjusts the synchronization schedule based on activity in the user email account.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is active, then the scheduler increases the frequency of synchronization and wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is inactive, then the scheduler decreases the frequency of synchronization.

6. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:

an asynchronous new mail notice receiver to add new synchronization tasks to the task queue in response to receipt of new email messages in the user'"'"'s account.

7. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a mail cache comprising a persistent structure store for storing metadata associated with the email message data and a message body cache for storing at least the message bodies of the email message data.

8. A method for synchronizing email messages between an external email server a local email server and a wireless data processing device comprising:

storing task entries within a task queue, each entry associated with a particular user email account on the external email server and/or the local email server and representing a task to be performed in relation to the user email account;

reading a task entry from the task queue, the task entry indicating a user account to synchronize;

connecting to the external email server using authentication data for the user account;

determining changes on the external email server since a last synchronization;

identifying and resolving any conflicts in email data between the external server and the local server;

uploading any changes to the email data on the local server to the remote server;

downloading any changes to the email data on the remote server to the local server; and

transmitting a notification to the wireless device to indicate the changes.

9. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

adding new synchronization tasks to the task queue according to a specified synchronization schedule.

10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising:

adjusting the synchronization schedule based on activity in the user email account.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is active, then increasing the frequency of synchronization and wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is inactive, then decreasing the frequency of synchronization.

12. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

adding new synchronization tasks to the task queue in response to receipt of new email messages in the user'"'"'s account.

13. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

storing metadata associated with the email message data in a first cache and storing at least the message bodies of the email message data in a second cache.

14. A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of:

storing task entries within a task queue, each entry associated with a particular user email account on an external email server and/or a local email server and representing a task to be performed in relation to the user email account;

reading a task entry from the task queue, the task entry indicating a user account to synchronize;

connecting to the external email server using authentication data for the user account;

determining changes on the external email server since a last synchronization;

identifying and resolving any conflicts in email data between the external server and the local server;

uploading any changes to the email data on the local server to the remote server;

downloading any changes to the email data on the remote server to the local server; and

transmitting a notification to the wireless device to indicate the changes.

15. The machine-readable medium as in claim 14 comprising additional program code to cause the machine to perform the operations of:

adding new synchronization tasks to the task queue according to a specified synchronization schedule.

16. The machine-readable medium as in claim 15 comprising additional program code to cause the machine to perform the operations of:

adjusting the synchronization schedule based on activity in the user email account.

17. The machine-readable medium as in claim 16 wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is active, then the program code causes the machine to increase the frequency of synchronization and wherein, if the user'"'"'s account is inactive, then the program code causes the machine to decrease the frequency of synchronization.

18. The machine-readable medium as in claim 14 comprising additional program code to cause the machine to perform the operations of:

adding new synchronization tasks to the task queue in response to receipt of new email messages in the user'"'"'s account.

19. The machine-readable medium as in claim 14 comprising additional program code to cause the machine to perform the operations of:

storing metadata associated with the email message data in a first cache and storing at least the message bodies of the email message data in a second cache.