SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING A REMOTE DATABASE

• US 20090193019A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hassan, Ahmed E., Chiu, Denny K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A device is in communication with a server over a wireless network. Items are stored locally in the device. The device receives, from a user of the device, a request to search for items matching a search parameter. The device finds items among the locally-stored items that match the parameter. The device sends a request to the server for the server to search among items stored remotely on the server for items matching the parameter. The device receives, from the server, a list of the remotely-stored items that match the parameter without receiving the items themselves. The device displays, to the user, a composite list of both the locally-stored items and remotely-stored items matching the parameter.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile device in communication with a server over a wireless network, the method comprising:

storing items locally in the mobile device;

receiving, from a user of the mobile device, a request to search for items matching a search parameter;

finding items among the locally-stored items that match the parameter;

sending a request to the server for the server to search among items stored remotely on the server for items matching the parameter;

receiving, from the server, a list of the remotely-stored items that match the parameter without receiving the items themselves; and

displaying, to the user, a composite list of the locally-stored and remotely-stored items matching the parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending step is performed automatically after the finding step.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inputting an indication of which of the remotely-stored items is selected by the user;

sending a request to the server to send the selected remotely-stored item;

receiving the selected remotely-stored item from the server; and

displaying the selected remotely-stored item to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a particular locally-stored item from memory of the mobile device in response to the particular item being in the list received from the server; and

deleting that particular item from the mobile device'"'"'s memory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the locally-stored and remotely-stored items are electronic messages and the search parameter relates to sender information.

6. A method performed by a mobile device in communication with a server over a wireless network, the method comprising:

storing items locally in the mobile device;

receiving, from a user of the mobile device, a request to search for items matching a first search parameter;

sending a request to the server for the server to search among items stored remotely on the server for items matching the first search parameter;

receiving, from the server, a list of the remotely-stored items that match the parameter without receiving the items themselves;

displaying, to the user, the list of the remotely-stored items matching the parameter;

storing the list of remotely-stored items that were received from the server for use in a subsequent search;

receiving, from the user, a subsequent second request to search the locally-stored items for items matching a second search parameter; and

finding items, among the previously received and stored list of remotely-stored items and from among the locally stored items, that match the first search parameter.

7. A method performed by a mobile device in communication with a server over a wireless network, the method comprising:

storing items locally in the mobile device;

receiving, from a user of the mobile device, a request to search the locally-stored items for items matching a search parameter;

searching for items among the locally-stored items that match the parameter; and

sending a request to the server for the server to search among items stored remotely on the server for items matching the parameter, the sending being performed based on a determination that no locally stored item matching the parameter was found in the searching step.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving, from the server, a list of remotely-stored items matching the parameter; and

displaying, to the user, a list of the remotely-stored items matching the parameter.