Message Server that Retains Messages Deleted by One Client Application for Access by Another Client Application

• US 20120102128A1
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey B. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Jeffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,319,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A first processing session is entered with a POP client. A set of messages from a message repository is identified as available for access by the POP client. When the POP client causes a message to be deleted from the message repository (either by explicit or implicit actions), the message is removed from the set of messages available for access by the POP client but maintained for access by another POP client or by another messaging program. The messages available may be limited by a session size and they may be ordered newest to oldest. In some instances messages are part of conversations and the number of conversation from which the message may be drawn is limited.

Claims

1. A method for processing messages, comprising:

at a message server having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

entering into a first processing session with a first client application, the first processing session associated with a user account;

identifying a set of messages available for access by the first client application;

receiving from the first client application a message processing request for a message, the message stored in a message database and included in the set of messages;

in response to the message processing request, removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application; and

maintaining the message in association with the user account in the message database for access by a second client application during a second processing session associated with the user account, wherein the second client application is distinct from the first client application and wherein the message remains available to the second client application subsequent to the removing operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message processing request is a request to delete the message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application comprises setting an application flag associated with the message;

and

identifying the set of stored messages available for access by the first client application includes identifying only stored messages for which the application flag is not set.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

ordering the set in accordance with a date/time value from newest to oldest; and

providing messages to a client in accordance with the set as ordered.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the set is ordered in accordance with a time/date value of a conversation to which each of the respective messages of the set belongs.

6. The method of claim 1, further including entering the first processing session in accordance with a Post Office Protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second client application is a conversation-based messaging program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second client application is a web-based messaging program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message processing request is a request to retrieve the message.

10. The method of claim 1, including:

after the removing operation;

receiving from the second client application a retrieval request for the message; and

providing the message to the second client application.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a server system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

entering into a first processing session with a first client application, the first processing session associated with a user account;

identifying, at a message server, a set of messages available for access by the first client application;

receiving, at the message server, from the first client application a message processing request for a message, the message stored in a message database and included in the set of messages; and

responding to the message processing request by removing, at the message server, the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application while maintaining the message in association with the user account in the message database at the message server for access by a second client application during a second processing session associated with the user account, wherein the second client application is distinct from the first client application and wherein the message remains available to the second client application subsequent to the removing operation.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the message processing request is a request to delete the message.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein

the instructions for removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application include instructions for setting an application flag associated with the message;

and

the instructions for identifying the set of messages available for access by the first client application include instructions for identifying only stored messages for which the application flag is not set.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

ordering the set in accordance with a date/time value from newest to oldest; and

providing messages to a client in accordance with the set as ordered.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the one or more programs further including instructions for ordering the set in accordance with a time/date value of a conversation to which each of the respective messages of the set belongs.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the one or more programs further including instructions for entering the first processing session in accordance with a Post Office Protocol.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the second client application is a conversation-based messaging program.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the second client application is a web-based messaging program.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the message processing request is a request to retrieve the message.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

receiving, from the second client application, a retrieval request for the message after removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application; and

providing the message from the message server to the second client application in response to the retrieval request.

21. A message server system for processing messages, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including;

a message database, including a set of messages available for access by a first client application; and

one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

entering into a first processing session with the first client application, the first processing session associated with the user account;

identifying a set of messages available for access by the first client application;

receiving from the first client application a message processing request for a message, the message stored in the message database and included in the set of messages; and

responding to the message processing request by removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application while maintaining the message in association with the user account in the message database at the message server for access by a second client application during a second processing session associated with the user account, wherein the second client application is distinct from the first client application and wherein the message remains available to the second client application subsequent to the removing operation.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the message processing request is a request to delete the message.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein

the instructions for removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application include instructions for setting an application flag associated with the message;

and

the instructions for identifying the set of messages available for access by the first client application include instructions for identifying only stored messages for which the application flag is not set.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further includes instructions for:

ordering the set in accordance with a date/time value from newest to oldest; and

providing messages to a client in accordance with the set as ordered.

25. The system of claim 24, the one or more programs further includes instructions for ordering the set in accordance with a time/date value of a conversation to which each of the respective messages of the set belongs.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further includes instructions for entering the first processing session in accordance with a Post Office Protocol.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the second client application is a conversation-based messaging program.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the second client application is a web-based messaging program.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the message processing request is a request to retrieve the message.

30. The system of claim 21, the one or more programs further includes instructions for:

receiving, from the second client application, a retrieval request for the message after removing the message from the set of messages available for access by the first client application; and

providing the message from the message server to the second client application in response to the retrieval request.