System and method for providing a unified messaging scheme in a mobile device

• US 7,047,285 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Burgess, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chankong, Dohm
• Application Number:
  US09/785,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 709/211, 709/206, 709/203, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database

Abstract

Described is a system and method for receiving and distributing messages within a mobile device using multiple communication protocols. The invention provides a method for centrally controlling data flow throughout the communication system. The invention provides a means to receive a message over a communications medium, translate it to a first format for general use and further translate it to a second format for data storage. In one implementation, a data storage component communicates with an application, a form, a transport, and a data store. The application, the form, and the transport each communicate with the storage component by passing properties of a message to the storage component in a first format. The storage component translates the properties from the first format to a second format. The storage component then stores the translated properties in the data store in the second format.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for storing and distributing a message in a mobile device, comprising:

a transport component included in the mobile device that is configured to communicate with external devices according to a transport protocol associated with the transport component, and is further configured communicate with local components according to a first format for distribution of the message in the mobile device, wherein the first format is different from the transport protocol;

a messaging component included in the mobile device that is configured to provide a user access to the message, and is further configured to communicate with local components according to the first format;

a data store included in the mobile device that is configured to provide for storage of the message according to a second format, wherein the second format corresponds to a native storage format of the mobile device and is different from the first format and the transport protocol; and

a storage component included in the mobile device that is configured to communicate with the transport component and the messaging component according to the first format, and is further configured to translate the message from the first format to the second format for storage in the data store.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a mail application.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a message form.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the messaging component comprises a message transport.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising another messaging component that communicates with the messaging component and the storage component using the first format.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the storage component further comprises at least one handler that is configured to perform the translation of properties of the message from the first format to the second format.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the handler is registered to translate a particular type of property, and wherein the storage component makes use of the handler if a property of the message corresponds to the particular type of property.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the handler is further configured to create a new property from a property passed to the storage component.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the handler is further configured to create an additional new property based on the property passed to the storage component.

10. A computer-readable medium, having computer executable-instructions for storing and distributing a message in a mobile device, comprising:

medium is associated with a transport protocol;

distributing the message within the mobile device according to a first format, wherein the first format corresponds to a standard format for distribution of the message in the mobile device and is different from the transport protocol;

translating the message from the first format to second format for storage, wherein the second format corresponds to a native storage format of the mobile device and is different from the first format and the transport protocol; and

storing the message in the data store in the second format, wherein storing the message includes storing a property associated with the message.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the property includes a descriptor that distinguishes the property from other properties.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the descriptor comprises a property type.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein translating the message further comprises passing message data to a handler for processing, the handler being associated with the descriptor.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the handler is registered to process data of a type associated with the descriptor.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the handler is further configured to convert the property from the first format into the second format.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the handler is further configured to translate the property into at least one other property and the at least one other property conforms to the second format.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein storing the message in the data store comprises storing message data in a plurality of tables.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of tables corresponds to a message folder.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of tables is configured to contain certain properties, and another of the plurality of tables is configured to contain certain other properties.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein a table within the plurality of tables is configured as an overflow mechanism for another of the tables within the plurality of tables.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the overflow mechanism comprises a file system.

22. A computer-readable medium, having computer executable-instructions for storing and distributing a message in a mobile device, comprising:

storing a message in a data store according to a native storage format for the mobile device, wherein storing the message includes storing a property associate with the message;

retrieving the message front the data store;

translating the retrieved message to a standard distribution format different from the native storage format; and

distributing the message within the mobile device according to the standard distribution format.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising passing the translated message to a component associated with a request for the message.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein retrieving the message from the data store further comprises retrieving data from at least one table in a plurality of tables.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the property includes a descriptor that distinguishes the property from other properties.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the descriptor comprises a property type.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein translating the message further comprises passing message data to a handler for processing, the handler being associated with the descriptor.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the handler is registered to process data of a type associated with the descriptor.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the handler is further configured to convert the property from the standard distribution format into the native storage format.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the handler is further configured to translate the property into at least one other property and the at least one other property conforms to the native storage format.