US6360272B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for maintaining a unified view of multiple mailboxes
Assignee: Access Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-05-28
•
Granted: 2002-03-19
•
Expires: 2019-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of presenting a unified view of two mailboxes, each mailbox associated with a client is described. The unified view allows the user to see all actions she/he performed on a message in one mailbox performed in all other unified mailboxes. One of the clients has both a high cost, e.g. wireless, communication channel and a low cost, e.g. synchronization, communication channel. When a message is received by a client from its respective mailbox without an identifier, an identifier is generated and a copy of the message is sent to the other mailboxes with the identifier. When the user performs actions on a message with a client, the identifier for the message and the action can be conveyed to the other clients in a message to the other mailboxes. The unified view can be selectably updated either over the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel. The presence of two communication channels enables the cost of performing the unification to be contained. The user can select options to control the unification process and the use of the high cost communication channel, e.g. summarize messages over 250 words and/or remove attachments.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott D. Lincke
- 👤 Gregory M. Toto
- 👤 Michael E. Golden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a fist computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using a high cost communication channel and a low cost communication channel, the method comprising; accessing a first message addressed for a first mailbox; determining an identifier for the first message on the first computer; signaling at least a portion of the first message and the identifier to a second mailbox; detecting a user-action affecting a property of the first message in the first mailbox; responsive to the user-action, automatically signaling the identifier of the message and an identification of the action to the second mailbox; detecting a selection for one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, using the identifier of the message and the identification of the action to indicate on the second computer the property of the first message in the first mailbox using the selected one of the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a fist computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using a high cost communication channel and a low cost communication channel, the method comprising; accessing a first message addressed for a first mailbox; determining an identifier for the first message on the first computer; signaling at least a portion of the first message and the identifier to a second mailbox; detecting a user-action affecting a property of the first message in the first mailbox; responsive to the user-action, automatically signaling the identifier of the message and an identification of the action to the second mailbox; detecting a selection for one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, using the identifier of the message and the identification of the action to indicate on the second computer the property of the first message in the first mailbox using the selected one of the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a user-action affecting a property of the first message in the first mailbox includes detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first mailbox.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first mailbox includes detecting a deletion of the first message within the first mailbox.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising automatically signaling the distinguishing identifier and an identification of the deletion to the second mailbox so as to cause the first message to be deleted within the second mailbox.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a user-action affecting a property of the first message in the first mailbox includes detecting a move of the first message within the first mailbox.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising automatically signaling the distinguishing identifier and an identification of the move to the second mailbox so as to cause the first message to be moved within the second mailbox.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting a move of the first message within the first mailbox includes detecting the first message as being marked read.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein using the identifier of the message and the identification of the action to indicate on the second computer the property of the first message includes signaling a communication from the second mailbox to the second computer using the high cost communication channel, the communication comprising the identifier of the first message and the identification of the user-action.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein signaling a communication from the second mailbox to the second computer using the high cost communication channel includes signaling the communication from the second mailbox to the second computer without signaling the communication to the first computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising unifying the property of the first message in the first mailbox with a property of the first message in the second mailbox.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for presenting a unified view of a first message, sent to a first mailbox coupled by a first communication channel to a first client, on a second client the first client having a second communication channel to communicate with a second mailbox and a low cost communication channel to communicate with a second client, the second client capable being coupleable to communicate with the second mailbox using a high cost communication channel, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving the message at the first client; means for generating a distinguishing identifier for the first message; means for sending at least a portion of the first message and the distinguishing identifier to the second mailbox using the second communication channel; means for creating a second message including the distinguishing identifier and a description of the action responsive to an action on the first message on the first client; means for sending the second message to the second mailbox using the second communication channel; and means for selectably updating the unified view of the first message on the second client using either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for presenting a unified view of a first message, sent to a first mailbox coupled by a first communication channel to a first client, on a second client the first client having a second communication channel to communicate with a second mailbox and a low cost communication channel to communicate with a second client, the second client capable being coupleable to communicate with the second mailbox using a high cost communication channel, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving the message at the first client; means for generating a distinguishing identifier for the first message; means for sending at least a portion of the first message and the distinguishing identifier to the second mailbox using the second communication channel; means for creating a second message including the distinguishing identifier and a description of the action responsive to an action on the first message on the first client; means for sending the second message to the second mailbox using the second communication channel; and means for selectably updating the unified view of the first message on the second client using either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the means for generating a distinguishing identifier for the first message comprises: means for generating a string with an address corresponding to the first mailbox; means for generating an increasing number; and means for adding a header to the first message, the header including the increasing number and the string.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the means for generating a distinguishing identifier for the first message comprises means for computing a secure hash of a portion of the first message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer data signal of claim 13 , wherein the third set of instructions further comprises a seventh set of instructions for automatically summarizing messages larger than a predetermined size.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
182 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: a computer program for a unifier on a first client the computer program including a first set of instructions for accessing a first message; a second set of instructions for attaching a distinguishing identifier to the first message; a third set of instructions for sending at least a portion of the first message and the distinguishing identifier to a second mailbox; a fourth set of instructions for detecting an action of a user on the first message; a fourth set of instructions for creating a second message including the distinguishing identifier and a description of the action; a fifth set of instructions for sending the second message to the second mailbox to update the unified view of the first message on a second client if the second client accesses the second mailbox using a high cost communication channel; a sixth set of instructions for selectably updating the unified view of the first message on the second client if the second client couples to the first client using a low cost communication channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
182 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: a computer program for a unifier on a first client the computer program including a first set of instructions for accessing a first message; a second set of instructions for attaching a distinguishing identifier to the first message; a third set of instructions for sending at least a portion of the first message and the distinguishing identifier to a second mailbox; a fourth set of instructions for detecting an action of a user on the first message; a fourth set of instructions for creating a second message including the distinguishing identifier and a description of the action; a fifth set of instructions for sending the second message to the second mailbox to update the unified view of the first message on a second client if the second client accesses the second mailbox using a high cost communication channel; a sixth set of instructions for selectably updating the unified view of the first message on the second client if the second client couples to the first client using a low cost communication channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer data signal of claim 15 , wherein the computer program further includes a seventh set of instructions for accepting signals to control use of the high cost communication channel and the low cost communication channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer data signal of claim 15 , wherein the computer program further comprises an eighth set of instructions for defining a filter, the filter for selecting whether the first message should be updated using the high cost communication channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer data signal of claim 15 , wherein the computer program comprises an eighth set of instructions for translating an attachment included in the first message from a first format into a second format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein including an interface to a mail agent on a client and a unifier, the interface permitting the unifier to access a message on the client and update the view of the message in the mail agent on the client; and wherein the unifier can selectively update a unified view of a message on a second client using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein including an interface to a mail agent on a client and a unifier, the interface permitting the unifier to access a message on the client and update the view of the message in the mail agent on the client; and wherein the unifier can selectively update a unified view of a message on a second client using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the interface comprises a messaging application programming interface compliant interface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein using the identifier of the message and the identification of the action to indicate on the second computer the property of the first message includes signaling a communication from the second mailbox to the second computer using the low cost communication channel, the communication comprising the identifier of the first message and the identification of the user-action.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel, the method comprising: receiving a first message addressed for a first location for storing messages; automatically signaling at least a portion of the first message and a distinguishing identifier to a second location; detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first location; receiving a selection to update the second location using one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, automatically signaling the distinguishing identifier and an identification of the action to the second location using the selected one of the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel, so as to indicate in the second location the status of the first message in the first location.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel, the method comprising: receiving a first message addressed for a first location for storing messages; automatically signaling at least a portion of the first message and a distinguishing identifier to a second location; detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first location; receiving a selection to update the second location using one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, automatically signaling the distinguishing identifier and an identification of the action to the second location using the selected one of the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel, so as to indicate in the second location the status of the first message in the first location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first mailbox includes detecting a deletion of the first message within the first mailbox.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising automatically signaling the distinguishing identifier and an identification of the deletion to the second mailbox so as to cause the first message to be deleted within the second mailbox.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein detecting on the first computer a user-action affecting a status of a first mailbox includes receiving a first message addressed for a first mailbox.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein detecting a user-action affecting a status of the first message in the first mailbox includes detecting the first message as being marked read.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel, the method comprising: detecting on the first computer a user-action affecting a status of a first message of a first mailbox for storing a plurality of messages; receiving a selection to update a view of a second mailbox using one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, automatically signaling the status of the first message to the second mailbox to update the view of the second mailbox on the second computer to include the status of the first message.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for exchanging electronic messages between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer being coupleable to the second computer using either a high cost communication channel or a low cost communication channel, the method comprising: detecting on the first computer a user-action affecting a status of a first message of a first mailbox for storing a plurality of messages; receiving a selection to update a view of a second mailbox using one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel; and responsive to the selection, automatically signaling the status of the first message to the second mailbox to update the view of the second mailbox on the second computer to include the status of the first message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein receiving a selection to update a view of a second mailbox using one of either the high cost communication channel or the low cost communication channel includes detecting the second computer coupling to the first computer using a serial port.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-03-18 | 2005-09-17 | 2006-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-18 | 2009-09-17 | 2010-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-18 | 2013-09-17 | 2014-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |