US5966714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-30
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Granted: 1999-10-12
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Expires: 2016-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for scaling E-mail (electronic mail) address book databases for devices with limited storage capacity and synchronization of a first set of mail with a second set of mail at the message/folder level. A memory contains a mail subsetter for automatically generating a default personal address book and a mail synchronizer for application independent E-mail synchronization. A pseudo unique identification is generated for each message or folder in the mail boxes to be synchronized. An event log is then generated for each mail box. The memory also has a Synchronization mechanism for making the first set of data and the second set of data equivalent by using the information in the Change List generated by the Change Detection Mechanism. A processor runs the mail synchronizer.
Inventors
- 👤 Chu-Yi Huang
- 👤 David A. Romrell
- 👤 Michael Man-Hak Tso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B2017/00112; G07B2017/0012; G07B2017/00145; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00435; G07B2017/00451; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for scaling large electronic or mail databases for devices with limited storage, said apparatus comprising: a storage device which contains, a mail subsetter configured to automatically generate a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries, said mail synchronizer configured to produce the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said mail synchronizer coupled to said mail subsetter; and a processor for running said mail subsetter and said mail synchronizer coupled to said processor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for scaling large electronic or mail databases for devices with limited storage, said apparatus comprising: a storage device which contains, a mail subsetter configured to automatically generate a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries, said mail synchronizer configured to produce the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said mail synchronizer coupled to said mail subsetter; and a processor for running said mail subsetter and said mail synchronizer coupled to said processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mail subsetter comprises: a device address book image containing said first set of addresses; a creation mechanism configured to create said personal address book and said device address book image and coupled to said personal address book; and an update mechanism configured to update said personal address book from a data source using said mail synchronizer and by processing new mail and coupled to said personal address book.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said device address book image is a subset of said personal address book.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said data source is a personal information manager.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said data source is a master address book.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said data source is user input through manual entry of data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mail synchronizer comprises: a pseudo unique identification generator configured to generate an identification for each said message/folder; an event log generator configured to generate an event for an event log for each said mail/folder with said identification, said event log generator coupled to said pseudo unique identification generator; and a synchronization mechanism configured to synchronize said first set of mail and said second set of mail to be equivalent, said synchronization mechanism coupled to said event log.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronization mechanism comprises a change detection mechanism configured to generate a change list for said first and second sets of mail, said change list listing the changes made at a message/folder level to said first and second sets of data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said change detection mechanism further comprises: a semi-unique identification mechanism configured to identify whether a message/folder in a given mail box is a duplicate of a corresponding message/folder in a modified mail box by using the contents of individual fields in a record; and an error correction mechanism configured to identify said duplicate which was not identified by said semi-unique identification mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a change existing mail mechanism configured to identify a message/folder to update or delete without requiring said message/folder in said first and second set of mail to contain system assigned unique identifiers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said apparatus comprising: storage means which contains, means for automatically generating a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said set address entries obtained from at least one data source, and means for synchronizing said first set address entries and a second set of address entries equivalent by using the information in said change list generated by said change detection mechanism, said means for synchronizing producing the same synchronization results regardless of whether one both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said means for synchronizing coupled to said means for generating; and means for running said means for automatically generating and said means for synchronizing, said means for running coupled to said storage means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said apparatus comprising: storage means which contains, means for automatically generating a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said set address entries obtained from at least one data source, and means for synchronizing said first set address entries and a second set of address entries equivalent by using the information in said change list generated by said change detection mechanism, said means for synchronizing producing the same synchronization results regardless of whether one both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said means for synchronizing coupled to said means for generating; and means for running said means for automatically generating and said means for synchronizing, said means for running coupled to said storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for generating comprises of: means for containing said first set of address entries; means for creating said personal address book and said means for containing said first set of address entries and coupled to said personal address book; and means for updating said personal address book from said at least one data source using said means for synchronizing and by processing new mail and coupled to said personal address book.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for containing said first set of address entries is a subset of said personal address book.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data source is a personal information manager.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data source is a master address book.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data source is user input through manual entry of data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for making further comprises: means for identifying whether a message/folder in a given mail box is a duplicate of a corresponding message/folder in a modified mail box by using the contents of individual fields in a record; and means for identifying said duplicate which was not identified by said semi-unique identification mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for correctly identifying a message/folder to update or delete without requiring said message/folder in said first and second set of address entries to contain system assigned unique identifiers.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said system comprising: a storage device which contains, mail subsetter configured to automatically generate a default personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries; and a processor for running said mail subsetter and said mail synchronizer, said processor coupled to said storage device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said system comprising: a storage device which contains, mail subsetter configured to automatically generate a default personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries; and a processor for running said mail subsetter and said mail synchronizer, said processor coupled to said storage device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said mail subsetter comprises of: a device address book image containing said first set of addresses; a creation mechanism configured to create said personal address book and said device address book image and coupled to said personal address book; and an update mechanism for updating said personal address book from a data source using said mail synchronizer and by processing new mail and coupled to said personal address book.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said device address book image is a subset of said personal address book.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said data source is a personal information manager.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said data source is a master address book.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said data source is user input through manual entry of data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said mail synchronizer comprises: a pseudo unique identification generator configured to generate an identification for each said message/folder; an event log generator configured to generate an event for an event log for each said mail/folder with said identification, said event log generator coupled to said pseudo unique identification generator; and a synchronization mechanism configured to synchronize said first set of mail and said second set of mail to be equivalent, said synchronization mechanism coupled to said event log.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said synchronization mechanism comprises a change detection mechanism configured to generate a change list for said first and second sets of mail, said change list listing the changes made at a message/folder level to said first and second sets of data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said change detection mechanism further comprises: a semi-unique identification mechanism configured to identify whether a message/folder in a given mail box is a duplicate of a corresponding message/folder in a modified mail box by using the contents of individual fields in a record; and an error correction mechanism configured to identify said duplicate which was not identified by said semi-unique identification mechanism.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 19 further comprising a change existing mail mechanism configured to identify a message/folder to update or delete without requiring said message/folder in said first and second set of mail to contain system assigned unique identifiers.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for scaling large electronic mail databases for a client system with limited storage, said method comprising the steps of: automatically generating a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source; and synchronizing said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries using a first change list generated for said first set of address entries and a second change list generated for said second set of address entries, said step of synchronizing producing the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for scaling large electronic mail databases for a client system with limited storage, said method comprising the steps of: automatically generating a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source; and synchronizing said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries using a first change list generated for said first set of address entries and a second change list generated for said second set of address entries, said step of synchronizing producing the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said step for generating comprises of: creating said personal address book and said first set of address entries; and updating said personal address book from said at least one data source using said step for synchronizing and by processing new mail.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said data source is a personal information manager.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said data source is a master address book.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said data source is user input through manual entry of data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of obtaining user settings for said personal address book.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of selecting data fields to be included in said device address book.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of selecting a ranking profile for ranking each address entry in said personal address book.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of sorting address entries in said personal address book by said ranking profile.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of opening a mailbox to retrieve new message.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said new message is in a folder.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of updating ranking of an address entry for said new message in said personal address book if said address entry is found in said personal address book, said address being a new address entry if not found in said personal address book.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding said new address entry from said data source.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of adding said information and an information source identification to said personal address book, said information source identification referencing said data source.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of creating a device address book image for said client system.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of determining storage space available on said client system.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of adding address and field information to said device address book image from said personal address book, number of said address and field entries added to said device address book image depending upon said storage space available on said client system.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of creating a device address book equivalent to said device address book image, said device address book residing in said host system coupled to said client system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of synchronizing said device address book and said device address book image with said personal address book every time said personal address book is changed.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, including code stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a computer, comprising: a mail subsetter code configured to automatically generate a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer code configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries, said mail synchronizer configured to produce the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second set of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said mail synchronizer code coupled to said mail subsetter code.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, including code stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a computer, comprising: a mail subsetter code configured to automatically generate a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and a mail synchronizer code configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries, said mail synchronizer configured to produce the same synchronization results regardless of whether one or both of said first and second set of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said mail synchronizer code coupled to said mail subsetter code.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said first set of address entries is a subset of said personal address book.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said step of synchronizing further comprises the step of generating a first change list comprising a list of changes made to said first set of address entries and a second change list comprising a list of changes made to said second set of address entries.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said step of generating further comprising the steps of: identifying whether a message/folder in a given mail box is a duplicate of another message/folder in a modified mail set, said first set of mail and said second set of mail being said given mail box and said first set of mail and said second set of mail with changes being said modified mail set; and identifying said duplicate which was not identified is said step of identifying a record.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said step of synchronizing further comprising the step of changing messages/folders in said first set of mail and messages/folders in said second set of mail for synchronizing messages/folders in said first set of mail and said second set of mail.
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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) | 2002-10-11 | 2003-04-12 | 2003-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-11 | 2007-04-12 | 2007-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-11 | 2011-04-12 | 2011-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |