Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-16
2001-02-13
Rinehart, Mark H. (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189026
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electronic mail, and more particularly to electronic mail messaging in a distributed computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the advent of large scale distributed computer systems such as the Internet, the amount of information which has become available to users of computer systems has exploded. Among this information is electronic mail (e-mail). With the improvements in means for composing and distributing written messages, the amount of e-mail traffic on the Internet has surged. It is not unusual for an active Internet user to be exposed to tens of thousands of e-mail messages a year.
As an advantage, the Internet allows users to interchange useful information in a timely and convenient manner. However, keeping track of this huge amount of information has become a problem. As an additional advantage, the Internet now allows users to exchange information in a number of different presentation modalities, such as text, audio, and still and moving images. Adapting e-mail systems to organize such complex information, and providing efficient means to coherently retrieve the information is not trivial.
As a disadvantage, Internet users may receive junk-mail whenever they send to mailing lists or engage in news groups. There are numerous reported incidents where specific users have been overwhelmed by thousands of unwanted mail messages. Current filtering systems are inadequate to deal with this deluge.
Known distributed systems for composing and accessing e-mail are typically built around protocols such as Internet Messaging Access Protocol (IMAP), Post Office Protocol (POP), or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Typically, users must install compatible user agent software on any client computers where the mail service is going to be accessed. Often, a significant amount of state information is maintained in the users' client computers. For example, it is not unusual to store the entire mail database for a particular user in his desk-top or lap-top computer. Normally, the users explicitly organize mail messages into subject folders. Accessing mail generally involves shipping entire messages over the network to the client computer.
Such systems are deficient in a number of ways. Most computers that a user will encounter will not be configured with user agents compatible with the user's mail service. Often, a user's state is captured in a specific client computer which means that work cannot proceed when the user moves to another computer. Managing large quantities of archival mail messages by an explicit folder organization is difficult for most users. Accessing mail over a low bandwidth network tends to unsatisfactory.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a mail system that overcomes these deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Provided is a computer implemented method for dynamically generating an address book in a distributed mail service system which includes a plurality of client computers connected to a mail service system via a network. Mail messages are stored in message files of the mail service system. The mail messages are parsed and indexed to generate a full-text index of the mail service system. Address book mail messages are generated, each address book mail message includes address information.
The address book mail messages are stored in the message files. The address book mail messages are also parsed and indexed into the full-text index file. A query is composed using a particular one of the plurality of client computer systems to search the full-text index to locate and retrieve selected ones of the address book mail messages as the dynamic address book.
The address information can be generated using a form supplied by client mail application programs executing on the particular client computer. The client mail application programs are down-loaded to the particular client computer via the network.
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Birrell Andrew D.
Jaffer Simon
Melling Christopher
Schroeder Michael
Wobber Edward P.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Rinehart Mark H.
Wanit Bunjo Jaroenchon
LandOfFree
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