Patent · US Expired

System and method for using a client database to manage conversation threads generated from email or news messages

US6330589A · kind A · utility

241Cited by
19References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 26, 1998
Grant dateDec 11, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 26, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99948
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system including a client database for managing conversation threads generated from messages communicated in a client-server achitecture is disclosed. The client database efficiently manages messages and optimizes communication between the client and server. In a specific embodiment, the messages include email messages from a SMTP server and news messages from a NNTP server. The conversation threads are generated for use in a MAPI format-sensitive application. The client database maintains a central archive of message-related information to support conversation threading of current and future messages downloaded from the server to the client. The client database supports efficient management of conversations so that conversation roots and nested replies are presented sequentially. When a message refers to another, unreceived message, the system creates a placeholder for the unreceived message in the client database. Using a placeholder eliminates the need to rethread all conversations after every download. The database includes data fields corresponding to specific fields of a typical MAPI format. The database also includes data fields to assist in providing more efficient and ti…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.