Server that obtains information from multiple sources, filters using client indentities, and dispatches to both hardwired and wireless clients

US7062538B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Jens Horstmann · US

Inventors

• Jens Horstmann · Goldkronach, DE
• Ajay H. Giovindarajan · Santa Clara, US
• Alan Rothkopf · Palo Alto, US
• Tal Dayan · Los Gatos, US
• Arie Avnur · Cupertino, US
• Justin M. Kitagawa · Moraga, US
• Carolyn B. Boyce · Sunnyvale, US
• Aleksandr M. Schvartsman · Sunnyvale, US
• Aswath N. Satrasala · Sunnyvale, US
• Vincent L. Tang · Pleasanton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 17, 2004
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2006
• Expiry date: Sep 1, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L51/212
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A mail server collects messages from a number of user accounts and presents them to the user from a single location. The user can set the mail server to block unwanted messages and to forward others to various receiving devices, including mobile telephones and pagers. Forwarded messages are automatically reformatted for the receiving device, while a copy of the original message is retained. The retained copy can be viewed later if the user is interested in message content that was not available to the wireless device. The user can also use the wireless device to forward the original message to another receiving device. In the case of forwarding, the saved original message and not the reformatted message is sent to the forwarding address. Some embodiments include an email agent that automatically pushes messages from intranet clients to the mail server through a firewall, thereby enabling the mail server to consolidate messages from intranet and Internet sources.