Email Notification via Auto-Forwarding and Rejection Interrupt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing email notification systems using polling methods suffer from time delays and resource inefficiencies, particularly when users need to access multiple mailboxes, and implementing a dedicated notification server can be resource-intensive for ISPs.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a modified mail sender with auto-forwarding capabilities, where a notification email is sent to a second mail storage system with a 500-level negative completion code to interrupt data transmission, triggering the retrieval of new emails and filtering out bounced emails, thereby reducing resource usage and improving notification efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a polling approach is used for mail retrieval, then the system can periodically check for new emails, but the user experiences time delays determined by preset polling intervals and the system consumes excessive resources when polling multiple mailboxes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemail notification delayVSAvoidsystem resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the mail retrieval system polling the mailbox to detect new email (traditional approach), the system inverts the notification mechanism by having the mailbox automatically send a notification email when new email arrives. This inversion eliminates polling delays while reducing resource consumption since notifications are event-driven rather than continuously polled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The mailbox system performs self-service by automatically detecting new email arrival and sending notifications without requiring external polling requests. The mailbox itself initiates the notification process, eliminating the need for continuous external monitoring and reducing overall system resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If a dedicated notification server is built into the ISP architecture to detect incoming mail efficiently, then real-time notification is achieved, but the implementation requires significant resources that the ISP may be unable or unwilling to pay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemail notification delayVSAvoidISP infrastructure resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of building expensive dedicated notification server infrastructure, the system uses the existing mailbox copying/forwarding functionality to create notification emails. The mailbox copies the notification mechanism using standard email forwarding capabilities already present in the system, avoiding the need for specialized hardware or software infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The existing mailbox system performs multiple functions including storage, retrieval, and now notification sending. By making the mailbox multi-functional (capable of sending notifications in addition to its traditional roles), the system eliminates the need for dedicated notification server infrastructure while achieving real-time notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the mail sender continues sending data after receiving a rejection message, then complete email data is transmitted, but bounced emails are generated and resource efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemail delivery completenessVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The mail sender implements feedback by monitoring rejection messages from the mail retrieval system. When a rejection message is received, the sender uses this feedback to immediately interrupt further data transmission, preventing bounced emails and conserving resources while maintaining delivery reliability for successful transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential delivery failures by implementing preemptive interruption logic. Before complete data transmission occurs, the system has cushioning mechanisms in place to detect rejection messages and stop transmission, preventing wasted resources on bounced emails while ensuring reliable delivery when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS8407304B2Method and system for email notification

Publication Date: 2013.03.26 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

A method of configuring a system for providing notification of a new email received at a user's mailbox stored by a first mail storage system for retrieval by a second mail storage system. The method comprises configuring a mail sender to send a notification email to the second mail storage system comprising data to notify the second mail storage system of the new email, receive a rejection message from the second mail storage system, and interrupt the sending of further data of the notification email in response to the rejection message, wherein the receipt by the second mail storage system of the notification email triggers the second mail storage system to retrieve the new email from the first mail storage system.