Email Proxy Caching Unique Identifiers for Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing email distribution and synchronization systems face challenges in managing multiple email accounts across different mailboxes and wireless networks, particularly in maintaining organization and efficiency as users access emails from various sources.
Innovation Solution
A direct access electronic mail system that allows direct access to multiple external email accounts without the need for intermediate storage, using a proxy that caches and manages unique identifiers for email messages, enabling seamless synchronization and organization across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If email copies are stored in original mailboxes and synced across devices, then email distribution and synchronization is achieved, but email organization becomes difficult and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary component that sits between the email client and the email server. This proxy caches email data and handles synchronization requests, mediating between multiple devices and the original mailbox. By using this intermediary, the system achieves email distribution and synchronization while the proxy manages the organization complexity, preventing it from propagating to the user's email client and device storage structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple email accounts are accessed from different mailboxes, then user versatility is improved, but access criteria management becomes non-uniform and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal proxy architecture that can handle multiple email accounts through a single unified interface. The proxy server provides multi-functional capabilities including caching, filtering, and synchronization for different email accounts using consistent access criteria. This allows users to access multiple email accounts with uniform management rules, eliminating the need for separate complex configurations for each account while maintaining versatility.
3Reliability
If manual replication of email actions is required across devices, then data synchronization is achieved, but user time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated synchronization system where the proxy server performs self-service operations to keep email data consistent across devices. The proxy automatically detects changes in the original mailbox and propagates them to synchronized devices without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains data synchronization accuracy while eliminating the time and effort users would otherwise spend on manual replication.
4Ease of operation
If intermediate storage is used for email synchronization, then email access across devices is enabled, but storage requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective caching at the proxy server where only specific email data that benefits from synchronization is stored locally, rather than caching all email data. The proxy intelligently determines which emails should be cached based on user preferences, email importance, and synchronization needs. This local quality approach enables cross-device email access for relevant emails while minimizing intermediate storage requirements by not storing unnecessary data.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic mail (email) server has a database that stores unique identifiers (UID's) of electronic messages. A proxy obtains mappings from the database for previously existing UID's of electronic messages that have been determined from a polling operation. A cache caches the mappings of UID's and the proxy is operative for purging the cache of the previously existing UID's after polling.