Patent ID: 6134582
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
In a distributed computer system including a server and a client, the client including a local message store and a client-based database, a method for managing electronic mail messages based on message-related information corresponding to each message stored in the client-based database, comprising the steps of:(A) during a client-server session, retrieving from the server the message-related information corresponding to a message;(B) based on the message-related information, determining whether the message has been downloaded from the server to the local message store located at the client;(C) in response to determining that the message has not been downloaded from the server to the local message store,i. downloading the message from the server to the local message store,ii. populating data fields in the client-based database with the message-related information,iii. providing an indication in the client-based database that the message is present on the server, andiv. providing an indication in the client-based database that the message has been downloaded from the server to the local message store;(D) repeating the steps (A) through (C) for each remaining message on the server; and(E) consulting the client-based database for managing the messages during subsequent client-server sessions.