Patent ID: 6035327
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a network system where messages created by a plurality of clients are transferred using mail messages comprising an envelope and said message between a plurality of mail servers using a defined protocol, a method for transferring said mail message between said servers using said defined protocol and for transferring additional data using an extension to said defined protocol, said method comprising the steps of:creating by a client a message in a first format to be sent via the networked system to a destination location;sending said message to a first of said servers for transfer via the networked system to said destination location;creating a mail message from said message by associating said message with an envelope created for said message;extracting one or more properties from said message;establishing by said first of said servers a connection between said first of said servers and a second of said servers using procedures defined as part of an established protocol normally used to transfer mail messages between said servers;transferring said envelope of said mail message from said first server to said second server using said protocol;transferring said extracted one or more properties from said first server to said second server using an extension to said protocol;transferring said message of said mail message from said first server to said second server using said protocol; andterminating by said first server said connection to said second server.