Patent ID: 8214326
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing data storage requirements of a mail server, the method comprising: determining, for an incoming email message having a certain size, a size of the incoming email message, wherein the incoming email message is addressed to multiple recipients; determining a selected recipient count for recipients of the incoming email message, the selected recipient count indicating how many of the recipients have mailboxes on the mail server; calculating a total amount of storage for storing copies of the incoming email message in each one of the recipient's mailboxes on the mail server, the calculating being a function of the size of the incoming email message and the selected recipient count; comparing the calculated total amount of storage to a predetermined limit; and selecting between i) storing copies of the incoming email message in mailboxes of the multiple recipients, such that multiple copies of the incoming email message are stored on the mail server in the mailboxes of the multiple recipients, and ii) storing for the mailboxes of the multiple recipients, and sharing among the mailboxes of the multiple recipients, only a single copy of the incoming email message on the mail server as a shared incoming email message for the mailboxes of the multiple recipients, wherein the selecting is responsive to the comparing.