Patent ID: 6457879
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for automatically effecting a switch between online and offline modes of electronic message processing, in response to a computer making a transition between online and offline states, comprising the steps of:processing electronic messages in accordance with the online mode, the online mode being capable of processing electronic messages in cooperation with a server, when the computer is in the online state, comprising the steps of: polling the server for a new electronic message, resolving an electronic message name against an address book on the server, immediately sending an outgoing electronic message, and immediately receiving an incoming electronic message; determining that the computer has made a transition from the online state to the offline state; and in response to the determination that the computer has made a transition from the online state to the offline state, automatically switching to processing electronic messages in accordance with the offline mode, comprising the steps of: queuing outgoing electronic messages for subsequent sending; resolving electronic message names against an address book on the computer; and suppressing polling of the server for new electronic messages.