Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for changing settable email parameters in a system supporting email using a wireless device, the system including a wireless electronic device and a wireless network. Provided is a way of changing email settings on the wireless device, and storing those changes on both the device and, as needed or desired, on the wireless network. The wireless network and wireless device are adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/647,797, filed Dec. 28, 2009, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/734,868, filed Apr. 13, 2007, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/988,305, filed Nov. 12, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to handheld electronic devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic device including an e-mail function. The invention also relates to a method or a system of remotely controlling e-mail settings from such a handheld electronic device. 
     2. Background Information 
     Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wireless communication capability, although many such handheld electronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices. 
     Electronic mail (email or e-mail) is used to send messages over networks and over the Internet. Electronic messaging has become a ubiquitous means of communication for both business and personal use Devices that process electronic messages typically maintain a message list identifying electronic messages received for reading and processing by the recipient. Such processing can include, for example, replying to, forwarding to others, deleting and filing the messages. 
     It is known to configure e-mail settings for wireless handheld electronic devices from a software utility at a desktop personal computer that interfaces with a wireless enterprise server over, for example, the Internet. Such e-mail settings may include, for example, e-mail filter settings, e-mail redirection settings, save copy of e-mail in a sent folder settings, e-mail auto-signature settings, and out-of-office reply e-mail settings. For example, an e-mail filter setting is a setting that blocks certain e-mail messages based upon user-selected criteria. An e-mail redirection setting enables and disables the redirection of e-mail messages from a user&#39;s normal e-mail system to the user&#39;s wireless handheld electronic device. Such settings may also redirect e-mail messages from selected folders (e.g., Inbox; Spam) in the user&#39;s normal e-mail system. An e-mail auto-signature setting enables and disables appending predefined text to an e-mail message that is sent from a wireless handheld electronic device. An out-of-office reply e-mail setting enables or disables sending a predefined reply e-mail message from a wireless handheld electronic device in response to an e-mail message that is received by such device. For example, the out-of-office reply e-mail setting is configurable via a program, such as, for example, Microsoft® Outlook® or Lotus Notes® on a personal computer. The other e-mail settings (e.g., auto-signature; redirected folders; e-mail redirection) are controlled via. desktop software on a personal computer. 
     There exists the need for users of wireless handheld electronic devices to remotely control their e-mail settings from such devices without having to use a software utility at, for example, a desktop personal computer. Accordingly, there is room for improvement in wireless handheld electronic devices and related systems and methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These needs and others are met by the invention, which provides a user interface on a wireless handheld electronic device, in order to remotely control e-mail settings for the device without using a software utility at, for example, a desktop personal computer. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of changing e-mail settings on a wireless handheld device comprises: detecting an email setting displayable on the wireless handheld device; saving the detected email setting in the wireless handheld device, such that the detected email setting is retrievable at a later time; sending, using a wireless output communications port of the wireless handheld device, the detected email setting in a manner receivable by a wireless server and uniquely associable with the sending wireless handheld device; and using, as needed by a message application of the wireless handheld device, the detected email setting. 
     As another aspect of the invention, a mobile wireless handheld device comprises: wireless input and output ports; a memory; a display; at least one input device configured to be usable by a user of the wireless handheld device; software comprising at least a message application, retrievably stored in the memory; and a processor operatively coupled to the wireless input and output ports, the memory, the display, the at least one input device, and structured to retrieve and run the software, where the software is further configured to run on the processor, and further where the software and the processor are configured to be able to retrieve and save a plurality of email settings, the email settings further saved in a manner usable by the message application, to enable display of changeable email settings and detection of changes to the email settings by the at least one input device, to save detected changes to email settings in a manner usable by the software, and to send, through the output port, wireless communications configured to be receivable by a wireless server where the detected changes to the email settings are uniquely associable with the wireless handheld device. 
     As another aspect of the invention, a method of changing e-mail settings on a wireless network comprises: providing storage for email settings on the wireless network, the storage enabled for retrievably storing email settings associated with a specific wireless device; receiving, on the wireless network, a communication comprised of at least one email setting associable with the specific wireless device, where the received at least one email setting has the property of being changeable by an input device on the specific wireless device; saving, in the storage, the received at least one email setting in a manner associated with the specific wireless device; and retrieving, at a time later than the saving, the saved at least one email setting and enabling for retrieval any other information in the storage associated with the specific wireless device. 
     As another aspect of the invention, a method of remotely controlling e-mail settings comprises: maintaining at least one of the e-mail settings at a wireless enterprise server; associating at least one of the e-mail settings with the wireless handheld electronic device; and enabling remote control of at least one of the e-mail settings at the wireless enterprise server through wireless communication between the wireless enterprise server and the wireless handheld electronic device. 
     The e-mail setting may be an e-mail filter setting, and the wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to create, display, edit or delete the e-mail filter setting. 
     The e-mail setting may be an e-mail redirection setting, and the wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to enable or disable the e-mail redirection setting. At least one folder corresponding to a predetermined category of e-mail messages may be included with the e-mail redirection setting. The wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to select at least one of the at least one folder. 
     At least one folder for at least one e-mail message may be associated with the e-mail redirection setting. An e-mail message for one of the at least one folder may be forwarded or redirected to the wireless handheld electronic device. The wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to enable or disable the forwarding or redirecting for the one of the at least one folder. 
     The e-mail setting may be an out-of-office reply e-mail setting, and the wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to create, enable, edit or disable the out-of-office reply e-mail setting. The out-of-office reply e-mail setting may be automatically disabled at a predetermined date. The wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to edit the predetermined date. 
     The e-mail setting may he associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mail in a sent folder. The wireless handheld electronic device may he employed to enable or disable the e-mail setting associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mail in a sent folder. 
     The e-mail setting may be an auto signature e-mail setting. The wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to enable or disable the auto signature e-mail setting. A text field may be associated with the auto signature e-mail setting, and the wireless handheld electronic device may be employed to edit the text field. 
     As another aspect of the invention, a system comprises: a wireless handheld electronic device comprising a plurality of e-mail settings associated therewith; and at least one server comprising a database maintaining at least one of the e-mail settings, at least one of the at least one server being adapted to wirelessly communicate with the wireless handheld electronic device. The wireless handheld electronic device is adapted to remotely control at least one of the e-mail settings at the at least one server through wireless communication between the at least one server and the wireless handheld electronic device. 
     The at least one server may comprise a wireless enterprise server and an e-mail server. The at least one of the e-mail settings may comprise an out-of-office reply e-mail setting. The wireless handheld electronic device may be further adapted to input a change to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting and to wirelessly send the change to the wireless enterprise server. The wireless enterprise server may be adapted to forward the change to the e-mail server. 
     The e-mail server may be adapted to independently update a change to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting from a remote personal computer or from a remote client device including mail client software. The wireless enterprise server may be further adapted to periodically monitor the out-of-office reply e-mail setting of the e-mail server and to wirelessly send a change thereof to the wireless handheld electronic device. 
     The at least one server may comprise a wireless enterprise server. The wireless handheld electronic device may be further adapted to input a plurality of changes to the e-mail settings and to wirelessly send the changes to the wireless enterprise server. The wireless enterprise server may be adapted to update the at least one of the e-mail settings in the database based upon the changes. 
     The at least one server may further comprise an e-mail server. The at least one of the e-mail settings may comprise an out-of-office reply e-mail setting. The wireless handheld electronic device may be further adapted to input a change to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting and to wirelessly send the change to the wireless enterprise server. The wireless enterprise server may be adapted to forward the change to the e-mail server. 
     As another aspect of the invention, a wireless handheld electronic device comprises: an input apparatus; a wireless communication port; a memory including a plurality of e-mail settings associated with the wireless communication port; and a processor cooperating with the input apparatus, the wireless communication port and the memory to remotely control at least one of the e-mail settings at a wireless server through wireless communication with the wireless communication port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained, from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a wireless handheld electronic device in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of the wireless handheld electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a Message List and a corresponding menu screen of the display of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an example of a Message Options menu screen that displayed after making a selection from the menu screen of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  an example of an Email Filters display screen that is displayed after making a selection from the menu screen of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  an example of the Email Filters display screen of  FIG. 5  and the corresponding menu screen. 
         FIG. 7  an example of a Filter display screen that is displayed after making a selection from the menu screen of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an example of an Email Settings display screen that is displayed after making a selection from the menu screen of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  an example of the Email Settings display screen of  FIG. 8  and the corresponding menu screen. 
         FIG. 10  is an example of a Folder Redirection display screen that is displayed after making a selection from the menu screen of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is an example of the Email Settings display screen that is displayed after making a selection from the corresponding menu screen of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing a wireless handheld electronic device, a wireless enterprise server and database store, a mail server and a personal computer (PC) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As employed herein, the terms “e-mail setting” or “e-mail settings” mean one, some or all of e-mail filter setting(s), e-mail redirection setting(s), e-mail setting(s) associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mail in a sent folder, auto-signature e-mail setting(s), and out-of-office reply e-mail setting(s). 
     The invention is described in association with a wireless handheld electronic device, although the invention is applicable to a wide range of handheld electronic devices. 
     A wireless handheld electronic device  4  is indicated generally in  FIG. 1  and is depicted schematically in  FIG. 2 . The example device  4  includes a housing  6  upon which are disposed a processor unit that includes an input apparatus  8 , an output apparatus  12 , a processor  16  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), a memory  20  ( FIG. 2 ), and a plurality of routines  22  ( FIG. 2 ). The processor  16  may be, for instance, and without limitation, a microprocessor (μP) that responds to inputs from the input apparatus  8  and provides output signals to the output apparatus  12 , which includes a wireless communications port  23  ( FIG. 2 ). The processor  16  also interfaces with the memory  20 . Examples of handheld electronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and 6,489,950, which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , the input apparatus  8  includes a keypad  24  and a thumbwheel  32 . The wireless handheld electronic device  4 , as shown, employs a user interface including, for example, the keypad  24  and the thumbwheel  32  for user interface navigation. As an alternative to the thumbwheel  32 , a wide range of cursor positioning and/or function selecting mechanisms or other suitable user input devices (e.g., a touch pad; a joystick button), whether presently known or unknown, may be employed. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , the keys  28  are disposed on a front face of the housing  6 , and the thumbwheel  32  is disposed at a side of the housing  6 . The thumbwheel  32  can serve as another input member and is both rotatable, as is indicated by the arrow  34 , to provide selection inputs to the processor  16 , and also can be pressed in a direction generally toward the housing  6 , as is indicated by the arrow  38 , to provide another selection input to the processor  16 . 
     Another key, the &lt;ESC&gt; key  45  is disposed on the side of the housing  6  adjacent the thumbwheel  32 , although the same or similar key may be disposed as part of the keypad  24 . 
     The memory  20  ( FIG. 2 ) can be any of a variety of types of internal And/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s) and/or the like that provide a storage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. The memory  20  additionally includes the routines  22  for the processing of data. The routines  22  can be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the output apparatus  12  includes a display  60  upon which is provided an example output  64 . The display  60  may also include a caret (e.g., cursor)  84  ( FIG. 7 ) that depicts generally where the next input from the input apparatus  8  will be received. The output  64  of  FIG. 1  is depicted as displaying a home screen that represents a number of applications  86  ( FIG. 2 ) depicted as corresponding discrete icons  88 . The applications  86  include, for example, a Calendar application  90 , an Address Book application  92 , a Tasks application  94 , a MemoPad (Memos) application  96 , a Messages application  98  and a Search application  100 . The corresponding icons  88  include, for example, the Calendar icon  102 , the Address Book icon  104 , the Tasks icon  106 , the MemoPad icon  108 , the Messages icon  110  and the Search icon  112 , respectively. Although various applications arid icons are shown, a wide range of fewer or greater applications and icons may be employed. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the home screen output  64  is currently active and would constitute another one of the applications  86 . One of the other applications  86 , such as the Messages application  98 , can be initiated from the home screen Output  64  by providing a suitable input through the input apparatus  16 , such as by suitably rotating the thumbwheel  32  and providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel  32  in the direction indicated by the arrow  38 . For example, the home screen output  64  displays the icon  110  associated with the Messages application  98 . 
       FIG. 3  is an example of a message list  114  and a corresponding menu screen  116  of the display  60  of  FIG. 1 . The message list  114  is displayed by the processor  16  responsive to the initiation of the Messages application  98  ( FIG. 2 ), as was discussed above. The menu screen  116  is displayed by the processor  16  from the Messages application  98  responsive to the processor detecting another input through the input apparatus  16 , such as by providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel  32  in the direction indicated by the arrow  38  ( FIG. 1 ). Within the menu screen  116 , there are menu items including, for example, a Hide Menu item  118 , which when selected causes the menu screen  116  to be removed from the display  60 , a Close item  120 , which when selected causes the Messages application  98  to close and the home screen output  64  ( FIG. 1 ) to be redisplayed, and an Options item  122 , When the Options item  122  is selected, in the same manner that has been described, the Message Options menu screen  124  of  FIG. 4  is displayed. 
     The menu screen  124  includes a General Options item  126 , an Email Reconciliation item  128 , an Email Filters item  130 , and an Email Settings item  132 . The General Options item  126 , when selected, permits the user to set conventional e-mail client settings (e.g., Display Time; Display Name; Confirm Delete) on the handheld electronic device  4 . The Email Reconciliation item  128 , when selected, provides a conventional bi-directional e-mail reconciliation between the user&#39;s main e-mail processor (e.g., a personal computer (PC)  134  ( FIG. 12 ), desktop or workstation) and the handheld electronic device  4 . Although the items  126  and  128  are shown, one or both of these items need not be employed. Selecting the Email Filters item  130  causes the Email Filters display  136  of  FIG. 5  to be displayed. Similarly, selecting the Email Settings item  132  causes the Email Settings display  138  of  FIG. 8  to be displayed. 
     As will be explained, starting from the Message Options menu screen  124 , the user may control various different e-mail settings such as, for example, e-mail filter settings ( FIGS. 5-7 ), auto signature e-mail settings ( FIG. 8 ), e-mail folder redirection settings ( FIG. 10 ) and out-of-office reply e-mail settings ( FIG. 11 ). As will be discussed, below, in connection with  FIG. 12 , the e-mail settings  248 , which are created, displayed, edited and/or deleted by the wireless handheld electronic device  4 , permit the software utility  140  of the PC  134  ( FIG. 12 ) to not be required for day-to-day usage. As a result, users can configure important e-mail settings from the wireless handheld electronic device  4 . Those e-mail settings  248  may also be found, for example, in a Redirector Settings component  142  of the PC software utility  140 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the user can create ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), display ( FIGS. 5-7 ), edit ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and delete ( FIG. 6 ) various e-mail filters. As shown in the Email Filters display  136  of  FIG. 5 , there is a first display portion  144  and a second display portion  146  including two example filters  148  (Filter 1 ) and  150  (Filter 2 ). The first display portion  144  shows that if no filters apply, then an e-mail message will be sent to the wireless handheld electronic device  4  as indicated by the redirection setting  152  (Yes). If, however, the setting  152  was “No,” then e-mail messages that do not meet the various filter criteria are not forwarded or redirected to the wireless handheld electronic device  4 . In this example, there are two enabled (e.g., as indicated by the example checks, such as  154 ) filters  148 , 150 , although there may be one or more filters each of which may be independently enabled or disabled (e.g., the absence of a check (not shown)). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a menu screen  156  can be initiated from the display  136  by providing a suitable input through the input apparatus  16 , such as by suitably rotating the thumbwheel  32  ( FIG. 1 ) (e.g., to select Filter 1   148 , as shown) and providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel  32  in the direction indicated by the arrow  38 . The menu screen  156  for the enabled Filter 1   148  includes a Hide Menu item  158 , a Move down item  160 , a Disable filter item  162 , a New item  164 , an Edit item  166 , a Delete item  168  and a Close  170  to exit from the Email Filters display  136 . Selecting one of those items (even numbers  158 - 170 ) provides one of the following seven actions: (1) the Hide Menu item  158  removes the menu screen  156  from the display  60  ( FIG. 1 ); (2) the Move down item  160  causes the selected e-mail filter to be moved down in priority below the next e-mail filter (e.g., Filter 2   150  would be executed prior to Filter 1   148 , in order to attempt to filter out forwarding of an e-mail message to the device  4 ); (3) the Disable filter item  162  disables the selected c-mail filter (e.g., causing the check  172  to be removed (not shown)); (4) the New item  164  displays the Filter display screen  174  of  FIG. 7  and allows the user to create a new email filter; (5) the Edit item  166  displays a display screen (not shown) for the selected e-mail filter that is similar to the screen  174  except that it includes information previously entered for that selected e-mail fitter; (6) the Delete item  168  causes the selected e-mail filter to be deleted and removed from the screen  136 ; and (7) the Close item  170  removes the display  136  and redisplays the menu screen  124  ( FIG. 4 ). If the selected filter is disabled (not shown), then the Disable filter item  162  is displayed as “Enable filter”. If the selected e-mail filter is at the bottom of the screen  136  (e.g., such as Filter 2   150 ), then the Move down item  160  is displayed as “Move up”. 
     As shown in the Filter display screen  174  of  FIG. 7 , each of the e-mail filters includes a number of entry fields, such as  176 , 178 , 180 , 182 , 184 , that define the new or previously created e-mail filter. For example, the field  176  defines the e-mail filter name (e.g., Filter 1 ; Filter 2 , as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Zero, one, some or all of the fields  178 , 180 , 182 , 184  may be employed to filter an e-mail message based upon the sender as selected by field  178 , the recipient as selected by field  180 , the message subject as selected by field  182 , and the message contents as selected by field  184 . Furthermore, zero, one, some or all of the check boxes  186 , 188 , 190  may be employed. to filter an e-mail message that is sent directly to the user as selected by check box  186 , that is (“carbon”) copied (“CC”) to the user as selected by check box  188  and/or that is (“blind carbon”) copied (“BCC”) to the user as selected by check box  190 . Also, one or both of the fields  192 , 194  may be employed to filter an e-mail message that includes an importance setting (e.g. high; normal; low; none) as selected by field  192  or a sensitivity setting (e.g., personal; confidential; private; normal; Thank You!; 
     none) as selected by field  194 . Further, there is a field  196  that defines the action taken (e.g., do not forward) if the test of the corresponding e-mail filter is true. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     For example, Filter 1   148  would include “Filter 1 ” in field  176  ( FIG. 7 ) and may include “JohnSmith@xyz.com” in the from field  178  and the check box  186  being checked. As a result, e-mail messages from JohnSmith@xyz.com sent directly to the user of the device  4  would not be forwarded to the user&#39;s wireless handheld. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     For example, Filter  150  would include “Filter 2 ” in field  176  ( FIG. 7 ) and may include “Low Rate Mortgage” in the subject field  182 . As a result, any e-mail messages including that text in the subject field would not be forwarded. 
       FIGS. 5-7  show that users can now perform any or all of the following actions directly from the device  4  without requiring any PC  134  ( FIG. 12 ): (1) view e-mail filters ( FIGS. 5-7 ); (2) edit e-mail filters ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ); (3) delete e-mail filters ( FIGS. 6 ); and (4) create new e-mail filters ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
     The Email Settings display  138  of  FIG. 8  is displayed after selecting the corresponding item  132  from the menu screen  124  of  FIG. 4 . The display  138  includes various e-mail settings, such as, for example, an e-mail redirection setting  198  (e.g., Send Email To Handheld), an e-mail setting  200  associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mail in a sent folder (e.g., Save Copy In Sent Folder), an auto signature e-mail setting  202  (e.g., Use Auto Signature), and an out-of-office reply e-mail setting  204  (e.g., Use Out Of Office Reply). Those e-mail settings  198 , 200 , 202 , 204  may individually be enabled (e.g., Yes) or disabled (e.g., No). Although example e-mail setting selections are shown, none, one, some or all may be enabled and none, one, some or all may be disabled. Since the auto signature e-mail setting  202  is enabled, also displayed is the corresponding auto signature text  205  (e.g., in this example, My Signature). 
       FIG. 9  shows the display screen  138  of  FIG. 8  and the corresponding menu screen  206  that is displayed by the processor  16  (FIG. responsive to the processor detecting another input through the input apparatus  16 , such as by providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel  32  in the direction indicated by the arrow  38  ( FIG. 1 ). The menu screen  206  includes menu items  208 , 210 , 211 , 212 , 214 . Selecting one of those menu items  208 , 210 , 211 , 212 , 214  provides one of the following five actions: (1) the Hide Menu item  208  removes the menu screen  206  from the display  60  ( FIG. 1 ); (2) the Change Option item  210  either toggles the selected one of the e-mail settings  198 , 200 , 202 , 204  (e.g., selected e-mail setting  204 , in this example, would toggle from No to Yes); (3) the Folder Redirection item  211  brings up the display screen  224  shown in  FIG. 10 ; (4) the Save item  212  saves the current e-mail settings  198 , 200 , 202 , 204  in the memory  20  ( FIG. 2 ) of the device  4  and, also, remotely controls the corresponding e-mail settings in the wireless enterprise server  216  and/or mail server  218  ( FIGS. 12 ); and (5) the Close item  214  removes the display screen  138  and redisplays the menu screen  124  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     For example, if the user edits one, some or all or the e-mail settings  198 , 200 , 202 , 204  and/or the text fields  205  or  220  ( FIG. 11 ) and then selects the Save item  212 , that information is saved in the memory  20  ( FIG. 2 ) and, also, is wirelessly communicated by the device  4  to the wireless enterprise server  216  as will be discussed, below, in connection with  FIG. 12 . 
     If the e-mail setting Send Email To Handheld  198  is enabled (Yes), then if none of the rules of the e-mail filters (e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) apply, then the e-mail message is forwarded or redirected to the device  4  by the wireless enterprise server  216  ( FIG. 12 ).  FIGS. 8 and 9  show that the user can view and change the e-mail redirection setting  198  by selecting the particular e-mail setting with the thumbwheel  32 , displaying the menu  206 , and selecting the Change Option item  210 . 
     If the e-mail setting Save Copy In Sent Folder  200  is enabled (Yes), then the processor  16  ( FIG. 2 ) saves a copy of the e-mail message in a sent folder  217  ( FIG. 2 ) in the memory  20  of the device  4 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  show that the user can view and change the e-mail setting  200 . 
     If the e-mail setting Use Auto Signature  202  is enabled (Yes), then the text  205  is appended by the e-mail server  218  ( FIG. 12 ) to any e-mail messages that are sent by the device  4 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  show that the user can view and change the e-mail setting  202  and/or create, view and edit the corresponding text field  205  operatively associated with the setting  202 . For example, the text field  205  could be edited to alternatively state “Sent From My Wireless Handheld”. 
     If the e-mail setting Use Out Of Office Reply  204  is enabled (Yes), then the mail server  218  ( FIG. 12 ) sends a predefined reply e-mail message to any e-mail message that is sent to the user&#39;s email address/account.  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  11  show that the user can view and change the e-mail setting  204  and/or create, view and edit the corresponding text field  220  (e.g., “Note—I will be out of the office . . . ”) ( FIG. 11 ) or due date  222  (e.g., Fri., Dec. 10, 2004) ( FIG. 11 ). For example, the due date  222  could be edited to alternatively state “Sat., Dec. 11, 2004”). 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of a Folder Redirection display screen  224  that is displayed after making a selection from the menu  206  of  FIG. 9 . The user may employ a menu screen (not shown) similar to the menu screen  206  ( FIG. 9 ) to edit the Folder Redirection settings wirelessly from the device  4 . This allows the user to specify e-mail folders (e.g., without limitation, Inbox  226 ; User-defined email folder  228 ) for which corresponding e-mail messages are redirected or forwarded to the device  4 . It will be appreciated that none, one, some or all of the various folders of the screen  224  may be selected or de-selected by the device  4 . 
       FIG. 11  shows as screen  1389  the e-mail settings display screen  138  of  FIG. 8  after selecting the corresponding menu item  132  of  FIG. 4  or after changing the setting  204  of  FIG. 9 . This shows that the user can also edit the Out of Office reply e-mail setting  204  wirelessly from the device  4 . The user can enable/disable that setting  204 , which is also automatically disabled if the mail server  218  ( FIG. 12 ) (e.g., a Lotus Notes® or Domino® mail server) supports such a setting, by the device  4  and by the mail server  218  ( FIG. 12 ) as of the specified due date  222 . The user can also create and edit the auto-reply text  220 . In contrast, Microsoft® Outlook® or Microsoft Exchange Server® does not automatically disable such an e-mail setting  204 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the wireless handheld electronic device  4 , the wireless enterprise server (ES)  216  and a database store (DS)  230  of user e-mail settings, the mail server (MS)  218  and the personal computer (PC)  134  are shown. First, the user makes one or more changes on the wireless handheld electronic device  4  to an e-mail setting (e.g., e-mail filters, such as  148 , 150  of  FIG. 6 ; e-mail redirection setting  198  ( FIG. 8 ); save copy in sent folder e-mail setting  200 ; use auto-signature e-mail setting  202 ; out-of-office reply e-mail setting  204 ). Responsive to the selection of the Save item  212  ( FIG. 9 ), the one or more change(s) is (are) then sent to the wireless enterprise server (ES)  216  over a wireless connection at  232 . Next, at  234 , the ES  216  updates the e-mail setting(s) for this user in a suitable store, such as the user e-mail settings database store (DS)  230 , which is employed by the ES  216 . If the e-mail setting(s) include the out-of-office reply e-mail setting  204 , then this e-mail setting is forwarded, at  236 , to update the mail server  218  (e.g., Microsoft Exchange Server®) as that e-mail setting  204  is not a wireless enterprise-related setting and, instead, is a mail server setting. 
     In this example, the e-mail setting  204  is the only e-mail setting that affects the core mail server behavior. The other e-mail settings are enterprise e-mail settings and are stored in the mail server  218  (in the user&#39;s account) in order that the desktop software utility  140  can access them, but are only executed on by the enterprise server  216 , the device  4 , and (optionally) the desktop software utility  140 . 
     Although not required, alternatively, the various e-mail setting(s) may also be updated by the user via the wireless enterprise&#39;s desktop software utility  140 , if that is installed on the user&#39;s PC  134 . For example, at  238 , the user modifies the out-of-office reply e-mail setting  204  at the user&#39;s PC  134  and/or the wireless enterprise&#39;s desktop software utility  140  running suitable mail client software (e.g., Microsoft® Outlook®). The only e-mail setting that would be made via the email program (e.g., Microsoft® Outlook®) on the PC  134  would be the e-mail setting  204 . The other of the e-mail settings  248  would all be made by the desktop software utility  140 . Then, the steps work in reverse to get the updates out to the user&#39;s handheld device  4  as well. At  240 , this change is noticed. For example, the ES  216  may periodically monitor and/or be notified of the e-mail settings and/or the ES  216  may subscribe to events that are published by the mail server  218 . Finally, at  242 , the ES  216  sends the change wirelessly to the wireless handheld electronic device  4 , which responsively updates its memory  20  ( FIG. 2 ) with the new e-mail setting(s). 
     For example, the mail server  218  is adapted to independently update a change to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting from a remote client device including mail client software, such as the remote PC  134 . The ES  216  is adapted to periodically monitor, or be notified of changes to, the out-of-office reply e-mail setting of the mail server  218  and to wirelessly send a change thereof to the wireless handheld electronic device  4 . 
     A suitable firewall (FW)  244  is preferably employed between the device  4  and the ES  216 . Preferably, there is true “end to end” encryption between the enterprise server  216  and the device  4 , such that the device  4  is truly an extension that is “behind” the virtual firewall  244 . 
     A system  246  includes the wireless handheld electronic device  4 , and one or more servers, such as the ES  216  and the MS  218 . The device  4  includes a plurality of e-mail settings  248  associated therewith. The database store (DS)  230  of the ES  216  maintains one or more of those e-mail settings  248 . The ES  216  is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the wireless handheld electronic device  4 , which is adapted to remotely control one or more of the e-mail settings  218  at one or both of the servers  216 , 218  through wireless communication between the ES  216  and the device  4 . 
     While for clarity of disclosure reference has been made herein to the exemplary display  60  for displaying information, such as e-mail setting information, it will be appreciated that such information may be stored, printed on hard copy, be computer modified, or be combined with other data. All such processing shall be deemed to fall within the terms “display” or “displaying” as employed herein. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7