Abstract:
A method and apparatus for improved handling of messages transmitted over a plurality of wireless and wired networks. Electronic mail transmitted by a mail source via an internet connection is received by a server that is operably connected to an intranet that is protected by a firewall. The server adds a timestamp to the incoming email and forwards the email to first information handling system. The server also relays the email to a network operations center (NOC) that transmits a copy of the email via a wireless transmitter. The present invention provides a method and apparatus to selectively prevent transmission of the relayed email by the NOC by sending a cancellation signal to the NOC or by suppressing the relay of the email to the NOC, thereby providing a cost saving and increased efficiency of bandwidth utilization.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling systems and, more specifically, to messaging networks used by information handling systems.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes, thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information, and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. Information handling systems continually improve in the ability of both hardware components and software applications to generate and manage information.  
         [0005]     In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of wireless wide area networks (WWAN) for messaging and other data communication. WWAN messaging devices such as Goodlink G100, RIM Blackberry, and Pocket PC Phone, enable users to travel and receive/send email and other personal information over broad areas using GPRS or CDMA carriers. The providers supporting these devices (e.g., Good) operate a Network Operations Center (NOC) that controls all traffic to these devices. These providers typically control the messaging traffic and charge for the traffic through the NOC. An organization generally links its mail server (using Microsoft® Exchange®, for example) to the NOC. The user is charged on a monthly basis for messaging. Incoming mail is usually received at the organization&#39;s mail server from internal sources or other Internet-based mail servers, including STMP, etc., and is sent to the NOC. The NOC schedules the message for transmission over WWAN carriers at the user&#39;s location. There is no provision among these services for devices that connect directly by docking or WLAN wireless means to the user&#39;s PC which is also connected to the organization&#39;s mail server. This would be desirable for reasons of efficiency and security, since there would not be a need to go outside the organization&#39;s firewall.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The method and apparatus of the present invention provides improved handling of messages transmitted over a plurality of wireless and wired networks. In the present invention, electronic mail transmitted by a mail source via an internet connection is received by a server that is operably connected to an intranet that is protected by a firewall. The server adds a timestamp to the incoming email and forwards the email to an information handling system (sometimes referred to as a “personal computer” or “PC”). The server also relays the email to a network operations center (NOC) that transmits a copy of the email via a wireless transmitter. The wirelessly transmitted copy of the email can be received by an authorized user via a portable information handling system (sometimes referred to as a “portable personal computer” or “PPC”) that comprises a wireless transceiver. The PPC and the PC can be connected to the network by a wired connection or via a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one embodiment of the invention, PPC is connected to the network by establishing a wired or wireless connection to the PC. In this embodiment, the PPC is operable to synchronize email and data files with the PC. In another embodiment of the invention, the PPC is connected directly to the server via a wired connection or a wireless local area network connection. In this embodiment, the PPC is operable to synchronize email and data files directly with the server.  
         [0007]     The present invention provides a method and apparatus to selectively prevent transmission of the relayed email by the NOC by sending a cancellation signal to the NOC or by suppressing the relay of the email to the NOC. In one embodiment of the invention, a cancellation signal is sent to the NOC when the PPC is connected to, and synchronized with, the PC. In this embodiment of the invention, the NOC can enhance bandwidth utilization by adding a time delay between receiving a message and transmitting it to the carrier. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the “relay copy” of the email is stored in a FIFO queue for a delay period. If the PPC is detected during the time delay period, then the email is not relayed to the NOC for transmission. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the method and apparatus of the present invention provides numerous advantages, including bandwidth savings for the wireless carrier and costs savings for the user. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a messaging system for transmitting messages over a plurality of wireless and wired networks.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an information handling system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of one embodiment of a messaging system for transmitting messages over a plurality of wireless and wired networks in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a messaging system for transmitting messages over a plurality of wireless and wired networks in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a messaging system for transmitting messages over a plurality of wireless and wired networks. Electronic mail transmitted by a mail source  102  via an internet connection is received by a server  104  that is operably connected to an intranet that is protected by a firewall  106 . The server  104  adds a timestamp to the incoming email and forwards the email to the information handling system  108  (sometimes referred to hereinbelow as a “personal computer” or “PC”). The server also relays the email to a network operations center (NOC)  110  that forwards a copy of the email to a carrier that transmits the email via a wireless transmitter  112 . The wirelessly transmitted copy of the email can be received by an authorized user via a portable information handling system  114  (sometimes referred to hereinbelow as a “portable personal computer” or “PPC”) that comprises a wireless transceiver.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a generalized illustration of an information handling system  200 . The functional components of the information handling system  200  can be implemented in the various information handling systems illustrated in  FIG. 1 , including the server, personal computer and handheld computer. The information handling system includes a processor  202 , input/output (I/O) devices  204 , such as a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and associated controllers, a memory drive  206 , and other storage devices  208 , that may include a floppy disk and drive and other memory devices, and various other subsystems  210 , all interconnected via one or more buses  212 . The software that is installed according to the versioning methodology is installed onto hard disk drive  206 . Alternately, the software may be installed onto any appropriate non-volatile memory.  
         [0015]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of one embodiment of the wide area network wireless messaging system that is implemented in accordance with the present invention. Electronic mail transmitted by the mail source  102  via an internet connection is received by the server  104  that is operably connected to an intranet that is protected by a firewall  106 . The server  104  adds a timestamp to the incoming email and forwards the email to the information handling system  108 . The server is also operable to relay the email to a network operations center (NOC)  110  that transmits a copy of the email via a wireless transmitter  112  for transmission to a wirelessly enabled PPC  114 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , however, the PPC  114  is also connected (via wire, WPAN, or WLAN) to the user&#39;s PC  108 , which is connected to the organization&#39;s mail server. It is also understood that the device can connect directly with a mail server, given the appropriate protocol handling (e.g., an MIS server).  
         [0017]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the arrival of the message at the PC  108  automatically triggers a synchronization of the PC  108  and the PPC  1   14 . The message is received at the PPC  114  and receipt is confirmed at the PC  108 . The PC  108  sends a short cancellation message to the server  104 . The server  104  then sends a cancellation notice to the NOC  110  containing the information regarding the message to be cancelled. At this point there are several possibilities regarding the status of the previously relayed message: (1) the message has already been sent by the NOC  110  and carrier (dismiss the cancellation), (2) the message is in transmission or has been sent by the NOC  110  to the carrier but not transmitted over the air yet (the cancellation is forwarded to the carrier which terminates the transmission), or (3) the message is queued at the NOC (the NOC cancels the message and does not charge the customer—bandwidth has been freed for other customers). As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the bandwidth savings related to the procedures described hereinabove can be enhanced if the NOC stores the message in a buffer and adds a small time delay between receiving a message and transmitting it to the carrier.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the cancellation signal generated by the PC  108  is used by the server  104  to prevent the relaying of the message to the NOC  1   10 . The embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4  is particularly useful for situations where the NOC  110  does not wish to participate in the cancellation procedure. In this embodiment, an outgoing FIFO buffer  118  with a delay period is added. Messages are queued in the FIFO  118  for a short interval to allow time for the PPC  114  to synchronize with the PC  198  and receive the messages. If a cancellation is not received within the delay period, the message is allowed to proceed to the NOC  110 .  
         [0019]     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  can also be used for messages originating at the PC  108  or the PPC  114  (either connected to the PC  108  or independently). In this case the PPC  114  or the PC  108  timestamps the outgoing message. If the synchronizing PC  108  is present, the message is sent to the PC  108  and reception is confirmed, thereby reaching the server  104  directly. In this case, the message is not sent to the NOC  110 . If the synchronization fails and retries are unsuccessful or the PC  108  is not attached, then the message is sent over a WWAN carrier to the NOC  110 . This reduces operating expenses for the organization without requiring the NOC  110  provider&#39;s participation.  
         [0020]     The various embodiments of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  can be implemented with wired network connections or via wireless LAN access through access points to allow the PPC  114  and the PC  108  to communicate wirelessly with the server  104 . In one embodiment of the invention, PPC is connected to the network by establishing a wired or wireless connection to the PC. In this embodiment, the PPC is operable to synchronize email and data files with the PC. In another embodiment of the invention, the PPC is connected directly to the server via a wired connection or a wireless local area network connection. In this embodiment, the PPC is operable to synchronize email and data files directly with the server. In the embodiment of the invention where the PPC is directly connected to the server, the email message is sent directly to the PPC  114  and is not sent to the PC  108 . If the PPC is not within range of the server&#39;s wireless LAN and is not connected to the server by a wired network connection, the email message is relayed to the NOC  110 .  
         [0021]     In the embodiments wherein the PC or the PPC are wirelessly connected to the network, the delay time for relaying the email messages must be adjusted to allow for the timing of communications through the wireless LAN, since synchronization over wireless takes more time than a wired connection. Connection status messaging between the PPC  114  and the server  104  or NOC  110  can be employed to adjust this delay based on the speed of the connection.  
         [0022]     Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.