System and method for bi-directional synchronized conversion of electronic mail data

Abstract

A portable storage device is connected to a first computer and the email data is synchronized between the first computer and the device. The portable storage device can then be connected to a second computer that has an email program that is incompatible with the first computer's email program. The second computer is personalized with the email data retrieved from the portable device. The user is allowed to use the second computer to send or receive emails and otherwise alter the email data. Upon logging out of the second computer, any changes made thereon can be recorded to the portable storage device. The device can then be re-connected to the first computer and the data can once again be re-synchronized. The universal format database enables bidirectional synchronization and conversion of email data between multiple incompatible format email programs.

1 . A system for synchronized conversion of electronic mail (email) data, said system comprising:
 a first computer having a first email program deployed thereon;   a second computer having a second email program deployed thereon, said second email program having an incompatible format with said first email program; and   a portable storage device connectable to at least one of the first computer and the second computer, said storage device further including:
 a universal database that stores said email data retrieved from the first computer and converted into a universal format; and 
 an executable program that synchronizes the email data of the first computer with the portable storage device and personalizes said second computer with said email data by using said universal database. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said portable storage device further includes:
 a native database that stores said email data in the format of said first email program, said native database used for personalizing the second computer in the event that said second computer is equipped with said first email program.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more modifications to said email data is received at the second computer and wherein said one or more modifications are synchronized with the email data on the first computer. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said second computer is personalized upon establishing a connection to the portable storage device in order to reflect the email data stored on the portable storage device, such that a user is able access and manipulate said email data by using the second email program of the second computer. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the universal database on said portable storage device is generated by identifying one or more common features supported by the formats of both said first email program and said second email program and by creating tables and fields to store said common features. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the universal database on said portable storage device is generated by identifying a portion of the email data retrieved from the first computer that is not supported by the format of said second computer and by storing said portion in said universal format. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein upon establishing a connection between the portable storage device and the second computer, said portion of email data is converted into selected properties in the format of the second email program such that said portion is able to be displayed on said second computer. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second computer is personalized by creating a temporary folder on the second computer and storing, into said temporary folder, data that has been retrieved from the universal database and converted into the format of said second email program. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said email data is synchronized between the portable storage device and the first computer by writing data to ensure that both the portable storage device and said first computer have a latest version of said email data. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus having a computer-readable medium, said computer readable medium including instructions which when executed by one or more processors, will cause a system to perform the steps of:
 establishing a connection between said apparatus and a first computer, said first computer having a first email program installed thereon;   synchronizing native email data of the first computer with email data stored on said apparatus wherein said synchronizing includes generating a universal database on said portable storage device, said universal database based on said native email data;   establishing a connection between said apparatus and a second computer, said second computer having a second email program installed thereon, said second email program having an incompatible format with respect to said first email program; and   personalizing said second computer with the email data retrieved from the universal database.   
   
   
       11 . A portable storage device capable of connecting to a computer, said portable storage device comprising:
 a universal database that stores email data retrieved from the computer and converted into a universal format; and   executable software that synchronizes said email data of the computer with said portable storage device and personalizes the computer with said email data by using the universal database.