Content-Based Notification and User-Transparent Pull Operation for Simulated Push Transmission of Wireless Email

Abstract

Exemplary system, method, software and apparatus embodiments provide for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device, as a simulated push operation, for devices which do not have push capability. The system comprises a database, a server, and may also include a second web server for user account configuration. The database is adapted to store user account configuration and preference information. The server is adapted to receive a first message having a first protocol, such as SMTP, and to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided. When the content-based notification is to be provided, the server is adapted to extract a subset of information from the first message, and using the subset of information, to create a second message having a second, different protocol, such as SMS, with the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the method comprising:
 receiving a first message having a first protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;   determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided;   when the content-based notification is to be provided, extracting a subset of information from the first message; and   using the subset of information, creating a second message having a second protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, the second protocol being different than the first protocol, the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encapsulating the second message as a data payload in a third message having a third protocol;   providing an address header for the third message for the mobile device; and   transmitting the third message to a wireless network for extraction of the second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) or an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, wherein the second protocol is Short Message Service (SMS), and wherein the third protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP), an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Instant Messaging and Presence Leverage Extensions (SIMPLE), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), or Instant Messaging (IM). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises at least one of the following processes: modifying, rejecting, deleting, redirecting, archiving, logging or quarantining the first message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of extracting the subset of information from the first message further comprises applying a plurality of sieve rule processes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of extracting the subset of information from the first message further comprises selecting a plurality of fields of the first message, the plurality of fields comprising at least two of the following fields: a “FROM” field; a “TO” field; a “DATE” field; a “SIZE” field; a “SUBJECT” field; a “CC” field; all or a variable portion of a “BODY” field up to a remaining capacity of the second message; an attachment type; an attachment name; a number of attachments; an attachment size; an inserted tag; an inserted message; an inserted banner; an inserted spam score; an email group designation; or a user-defined field. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of creating the second message further comprises differentially selecting the plurality of fields based on whether the first message was transmitted as a message forward or as a direct message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second message further comprises a user response indication or link. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to a user request, transferring the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user request is transmitted using a fourth protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided further comprises:
 determining at least one user preference of a plurality of user preferences, the plurality of user preferences comprising at least two of the following user preferences: day of the week, time of day, one or more keywords, sender, location, spam score, type of attachment, or forwarded account.   
     
     
         12 . A system for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the system comprising:
 a database storing user account configuration and preference information; and   a server coupled to the database, the server to receive a first message having a first protocol of the plurality of communication protocols; to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided; when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information from the first message; using the subset of information, to create a second message having a second protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, the second protocol being different than the first protocol, and the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in a third message having a third protocol; to provide an address header for the third message for the mobile device; and to transmit the third message to a wireless network for extraction of the second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) or an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, wherein the second protocol is Short Message Service (SMS), and wherein the third protocol is Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP), an extension of Simple Mail Transport Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Instant Messaging and Presence Leverage Extensions (SIMPLE), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), or Instant Messaging (IM). 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to modify, reject, delete, redirect, archive, log or quarantine the first message. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to apply a plurality of sieve rule processes to the first message. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to extract the subset of information from the first message by selecting a plurality of fields of the first message, the plurality of fields comprising at least two of the following fields: a “FROM” field; a “TO” field; a “DATE” field; a “SIZE” field; a “SUBJECT” field; a “CC” field; all or a variable portion of a “BODY” field up to a remaining capacity of the second message; an attachment type; an attachment name; a number of attachments; an attachment size; an inserted tag; an inserted message; an inserted banner; an inserted spam score; an email group designation; or a user-defined field. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the server further is to create the second message by differentially selecting the plurality of fields based on whether the first message was transmitted as a message forward or as a direct message. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to, in response to a user request, transfer the first message for transmission of all or part of the first message to the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the user request is transmitted using a fourth protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and wherein the fourth protocol is a version of either Post Office Protocol (POP or POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server further is to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided by determining at least one user preference of a plurality of user preferences, the plurality of user preferences comprising at least two of the following user preferences: day of the week, time of day, one or more keywords, sender, location, spam score, type of attachment, or forwarded account. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for creating a content-based notification for a mobile device using a plurality of communication protocols, the apparatus comprising:
 a network interface couplable to a communication channel to receive a first message having a Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) of the plurality of communication protocols and to transmit a third SMTP message to a wireless network for extraction of a second message from the third message and transmission of the second message to the mobile device;   a memory storing user account configuration and preference information; and   a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, the processor to authenticate an account of the recipient of the first message; to determine whether the content-based notification for the first message should be provided; when the content-based notification is to be provided, to extract a subset of information by selecting a plurality of fields from the first message and, using the subset of information, to create the second message having a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol of the plurality of communication protocols, and the second message providing the content-based notification of the first message; to encapsulate the second message as a data payload in the third message and to provide an address header for the third message for the mobile device.