(12) United States Patent
`Thurlow et al.
`
`US006457879B1
`US 6,457,879 B1
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD FOR CONTINOUOUSLY
`PROCESSING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES
`THROUGHOUTA TRANSITION BETWEEN
`
`ONLINE AND OFFLINE STATES
`
`5,892,909 A * 4/1999 Grasso et a1. ............. .. 709/201
`5,940,771 A * 8/1999 Gollnick et al. .......... .. 455/517
`5,969,750 A * 10/1999 Hsieh et al. ................ .. 348/15
`6,014,688 A * 1/2000 Venkatraman et al. .... .. 709/206
`6,054,982 A * 4/2000 Kikuchi et al. ........... .. 345/327
`
`(75) Inventors: Scott A. ThurloW, Kirkland, WA (US);
`Davld A- Ralsslpour’ Benevue> WA
`(Us); Stephen T- Wells, 5621mm WA
`(US); Robert M- Price, Seattle, WA
`(US)
`
`_
`
`_
`
`_
`
`,
`
`,
`
`£15m“ et al' """"" " 709/227
`2 i
`6,096,096 A * 8/2000 Murphy et a1. .......... .. 717/11
`6,105,096 A * 8/2000 Martinelli et a1. ..
`710/129
`6,119,186 A * 9/2000 Watts 861. ........... .. 710/104
`6,219,799 B1 * 4/2001 Kandasamy ................. .. 714/4
`
`r1 .......................... .. 705/27
`
`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`(Us)
`_
`_
`_
`_
`SubJect to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`_
`( * ) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl- NO-I 08/992,730
`(22) Filed:
`Dec‘ 17’ 1997
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. G06F 15/16
`(52) US. Cl. ................. .. 395/200.36; 345/327; 710/104
`(58) Field of Search .......................... .. 379/58; 709/232,
`709/217, 226, 227, 201, 206; 345/352,
`335, 327; 370/286; 340/56; 395/856, 425,
`800, 601; 707/201; 710/17, 104, 129; 455/517;
`702/202, 227, 229; 714/4; 717/11; 705/27;
`348/15
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,851,988 A * 7/1989 Trottier et a1. ............ .. 709/226
`5,349,685 A * 9/1994 Houlberg .................. .. 395/800
`5,414,817 A * 5/1995 EZZCI et al. ................. .. 710/17
`57475378 A * 12/1995 Kaarsoo et a1- ~~~~ ~~
`340/56
`5,479,472 A : 12/1995 Campana Jr et a1‘ '
`379/58
`2988;; 2 * 882; 21538253.: ~~~~ ~~
`;;; 333/53?
`5’758’088 A * 5/1998 Bezaire et a1‘ '
`709632
`5:802j304 A * 9/1998 Stone _________ __
`709027
`5,809,242 A * 9/1998 Shaw et a1.
`709/217
`5,818,447 A * 10/1998 Wolf et al.
`345/335
`5,867,162 A * 2/1999 O’Leary et a1. .......... .. 345/352
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Beestermoller et al, An Online and Offline Proigrammable
`Multi—Loop Controller for Distributed Systems, IEEE
`19944
`
`* Cited by eXaminer
`Primary Examiner—Mark H. Rinehart
`Assistant Examiner—Thong Vu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Merchant & Gould, LLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An electronic mail (e-mail) application program includes a
`con?gurable, e-mail messaging feature for automatically
`responding to a portable computer’s transition betWeen
`online and of?ine states. The e-mail application program
`determines the state of a connection betWeen a portable
`computer and an electronic mail server and processes elec
`tronic messages in accordance With the appropriate state.
`The portable computer’s transition betWeen an online state
`and an offline state triggers a user-con?gurable response,
`designed to permit the continuation of electronic mail mes
`sage processmg in a manner that accommodates the state
`change. The e-mail application program responds to such a
`transition by automatically sWitching betWeen online and
`Offline modes of operation_ The e-mail application program
`can also respond to such a transition by establishing a
`secondary connection to a mail server When a primary
`A
`Con?gure
`various aspects of the invention to respond to a transition in
`a Way that accommodates the user’s hardWare and/or soft
`Ware requirements
`
`7 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`,1 APPucAnoNQ
`
`‘
`
`PROGRAMS
`
`:
`:
`
`I
`
`EVMAIL Q
`CLIENT
`
`PROGRAM 53
`DATA
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 0f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
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`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 0f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`{37
`
`E-MAIL CLIENT
`
`,
`
`(5?
`
`APPLICATION PROGRAMMING
`INTERFACE (API)
`
`7
`SERVICE PROVIDERS
`r60
`{62
`TRANSPORT
`PROVIDER
`
`MESSAGE
`STORE PROVIDER
`
`(58
`
`(63
`ADDRESS
`BOOK PROVIDER
`
`7
`
`K36
`
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`
`FIGZ
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 0f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`301
`/
`gE: Renchow - Scott Thurlow Properties
`[ General T Servers 1 Connection] Advanced]
`
`300
`/
`
`l?
`
`Please specify the type of connection you use for e-mail
`
`—- Connection
`
`/"_@ Connect using rny_l_ocal area network (LAN).
`302
`//”_\|Z] Connect 11a modem if the LAN is not available
`304
`///"O Connect using my phone line
`306
`, "O Iwill establish my Internet connection mangally
`
`322
`
`308
`
`310
`
`312
`
`314
`
`— Modem
`
`Use the following Dial-Up Networking connection
`
`/,—| Microsoft via Dialup
`
`M
`
`324
`
`_ Eroperties...
`
`AdQ...
`
`316
`
`/
`
`\d/
`
`318
`
`OK
`
`Cancel
`
`Apply
`
`/
`
`320
`
`FIG.3
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 0f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`401
`/
`
`400
`/
`
`[EM-ii]
`I Preferences lMail DelivemMail FormaJSpellingTSecurityT Other 1
`Accounts manager
`@ Create and update new mail and directory service accounts
`
`'
`
`Accounts...
`
`Mail account options
`Control when Outlook sends and receives your messages.
`[iii [2] §end messages immediately
`El Check for new messages every @@ Minutes
`E '
`
`Dial-up options
`
`‘ e
`Control how Outlook connects to your dial-up accounts.
`\’
`/'——E] \_Narn before switching dial-up connection
`/
`402 A gang up when finished sending, receiving, or updating
`404/ /-————|:| Automatically dial when checking for new messages
`406/ /'-——l] Don't download messages larger than
`KB
`
`408
`
`OK
`
`Cancel
`
`Apply
`
`418
`
`420
`
`FIGA
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 0f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`r514
`
`UNDOCK
`EVENT
`
`522
`
`K
`
`IDG ERROR
`
`TRANSFER
`MAR
`
`I508
`
`510
`
`MODE
`
`512
`
`WO
`
`w mm a 5 H mm E.
`
`
`
`5! 4 a
`
`F
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`061. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 6f 6
`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`554
`f
`
`556
`
`TRANSFER __,®
`
`MAIL
`
`,562
`
`f 564
`
`CALL
`SERVER
`
`566
`
`OFFLINE
`MODE
`
`BACKGROUND
`POLL
`
`{586
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 7
`
`

`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`1
`METHOD FOR CONTINOUOUSLY
`PROCESSING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES
`THROUGHOUT A TRANSITION BETWEEN
`ONLINE AND OFFLINE STATES
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a method for sending and
`receiving electronic messages, and more particularly relates
`to an improved method for enabling a computer to continu
`ally process electronic messages When the computer makes
`a transition betWeen online and offline states.
`
`10
`
`2
`module (e-mail client) that runs on the remote computer. The
`e-mail client may communicate With the mail server to send
`and receive e-mail messages in a format that is readable to
`both the remote computer and the mail server. The mail
`server also may have an e-mail application program module
`operating to communicate With the remote computer’s
`e-mail client.
`One option that many e-mail clients offer permits the
`remote computer user to operate in an offline mode. Offline
`mode is generally a means by Which the user can compose
`e-mail messages and read previously received e-mail
`messages, regardless of Whether the user’s computer is
`actually connected to a mail server. Communication
`betWeen the remote computer and the mail server is not
`attempted by an e-mail client in of?ine mode.
`In this conteXt, “online state” is used to indicate the
`existence of an operable line of communication betWeen a
`mail server and a remote computer, regardless of Whether the
`communication line is being utiliZed by an e-mail client.
`“Online mode” is used to indicate that an e-mail client
`running on a remote computer is operating in a manner that
`requires an operable line of communication betWeen a mail
`server and the remote computer. That is, for the e-mail client
`to successfully operate in online mode, the remote computer
`on Which the e-mail client is running must be in an online
`state.
`Similarly, “offline state” indicates the absence of an
`operable line of communication betWeen a mail server and
`a remote computer. “Offline mode” indicates that an e-mail
`client running on a remote computer is operating in a manner
`that does not require an online state. An of?ine mode of
`operation does not typically require that the remote com
`puter be in an offline state. Unlike online mode, of?ine mode
`can be successfully implemented by an e-mail client Without
`regard to the online/offline state of the remote computer.
`The ability to process e-mail messages in of?ine mode is
`desirable to e-mail users. When a user Wants to prepare
`e-mail messages for subsequent transmission, the user may
`do so Without having to connect to the mail server. Where
`the user doesn’t have access to an electronic connection to
`the server or the user’s server has crashed, this capability
`permits the user to perform his or her composition Work and
`then send the composed messages, as a batch, at a later time.
`This mode of operation permits the user to Work more
`efficiently, by not limiting composition to only those times
`that the user is connected to a mail server.
`Offering users the capability of operating in either online
`or offline mode has, unfortunately, spaWned another prob
`lem. Most e-mail clients are not Well equipped to accom
`modate a transition betWeen online and offline modes of
`operation. Consequently, a computer’s transition betWeen
`online and offline states can disrupt effective e-mail message
`processing.
`The typical use of a portable computer presents a repre
`sentative illustration of a transition betWeen online and
`offline states. A user might have a portable computer that is
`equipped to operate in conjunction With a docking station.
`Docking stations are Well knoWn to those skilled in the
`computer arts and typically provide a base station for a
`portable computer. A docking station often includes such
`devices as a poWer supply, eXpansion slots, a monitor, a
`keyboard connector, connectors for CD-ROM, ?oppy or
`hard drives, and a LAN connection. The LAN connection
`can provide a communication line betWeen the portable
`computer and a mail server.
`The portable computer might be docked in a docking
`station one minute and undocked the neXt minute. When a
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Electronic mail (e-mail) has become an extremely popular
`communications medium. Computer users have replaced
`many forms of paper correspondence With e-mail correspon
`dence to capitaliZe on the speed and economy of electronic
`communication. The typical office or campus environment
`utiliZes a Local Area NetWork (LAN) to connect computer
`users to a central e-mail system. Generally, a LAN connec
`tion provides a direct line of communication betWeen an
`individual user’s computer (remote computer) and the
`e-mail system (mail server). LAN connections are usually
`hard-Wired into a building or across a campus so that all of
`the remote computers in the netWork can enjoy the bene?ts
`of a direct connection to the server. HoWever, as portable
`computers have become more popular and poWerful, users
`are demanding access to mail servers from locations Where
`direct, hard-Wired connections are not feasible.
`Typically, a connection betWeen the remote computer and
`the mail server can be either a direct connection, provided by
`a Local Area NetWork (LAN), or a dial-up connection,
`provided through a modem connection to a netWork node. At
`Work a portable computer user might have a docking station
`that provides a LAN connection. When aWay from the office
`With the portable computer undocked, the user might utiliZe
`a modem to connect to the mail server. A computer netWork
`that supports modem connections is commonly referred to as
`a dial-up netWork, because it typically utiliZes a telephone
`connection betWeen the modem and the server.
`Because a LAN connection is a direct, hard-Wired
`connection, it can provide high-speed communications capa
`bilities betWeen the mail server and the remote computer. A
`remote computer user can connect to the mail server (go
`“online”), access his or her mail, send outgoing e-mail
`messages, check for and receive incoming e-mail messages,
`and remain online for eXtended periods. As mail is sent to the
`remote computer user, via the mail server, the mail server
`processes and delivers the mail to the remote computer
`user’s e-mail server. The remote computer periodically polls
`the server to check the user’s e-mail mailboX for neW
`incoming e-mail messages.
`Adial-up connection provides access to e-mail for remote
`computer users that are located in areas Where LAN access
`to the mail server is unavailable (e.g., at home, at a hotel,
`etc.). Typically, a dial-up connection is utiliZed Where the
`remote computer user Wishes to use a modem to connect to
`the mail server via a telephone connection. Because the
`connection is not direct, communication betWeen the mail
`server and the remote computer is sloWer than With a LAN
`connection. The remote computer user, connected via a
`dial-up connection, can perform all of the operations that
`could be performed via a LAN connection, but each opera
`tion usually takes more time.
`The remote computer user Will typically perform e-mail
`operations by utiliZing an e-mail client application program
`
`15
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 8
`
`

`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`3
`portable computer that is processing e-mail messages in
`online mode is undocked from its docking station, the
`connection betWeen the computer and the mail server Will be
`severed. Most e-mail clients do not provide a means for
`responding to this transition betWeen online and offline
`states. The user Will be unable to continue processing e-mail
`because the e-mail client Will be attempting to operate as if
`the laptop Were still connected to the mail server. In such a
`case, the user Will usually experience an unending series of
`Warning messages indicating the loss of a connection to the
`mail server. The user is forced to terminate the e-mail client
`and either to restart after reconnecting to the mail server or
`to restart in of?ine mode.
`This problem is not limited to the example of a portable
`computer With a docking station, but can occur With any
`computer that loses an operating communications line With
`a mail server. No effective solution to this problem has been
`proffered in the prior art. Indeed, most e-mail clients either
`assume that the remote computer user is alWays in online
`mode, or alloW the remote computer user to select online or
`offline modes of operation, but are unable to accommodate
`a transition betWeen online and offline states of operation.
`Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved
`method of effecting a transition betWeen online and offline
`modes of e-mail processing operation Where there is a
`transition betWeen online and offline states. This method
`should provide the remote computer user an interface for
`con?guring the responsive actions to be taken in the event of
`a state change. In addition to an improved con?guration
`interface, the system should provide the capability to auto
`matically respond to the detection that the remote computer
`has made a transition betWeen online and offline states and
`to continue to process e-mail in accordance With a user’s
`con?guration settings.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention satis?es the above-described needs
`by providing an improved method for continuously process
`ing electronic messages during and after a transition
`betWeen online and offline states. The present invention
`responds to such a transition by automatically sWitching
`betWeen online and offline modes of operation. The present
`invention can be con?gured to connect to a mail server via
`a LAN connection When operating in an online mode and via
`a modem When operating in an offline mode. Auser may also
`con?gure various aspects of the invention to respond to a
`transition in a Way that accommodates the user’s hardWare
`and/or softWare requirements.
`In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for
`effecting a sWitch betWeen online and offline modes of
`electronic message processing. The method includes pro
`cessing messages in an online mode, While the computer is
`in an online state. Adetermination is made that the computer
`has sWitched from online state to of?ine state. In response to
`the determination, the method sWitches operation from
`online mode to of?ine mode.
`More particularly described, the determination of the
`transition betWeen online mode and offline mode is a signal
`that the computer has become undocked or disconnected
`from a mail server. Various aspects of online mode and
`offline mode are de?nable by user input, stored in a con
`?guration ?le.
`In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
`for effecting a sWitch betWeen online and offline modes of
`electronic message processing. The method includes deter
`mining the state in Which the computer is operating. In
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`response to the computer being in a ?rst state, a ?rst mode
`of operation is enabled. Where the computer is in a second
`state, a second mode of operation is enabled. The present
`invention can automatically sWitch betWeen operating in an
`online mode, Where communication is effected via a LAN
`connection, and operating in an offline mode, Where subse
`quent communication is effected via a modem connection.
`The method is also able to receive an indication of a change
`in states and automatically sWitch modes of operation to
`accommodate the change.
`In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a
`method for processing electronic messages in a system
`including a server, a portable computer, and a docking
`station. The method includes receiving a signal indicating
`that the portable computer has been docked in the docking
`station. Where the portable computer is docked, the method
`includes determining Whether an operable connection exists
`betWeen the portable computer and a mail server, via the
`docking station. If the connection is operable, the method
`includes processing electronic messages in accordance With
`an online mode of operation. If the connection is not
`operable, the method includes processing electronic mes
`sages in accordance With an offline mode of operation.
`The various aspects of the present invention may be more
`clearly understood and appreciated from a revieW of the
`folloWing detailed description of the disclosed embodiments
`and by reference to the appended draWings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a personal computer that
`provides the operating environment for an embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the modular programming
`architecture that supports electronic mail messaging in an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the information and selections available
`in an exemplary connection con?guration WindoW.
`FIG. 4 illustrates the information and selections available
`in an exemplary dial-up connection con?guration WindoW.
`FIGS. 5a and 5b are portions of a ?oWchart illustrating a
`method for establishing a connection betWeen a mail server
`and a remote computer in accordance With a predetermined
`con?guration.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The present invention is directed to a method for con
`tinuously processing electronic mail (e-mail) messages
`throughout a computer’s transition betWeen online and
`offline states of operation. In an exemplary embodiment, an
`e-mail application program determines the state of a con
`nection betWeen a portable computer and an electronic mail
`server and processes electronic messages in accordance With
`the appropriate state. The portable computer’s transition
`betWeen an online state and an offline state triggers a
`user-con?gurable response, designed to permit the continu
`ation of electronic mail message processing in a manner that
`accommodates the state change. The e-mail application
`program responds to such a transition by automatically
`sWitching betWeen online and offline modes of operation. In
`one embodiment, a user may con?gure various aspects of the
`invention to respond to a transition in a Way that accom
`modates the user’s hardWare and/or softWare requirements.
`For example, the user can con?gure the invention to com
`municate With a mail server via a LAN connection When
`operating in an online mode and to communicate With the
`server via a modem connection When operating in an offline
`mode.
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 9
`
`

`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`5
`Referring noW to the drawings, in Which like numerals
`represent like elements throughout the several ?gures,
`aspects of the present invention and an exemplary operating
`environment Will be described.
`AN EXEMPLARY OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
`FIG. 1 and the folloWing discussion are intended to
`provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing
`environment in Which the invention may be implemented.
`While the invention Will be described in the general conteXt
`of an application program that runs on an operating system
`in conjunction With a personal computer, those skilled in the
`art Will recogniZe that the invention also may be imple
`mented in combination With other program modules.
`Generally, program modules include routines, programs,
`components, data structures, etc. that perform particular
`tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover,
`those skilled in the art Will appreciate that the invention may
`be practiced With other computer system con?gurations,
`including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,
`microprocessor-based or programmable consumer
`electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the
`like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed
`computing environments Where tasks are performed by
`remote processing devices that are linked through a com
`munications netWork. In a distributed computing
`environment, program modules may be located in both local
`and remote memory storage devices.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system 5, comprising a
`portable computer 10 and a docking station 11, designed
`under the hierarchical device paradigm and is suitable for
`supporting the operation of an embodiment of the present
`invention. As shoWn in FIG. 1, the portable computer 10
`includes a processor 12, and a system memory 13 (including
`read only memory (ROM) 14 and random access memory
`(RAM) 15), Which is connected to the processor 12 by a
`processor data/address bus 16. A Basic Input/Output System
`(BIOS) 17 for the portable computer 10 is stored in ROM 14
`and is loaded into a BIOS area 53 of RAM 15 upon booting.
`Those skilled in the art Will recogniZe that the BIOS 17 is a
`set of basic eXecutable routines that have conventionally
`helped to transfer information betWeen elements Within the
`portable computer 10.
`Within the portable computer 10, a high speed bus 18 is
`connected to a high speed bus controller 19 and the proces
`sor data/address bus 16. In one embodiment, the high speed
`bus 18 is implemented as a standard Peripheral Component
`Interconnect (PCI) bus although other standardiZed bus
`architectures may be used, such as the EXtended Industry
`Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. The high speed bus
`controller 19 eXamines all signals from the processor 12 to
`route the signals to the appropriate bus. Signals betWeen the
`processor 12 and the system memory 13 are merely passed
`through the high speed bus controller 19. HoWever, signals
`from the processor 12 intended for devices other than system
`memory 13 are routed onto the high speed bus 18, another
`level in the hierarchical design of the computer system 5.
`Various devices are connected to the high speed bus 18.
`A hard disk drive 20 is connected to the high speed bus 18
`via a hard disk drive interface 21. A CD-ROM drive 22,
`Which is used to read a CD-ROM disk 50, is connected to the
`high speed bus 18 via a CD-ROM interface 23. The video
`display 24 or other kind of display device is connected to the
`high speed bus 18 via a video adapter 25.
`A?rst loW speed bus 26 is connected to the high speed bus
`18 by a ?rst loW speed bus controller 27. The ?rst loW speed
`bus 26 is generally of lesser or equal speed When compared
`to that of the high speed bus 18. In the one embodiment, the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`?rst loW speed bus 26 is implemented as an Industry
`Standard Architecture (ISA) bus although other standardiZed
`bus architectures may be used.
`Anumber of program modules may be stored in the drives
`and RAM 15, including an operating system 36, one or more
`application programs 40, other program modules including
`an e-mail client 42, and program data 43. A user enters
`commands and information into the portable computer 10 by
`using a keyboard 51 and/or pointing device, such as a mouse
`52, Which are connected to the ?rst loW speed bus 26 via a
`serial port interface 28. Other input devices (not shoWn) may
`include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish,
`scanner, and other devices suitable for positioning a cursor
`on the video display 24.
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, the portable computer 10 also
`includes a modem 29. Typically, the modem 29 is connected
`to a telephone line 230. The modem 29 is preferably internal
`to the portable computer 10 and is connected directly to the
`?rst loW speed bus 26. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as
`internal to the portable computer 10, those of ordinary skill
`in the art Will quickly recogniZe that the modem 29 may also
`be eXternal to the portable computer 10. The modem 29 is
`typically used to communicate by telephone over Wide area
`netWorks 55, such as the global Internet. Such a netWork can
`provide a connection betWeen the portable computer 10 and
`a mail server 49. The mail server 49 typically includes many
`or all of the elements described relative to the portable
`computer 10, by means of a memory storage device Within
`the mail server (not shoWn). More particularly, the mail
`server 49 can include application program modules (not
`shoWn) and e-mail clients (not shoWn) that enable the mail
`server 49 to communicate electronic messages With one or
`more portable computers 10 via logical connections, such as
`the modem connection described.
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, a ?rst bridge 30 is connected to the
`high speed bus 18. The ?rst bridge 30 connects to a second
`bridge 31, Which is part of the docking station 11, When the
`user “docks” the portable computer 10 into the docking
`station 11. In this manner, devices in the docking station 11
`become part of the portable computer 10 and capable of
`being controlled by the processor 12. Docking stations 11
`are Well knoWn to those skilled in the computer arts and
`typically provide a base station for a portable computer 10.
`Adocking station 11 often includes such devices as a poWer
`supply, expansion slots, a monitor, a keyboard connector,
`connectors for CD-ROM, ?oppy or hard drives, and a LAN
`or dial-up connection.
`Within the docking station 11, a second loW speed bus 32
`is connected to the high speed bus 18 by a second loW speed
`bus controller 33. Similar to the ?rst loW speed bus 26, the
`second loW speed bus 32 is generally of less or equal speed
`When compared to that of the high speed bus 18. In one
`embodiment the second loW speed bus 32 is preferably
`implemented as an ISA bus although other standardiZed bus
`architectures may be used. A netWork interface 34 is con
`nected to the second loW speed bus 32 in the docking station
`11. The netWork interface 34 is used for connecting to other
`computers via a local area netWork 56, such as the mail
`server 49. Those skilled in the art Will appreciate that other
`buses (not shoWn) may be present in the docking station 11
`and that the netWork interface 34 may be capable of com
`municating With the processor 12 over a higher speed bus
`(such as a PCI bus) rather than the second loW speed bus 32.
`HoWever, the illustrated buses (the high speed bus 18 and the
`second loW speed bus 32) are used exemplary embodiments
`to support the present invention.
`Those skilled in the art Will understand that softWare
`modules and data are provided to the portable computer 10
`
`Petitioners Old Republic Gen'l Insur. Group, et al., Ex. 1015, p. 10
`
`

`
`US 6,457,879 B1
`
`7
`via one of the memory storage devices or computer-readable
`media, Which may include the hard disk drive 20, ?oppy disk
`(not shoWn), CD-ROM 50, RAM 15, ROM 14, and digital
`tapes (not shoWn). In an exemplary embodiment, these
`softWare modules include an operating system 36, applica
`tion programs 40, and an e-mail client 42. It Will be
`appreciate that the e-mail client 42 may be implemented as
`a stand-alone softWare module or as a component of a
`DTIM, such as the “MICROSOFT OUTLOOK ’98” pro
`gram. In an exemplary embodiment, the hard disk drive 20
`may be used to store these softWare modules once they are
`installed from a CD-ROM 26. Software modules may also
`include ?les or data structures created during run-time
`operations of the computer system 5, such as the program
`data 43.
`Although the above description is directed to a portable
`computer With a docking station 11, those skilled in the art
`Will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to
`this implementation. Indeed, the present invention may be
`implemented to operate in cooperation With any computer
`that is capable of being connected to and disconnected from
`a server via a communications link. A computer can be
`placed in an offline state by various means including:
`undocking the computer (an “undock event”), physically
`disconnecting a LAN or dial-up connection, failure of the
`server, and a user’s command to cease communication.
`Similarly, a computer can be placed in an online state by
`various means including: docking the computer (a “dock
`event”), a once-failed server becoming available to the
`computer, and a user’s command to initiate communication.
`Because the present invention relates to a computer that is
`“remote” from a server, the terms “computer,” “remote
`computer,” “personal computer,” and “portable computer”
`are used interchangeably.
`BASIC ELECTRONIC MAIL OPERATION
`The operating system 36 provides the basic interface
`betWeen the computer’s resources, the user, and the program
`modules, such as the “MICROSOFT OUTLOOK ’98” pro
`gram. The operating system 36 provides a variety of func
`tions or services that alloW an application program 40 to
`easily deal With various types of input/output (I/O) by
`issuing relatively simple function calls. Generally described,
`an application program 40 communicates With the operating
`system 36 by calling prede?ned functions provided by the
`operating system 36. The operating system 36 responds by
`providing the requested information in a message or by
`executing the required task.
`In the context of the present invention, the primary
`interaction betWeen the e-mail client 42 and the operating
`system 36 involves e-mail messaging related tasks. FIG. 2
`depicts a block diagram of an exemplary structure of an
`e-mail messaging system that enables the e-mail client 42
`(FIG. 1) to interact With the operating system 36. An
`exemplary operating system 36 incorporates an application
`programming interface (API) 57 that permits electronic
`messaging applications, such as the “MICROSOFT OUT
`LOOK ’98” program, to interact With message service
`providers 58. Examples of APIs are the Messaging Appli
`cation Programming Interface (MAPI) and the Outlook
`Messaging Interface (OMI), both of Which are Well knoWn
`to those skilled in the computer arts.
`Th