[54] ELECTRONIC MAIL OBJECT
SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN A
DESKTOP COMPUTER AND MOBILE
DEVICE
[75] Inventors: Bryce Ulrich, Kirkland; Anthony
Discolo; Salim Alam, both of
Redmond, all of Wash.
[73] Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.
[21] Appl. No.: 09/058,613 [22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1998
Related U.S. Application Data
[60] Provisional application No. 60/063,164, Oct. 24, 1997, and provisional application No. 60/064,986, Nov. 7, 1997.
[51] Int. C I. G06F 13/42
[52] U.S. CI 709/236; 709/224; 709/237
[58] Field of Search 709/203, 206,
709/207, 102, 505, 236, 237; 345/335
[56] References Cited
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Primary Examiner—Zarni Maung
Assistant Examiner—Khanh Quang Dinh
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Joseph R. Kelly; Westman,
Champlin & Kelly PA.
[57] ABSTRACT
A desktop computer and a mobile device both contain personal information management systems, such as electronic mail applications. Objects maintained by the electronic mail applications are synchronized between the desktop computer and the mobile device such that attachments to electronic mail messages are receivable by the mobile device. The present invention also allows the user of the mobile device to dynamically retrieve individual electronic mail message attachments on a per message basis. Further, filtering techniques can be implemented such that, during synchronization, only predetermined attachments are automatically provided to the electronic mail message object store on the mobile device.
22 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
