Method and apparatus for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage

An apparatus for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said apparatus comprising:

• storage means which contains,
• means for automatically generating a personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said set address entries obtained from at least one data source, and
• means for synchronizing said first set address entries and a second set of address entries equivalent by using the information in said change list generated by said change detection mechanism, said means for synchronizing producing the same synchronization results regardless of whether one both of said first and second sets of address entries are modified prior to synchronization, said means for synchronizing coupled to said means for generating;
• and
• means for running said means for automatically generating and said means for synchronizing, said means for running coupled to said storage means.

A system for scaling large electronic mail databases for devices with limited storage, said system comprising:

• a storage device which contains,
• mail subsetter configured to automatically generate a default personal address book containing a first set of address entries, said first set of address entries obtained from at least one data source, and
• a mail synchronizer configured to synchronize said first set of address entries with a second set of address entries;
• and
• a processor for running said mail subsetter and said mail synchronizer, said processor coupled to said storage device.