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AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorsMonty Boyer, Joseph Sipher
Estimating the term…
A fully integrated email system for a desktop computer with an associated palmtop computer is disclosed. The portable computer has an email client for viewing incoming email messages and composing outgoing email messages. The personal computer has an email synchronization conduit that synchronizes email on the portable computer email client with email for the desktop computer system. The email synchronization conduit ensures that the email state on the portable computer system matches the email state on the desktop personal computer system exactly. Thus, if an email message is deleted on the portable computer system then that email message will be deleted from the desktop personal computer system. Similarly, if an email message is deleted on the desktop personal computer system then that email message will be deleted from the portable computer system.
A computer implemented method of synchronizing email between multiple computers, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Office automation; Time management: computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols
File or database maintenance: coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial
Term ended 29 Jan 2017 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present invention relates to the field of portable computers systems. Specifically, the present invention discloses a systems for synchronizing an email client on a portable computer system with an email client on a desktop computer system.
Personal computer systems have become common tools in modern society. One of the most important uses for personal computers is electronic mail (email). Personal computer users use email to send notes and computer files to other computer users.
Many personal computer users also use small portable palmtop computer systems such that the personal computer user can carry important personal information. To store the important personal information, palmtop computer systems usually provide Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as an address book, a daily organizer, and a To-Do list applications.
The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with references to the following drawings.
FIG. 1a illustrates a portable computer system and a personal computer system equipped with a cradle for synchronizing with the portable computer system.
FIG. 1b illustrates a block diagram that depicts the software architecture for synchronizing information on the portable computer system with information on a desktop personal computer system.
Methods and apparatus for implementing a palmtop computer system that is well integrated with a personal computer system is disclosed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the present invention.
FIG. 1a illustrates a portable computer system 130 that communicates and synchronizes information with a personal computer system 110. To synchronize the information in the two computer systems, a user places the portable computer system 130 into the cradle 120 and presses synchronization button 125. The synchronization button 125 activates a synchronization program on the portable computer system 130. The synchronization program on the portable computer system 130 communicates with a peer synchronization program on the personal computer system 110. The two synchronization programs synchronize the information on the two computer systems.
FIG. 1b illustrates a block diagram of the software components that perform the synchronization of the two computer systems. In FIG. 1b, the portable computer 160 has two different programs, program A and program B, that execute on the portable computer 160. Program A and program B use a common database 163 to store their data.