International Business Machines Corporation

Robert T Gibbs

James P Gray

Guy Platel

Sebnem Jaji

Lawrence Edward Troan

Jeffrey G Knauth

James L Ashton

Michael F Gierlach

Stuart W Pretzman

An electronic mail (E-Mail) server system is disclosed that is used within a client/server network system. Typically, the network system includes at least one client connected to a server. The E-Mail server system comprises a mail server, a client mail server, located within the client, and a log manager. The mail server, which is located within the server of the client/server network system, provides a plurality of E-Mail functions accessible across the client/server network system. The client mail server access the mail server and invokes the mail server to copy selected ones of a plurality of the E-Mail functions in the client mail server to enable the client to perform E-Mail composing while in a disconnected state from the mail server. The log manager logs all E-Mail activity performed by the user on the client while in the disconnected state and then performs reconnection and resynchronization between the client and server for replaying the logged activity for execution by the mail server. Optimally, the client/server network system operates in an object oriented environment so that the local client/server instantiates selected ones of class functions of the plurality of E-Mail functions.

Client/server electronic mail system for providng off-line client

A method of operating a communication system which includes a number of host systems each communicating via sessions with other devices over different connections and in which the sessions assigned to a failed connection are suspended for a first and second time period and non-destructively moved to an alternate connection when a unique command is issued by one of the host systems and received by a control unit involved in the failed connection.

Non-disruptive session recovery

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Robert T Gibbs