United States Patent [191
`Taylor et al.
`
`[54]
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: David R. P. Taylor. Stanford;
`Lawrence A. Lynch-Freshner. Boulder
`Creek; Eric W. McKinlay. Monte
`Vista; Stephen P. Pacheco. San
`Francisco; Dinesh K. Goyal. San Jose.
`all of Calif.
`
`A
`
`US005754306A
`
`i
`
`‘
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,754,306
`May 19,1998
`
`4,972,461 11/1990 Brown et a]. ........................... .. 379/67
`5,072,309 12/1991 Brown ................................... .. 358/403
`5,146,348
`9/1992 Kaneyama ............................ .. 358/407
`5,291,302
`3/1994 Gordon et a]. ........................ .. 358/400
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUWIENTS
`
`239647 A 2/1990 Japan ................................... .. 358/402
`
`[73]
`
`Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company. Palo Alto.
`Calif.
`
`Primary Examiner—-Thomas D. Lee
`Assistant Examiner—lerome Grant. [I
`
`[21]
`[22]
`
`Appl. N0.:
`523,565
`Sep. 5, 1995
`
`Filed:
`
`[63]
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of Ser. No. 77,402., Jun. 15. 1993, abandoned.
`
`1111. C16 ..................................................... .. H04N 1/00
`US. Cl. ........................ .. 358/400; 358/402; 358/407;
`358/442; 395/200.06-, 395/200.07
`Field of Search ................................... .. 358/400. 402.
`358/403. 405. 407. 442; 379/88. 89. 67.
`201. 142. 100; 395/153. 161. 200.06. 200.07.
`200.02. 200.04. 200.1. 200.11. 200.12
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PPH'ENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and a structure for providing electronic mail.
`facsimile transmission and ?le transfer maintain a data base
`in which the communication parameters of a local computer
`are maintained separately from the communication param
`eters of a remote computer which communicates the local
`computer. The data base includes an electronic address book
`in which a method and a structure are provided for speci
`fying person, group. computer. calling card and service data.
`The person type data includes speci?cation of a preference
`for data. or facsimile transmission. Service information are
`el?ciently added because of modularly designed application
`programming interface. A method and a structure are also
`provided to allow synchronization between ?les residing on
`different computers.
`
`4,790,003 12/1988 Kepley et a]. .......................... .. 379/88
`
`8 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets
`
`PHONE NUMBER FOR HOST COMPUTER
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`ADDRESS
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`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 27
`
`5,754,306
`
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`US. Patent
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 3 0f 27
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 27
`
`5,754,306
`
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 27
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`5,754,306
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`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 27
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`5,754,306
`
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`7
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 0f 27
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`5,754,306
`
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 27
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`5,754,306
`
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`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 of 27
`
`5,754,306
`
`902
`
`903
`
`Import Source;
`[csv
`Import Fields:
`Title
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`City
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`State
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`
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`10
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 27
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`5,754,306
`
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`C\oudyvil|e. CA 94044
`Work Phone: (408) 720-3000 Send message via EMail
`Home Phone: (408) 476-5555
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`Work Fax: (408) 720-3002
`Home Fax: (408)476-5551
`Comments
`
`L
`
`FIG. 11a
`
`11
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 11 of 27
`
`5,754,306
`
`Eric McCiapton
`Middle Manager
`Howling Pickers
`9999 Ark Street
`Cioudyviiie, CA 94044
`
`Send message via EMail
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`
`Work Phone: (408) 720-3000
`Home Phone: (408) 476-5555
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`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 12 0f 27
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`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 0f 27
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`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 14 0f 27
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`5,754,306
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`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 15 0f 27
`
`5,754,306
`
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`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 16 0f 27
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`U°S- Patent
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`May 19, 1993
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 20 of 27
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`5,754,306
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`x<m.E$.E2.5%.::eam:o_S0328,no
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`US- Patent
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 21 of 27
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`5,754 306
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`Name: unusns.nLs
`Size: 16345 bytes
`T‘
`109143234
`032:4/23/92
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`Elnrcmue
`[jmdden
`D"°"“ °'“9
`Elsgstem
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`Guest Privileges: Read only
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`This file is kept in sync with:
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`Man's Laptop
`C:\SnI.ES\ll!Il)GETS.HLS
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`This file is to be transfered to:
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`~.\
`2200
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 19, 1993
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`Sheet 22 of 27
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`5,754 306
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`Synchronized files on - Work PC
`C:\PFlOJECT\CU RRENT\
`*C:\DATA\BUDGET.XLS
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` File is synchronized with - Home PC
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`F :\BUSINESS\DOCS\URGENT
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`U°S- Patent
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`May 19, 1993
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`Sheet 23 of 27
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`5,754,306
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`System A
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`System B
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`Dial Number
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`\
`/ *
`Send Logon\ Begin Polling
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`Answer Call
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`Validate Logon
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`/Send System Time
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`Compare System Times
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`Synchronize System Times
`l
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`"
`-7
`250.
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`U‘S' Patent
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`1 May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 24 of 27
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`System A
`initial State
`L
` Actual Disk
`Snapihot of
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`
`
`Last
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`Last
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`Snapghot ot
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`Synch List
`from A
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`Synch List
`from B
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`System B
`initial State
`L
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`2401 a
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` Syncist
`Synist
`from B
`yr
`B Deltas ' 2454::
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`from A
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`Update Remote Detta
`and S nch List
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`Validate Access Rights
`(using Iocat and remote Snapshots)
`t
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 25 of 27
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`System B
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`2401b
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`Actual Disk
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`Successful
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`B
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`Synch List
`from B
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`2452a
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`2451a
`Synchronize synch lists
`from A to B
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`1
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`Filter Local and Remote Deltas
`according to the Sync List
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`Perform Synchin
`Transactions an
`Synchronize Flash
`Comonents
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`
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`May 19,1998
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`Sheet 26 of 27
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`System A
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`System B
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`Perform Only for Live
`Connect
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`Perform Manuauy
`Requested File
`Transfers
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`SList
`from B
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 27 of 27
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`System B
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`rom B
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`Synch List
`from A
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`Update Local and
`Remote Snashots
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`24503
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`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/077.402
`filed on Jun. 15. 1993. now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to the automation of elec-
`tronic communication systems; and in particular. relates to
`an integrated system for electronic mail. facsimile
`transmission. terminal emulation and file synchronization
`among distributed computers.
`2. Discussion of the Related Art
`
`In addition to the telephone. electronic mail and facsimile
`transmission (“fax") have become indispensable comrnuni-
`cation tools in the information age. File transfers between
`computers are also frequently invoked communication func-
`tions. File transfers traditionally occur when information is
`shared among ditferent computer users. More recently. as
`more users have multiple computers which are used. for
`example. at the work place. at home and during business
`travel. file transfers also occur when the same user maintains
`the same file in multiple machines. Further. portable com-
`puters have now made it possible for a computer user to send
`and receive electronic mail. a file or a fax at any time and
`anywhere. The frequency at which electronic mail. fax and
`file transfers occur has render manual management of each
`of these communication functions increasingly burdensome.
`Thus. an integrated system capable of both performing these
`communication tasks with minimal user intervention. and
`maintaining the necessary information for accomplishing
`each function is highly desired
`In the prior art. systems for generating and receiving
`electronic mail have at least two major weaknesses. First.
`these systems are incomplete. For example. facsimile trans-
`mission and electronic mail are not seen as satisfying the
`same communication need. but rather as two distinctly
`different applications. Consequently. the products available
`today typically address only one or two aspects of commu-
`nications. For example. the prior art provides a program for
`sending and receiving facsimile transmission. and a program
`for providing both facsimile transmission and terminal emu-
`lation. No product to date provides. under a single user
`interface. and in a uniform manner. the ability to send and
`receive fax. file transfer. terminal emulation. and electronic
`mail.
`
`The second weakness of prior art communication pro-
`grams results from the designers’ of such programs seeing
`communication as a function distinct from other functions
`carried out in the computer. and not as a supporting function
`to such other functions of the computer. For example. to
`send an electronic mail message today. the electronic mail
`application program would provide its own text processor
`for composing the message. This electronic mail application
`program may not necessarily be compatible with the other
`application programs the computer user uses. duplicates the
`functions performed by these other application programs.
`and demands both valuable memory space and screen “real
`estate.”
`
`Suitable management of communication data is also lack-
`ing in prior art communications products. For example.
`programs in the prior art do not automatically provide a
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`5 ,754.306
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`different dialing sequence when a normally local call
`becomes a long distance call. or requires an access prefix to
`a private telephone exchange (PBX). such as when the
`computer user is away from his usual
`location during
`business travel or at a different oflice. In these situations. the
`user of the prior art program is required to manually edit the
`configuration. or even individual telephone numbers. stored
`in the data base of these programs.
`Further. electronic address books of the prior art. such as
`those found in organizer programs. are generally suited only
`for maintaining databases designed for memorializing per-
`sonal and business contacts. These programs. however. are
`not designed for creating an electronic communication envi-
`ronment. Specifically. electronic address books sufier at
`least two major weaknesses.
`First. the type of information typically stored in such
`programs are insufficient for use in electronic communica-
`tions. In general.
`these address book programs are not
`designed to handle electronic mail addresses. and usually
`provide little support for maintaining multiple fax and voice
`phone numbers. For example. none of these programs allows
`the user to specify a given recipient’s preferred mode or
`method of receiving communication. e.g. facsimiles or elec-
`tronic mail. so that an automatic procedure which sends a
`mes sage to the recipient using the preferred mode or method
`of communication cannot be designed using databases of
`such programs.
`Second. address book programs are structured to store
`information about individuals. Such programs do not pro-
`vide support in maintaining information about other entities
`which may also be sources or destinations of communica-
`tion. These entities. which include groups of people. bulletin
`board services. mainframe computers and desktop personal
`computers. all have attributes of communication dilferent
`from such attributes of an individual. ‘Thus. an environment
`for supporting electronic communication involving these
`entities cannot be created within the framework of these
`programs. Other deficiencies of prior art address book
`programs also include the absence of a flexible way to
`specify a communication medium. or to support telephone
`calling card usage. often necessary when the computer user
`is a traveller.
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`As to file transfers. prior art remote file transfer utilities
`are deficient in several areas. Firstly. these programs lack
`“user-friendliness.” Typical prior art file transfer utilities are
`difficult to use. Often. to be able to properly set up these
`programs. the user is required to have detailed knowledge of
`data communications. such as the configuration of a modem.
`Further. these prior art file transfer programs do not support
`file management operations (e. g. marking a file for deletion.
`or updating a file when a new version of the file becomes
`available) when the communicating computers are not con-
`nected. These programs examine and operate on remote files
`only when the local and remote computers are connected.
`Thus. in these programs. file management operations are
`often manually performed in an interactive mode when the
`communicating computers are connected. Consequently. as
`such functions are often accomplished over along distance
`telephone connection. substantial expense can be incurred.
`Another deficiency in prior art file transfer utilities is the
`lack of support for file synchronization. The prior art file
`transfer utilities rest upon the human user the responsibility
`of remembering files or directories that need to be kept
`synchronized among the computers in which versions of
`these files or directories reside. While some products pro-
`vide some support for performing such synchronization
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`5,754,306
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`3
`manually. none of the prior art file transfer utilities supports
`persistent synchronization. i.e. automatic resynchronization
`of such files upon connection of the computers.
`Finally. to add a new communication service. prior art
`software products generally require a complete update of
`many or all system components. Installing a new service
`would therefore require substantial cost and significant
`disruption of service due to the technical complexity of
`configuring and testing these software products.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVEN'TION
`
`In accordance with the present invention. a method and a
`structure provide an electronic address book which allows
`infomiation to be efliciently sent to users of both electronic
`mail and facsimile transmission. In one embodiment of the
`
`present invention. a data base stores in a local computer
`information about a number of recipients. where each recipi-
`ent is represented by a record holding (i) a telephone number
`at which the recipient receives facsimile transmissions; (ii)
`an electronic mail address at which the recipient receives
`electronic mail messages; and (iii) data elements indicating
`whether the recipient prefers to receive the communication
`in the form of electronic messages. facsimile transmissions
`or both.
`
`In accordance with another aspects of the present
`invention. a structure and a method are provided to auto-
`matically generate correct dialing sequences. for use in
`sending electronic mail messages or facsimile, according to
`the physical location of the dialer. This aspect of the present
`invention is particular useful for users of portable computers
`who travels widely and frequently. In one embodiment. a
`data base stores a number of records each corresponding to
`a recipient of the information to sent by electronic messages
`or facsimile. each record specifying (i) the area or country
`code portion of said recipient’s telephone number. and (ii)
`the local portion of said recipient’s telephone number.
`Separate from the recipients‘ communication information.
`the data base stores connection information in a “Connection
`
`Manager” program. Such connection information includes
`(i) an access code to a long distance carrier. for use when the
`computer is in an out-of-state or out-of-the-country location
`and (ii) an access code to an outside line. for use when the
`computer is in a frequented location. such as the home base
`of the travelling user. Such access code to an outside line
`can-be zero or more digits long.
`to accommodate. for
`example. access to a PBX. The present invention thus
`provides an automatic method for assembling the correct
`dialing sequence based on the location of the computer as
`indicated by the user. In addition. the data base also includes
`authorization information about the user’s telephone credit
`card. which can also be automatically incorporated in the
`dialing sequence.
`In accordance with another aspect of the present
`invention. a convenient method is provided for integrating
`into a communication package an automatic interface to an
`electronic mail service provider. The convenient method
`allows integrating the electronic service provider in an
`incremental manner. i.e. other components of the software
`package are unatfected by the integration. Consequently.
`additional savice provider can be included without having
`to reinstall the other components of the communication
`package.
`In one embodiment. the interface provides a method for
`retrieving from the data base an address template specifying
`data fields of an electronic mail address suitable for use with
`
`the electronic mail service provider. A second method
`
`4
`receives (i) a distribution list specifying a number of recipi-
`ents; and (ii) a message to be sent as electronic mail by the
`mail service provider. This second method then. for each
`recipient in the distribution list. retrieves from the data base
`values of the relevant data fields and uses these values to
`
`compose. according to the format specified in an address
`template. an electronic mail address suitable for use with the
`mail service provider. The message and the composed
`electronic mail address are then combined to form a package
`of a format acceptable for processing by the electronic mail
`provider.
`In that embodiment. several methods are provided for
`receiving a package from the electronic mail provider. One
`method extracts the message from the package. another
`method extracts the distribution list. and a third method
`extracts any file attachments.
`In accordance with another aspect of the present
`invention. a system and a method are provided for file
`synchronization between a local computer system and a
`remote computer system. In one embodiment. a communi-
`cation link can be provided on demand between the local
`computer system and the remote computer system. In each
`computer system is kept a synchronization file which con-
`tains the list of files or directories to be synchronized. The
`synchronization file can be modified by each machine. even
`during a period of the time when no physical communication
`link exists between the local computer and the remote
`computer. In addition. each computer keeps a snapshot of its
`own file system and a snapshot of the other computer
`system's file system. These snapshots are taken when the
`local and remote computers are last physically connected.
`During the period when no physical connection‘ exists
`between the computers. each computer can continue to
`modify both its own files and directories. as well as files and
`directories of the other computer system. When modifica-
`tions are made to the other file system. while no physical
`communication link is in existence. the intended operations
`are queued. All changes to files or directories marked for
`synchronization. whether local or remote. are logged in each
`machine in the form of “delta files". which store information
`of the actual or intended changes. At the next physical
`connection of the computer systems. the remote computer
`system sends to the local computer system its delta files.
`which are then resolved in the local computer system against
`the local computer system’s delta files. The changes result-
`ing from resolving the delta files are the changes necessary.
`in each file system. to synchronize the files marked for
`synchronization in the synchronization file. Files are then
`exchanged to perform the synchronization. The resolved
`delta files are used to update both the snapshot files in the
`local computer system and the snapshot files in the remote
`computer system.
`The file synchronization features are particular useful for
`users who use multiple computer systems. such as a user
`who uses a personal computer on a local area network at her
`home oflice. and works with a note book computer during
`her business travels.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows is a model of communication among a
`number of computers.
`FIG. 2 shows an overall graphical interface of an inte-
`grated communication system (ICU) in accordance with the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram summarizing the interactions
`between the dynamically linked libraries (DLLs) corre-
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`sponding to Connection Manager. Address Cards. In Tray.
`Out Tray. Terminal Emulator. File Manager. Log and Service
`components of the ICU of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 shows the window of the Communication Address
`Book (CAB) in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 5 shows an example of a Group type address card
`500 of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 shows an example of a Computer type address card
`600 of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 shows an example of a Calling Card type address
`card 700 of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 shows an example of a Service Type address card
`800 of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 shows a dialog box 900 used for associating the
`fields of a file containing information to be imported with the
`corresponding fields in the CAB.
`FIG. 10 shows a dialog box 1000 for specifying the page
`format for printing address cards of the CAB.
`FIGS. 11a and 11b show respectively an address card
`being printed as a card image and in a list format.
`FIG. 12 shows the card order dialog box 1200 used to
`specify the order of address cards displayed in the card stack
`of the CAB. in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 13 shows a dialog box 1300 which is used to edit a
`tagged list associated with one of the “Voice” or “Fax” fields
`in a Person type address card.
`FIG. 14 shows a dialog box 1400 which is used to edit a
`tagged list associated with the “config" field in a Computer
`type address card.
`FIGS. 15a. 15b and 15c show respectively a dialog box
`1500. a dialog box 1550 and a dialog box 1580. which are
`used alternatively to edit a tagged list associated with the
`“Email” field in a Person type address card
`FIG. 16 shows a Service type address card 1901 providing
`service parameters to a service DLL 1902. to assemble a
`package from an envelope.
`FIG. 17 shows a dialog box 1900 of the Connect Manager
`component in an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 18 shows a dialog box 1950 of the Connect Manager
`component. which is invoked to receive input configuration
`information regarding the calling location. in accordance
`with the present invention.
`FIG. 19 summarizes the portions of a telephone number
`contributed by the Connection Manager component and the
`Communication Address Book (CAB) component to build a
`telephone number to be used to reach an addressee. in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 20A shows a window of the File manager displaying
`the file systems of two computers. in accordance with the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2013 shows the window of FIG. 21a. after sub-
`directories are selected in each of panels 2102a and 2102b.
`FIG. 21 shows a dialog box 2200 illustrative of the
`“Properties” item under the File Menu. in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 22 shows a dialog box 2300 showing the “Confirm”
`Menu under the “Options” Menu of the File Manager of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 23a-23e shows the events under control of the File
`Manager of the present
`invention during a connection
`between a local computer and a remote computer.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 is a model of communication among several
`computers. As shown in FIG. 1. computer systems
`
`6
`100a—100c are each a single-user computer system. Com-
`puter systems 100a. which can be a desktop computer either
`operating as a stand-alone machine. or as a node in a local
`area network. has access to a modem 102a which provides
`an interface to a telephone network 103. Telephone network
`103 provides access to other computers. such