Communications system including protocol interface device for use with multiple operating protocols and related methods

Abstract

A communications system may include a plurality of data storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of operating protocols. The system may also include a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices for accessing the data storage devices, and each may use at least one of the plurality of operating protocols. Furthermore, the system may also include a protocol interface device including a front-end proxy module for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols, and a protocol engine module for communicating with the plurality of data storage devices using respective operating protocols. More particularly, the front-end proxy module and the protocol engine module may communicate using a common interface protocol able to represent a desired number of protocol-supported elements for a desired operating protocol.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A communications system comprising:
 a plurality of data storage devices each configured to use at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols;   a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices configured to access the data storage devices and each configured to use at least one of the plurality of different operating protocols; and   a protocol interface device comprising
 a front-end proxy configured to communicate with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols, and 
 a protocol engine configured to communicate with the plurality of data storage devices using respective operating protocols, 
 the front-end proxy and the protocol engine configured to communicate using a common interface protocol able to represent a desired number of protocol-supported elements for a desired operating protocol. 
   
     
     
         30 . The communications system of  claim 29  wherein the plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, and the protocol interface device are configured to process electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         31 . The communications system of  claim 29  wherein the common interface protocol is able to represent all protocol-supported elements for a most capable operating protocol. 
     
     
         32 . The communications system of  claim 31  wherein the most capable protocol comprises Outlook Web Access (OWA). 
     
     
         33 . The communications system of  claim 29  wherein the common interface protocol is based upon a Web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV) protocol. 
     
     
         34 . The communications system of  claim 29  wherein the mobile wireless communications devices are configured to send access requests; and wherein the data storage devices are configure to send data responsive to access requests. 
     
     
         35 . The communications system of  claim 34  wherein the access requests comprise at least one authentication request. 
     
     
         36 . The communications system of  claim 35  wherein the at least one authentication request comprises a user identifier and a user password. 
     
     
         37 . The communications system of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the data storage devices is configured for electronic mail (e-mail) messages; and wherein the at least one data storage device is configured to respond to the at least one authentication request with a root folder and target e-mailbox capabilities. 
     
     
         38 . The communications system of  claim 29  wherein the protocol interface device is configured to generate an error responsive to at least one non-supported operating protocol. 
     
     
         39 . The communications system of  claim 29  further comprising a wide area network (WAN) configured to connect at least one of the mobile wireless communications devices with the protocol interface device. 
     
     
         40 . The communications system of  claim 29  further comprising a wide area network (WAN) configured to connect at least one of the data storage devices with the protocol interface device. 
     
     
         41 . A protocol interface device for interfacing a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices with a plurality of data storage devices, the mobile wireless communications devices and data storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols, the protocol interface device comprising:
 a front-end proxy configured to communicate with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols; and   a protocol engine configured to communicate with the plurality of data storage devices using respective operating protocols;   the front-end proxy and the protocol engine configured to communicate using a common interface protocol able to represent a desired number of protocol-supported elements for a desired operating protocol.   
     
     
         42 . The protocol interface device of  claim 41  wherein the plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, the front-end proxy, and the protocol engine are configured to process electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         43 . The protocol interface device of  claim 41  wherein the common interface protocol is able to represent all protocol-supported elements for a most capable operating protocol. 
     
     
         44 . The protocol interface device of  claim 41  wherein the common interface protocol is based upon a Web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV) protocol. 
     
     
         45 . A method for interfacing a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices with a plurality of data storage devices, the mobile wireless communications devices and data storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols, the method comprising:
 operating a front-end proxy for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols;   operating a protocol engine for communicating with the plurality of data storage devices using respective operating protocols; and   causing the front-end proxy and the protocol engine to communicate using a common interface protocol able to represent a desired number of protocol-supported elements for a desired operating protocol.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, the front-end proxy, and the protocol engine process electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the common interface protocol is able to represent all protocol-supported elements for a most capable operating protocol. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the common interface protocol is based upon a Web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV) protocol.