Methods And Apparatus For Efficiently Managing The Storage Of E-Mail Message Information For A Mobile Station

Abstract

A mobile device stores message information for a plurality of messages in memory. Each message includes at least one correspondent address and conversation text with the at least one correspondent address, as well as metadata comprising an identifier for uniquely identifying the message at a server. When a size of the message information has reached a first predetermined limit, the mobile device deletes at least portions of the conversation text of some of the messages while retaining storage of the correspondent addresses and the metadata thereof. When the size of the message information has reached a second predetermined limit which is greater than the first predetermined limit, the mobile device deletes the correspondent addresses and the metadata associated with the messages having the deleted conversation texts.

1 . A method for use in managing the storage of message information in a mobile communication device, the mobile device being configured to store message information associated with a plurality of messages, each message including at least one correspondent address and conversation text with the at least one correspondent address, each message further including metadata comprising an identifier for uniquely identifying the message at a server, the method comprising:
 when a site of the message information has reached a first predetermined limit, deleting at least portions of the conversation text of some of the messages while retaining storage of the correspondent addresses and the metadata thereof; and   when the size of the message information has reached a second predetermined limit which is greater than the first predetermined limit, deleting the correspondent addresses and the metadata associated with the messages having the deleted conversation texts.   
     
     
         2 . The method of claim herein the messages comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of deleting at least portions of the conversation text of some of the messages comprises the further act of deleting the conversation text in its entirety. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining storage of the messages with the conversation text a server   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identifying a user selection of the message through a user interface;   requesting and receiving, via the wireless network, conversation text of the message from the server based on identifying the user selection of the message; and   causing the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identifying a user selection of the message through a user interface;   causing an indication for retrieving the conversation text to be visually displayed in response to identifying the user selection of the message;   identifying a user selection of the indication for retrieving the conversation text;   requesting and receiving, via the wireless network, the conversation text of the message from the server in response to identifying the user selection of the indication; and   causing the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identifying a user selection of the message through a user interface;   requesting and receiving, via the wireless network, conversation text of the message from the server based on identifying the user selection of the message;   causing the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server;   setting an indication for refraining from further deletion of the conversation text for the message having the conversation text received from the server;   identifying again whether a size of the message has reached the predetermined limit of the memory; and   refraining from deleting any portion of the conversation text for the message having the indication after identifying again that the size of the messages has reached the first predetermined limit of the memory.   
     
     
         8 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device which is configured to store message information associated with a plurality of messages, each message including at least one correspondent address and conversation text with the at least one correspondent address, each message further including metadata comprising an identifier for uniquely identifying the message at a server, the computer instructions being further executable by the one or more processors for:
 when a size of the message information has reached a first predetermined limit, deleting at least portions of the conversation text of some of the messages while retaining storage of the correspondent addresses and the metadata thereof; and   when the size of the message information has reached a second predetermined limit which is greater than the first predetermined limit, deleting the correspondent addresses and the metadata associated with the messages having the deleted conversation texts.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the message comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein deleting at least portions of the conversation text comprises deleting the conversation text in its entirety. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for;
 maintaining storage of the messages with the conversation text at the server.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:
 causing a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identifying a user selection of the message through a user interface;   requesting and receiving, via the wireless network, conversation text of the message from the server based on identifying the user selection of the message; and   causing the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:
 causing a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identifying a user selection of the message through a user interface;   causing an indication for retrieving the conversation text to be visually displayed in response to identifying the user selection of the message;   identifying a user selection of the indication for retrieving the conversation text;   requesting and receiving, via the wireless network, the conversation text of the message from the server in response to identifying the user selection of the indication; and   causing the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server,   
     
     
         14 . A mobile communication device operative in a wireless communication network, the mobile device being configured to store message information associated with a plurality of messages, each message including at least one correspondent address and conversation text with the at least one correspondent address, each message further including metadata comprising an identifier for uniquely identifying the message at a server, the mobile device comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory coupled to the one or more processors;   a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors and operative for communications via the wireless communication network;   a user interface coupled to the one or more processors;   the user interface including a visual display for displaying the message information;   the one or more processors being configured to:
 when a size of the message information has reached a first predetermined limit, delete at least portions of the conversation text of some of the messages while retaining storage of the correspondent addresses and the metadata thereof; and 
 when the size of the message information has reached a second predetermined limit which is greater than the first predetermined limit, delete the correspondent addresses and the metadata associated with the messages having the deleted conversation texts. 
   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the messages comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein deleting at least portions of the conversation text comprises deleting the conversation text in its entirety. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 cause a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identify a user selection of the message through a user interface;   request and receive, via the wireless transceiver, conversation text of the message from the server based on identifying the user selection of the message; and   cause the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 cause a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identify a user selection of the message through a user interface;   cause an indication for retrieving the conversation text to be visually displayed in response to identifying the user selection of the message;   identify a user selection of the indication for retrieving the conversation text,   request and receive, via the wireless transceiver, the conversation text of the message from the server in response to identifying the user selection of the indication; and   cause the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors e further configured to:
 cause a correspondent address of a message having deleted conversation text to be visually displayed in a list;   identify a user selection of the message through a user interface;   request and receive, via the wireless transceiver, conversation text of the message from the server based on identifying the user selection of the message;   cause the conversation text of the message to be visually displayed after receiving the conversation text from the server;   set an indication for refraining from further deletion of the conversation text for the message having the conversation text received from the server;   identify again whether a size of the messages has reached the first predetermined limit of the memory; and   refrain from deleting any portion of the conversation text for the message having the indication after identifying again that the size of the messages has reached the first predetermined limit of the memory.   
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , which comprises a cellular telephony device operative in a cellular telecommunications network.