Abstract: The present invention is directed to technology for managing the transfer of messages, such as e-mails, over a network. Messages can be transferred over the network through background delivery. A proxy server resides between an e-mail client and an e-mail server to receive outbound electronic messages sent by the e-mail client. The proxy server determines whether the outgoing electronic message should be scheduled for background delivery. If not, the proxy server forwards the electronic message to the e-mail server for traditional delivery. Otherwise, the proxy server prepares content associated with the electronic message for background delivery—creating and packaging one or more assets from the electronic message content. An example of such content is files attached to the electronic message. The e-mail proxy server notifies the intended e-mail recipient that the content is ready to be retrieved. The intended recipient issues a scheduling request calling for delivery of the content.

Abstract: An object oriented software environment permits, through declarative programming techniques, customization of functionality of an object. The object oriented software environment includes a plurality of objects, wherein each object contains at least one method. A user of the object oriented software environment submits one or more declarative statements to augment the functionality of a method on an object. In response, the object oriented software environment associates the declarative statements to the method identified on the object such that when the method on the object is called, the declarative statements, associated with the object, are executed in addition to the methods on the object. The declarative programming technique permits augmenting the functionality of a method on an object with “rules.” In addition, two or more methods may be associated together to generate an event that propagates from one method to another method.

Abstract: A uniform object model integrates objects defined by foreign type systems into a single integrated object oriented system. The type system for the integrated object oriented system supports a superset of features from foreign object systems. The uniform object model approach converts foreign objects into uniform object model objects defined by the integrated type system and layers onto the uniform object model objects additional members supported by the integrated type system. Adapters integrate foreign objects and data sources into the integrated object oriented system by implementing foreign objects as full fledged objects of the system. The foreign object adapters are bi-directional such that objects, registered in the system, are exposed to foreign object systems. During run time, clients obtain a connection to the data source adapter, which supports the target data source, to execute transactions in the target data source.