Abstract: A system for managing the download of e-mail messages is disclosed. The system has an e-mail host holding e-mail messages for download to a recipient's e-mail client. Prior to downloading the messages, the e-mail client uses a message manager to evaluate the characteristics of the communication connection between the e-mail client and it's e-mail host server. Also, the evaluation of the communication connection may be continued while the download is proceeding. Responsive to the evaluation, a message rule is defined or selected according to the characteristics of the communication connection. The selected message rule is applied for downloading the e-mail messages. More particularly, the message rule selects messages for download, formats those messages, and provides for download limitations. The appropriately selected, formatted, and limited e-mail messages are then transmitted to the e-mail client.

Abstract: A system for managing the download of e-mail messages is disclosed. The system has an e-mail host holding e-mail messages for download to a recipient's e-mail client. Prior to downloading the messages, the e-mail client uses a message manager to evaluate the characteristics of the communication connection between the e-mail client and it's e-mail host server. Also, the evaluation of the communication connection may be continued while the download is proceeding. Responsive to the evaluation, a message rule is defined or selected according to the characteristics of the communication connection. The selected message rule is applied for downloading the e-mail messages. More particularly, the message rule selects messages for download, formats those messages, and provides for download limitations. The appropriately selected, formatted, and limited e-mail messages are then transmitted to the e-mail client.