Abstract: A system and method for improved client and server communications, more particularly, an improved protocol that may be used for communication between a client and a server, such as in an email environment. Many features are provided for improved communications. An email server may provide the best message body available for an email message, may transfer an entire data object if requested property or properties are not well defined within the data object, may provide progress data for use in tracking download progress, and may send error information for a data object having an error. Email changes may be optimized at an email server component, even if the email changes occurred at another email server component. An email server may maintain a table of changes that occur to folders at an associated data store, and may notify a subscribed email client component of changes that occur in the table.

Abstract: Methods and systems allow an application capable of online communication to monitor the availability of different electronic communications sources and provide transition between online and offline operation and between different electronic communications sources. When a change occurs in connectivity source status, such as when the user disconnects from a wireline connection or goes offline or when a connection is otherwise lost due to mechanical failure or loss of wireline or wireless signal or when a reduction in bandwidth or connection speed is detected, the application is automatically transitioned between online and offline status and between different types of connectivity source without user action and without interruption of use of the application. If an online connection may not be obtained via TCP/IP connection, a determination is made as to whether the application and computer operating system are configured for RPC/HTTP connectivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing records stored at a first computer with records stored at a second computer. If properties of the first record have been modified, a determination is made as to whether all of the modified properties may be ignored. If all of the properties are not ignorable, a determination is made as to whether the values of all non-ignorable properties are identical between the first and second records. If the values are identical, the modifications to the properties of the first record are discarded. If the values are not identical, a determination is made as to whether the modified properties are decidable. If the properties are decidable, a value is selected from either the value stored in the first record or the second record, and utilized as the selected value of the modified property for the first and second records.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for a recipient to receive rights management (RM) protected content. The protected content is encrypted and decryptable according to a content key (KD), where (KD) is found in a corresponding license. In the method, the protected content is received while connectively coupled to a network through which the protected content may be obtained, and it is recognized that the received protected content is in fact protected content. In response to receiving the protected content and recognizing same, the license for the protected content is obtained from an RM server while still connectively coupled to the network and in an automatic manner. Thus, the license is available to the recipient even when such recipient is not connectively coupled to the RM server by way of the network at a later time. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the protected content is received within an email.

Abstract: A system and method for improved client and server communications, more particularly, an improved protocol that may be used for communication between a client and a server, such as in an email environment. Many features are provided for improved communications. An email server may provide the best message body available for an email message, may transfer an entire data object if requested property or properties are not well defined within the data object, may provide progress data for use in tracking download progress, and may send error information for a data object having an error. Email changes may be optimized at an email server component, even if the email changes occurred at another email server component. An email server may maintain a table of changes that occur to folders at an associated data store, and may notify a subscribed email client component of changes that occur in the table.

Abstract: Data transfers across a computer data connection are timed to measure the throughput of the connection. A counter in a computer system is updated to account for each measurement and the counter's value is checked to determine whether to allow the system's background tasks to operate.