Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method to extract metadata of MIME attachments or other distinguishable MIME parts of MIME emails into virtual emails. The virtual emails do not contain the full MIME attachment data but instead include some or all header fields of the parent email which contains the MIME attachment and a link to the MIME part of the MIME attachment in this email. The virtual emails may be stored in a separate namespace, or a folder which may be hidden from some IMAP clients, on an IMAP server. The virtual emails may be indexed by the IMAP server like any other email. Virtual emails may be created when new emails arrive on the IMAP server and synchronized automatically, e.g., when the parent email changes. As such, standard IMAP commands like FETCH, SEARCH, SORT, THREAD, etc. may be used for virtual emails.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method to inject ad-hoc IMAP objects into results of IMAP commands. These IMAP objects may appear in the inbox or in any other IMAP user folder of a user on any IMAP capable device, and may feel like an Email to the user, although the IMAP objects were never sent over an SMTP server or protocol. Information that is stored in these IMAP objects can include advertising, promotions, service alerts or any other content. When a MAIL client requests a list of emails for an IMAP user folder from the IMAP server, the IMAP server will ad-hoc inject IMAP objects into the result list. The rules that define which objects are to be injected and in which schedule and to which target persons and the position of them in the result list may depend on object- and/or user-profiles and other targeting parameters.