Server-side MTMs

The server-side component of an MTM deals with the interaction between the internal data representation of message data, and the transport components (for example, the sockets layer, or ETel). When receiving a message, a Server-side MTM creates a new index entry, and stores the message data in the entry and associated message store and binary files. Similarly, when sending a message, a Server-side MTM retrieves the message data, and translates the data into a format appropriate for the protocol.

Server-side MTMs should provide the following capabilities:

• copy and move files to and/or from the local folders

• return the progress of the current operation

• interpret MTM-specific commands

Some Server-side MTMs may also have the ability to create, delete, and change messages and folders on remote servers. Sophisticated Server-side MTMs may be able to cache requested operations off-line for execution at a later time.

Different Server-side MTMs interpret generic commands in different ways. For example, a fax MTM would transmit a fax when asked to copy a fax message from a local folder to a fax service. By contrast, an IMAP4 MTM could create a copy of the Internet mail message on the remote server and update the index to show the copy of the message on the remote server.

MTM-specific commands allow actions not defined by the base class interface to be made available. For example: for fax, dial a fax back service; for POP3, connect to a remote server and download messages.