EP2024856A2 - Traitement transparent de pièces jointes à un message électronique d'un utilisateur terminal pour surmonter des barrières de taille et de politique de pièces jointes - Google Patents

Traitement transparent de pièces jointes à un message électronique d'un utilisateur terminal pour surmonter des barrières de taille et de politique de pièces jointes

Info

Publication number
EP2024856A2
EP2024856A2 EP07794626A EP07794626A EP2024856A2 EP 2024856 A2 EP2024856 A2 EP 2024856A2 EP 07794626 A EP07794626 A EP 07794626A EP 07794626 A EP07794626 A EP 07794626A EP 2024856 A2 EP2024856 A2 EP 2024856A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
email
attachment
file
file attachment
attachments
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07794626A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2024856A4 (fr
Inventor
Adithya Gadwale
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TeleCommunication Systems Inc
Original Assignee
TeleCommunication Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TeleCommunication Systems Inc filed Critical TeleCommunication Systems Inc
Publication of EP2024856A2 publication Critical patent/EP2024856A2/fr
Publication of EP2024856A4 publication Critical patent/EP2024856A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/07—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail characterised by the inclusion of specific contents
    • H04L51/08—Annexed information, e.g. attachments
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/07—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail characterised by the inclusion of specific contents
    • H04L51/18—Commands or executable codes

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to information technology. More particularly, it relates to electronic marl (Email) and attachment management with respect to Email.
  • PCs personal computers
  • the ability to send and receive emails at any time is now possible, particularly with the use of a wireless phone device including an appropriate email application.
  • An email often includes one or more attachments.
  • An email attachment is a file sent along with an email message. If the attached file is encoded, transmitted, and decoded properly, the receiver of the email can open the file and view the document in its original form.
  • MIME the standard format of email messages, a file is attached to an email message by encoding both the original message and the file to be attached in a multipart message.
  • Fig. 4 shows a conventional method of attaching a file to an email, and routing of the email with attachment to a recipient via the Internet.
  • an email end user 402 drafts an email message to a recipient 408, and attaches a file to the email (e.g., a JPG image file, a WAV movie file, etc.)
  • a file e.g., a JPG image file, a WAV movie file, etc.
  • the addressed email with attachment is forwarded to an email server 404 associated with, e.g., the user's service provider.
  • the email server 404 determines the internet address of the intended recipient 408, and routes the email with attachment appropriately to the recipient's email server (which may be the same email server 404, or may be a different email server in an entirely different carrier's and provider's network.
  • Existing email technology limits the types and sizes of attachments to a given email message.
  • a user must learn other forms of file sharing, e.g., uploading the attachment manually to an FTP server or web based file sharing systems. To do such an upload, a user must typically zip or otherwise compress or break up their attachments into multiple emails and hope that the recipient mailbox does not become full.
  • Another conventional technique allows a user to register at a website based upload service, and upload any/all attachments to their account at that website based upload service.
  • existing websites and services such as X:Drive (http://www.xdrive.com) allow a user to log into the website based upload service, and upload one or more files to the upload service.
  • the upload service provides a link address that accesses the uploaded file(s).
  • the end user logs out of the upload service account, returns to their local email application, and drafts an email addressed to the recipient 408 including a textual link to that file to other users.
  • the user must manually type in the link, leading to possible error in transcription.
  • this conventional method requires active instruction from the user, and at least two separate functions to be performed by the user.
  • a method and apparatus for automatically removing an email file attachment comprises detecting a file attachment to an email.
  • the file attachment is removed from the email.
  • the removed file attachment is moved to a download server.
  • a link to the removed file is inserted into the email, and the email is routed to a recipient.
  • Fig. 1 shows an end email user transparent email attachment handling to overcome size and attachment policy barriers, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a method of automatic removal and hosting of email attachment(s) at an Internet website, with automatic insertion of a link thereto into the underlying email, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows another method of automatic hosting of email attachment(s) at an Internet website upon attachment by the sender, with automatic insertion of a link thereto into the underlying email, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 shows a conventional method of attaching a file to an email, and routing of the email with attachment to a recipient via the Internet.
  • Email server side or client side components either remove email attachments from the relevant email, or identify the attachment while the email is being composed and makes the attachment available from a secure website or file hosting site. The recipient then receives instructions in the email and links to access the attachments rather than the attachments themselves.
  • the present invention overcomes email attachments size limitations for the sender/recipient mail systems. The invention also overcomes file type limitations related to email attachments, provides improved attachment security, and reduces email bandwidth costs.
  • Fig. 1 shows an end email user transparent email attachment handling to overcome size and attachment policy barriers, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows the scanning of all emails at a relevant email server 104 that is sending the email with attachments for the end email user 102.
  • the user 102 sends an email attachment, addressed to a recipient 108 via the Internet 110.
  • the user's email server 104 receives the outgoing email with attachments), and automatically removes the attachment(s) from the email and adds an Internet link (or links) to the attachment (or attachments) hosted at an appropriate download server 106.
  • the automatic removal and replacement of attachments with links may be a user configurable parameter, or may be a carrier requirement for all users of the email server 104.
  • the email server 104 automatically uploads the removed attachment(s) to a hosting website download server 106.
  • the email server 104 transparently loads the attachment(s) to the download server 106.
  • the email server 104 eventually routes the email, sans the attachment(s), but with added Internet link address (or addresses), to the intended recipient 108.
  • the recipient 108 upon opening the received email that had the attachment(s) removed, clicks on the added link(s), and accesses
  • the recipient 108 retrieves the attachment (or attachments) from the download server 106 via the Internet 110 by clicking on the link in the email.
  • Fig. 2 shows a method of automatic removal and hosting of email attachment(s) at an Internet website, with automatic insertion of a link thereto into the underlying email, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • an email is received by the email server 104.
  • the email server removes any/all attachments to the received email.
  • the removal may be for all received emails, or it may optionally be based on optional criteria, such as file size, file type, etc. For instance, only files larger than 10 Mb may be automatically removed and hosted at the download server 106 for retrieval by the recipient 108.
  • file type option perhaps only image files such as JPG or MOV files will be removed as attachments, automatically moved to the download server 106, and provided to the recipient upon selection of the download link added to their received email.
  • step 204 removed attachment(s) are moved to the Internet website associated with the download server 106.
  • the email server 104 appends or adds an addressable hyperlink to the email, for use by the recipient 108.
  • This link may be password protected if desired by the particular application.
  • step 208 a description of how to access the file at the website associated with the download server 106, etc., may be added to the email by the email server 104.
  • step 210 the email is routed by the email server 104 to the recipient 108 via the Internet to the recipient's email server, for access by the recipient's email application.
  • exemplary optional criteria include file size, file type, etc.
  • the attachments are moved to a world accessible website from which the attachment may be downloaded by clicking on a link using either
  • HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • FTP any other secure or unencrypted file transfer protocol where the file transfer can be initiated by a remote client by simply clicking on a hyperlink.
  • FIG. 3 shows another method of automatic hosting of email attachment(s) at an Internet website upon attachment by the sender, with automatic insertion of a link thereto into the underlying email, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the email server 104 or other appropriate network application may monitor the end user's attachment function to emails, so that when the user browses to attach a file to an email, the selected attachment is not actually attached to the email but rather is uploaded to the download server 106 preferably automatically and invisibly to the user 102.
  • step 302 the email server 104 or other appropriate network application determines if a file has been selected for attachment to an email. Preferably step 302 becomes active when the user opens a COMPOSE or similar email drafting page, alerting the email server 104 or other appropriate network application of the increased likelihood of attachment of a file by the user 102.
  • step 304 the selected file for attachment to the download server 106 for access by the recipient 108 via the corresponding Internet website, and (if necessary), remove the attached copy from the email being composed by the user 102.
  • Steps 206, 208, and 210 in Fig. 3 are otherwise as shown and described with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 2. Accordingly, emails are all scanned as they are being composed, before they are submitted to the relevant server. Alternatively, a user's email application (e.g., MicrosoftTM OutlookTM) may alert an email server upon attachment of a file to an email being composed.
  • MicrosoftTM OutlookTM e.g., MicrosoftTM OutlookTM
  • composition as soon as an email attachment is selected, it is made available on a suitable website. Also, download link information is appended to the email being composed.
  • the present invention results in reduced email bandwidth costs since only users who want to retrieve the attachment will click on the link and cause the attachment to be transmitted.
  • the invention also results in improved security. For instance, detection of a virus in the attachment requires that only the single copy on the website need be removed, as recipient mailboxes will not contain the attachment.
  • sensitive attachments can include an expiration time, and thus "expire” and no longer be available for download after a certain period of time.
  • the hyperlink is coded so that it can only be accessed when clicked on by a recipient whose IP address matches the domain name to which the email was sent.
  • the hyperlink in the emails is setup so that the attachment can be downloaded only once, or only a predetermined minimal number of times, after which the link automatically expires without further user instruction.
  • the invention has particular applicability with all existing email users. It also has applicability with software products that include a feature to remove attachments from outgoing messages and allow recipients to download them separately.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Operations Research (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des composants côté client ou côté serveur de courrier électronique, lesquels soit enlèvent les pièces jointes d'un message électronique correspondant, soit identifient la pièce jointe lors de la composition du message électronique pour mettre la pièce jointe à disposition à partir d'un site Web sécurisé ou d'un site d'hébergement de fichiers sécurisé. Le destinataire reçoit alors des instructions dans le message et des liens pour accéder aux pièces jointes, mais pas les pièces elles-mêmes. Des limitations en termes de taille de pièce jointe à un courrier électronique sont ainsi surmontées pour les systèmes de courrier de l'expéditeur/du destinataire. Des limitations en termes de type de fichier pour des pièces jointes à un courrier électronique sont également surmontées, d'où une sécurité accrue pour les pièces jointes et des coûts réduits pour la largeur de bande de courrier électronique.
EP07794626A 2006-05-08 2007-05-08 Traitement transparent de pièces jointes à un message électronique d'un utilisateur terminal pour surmonter des barrières de taille et de politique de pièces jointes Withdrawn EP2024856A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79833206P 2006-05-08 2006-05-08
PCT/US2007/011029 WO2007133504A2 (fr) 2006-05-08 2007-05-08 Traitement transparent de pièces jointes à un message électronique d'un utilisateur terminal pour surmonter des barrières de taille et de politique de pièces jointes

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2024856A2 true EP2024856A2 (fr) 2009-02-18
EP2024856A4 EP2024856A4 (fr) 2012-05-02

Family

ID=38694407

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07794626A Withdrawn EP2024856A4 (fr) 2006-05-08 2007-05-08 Traitement transparent de pièces jointes à un message électronique d'un utilisateur terminal pour surmonter des barrières de taille et de politique de pièces jointes

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2024856A4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007133504A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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CN105847117A (zh) * 2016-03-29 2016-08-10 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 一种带有附件的邮件发送方法、装置及移动终端

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FR2950454B1 (fr) * 2009-09-23 2011-10-28 Calexium Procede pour transmettre un courriel avec piece jointe, et appareil mettant en oeuvre un tel procede.
US9165285B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2015-10-20 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Shared attachments
US10552799B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2020-02-04 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Upload of attachment and insertion of link into electronic messages
US9137185B2 (en) * 2011-04-28 2015-09-15 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Uploading attachment to shared location and replacing with a link
US11308449B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2022-04-19 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Storing metadata inside file to reference shared version of file
US8682989B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2014-03-25 Microsoft Corporation Making document changes by replying to electronic messages
US20120278407A1 (en) * 2011-04-28 2012-11-01 Microsoft Corporation Automatic uploading of attachments to a shared location
US10185932B2 (en) 2011-05-06 2019-01-22 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Setting permissions for links forwarded in electronic messages
US8965983B2 (en) 2011-05-06 2015-02-24 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Changes to documents are automatically summarized in electronic messages
FR2988945A1 (fr) * 2012-03-27 2013-10-04 France Telecom Procede et dispositif de transfert de fichier
US20150134751A1 (en) * 2013-11-13 2015-05-14 Microsoft Corporation Sharing a file via email
US9177174B1 (en) 2014-02-06 2015-11-03 Google Inc. Systems and methods for protecting sensitive data in communications
US10164920B2 (en) * 2014-05-30 2018-12-25 Apple Inc. Message attachment management
CN104089726A (zh) * 2014-06-27 2014-10-08 国家电网公司 一种电力设备地电压部位在线测温系统
US10749825B2 (en) * 2015-04-29 2020-08-18 International Business Machines Corporation Email cost analytics

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EP0869652A2 (fr) * 1997-04-01 1998-10-07 Tumbleweed Software Corporation Système de distribution de documents
WO2000067133A1 (fr) * 1999-04-30 2000-11-09 Thinmail, Inc. Systeme de stockage de pieces jointes dans un systeme de courrier en reseau et procede correspondant
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EP0869652A2 (fr) * 1997-04-01 1998-10-07 Tumbleweed Software Corporation Système de distribution de documents
WO2000067133A1 (fr) * 1999-04-30 2000-11-09 Thinmail, Inc. Systeme de stockage de pieces jointes dans un systeme de courrier en reseau et procede correspondant
EP1058199A2 (fr) * 1999-06-04 2000-12-06 International Business Machines Corporation Agent Internet pour la distribution de courriers électroniques avec une mise en mémoire cache des fichiers attachés
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105847117A (zh) * 2016-03-29 2016-08-10 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 一种带有附件的邮件发送方法、装置及移动终端

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2024856A4 (fr) 2012-05-02
WO2007133504A2 (fr) 2007-11-22
WO2007133504A3 (fr) 2008-09-25

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