System and methodology for optimizing delivery of email attachments for disparate devices
First Claim
1. In an online messaging system supporting transmission of attachments, a method for automatically processing messages containing attachments, the method comprising:
- specifying a preference for formatting attachments that accompany messages;
receiving a particular message having a particular attachment;
removing the particular attachment from the particular message;
inserting a link into the particular message, said link capable of referencing the particular attachment that has been removed;
delivering the particular message to an intended recipient; and
in response to invocation of the link by the intended recipient, retrieving a copy of the particular attachment that is automatically formatted based on the specified preference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An e-mail system that re-packages message attachments optimized for delivery to wireless handheld devices is described. The preferred embodiment provides an optimization of the e-mail deliveries to allow for the recipients to receive e-mail attachments at a time and in a size/format as desired. The preferred embodiment compares the size of attached images to the capabilities of the type of the recipient client device, and preempts delivery of the original format of those attachments if they are determined to be burdensome or overwhelming. In cases wherein these attachments would strain the capabilities of the recipient devices'"'"' wireless bandwidth and/or display features, the original attachments are removed from the messages and do not accompany the e-mail delivery. Any detached attachment is saved in a network media-sharing repository, and can be subsequently accessed via a link (e.g., URL) referencing that storage address. Recipients can specify their wireless handheld device types, and opt to receive transformations of this type of attachment as a default substitute in subsequent e-mail deliveries. In cases wherein the recipient has previously used multiple types of client devices when receiving messages from the system, the present invention applies a transformation on the current attachment that corresponds to the least capable in the set of those multiple devices. Recipients may also elect to receive the URL for the network storage address of copies of either the original and/or transformed attachments.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. In an online messaging system supporting transmission of attachments, a method for automatically processing messages containing attachments, the method comprising:
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specifying a preference for formatting attachments that accompany messages;
receiving a particular message having a particular attachment;
removing the particular attachment from the particular message;
inserting a link into the particular message, said link capable of referencing the particular attachment that has been removed;
delivering the particular message to an intended recipient; and
in response to invocation of the link by the intended recipient, retrieving a copy of the particular attachment that is automatically formatted based on the specified preference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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26. In an online system, a method for providing digital images to target devices, the method comprising:
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receiving a message having one or more attached objects;
detaching said objects from said message;
automatically transforming copies of said objects to a resolution fidelity that is more useful to said target devices;
for each detached object, generating a reference allowing retrieval of a transformed copy of the detached object; and
delivering the message to the target devices, the message including said generated reference for each detached object.
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34. In an online system, a method for providing a particular target device with a digital image optimally formatted for that particular target device:
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specifying a device type for the particular target device;
based on the specified device type, determining device capabilities for the particular target device;
before delivery of digital images to the particular target device, automatically transforming said digital images to an optimal format for the particular target device; and
delivering said transformed digital images to the particular target device.
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46. An e-mail system for providing e-mail having attachments, the system comprising:
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an e-mail server for receiving a particular e-mail message having an attachment, the particular e-mail message being addressed to a recipient having a target device capable of receiving e-mail, the attachment including one or more objects;
an attachment processing module for replacing the attachment with at least one reference;
a transformation module for transforming the objects of the attachment to a desired format, based on capabilities of the target device; and
a retrieval module allowing retrieval of the transformed objects, in response to invocation of at least one reference.
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51. In an online messaging system supporting transmission of attachments, a method for automatically processing messages containing attachments, the method comprising:
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specifying a preference for formatting attachments that accompany messages;
receiving a particular message having a particular attachment;
removing the particular attachment from the particular message;
inserting a copy of the particular attachment that is automatically formatted based on the specified preference; and
delivering the particular message to an intended recipient.
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Specification