System and method for processing message attachments

• US 20030208546A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: DeSalvo, Christopher Joseph, Kister, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method is described comprising: receiving an e-mail containing an original attachment at a data service, the e-mail addressed to a data processing device to which the data service is communicatively coupled, the data processing device having specified processing capabilities; converting the original attachment based on the specified processing capabilities to a format which the data processing device can process; receiving an e-mail response from the data processing device intended to include the original attachment; locating and reattaching the original attachment; and transmitting the e-mail message with the original attachment to its destination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an e-mail containing an original attachment at a data service, said e-mail addressed to a data processing device to which said data service is communicatively coupled, said data processing device having specified processing capabilities;

determining an original format of said original attachment;

converting said original attachment based on said specified processing capabilities to a format which said data processing device can process;

receiving an e-mail response from said data processing device intended to include said original attachment;

locating and reattaching said original attachment; and

transmitting said e-mail message with said original attachment to its destination.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein determining comprises:

searching in an attachment header of said e-mail to identify said original format.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein determining comprises:

analyzing said attachment'"'"'s file name to determine said original format.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein analyzing comprises identifying said file name'"'"'s extension, if any.

5. The method as in claim 4 wherein said file is a Microsoft Word document and extension is .doc.

6. The method as in claim 4 wherein said file is a JPEG image and extension is .jpg.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein determining comprises analyzing contents of data within the attachment.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein said original attachment is comprised of one or more encoded files and wherein converting comprises:

decoding said one or more encoded files to produce one or mode decoded files; and

converting said one or more decoded files based on said specified processing capabilities to a format which said data processing device can process if said data processing device cannot process said one or more decoded files.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein said attachment is an image file and wherein converting comprises converting said image file to a resolution and/or color depth which said data processing device can render.

10. The method as in claim 1 wherein said attachment is a word processing file and wherein converting comprises converting said word processing file to text which said data processing device can display.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein said attachment is a file containing specific text formatting and images and wherein converting comprises converting said specific text formatting and images into a format renderable by said data processing device and most closely resembling said specific text formatting and images.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein said data processing device is a wireless data processing device.

13. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

generating linking information linking said original attachment with said original attachment; and

locating said original attachment using said linking information responsive to receiving said e-mail response.

14. A system comprising:

an attachment analysis module to determine an original format of an original attachment in an e-mail addressed to a data processing device;

an attachment conversion module to convert said original attachment based on processing capabilities of said data processing device to a format which said data processing device can process if said data processing device cannot process said original format;

said attachment analysis module to further locate and reattach said original attachment in response to receiving an e-mail response from said data processing device intended to include said original attachment.

15. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment analysis module searches in an attachment header of said e-mail to identify said original format.

16. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment analysis module analyzes said attachment'"'"'s file name to determine said original format.

17. The system as in claim 16 wherein said analysis comprises identifying said file name'"'"'s extension, if any.

18. The system as in claim 17 wherein said file is a Microsoft Word document and extension is .doc.

19. The system as in claim 17 wherein said file is a JPEG image and extension is .jpg.

20. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment analysis module analyzes contents of data within said attachment to determine said original format.

21. The system as in claim 14 wherein said original attachment is comprised of one or more encoded files and wherein converting comprises:

decoding said one or more encoded files to produce one or mode decoded files; and

converting said one or more decoded files based on said specified processing capabilities to a format which said data processing device can process if said data processing device cannot process said one or more decoded files.

22. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment is an image file and wherein converting comprises converting said image file to a resolution and/or color depth which said data processing device can render.

23. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment is a word processing file and wherein converting comprises converting said word processing file to text which said data processing device can display.

24. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment is a file containing specific text formatting and images and wherein said attachment conversion module converts said specific text formatting and images into a format renderable by said data processing device, and most closely resembling said specific text formatting and images.

25. The system as in claim 14 wherein said data processing device is a wireless data processing device.

26. The system as in claim 14 wherein said attachment analysis module generates linking information linking said original attachment with said original attachment;

and locates said original attachment using said linking information responsive to receiving said e-mail response.

27. The system as in claim 26 wherein said linking information comprises a table containing a correspondence between converted attachment identification codes and original attachment identification codes.

28. A machine readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes said machine to perform the operations of:

determining an original format of said original attachment;

converting said original attachment based on said specified processing capabilities to a format which said data processing device can process;

receiving an e-mail response from said data processing device intended to include said original attachment;

locating and reattaching said original attachment; and

transmitting said e-mail message with said original attachment to its destination.

29. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein determining comprises:

searching in an attachment header of said e-mail to identify said original format.

30. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein determining comprises:

analyzing said attachment'"'"'s file name to determine said original format.

31. The machine readable medium as in claim 30 wherein analyzing comprises identifying said file name'"'"'s extension, if any.

32. The machine readable medium as in claim 31 wherein said file is a Microsoft Word document and extension is .doc.

33. The machine readable medium as in claim 31 wherein said file is a JPEG image and extension is .jpg.

34. The method as in claim 28 wherein determining comprises analyzing contents of data within the attachment.

35. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein said original attachment is comprised of one or more encoded files and wherein converting comprises:

decoding said one or more encoded files to produce one or mode decoded files; and

converting said one or more decoded files based on said specified processing capabilities to a format which said data processing device can process if said data processing device cannot process said one or more decoded files.

36. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein said attachment is an image file and wherein converting comprises converting said image file to a resolution and/or color depth which said data processing device can render.

37. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein said attachment is a word processing file and wherein converting comprises converting said word processing file to text which said data processing device can display.

38. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein said attachment is a file containing specific text formatting and images and wherein converting comprises converting said specific text formatting and images into a format renderable by said data processing device and most closely resembling said specific text formatting and images.

39. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 wherein said data processing device is a wireless data processing device.

40. The machine readable medium as in claim 28 comprising additional program code to cause said machine to perform the operations of:

generating linking information linking said original attachment with said original attachment; and

locating said original attachment using said linking information responsive to receiving said e-mail response.