Remote file management

• US 20050192966A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hilbert, David M., Trevor, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An access server allows secure access to commonly used files stored on multiple file sources from a variety of client devices. The access server extracts a list of file sources associated with the user, and accesses each of those sources. The server is then configured to extract a list of most recently used files by the current user as well as information associated with those files. The access server also processes electronic mail attachments. The access server intercepts electronic mail messages containing attachments, and transmits the attachments to a file server.

Claims

1. A method for managing access to files from a remote client device, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier;

determining a remote file source associated with the identifier;

generating a list of at least one recently used file associated with the file source and the identifier; and

presenting an interface enabling access to the list of at least one recently used file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the interface for the viewing capacity of the client device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the client device is a laptop computer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the client device is a personal data assistant.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises receiving a list of at least one recently accessed file on the file source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises:

reading a time of last access for files stored on the file source; and

selecting a file according to its time of last access.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises:

determining an application available to the user; and

receiving from the file source a list of at least one file associated with the application.

9. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, and including computer executable instructions for controlling a processor to manage access to remote files, the instructions comprising:

receiving an identifier;

determining a remote file source associated with the identifier;

generating a list of at least one recently used file associated with the file source and the identifier; and

presenting an interface enabling access to the list of at least one recently used file.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the instructions further comprise configuring the interface for the viewing capacity of a client device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the client device is a laptop computer.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the client device is a personal data assistant.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the client device is a cellular telephone.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises receiving a list of at least one recently accessed file on the file source.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises:

reading a time of last access for files stored on the file source; and

selecting a file according to its time of last access.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein generating the list of at least one recently accessed file comprises:

determining an application available to the user; and

receiving from the file source a list of at least one file associated with the application.

17. A method for transmitting electronic mail messages, the method comprising:

generating an electronic mail message interface;

configuring the electronic mail message interface for a remote client;

accepting a message including a file location from the remote client;

moving a file from the file location to a shared location; and

inserting in the message a hyperlink associated with the shared location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein inserting the hyperlink in the message comprises inserting a hyperlink which is difficult to reproduce.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote client is a laptop computer.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote client is a personal data assistant.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote client is a cellular phone.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the message to a remote recipient.

23. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, and including computer executable instructions for controlling a processor to transmit electronic mail messages, the instructions comprising:

generating an electronic mail message interface;

configuring the electronic mail message interface for a remote client;

accepting a message from the remote client, the message including a file location for a file; and

inserting in the message a hyperlink associated with the file.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the instructions for inserting the hyperlink in the message comprise instructions for inserting a hyperlink which is difficult to reproduce.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

copying the file to a remote location;

wherein the hyperlink is associated with the remote location.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the remote client is a personal data assistant.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the remote client is a cellular phone.

28. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the hyperlink is associated with the file location.

29. A system for managing access to remote files, the system comprising:

a client interface configured to;

configure an interface for a remote client; and

receive an identifier from the remote client; and

a file selection generator configured to;

contact at least one file source associated with the identifier; and

generate a list of at least one recently accessed file from the file source.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the remote client is a laptop computer.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the remote client is a personal data assistant.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the remote client is a cellular phone.

33. The system of claim 29, further comprising a message parser configured to:

accept an electronic mail message, the electronic mail message including a file attachment;

determine whether to remove the file attachment;

in response to a positive determination, store the file attachment in an attachment location; and

insert a hyperlink associated with the attachment location;

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising an attachment reference module configured to generate a link associated with the attachment location.

35. A method for managing access to files from a remote client, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier;

determining a list of shared files associated with the identifier;

determining a list of files on a file source associated with the identifier;

generating a unified list of files from the list of shared files and the list of files on the file source; and

presenting an interface enabling access to the unified list from a remote client.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the remote client is a personal data assistant.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the remote client is a data enabled cell phone.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the remote client is a laptop computer.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the remote client is a whiteboard device.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

accepting a selection of a file from the unified list; and

routing the file to a connected service.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the service is a print service configured to print the file at a remote printer.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the service is a fax service configured to fax the file-to a remote recipient.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the interface is configured to accept requests from the remote client configured for a multifunction device portal and the service is a service provided by the multifunction device.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

accepting a request to share an original version of the file on the unified list; and

accepting credentials configured to enable retrieval of the file from the file source;

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

transmitting an email message to the remote user storing a reference to the file.

46. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

accepting a change to a shared file in the unified list; and

notifying an owner of the shared file that the shared file has been changed.

47. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, and including computer executable instructions for controlling a processor to manage access to remote files, the instructions comprising:

receiving an identifier;

generating a list of recent files associated with the identifier, the list generated from multiple locations storing files;

presenting an interface enabling access to the list of recent files from a remote client; and

accepting an action request for a file in the list.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the multiple locations include a file source belonging to a remote user and the list of recent files includes a file on the file source belonging to the remote user.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the action request comprises a request to share a copy of the file with a remote user.

50. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the action request comprises a request to fax the file to a remote user.

51. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the action request comprises a request to share an original version of the file with a remote user.

52. The computer program product of claim 47, further comprising:

accepting a file generated by a multifunction device; and

adding the file generated by the multifunction device to the list of recent files.

53. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the action request comprises printing the file on a remote printer.

54. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the action request comprises emailing a message containing a reference to the file.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the reference is configured to enable a remote user to access a copy of the file.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the reference is configured to enable a remote user to access an original version of the file.

57. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the remote client is a personal data assistant.

58. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the remote client is a laptop computer.

59. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the remote client is a data enabled cell phone.

60. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the remote client is a multifunction device.

61. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, and including computer executable instructions for controlling a processor to transmit electronic mail messages, the instructions comprising:

generating an electronic mail message interface;

configuring the electronic mail message interface for a remote client;

accepting a message from the remote client, the message including a file location for a file; and

inserting in the message a data file attachment, the data file attachment configured to provide information for accessing the file.

62. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, and including computer executable instructions for controlling a processor to transmit electronic mail messages, the instructions comprising:

generating an electronic mail message interface;

configuring the electronic mail message interface for a remote client;

accepting a message from the remote client, the message including a file location for a file; and

inserting in the message an executable, the executable configured to enable access to the file.