Handling attachment content on a mobile device

• US 20060133340A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rybak, Rafal, Bylsma, Rodney, Liang, Kenneth J., Munje, Arun
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to download a selected attachment document that is associated with a message received on a mobile device. Attachment data corresponding to the selected attachment document can be downloaded according to at least one of a native application attachment content handling option and a client-server attachment content handling option.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a user of a mobile device to retrieve attachment data when a message having an indication of one or more associated attachment documents is received on the mobile device, the method comprising:

a) providing the user with a first option to select an attachment document from the one or more associated attachment documents;

b) providing the user with a second option to select an attachment content handling option for a selected attachment document, the attachment content handling option including a native application attachment content handling option and a client-server attachment content handling option;

c) generating an attachment content handling request including an indication of the selected attachment document and the selected attachment content handling option;

d) sending the attachment content handling request to a remote attachment service that generates the attachment data for the selected attachment document in accordance with the attachment content handling option; and

,

e) receiving the attachment data from the remote attachment service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing the user with a default setting option for the attachment content handling option.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes automatically selecting an alternate attachment content handling option when the default setting for the attachment content handling option is not available for the selected attachment document.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes providing the user with an additional default setting option to configure the default setting for the attachment content handling option based on at least one of:

a file type of the selected attachment document, and a file size of the selected attachment document.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (e) the method further includes loading a native application that corresponds to the selected attachment document to display the attachment data when the user selects the native attachment content handling option.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (e) the method further includes loading an attachment content viewer to display the attachment data when the user selects the client-server attachment content handling option.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at the remote attachment service, for the client-server attachment content handling option, the method further includes converting the selected attachment document to an optimized format if the selected attachment document is text-based.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein for the client-server attachment content handling option, the method further includes providing the user with a third option for selecting one of:

a retrieve table of contents option, and a retrieve section option.

9. A computer program product for allowing a user of a mobile device to retrieve attachment data when a message having an indication of one or more associated attachment documents is received on the mobile device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium embodying program code means executable by a processor of the mobile device for implementing the attachment content handling method as specified in claim 1.

10. A mobile communication device that allows a user of a mobile device to retrieve attachment data when a message having an indication of one or more associated attachment documents is received on the mobile device, the mobile communication device comprising:

a) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

b) a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being adapted for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

c) a message application that interfaces with the communication subsystem to send and receive messages, and to receive the attachment data from a remote attachment service; and

,

d) an attachment content handling module for providing the user with a first option to select an attachment document from the one or more associated attachment documents, providing the user with a second option to select an attachment content handling option for a selected attachment document, the attachment content handling option including a native application attachment content handling option and a client-server attachment content handling option, and wherein the attachment content handling module generates and sends an attachment content handling request to the remote attachment service for generating the attachment data, the attachment content handling request including an indication of the selected attachment document and the selected attachment content handling option.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the attachment content handling module provides the user with a third option to set a default setting for the attachment content handling option.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the attachment content handling module is adapted to automatically select an alternate attachment content handling option when the default setting is not available for the selected attachment document.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the attachment content handling module provides the user with a fourth option to configure the default setting based on at least one of:

a file type of the selected attachment document and a file size of the selected attachment document.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the device further includes an attachment content viewer for displaying the attachment data when the user selects the client-server attachment content handling option.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the device further includes a native application for displaying the attachment data when the user selects the native application attachment content handling option.

16. The mobile device of any one of claim 10, wherein for the client-server attachment content handling option, the attachment content handling module provides the user with a fifth option to select one of:

a retrieve table of contents option, and a retrieve section option.

17. A system for allowing a user of a mobile device to retrieve attachment data when a message having an indication of one or more associated attachment documents is received on the mobile device, wherein the system comprises:

a) a mobile device that receives the message, the mobile device including;

i) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile device;

ii) a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being adapted for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

iii) a message application that interfaces with the communication subsystem to send and receive messages, and to receive the attachment data from a remote attachment service; and

,

iv) an attachment content handling module for providing the user with a first option to select an attachment document from the one or more associated attachment documents, providing the user with a second option to select an attachment content handling option for a selected attachment document, the attachment content handling option including a native application attachment content handling option and a client-server attachment content handling option, and the attachment content handling module being adapted to generate and send an attachment content handling request to the remote attachment service for generating the attachment data, the attachment content handling request including an indication of the selected attachment document and the selected attachment content handling option; and

,

b) a remote attachment service wirelessly coupled to the mobile device for processing the attachment processing request and providing the attachment data to the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote attachment service converts the selected attachment document to an optimized format for the client-server attachment content handling option if the selected attachment document is text-based.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote attachment service is provided by an attachment server associated with one of:

a corporate enterprise, and a website.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the attachment content handling module provides the user with a third option to set a default setting for the attachment content handling option.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile device further includes an attachment content viewer for displaying the attachment data when the user selects the client-server attachment content handling option.