System and method for selecting and managing files

• US 20060265458A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hartley, Scott, Ginsburg, Suzanne, Aldrich, William C., Stoddard, Jeffrey C.
• Application Number:
  US11/202,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

According to various aspects and examples described herein, systems and methods for selecting files for transfer via email are provided. In one example, a file selection interface is provided for selecting a file for transfer (e.g., embedding or attaching to an email) within a webmail environment. The file selection interface includes logic for displaying local files stored with a computer and remote files associated with a remote source, wherein the local files and remote files may be selected for transfer with an email message, and logic for initiating a process for embedding or attaching a selected file from the displayed local and remote files to the email message. The remote sources may include servers, such as online photo storage accounts, as well as files accessible through an internet search of at least one online sources.

Claims

1. A file selection interface for selecting a file for transfer within an email environment, the file selection interface comprising logic for:

displaying local files associated with a local source and remote files associated with a remote source;

enabling selection of at least one file of the displayed local files and remote files for transfer with an email message; and

initiating a process for transferring the at least one selected file with the email message.

2. The file selection interface of claim 1, further comprising logic operable to display the local files and remote files within a single graphical user interface.

3. The file selection interface of claim 1, wherein the file selection interface is displayed within a webmail environment.

4. The file selection interface of claim 1, wherein the remote source includes an online storage account.

5. The file selection interface of claim 1, furthering comprising logic for placing the at least one selected file into a queue of selected files.

6. The file selection interface of claim 1, wherein the local files and remote files are image files, and the file selection interface further comprises logic for initiating a process of embedding the selected file into a body of the email message.

7. The file selection interface of claim 6, wherein the at least one selected file is stored on a server, and wherein the embedding comprises inserting a reference link into the body of the email message to access the at least one selected file from the server.

8. The file selection interface of claim 1, further comprising logic for initiating a search of at least one online sources to display a list of online files, wherein files from the list of online files may be selected for transfer with an email message.

9. A method for selecting files for transfer with an email message, the method including:

displaying local files associated with a local source and remote files associated with a remote source within a file selection interface;

selecting at least one of the local files and remote files for transfer with an email message; and

initiating a process for transferring the at least one selected file from the displayed local files and remote files with the email message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the local files and remote files are displayed within a single interface.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the file selection interface is displayed within a webmail environment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote source includes an online storage account.

13. The method of claim 9, furthering comprising placing the at least one selected file into a queue of selected files of the file selection interface.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the local files and remote files are image files, and further comprising initiating a process of embedding the at least one selected file into a body of the email message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one selected file is stored on a server, and wherein the embedding comprises inserting a reference link into the body of the email message to access the at least one selected file from the server.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating a search of at least one online source to display a list of online files, wherein files from the list of online files may be selected for transfer with the email message.

17. A computer readable medium encoded with computer readable program code, the computer readable medium comprising:

program code for displaying a file selection interface, the file selection interface displaying local files associated with a local source and remote files associated with a remote source;

program code for enabling a selection of at least one file of the local files and remote files for transfer with an email message; and

program code for initiating a transfer of the at least one file selected for transfer with the email message.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code operable to display the file selection interface within a browser application.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code operable to display the local files and remote files within a single interface.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code operable to display the file selection interface within a webmail environment.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the remote source includes an online storage account.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17, furthering comprising program code for placing the selected file into a selected file queue of the file selection interface.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the local files and remote files are image files, and the computer readable medium further comprises program code for initiating a process of embedding the selected file into a body of the email message.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the selected file is stored on a server, and wherein the embedding comprises inserting a reference link into the body of the email message to access the selected file from the server.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising program code for initiating a search of at least one online source to display a list of online files, wherein files from the list of the at least one online source may be selected for transfer with an email message.