System, computer program product and method of keeping track of a detached e-mail attachment

• US 20070022166A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Polozoff, Alexandre, Bhogal, Kulvir, Kang, Kwang
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,371 B2
• 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

A system, computer program product and method of keeping track of an attachment that has been detached from an e-mail message are provided. Generally, a table on which an attachment that has been detached from an e-mail message is cross-referenced to its storage location is used. Further, a link is inserted into the e-mail message to facilitate access to the detached attachment. If the attachment is ever moved from its storage location to a new storage location, the cross-referencing table is updated to reflect the new storage location. The link is also updated to facilitate access to the attachment at the new storage location.

Claims

1. A method of keeping track of an attachment to an e-mail message, the attachment having a name and having been stored at an original storage location on a system, the e-mail message having a link inserted therein to the original storage location, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the attachment is moved from the original storage location to a new storage location; and

updating the link in the e-mail message to facilitate access of the attachment at the new storage location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a reference table in which the name of the attachment and the original storage location are cross-referenced to each other is used, the original storage location being changed to the new storage location when the attachment is moved to the new storage location.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reference table is further used to cross-reference the name and the storage location of the attachment to the e-mail message by inserting a name for the e-mail message in the table, the name of the attachment being enabled to provide access to the attachment and the name for the e-mail message being enabled to provide access to the e-mail message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is deleted, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is placed in a trash bin, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein if the name of the attachment is changed, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is modified, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

8. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for keeping track of an attachment to an e-mail message, the attachment having a name and having been stored at an original storage location on a system, the e-mail message having a link inserted therein to the original storage location, the computer program product comprising:

code data for determining whether the attachment is moved from the original storage location to a new storage location; and

code data for updating the link in the e-mail message to facilitate access of the attachment at the new storage location.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein a reference table in which the name of the attachment and the original storage location are cross-referenced to each other is used, the original storage location being changed to the new storage location when the attachment is moved to the new storage location.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the reference table is further used to cross-reference the name and the storage location of the attachment to the e-mail message by inserting a name for the e-mail message in the table, the name of the attachment being enabled to provide access to the attachment and the name for the e-mail message being enabled to provide access to the e-mail message.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is deleted, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is placed in a trash bin, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein if the name of the attachment is changed, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is modified, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

15. A system for keeping track of an attachment to an e-mail message, the attachment having a name and having been stored at an original storage location on the system, the e-mail message having a link inserted therein to the original storage location, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing code data; and

at least one processor for processing the code data to determine whether the attachment is moved from the original storage location to a new storage location, and to update the link in the e-mail message to facilitate access of the attachment at the new storage location.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a reference table in which the name of the attachment and the original storage location are cross-referenced to each other is used, the original storage location being changed to the new storage location when the attachment is moved to the new storage location.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the reference table is further used to cross-reference the name and the storage location of the attachment to the e-mail message by inserting a name for the e-mail message in the table, the name of the attachment being enabled to provide access to the attachment and the name for the e-mail message being enabled to provide access to the e-mail message.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is deleted, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein if the attachment stored at the original storage location or at the new storage location is placed in a trash bin, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein if the name of the attachment is changed, a statement is inserted into the e-mail message indicating so.