Method and program product for tracking a file attachment in an e-mail

• US 20070100991A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Daniels, Fonda, Lyle, Ruthie, Ramseur, Demethria
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A method and program product for tracking a file attachment in an e-mail is provided. The method includes attaching one or more file attachments to an e-mail, selecting one or more return receipt properties for the file attachments attached to the e-mail, sending the e-mail to one or more intended recipients and writing to an e-mail data log file a set of details pertaining to the file attachments attached to the e-mail sent, such that a sender is able to track in the e-mail data log file any file attachments attached to the e-mail sent. Preferably, the method includes notifying the sender when either a delivery failure or a delivery discrepancy occurs for any file attachment attached to the e-mail sent to any intended recipients. More preferably, the method includes managing the set of details pertaining to the file attachments in the e-mail data log file.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a file attachment sent in an e-mail, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching one or more file attachments to an e-mail created in an e-mail application;

selecting one or more return receipt properties for said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail;

sending said e-mail to one or more intended recipients specified for said e-mail; and

writing to an e-mail data log file a set of details pertaining to said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent, such that a sender is able to track in said e-mail data log file any one of said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

notifying said sender when either a delivery failure or a delivery discrepancy occurs for any of said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent to any of said one or more intended recipients.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

managing said set of details pertaining to said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said attaching step further comprises the steps of:

opening an e-mail composition window in an e-mail application for creating said e-mail; and

specifying one or more of said intended recipients for at least one of a plurality of recipient groups for said e-mail.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said writing step further comprises the step of:

updating said set of details written to said e-mail data log file; and

wherein said set of details comprises one or more of;

initial details for said one or more file attachments sent in said e-mail and return receipt details for said one or more file attachments sent in said e-mail.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said one or more return receipt properties for said one or more file attachments comprises one or more of:

log file location, return receipt log file collection, return receipt delivery options, return receipt client options, read receipt from an intended recipient, detach receipt from an intended recipient, read receipt from an unintended recipient, and detach receipt from an unintended recipient.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said updating step further comprises the steps of:

comparing said initial details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file with said return receipt details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file to check for either said delivery failure, said delivery discrepancy, a successful delivery or an opening of any of said one or more file attachments; and

sending e-mail notification to said sender if either said delivery failure or said delivery discrepancy occurs.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said initial details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

names and e-mail addresses of each of said one or more intended recipients;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is sent;

name and type of each of said one or more file attachments;

creation date and author of each of said one or more file attachments;

size of each of said one or more file attachments; and

security access rights for each of said one or more file attachments.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said return receipt details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

logfile directory location, logfile name, name and e-mail address of each recipient from said one or more intended recipients to whom said e-mail is delivered;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments delivered;

name and e-mail address of any intended recipient to whom said one or more file attachments in said e-mail is not delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments not delivered;

failed attempt to deliver said e-mail to any of said one or more intended recipients specified;

name, e-mail address, subject, time and date when said e-mail is re-sent;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who opens any of said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an intended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an intended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who detaches any of said one or more file attachments;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who opens said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an unintended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an unintended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who detaches said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments detached; and

time and date when e-mail is detached by an unintended recipient.

10. A method of obtaining one or more return receipts for a file attachment sent in an e-mail, said method comprising the steps of:

creating an e-mail in an e-mail composition window of an e-mail application;

specifying one or more intended recipients for said e-mail;

inserting at least one file attachment into said e-mail;

selecting one or more return receipt properties for said at least one file attachment inserted into said e-mail before sending said e-mail;

sending said e-mail to said one or more intended recipients specified for said e-mail;

creating an e-mail data log file adapted to receive a set of details pertaining to said at least one file attachment inserted into said e-mail sent; and

receiving one or more return receipts corresponding to each of said one or more return receipt properties selected for said at least one file attachment inserted into said e-mail sent.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

managing said set of details pertaining to said at least one file attachment in said e-mail data log file.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said receiving one or more return receipts step further comprises the steps of:

updating said set of details in said e-mail data log file; and

sending e-mail notification to a sender if either a delivery failure or delivery discrepancy occurs for said at least one file attachment.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said one or more return receipt properties for said at least one file attachment comprise one or more of:

delivery failure receipt, read receipt from an intended recipient, detach receipt from an intended recipient, forward receipt from an intended recipient, altering receipt from an intended recipient, log file location, return receipt log file collection, return receipt delivery options and return receipt client options; and

wherein said set of details comprises one or more of;

initial details for said at least one file attachment and return receipt details for said at least one file attachment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said initial details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

names and e-mail addresses of each of said one or more intended recipients;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is sent;

name and type of said at least one file attachment;

creation date and author of said at least one file attachment;

size of said at least one file attachment; and

security access rights for said at least one file attachment; and

wherein said return receipt details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of;

logfile directory location, logfile name, name and e-mail address of each recipient from said one or more intended recipients to whom said e-mail is delivered;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is delivered;

name, type and size of said at least one file attachment delivered;

name and e-mail address of any intended recipient to whom said at least one file attachment in said e-mail is not delivered;

name, type and size of said at least one file attachment not delivered;

failed attempt to deliver said e-mail to any of said one or more intended recipients specified;

name, e-mail address, subject, time and date when said e-mail is re-sent;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who opens said at least one file attachment;

time and date when e-mail is opened by an intended recipient;

name, type and size of said at least one file attachment opened by an intended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who detaches said at least one file attachment;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who opens said e-mail with said at least one file attachment;

time and date when e-mail is opened by an unintended recipient;

name, type and size of said at least one file attachment opened by an unintended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who detaches said e-mail with said at least one file attachment;

name, type and size of said at least one file attachment detached; and

time and date when e-mail is detached by an unintended recipient.

15. A computer program product for tracking a file attachment inserted into an e-mail that is sent, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to create an e-mail in an e-mail application addressed to one or more intended recipients, said first program instructions including instructions to insert one or more file attachments in said e-mail and to select one or more return receipt properties for any of said one or more file attachments inserted into said e-mail;

second program instructions to write to an e-mail data log file initial details for each of said one or more file attachments inserted into said e-mail when said e-mail is sent, said second program instructions including instructions to update said e-mail data log file;

third program instructions to notify a sender when either a delivery failure, a delivery discrepancy, a successful delivery or said one or more file attachments sent to any of said one or more intended recipients is opened; and

wherein said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said medium.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to manage said e-mail data log file, said fourth program instructions being stored on said medium.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein said second program instructions to update further comprise:

instructions to write to said e-mail data log file return receipt details for said one or more file attachments inserted into said e-mail sent.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said third program instructions to notify further comprise:

instructions to compare said initial details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file with said return receipt details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file to check for either said delivery failure, said delivery discrepancy, a successful delivery or when said one or more file attachments is opened; and

instructions to send e-mail notification to said sender if either said delivery failure or said delivery discrepancy occurs.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said one or more return receipt properties comprises one or more of:

log file location, return receipt log file collection, return receipt delivery options, return receipt client options, read receipt from an intended recipient, detach receipt from an intended recipient, read receipt from an unintended recipient, and detach receipt from an unintended recipient.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein said initial details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

names and e-mail addresses of each of said one or more intended recipients;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is sent;

name and type of each of said one or more file attachments;

creation date and author of each of said one or more file attachments;

size of each of said one or more file attachments; and

security access rights for each of said one or more file attachments; and

wherein said return receipt details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of;

logfile directory location, logfile name, name and e-mail address of each recipient from said one or more intended recipients to whom said e-mail is delivered;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments delivered;

name and e-mail address of any intended recipient to whom said one or more file attachments in said e-mail is not delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments not delivered;

failed attempt to deliver said e-mail to any of said one or more intended recipients specified;

name, e-mail address, subject, time and date when said e-mail is re-sent;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who opens any of said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an intended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an intended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who detaches any of said one or more file attachments;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who opens said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an unintended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an unintended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who detaches said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments detached; and

time and date when e-mail is detached by an unintended recipient.

21. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable code into a computing system, wherein said code in combination with said computing system is capable of performing a process of tracking a file attachment sent in an e-mail, said process comprising:

attaching one or more file attachments to an e-mail created in an e-mail application;

selecting one or more return receipt properties for said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail;

sending said e-mail to one or more intended recipients specified for said e-mail; and

writing to an e-mail data log file a set of details pertaining to said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent, such that a sender is able to track in said e-mail data log file any one of said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said process further comprises:

notifying said sender when either a delivery failure or a delivery discrepancy occurs for any of said one or more file attachments attached to said e-mail sent to any of said one or more intended recipients.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said process further comprises:

managing said set of details pertaining to said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said attaching step further comprises:

opening an e-mail composition window in an e-mail application for creating said e-mail; and

specifying one or more of said intended recipients for at least one of a plurality of recipient groups for said e-mail.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein said writing step further comprises:

updating said set of details written to said e-mail data log file; and

wherein said set of details comprises one or more of;

initial details for said one or more file attachments sent in said e-mail and return receipt details for said one or more file attachments sent in said e-mail.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said one or more return receipt properties for said one or more file attachments comprises one or more of:

log file location, return receipt log file collection, return receipt delivery options, return receipt client options, read receipt from an intended recipient, detach receipt from an intended recipient, read receipt from an unintended recipient, and detach receipt from an unintended recipient.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said updating step further comprises:

comparing said initial details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file with said return receipt details of each of said one or more file attachments in said e-mail data log file to check for either said delivery failure, said delivery discrepancy, a successful delivery or an opening of any of said one or more file attachments; and

sending e-mail notification to said sender if either said delivery failure or said delivery discrepancy occurs.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein said initial details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

names and e-mail addresses of each of said one or more intended recipients;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is sent;

name and type of each of said one or more file attachments;

creation date and author of each of said one or more file attachments;

size of each of said one or more file attachments; and

security access rights for each of said one or more file attachments.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said return receipt details of said e-mail data log file comprise at least one of:

logfile directory location, logfile name, name and e-mail address of each recipient from said one or more intended recipients to whom said e-mail is delivered;

subject, time and date when said e-mail is delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments delivered;

name and e-mail address of any intended recipient to whom said one or more file attachments in said e-mail is not delivered;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments not delivered;

failed attempt to deliver said e-mail to any of said one or more intended recipients specified;

name, e-mail address, subject, time and date when said e-mail is re-sent;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who opens any of said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an intended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an intended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an intended recipient who detaches any of said one or more file attachments;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who opens said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

time and date when said one or more file attachments is opened by an unintended recipient;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments opened by an unintended recipient;

name and e-mail address of an unintended recipient who detaches said e-mail with said one or more file attachments;

name, type and size of each of said one or more file attachments detached; and

time and date when e-mail is detached by an unintended recipient.