SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING EMAIL ATTACHMENTS
First Claim
1. A method of distributing an email file attachment to recipients, comprising:
- generating a metadata file associated with the file attachment and sending the metadata file to authorized recipients in lieu of the file attachment;
storing a copy of the file attachment on a network server accessible via a peer-to-peer network;
generating an access control list corresponding to authorized recipients of the file attachment; and
utilizing the access control list to control access to the file attachment via the peer-to-peer network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for distributing email attachments. In an embodiment, a peer-to-peer network is used to distribute attachments among email recipients. A metadata file is generated and sent to a central tracking server (e.g., on the sender'"'"'s local email server). The central tracking server may maintain an access control list, track mail recipients, track peers sharing the file attachment, and track which pieces of the attachment that each peer has. In lieu of the file attachment, each recipient of the email may receive a token or stub representing the file attachment. The stub may contain metadata about the file attachment with information for querying the central tracking server. A file download request may be initiated by a recipient via the stub. The recipient'"'"'s local email client may query the central tracking server to obtain authorized access to a peer-to-peer network to download the file attachment. Only authorized recipients on the access control list are permitted to download the file via the peer-to-peer network.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of distributing an email file attachment to recipients, comprising:
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generating a metadata file associated with the file attachment and sending the metadata file to authorized recipients in lieu of the file attachment; storing a copy of the file attachment on a network server accessible via a peer-to-peer network; generating an access control list corresponding to authorized recipients of the file attachment; and utilizing the access control list to control access to the file attachment via the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for distributing an email file attachment to recipients, comprising:
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a system for generating a metadata file associated with the file attachment and sending the metadata file to authorized recipients in lieu of the file attachment; a network server for storing a copy of the file attachment, the network server being accessible via a peer-to-peer network; an access control list corresponding to authorized recipients of the file attachment; and a system for utilizing the access control list to control access to the file attachment via the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A program product stored on a computer readable medium, which when executed, distributes an email file attachment, the computer readable medium comprising program code for:
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generating a metadata file associated with the file attachment and sending the metadata file to authorized recipients in lieu of the file attachment; storing a copy of the file attachment on a network server accessible via a peer-to-peer network; generating an access control list corresponding to authorized recipients of the file attachment; and utilizing the access control list to control access to the file attachment via the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification