METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND USER INTERFACE FOR MAKING NON-SHARED LINKED DOCUMENTS IN ELECTRONIC MESSAGES ACCESSIBLE TO RECIPIENTS

• US 20080120382A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Heidloff, Niklas, Kumar, Shruti, O'Brien, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,206 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

Linked non-shared documents within email messages are made accessible to a recipient. Upon initiation of sending of an email message by a user, the MIME of the email is automatically parsed through to detect URL tags indicating that a linked document is contained within the email message. Upon detection of a URL tag, the prefix of the URL is checked to determine if it is accessible to a recipient. If the prefix indicates that the link is not accessible to the recipient, the sender is provided with at least the following options for making the linked document accessible to the recipient: sending the linked document as an in-line document by converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message, sending the linked document as an attachment with a link to a file system or document library, or converting the linked document into a pdf file and sending it as an attachment. If the prefix is set, by default, as one that is not accessible to the recipient, the option of converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message may be automatically selected.

Claims

1. A method for making non-shared linked documents within email messages accessible to a recipient, comprising:

upon initiation of sending of an email message by a user, automatically parsing through the MIME to detect URL tags indicating that a linked document is contained within the email message,

upon detection of a URL tag, checking a prefix of the URL to determine if it is accessible to a recipient,

if the prefix indicates that the link is not accessible to the recipient, providing for selection of at least the following options for making the linked document accessible to the recipient;

sending the linked document as an in-line document by converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message, sending the linked document as an attachment with a link to a file system or document library, and converting the linked document into a pdf file and sending it as an attachment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for selection of the option of sending the message without converting the link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for selection of the option of not sending the message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for selection of the option of deleting the link and sending the message.

5. The method of claim 1, father comprising, if the sender is sending a linked email that the recipient was originally a recipient of, providing for selection of the option of sending a Notes link with the MIME id of the linked email.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the MIME id of the linked email provides the recipient with access to the linked email message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if the prefix is set, by default, as not being accessible to the recipient, the option of converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message is automatically selected.

8. A computer program product for making non-shared linked documents in email messages accessible to recipients, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable medium when executed on a computer, causes the computer to:

upon initiation of sending of an email message by a user, automatically parse through the MIME to detect URL tags indicating that a linked document is contained within the email message,

upon detection of a URL tag, check a prefix of the URL to determine if it is accessible to a recipient,

if the prefix indicates that the link is not accessible to the recipient, provide for selection of at least the following options for making the linked document accessible to the recipient;

sending the linked document as an in-line document by converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message, sending the linked document as an attachment with a link to a file system or document library, and converting the link document into a pdf file and sending it as an attachment.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable medium further causes the computer to provide for selection of the option of sending the message without converting the link.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable medium further causes the computer to provide for selection of the option of not sending the message.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable medium further causes the computer to provide for selection of the option of deleting the link and sending the message.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable medium further causes the computer to, if the sender is sending a linked email which the recipient was originally a recipient of, provide for selection of the option of sending a Notes link with the MIME id of the linked email.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the MIME id of the linked email provides the recipient with access to the linked email message.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein if the prefix is set, by default, as not being accessible to the recipient, the computer readable medium causes the computer to automatically select the option of converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message.

15. A user interface for use in making non-shared linked documents in email messages accessible to recipients, comprising:

a user input for enabling a sender to compose an email message, wherein upon initiation of sending of the email message by the sender, the MIME of the email is automatically parsed through to detect URL tags indicating that a linked document is contained within the email message, and, upon detection of a URL tag, a prefix of the URL is checked to determine if it is accessible to a recipient, and

a display for providing the sender with the capability for selecting at least the following options for making the linked document accessible to the recipient if the prefix indicates that the link is not accessible to the recipient;

sending the linked document as an in-line document by converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message, sending the linked document as an attachment with a link to a file system or document library, and converting the linked document into a pdf file and sending it as an attachment.

16. The user interface of claim 15, wherein the display further provides the sender with the capability for selecting the option of sending the message without converting the link.

17. The user interface of claim 15, wherein the display further provides the sender with the capability for selecting the options of not sending the message or deleting the link and sending the message.

18. The user interface of claim 15, wherein the display further provides the sender with the capability for selecting the option of sending a Notes link with the MIME id of the email if the sender is sending a linked email that the recipient was originally a recipient of.

19. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the MIME id of the linked email provides the recipient with access to the linked email message.

20. The user interface of claim 15, wherein if the prefix is set, by default, as not being accessible to the recipient, the option of converting the document into HTML format and embedding it into a multi part MIME message is automatically selected.