Method and Apparatus for Minimizing Storage of Common Attachment Files in an E-Mail Communications Server
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving an email communication using an email server, the email server including a POP server and a mail store, the mail store including a header database and an attachment file database, the method comprising:
- receiving from a client computer a selection to download a received email communication; and
retrieving a common attachment file corresponding to the received email communication through a link in the header database to the attachment file database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an e-mail communications system that minimizes the number of duplicate copies of common attachment files to e-mail communications that are stored in the mail store of an e-mail server. When the e-mail server receives an e-mail attachment file that is larger than a threshold size, the server performs a database search for another copy of the attachment file in the mail store. If another copy is located, the system creates a pointer in the mail store that associates the located attachment file with the e-mail for the additional recipient(s). Attachment files are deleted only after the recipients of the associated e-mail communications delete each of the respective e-mails.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving an email communication using an email server, the email server including a POP server and a mail store, the mail store including a header database and an attachment file database, the method comprising:
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receiving from a client computer a selection to download a received email communication; and retrieving a common attachment file corresponding to the received email communication through a link in the header database to the attachment file database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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connecting to a client computer by forming a connection between the client computer and an email server, the email server including a mail store, the mail store including a header database and an attachment file database; and detecting a delete request from the client computer to delete a received email communication. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for retrieving an email communication using an email server, the email server including a mail store, the mail store including a header database and an attachment file database, the method comprising:
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receiving from a client computer a selection to download a received email communication; and retrieving a common attachment file through a link in the header database to the attachment file database, wherein the common attachment file is common to the received email communication and another received email communication. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification