METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE MANIPULATION OF ATTACHMENTS

• US 20090313348A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Plestid, Trevor
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus for manipulating email attachments within a server remotely from a mobile communication device, comprising, receiving a first message within the server, wherein the message has at least one attachment; displaying at least one menu option within the mobile communication device for manipulating the attachment; sending a further message to the server from the mobile communication device responsive to selection of the at least one menu option for manipulating the attachment; and temporarily copying the attachment into a buffer within the server for subsequent re-use.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating email attachments within a server remotely from a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving a first message within said server, said message having at least one attachment;

displaying at least one menu option within said mobile communication device for manipulating said attachment;

sending a further message to said server from said mobile communication device responsive to selection of said at least one menu option for manipulating said attachment; and

temporarily copying said attachment into a buffer within said server for subsequent re-use.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment is temporarily copied into said buffer with a message ID of said first message and a file name of said at least one attachment.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment is temporarily copied into said buffer with a message ID of said first message, a file name of said at least one attachment file, and at least one time value indicating at least one of a time that the message was composed or a time that the message was received at said mobile communication device for allowing multiple attachment files of the same name to be distinguished by said at least one time value.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pasting said attachment from said buffer into an additional message and sending said additional message to a recipient.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating a dialog box at said mobile communication device prior to sending said further message, for encouraging remote manipulation of said attachment.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising generating a dialog box at said mobile communication device prior to sending said further message for identifying said at least one attachment by at least one of said message ID, file name, and at least one time value.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said manipulating includes at least one of (i) replying to a sender and all recipients in a distribution list of said first message while adding a further recipient who is not part of the distribution list and including the attachment in the reply to the further recipient, (ii) privately forwarding the attachment to the further recipient, and (iii) sending a new message to the further recipient that includes the attachment but not said first message.

7. A server, comprising:

a buffer; and

an attachment server process for receiving a first message having at least one attachment;

receiving a second message remote from said server to manipulate said attachment;

temporarily copying said attachment into said buffer responsive to said second message and pasting said attachment from said buffer into a further message.

8. A server as claimed in claim 7, wherein said buffer is a First In First Out (FIFO) memory for storing said at least one attachment indexed with a message ID of said first message and a file name of said at least one attachment.

9. A server as claimed in claim 7, wherein said attachment server process further copies into said buffer a message ID of said first message, a file name of said at least one attachment file, and a time value indicating the time that the message was composed.

10. A method of operating a server, comprising:

receiving a first message having at least one attachment;

receiving a second message remote from said server to manipulate said attachment; and

temporarily copying said attachment into a buffer responsive to receiving said second message, and pasting said attachment from said buffer into a further message.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said attachment is temporarily copied into said buffer with a message ID of said first message and a file name of said at least one attachment.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first message is one of either an email message or Instant Message (IM).

19. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said manipulating includes at least one of (i) replying to a sender and all recipients in a distribution list of said first message while adding a further recipient who is not part of the distribution list and including the attachment in the reply to the further recipient, (ii) privately forwarding the attachment to the further recipient, and (iii) sending a new message to the further recipient that includes the attachment but not said first message.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a communications subsystem for receiving a first message having at least one attachment;

a display; and

a content handling application for displaying at least one menu option on said display for manipulating said attachment without downloading said attachment to said device, and sending a second message via said communications subsystem responsive to selection of said at least one menu option, for remotely manipulating said attachment.

14. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said content handling application generates a dialog box on said display prior to sending said second message, for encouraging remote manipulation of said attachment.

15. A method of operating a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving a first message identified by a message ID and having at least one attachment identified by a file name and a time value;

displaying at least one menu option for manipulating said attachment without downloading said attachment to said device; and

sending a second message responsive to selection of said at least one menu option, for remotely manipulating said attachment.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising generating a dialog box prior to sending said second message, for encouraging remote manipulation of said attachment.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising generating a dialog box at said mobile communication device prior to sending said second message for identifying said at least one attachment by at least one of said message ID, file name, and time value

18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said manipulating includes at least one of (i) replying from said mobile communication device to a sender and all recipients in a distribution list of said first message while adding a further recipient who is not part of the distribution list and including the attachment in the reply to the further recipient, (ii) privately forwarding the attachment to the further recipient, and (iii) sending a new message to the further recipient that includes the attachment but not said first message.

21. A method of operating a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages in a mailbox, each said message being identified by a message ID, and at least one of said messages having an attachment;

generating a warning message that said plurality of messages exceeds a predefined storage limit for said mailbox and displaying at least one menu option; and

sending a further message responsive to selection of said at least one menu option, for remotely buffering said at least one attachment, thereby freeing up space in said mailbox.