DOCUMENT SEARCH SYSTEM WHICH REFLECTS THE SITUATION OF USING DOCUMENTS IN THE SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20100169295A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanamori, Masaoki
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A document search system includes a plurality of computers in a network having a router, and an email software program on each of the computers. A database stores attachment files and email documents. A search program on at least one of the computers initiating storage of email documents and attachment files. A mail journal database stores email data extracted by the search program from the email. A message identification (ID) identifying the email document, and the ID being generated by the search program and associating an email document with corresponding email data, and the ID associating the email document with an attachment file when an attachment file is sent. A file loader replacing an attachment file with a file link and storing the attachment file in the database. The file link provides access to the attachment file in the database.

Claims

1. A document search system, comprising:

a computer network including a plurality of computers;

an email software program stored on computer readable medium on each of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer;

a router communicating with the computer network for routing email from the email software program in the computer network;

a database for storing attachment files and email documents;

a search program being stored on computer readable medium on at least one of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer, the search program initiating storage of email documents and attachment files;

a mail journal database for storing email data extracted by the search program from the email;

a message identification (ID) identifying the email document, the ID being generated by the search program and associating an email document with corresponding email data, and the ID associating the email document with an attachment file when an attachment file is sent; and

a file loader being part of the search program, the file loader replacing an attachment file with a file link and storing the attachment file in the database, the file link providing access to the attachment file in the database.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first database for email documents, a second database for file attachments, and the mail journal database being a third database.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein message IDs are stored in the first and second databases, and the third database stores email data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein email data includes email header information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein email data further includes a time the email was sent and a time the email was received in the database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an email document and/or attachment file is designated as confidential.

7. A method of searching documents, comprising:

sending emails using an email software program stored on computer readable medium on each of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer, the emails being sent using a computer network including a plurality of computers;

routing emails for delivery being sent over the computer network using the email software program;

initiating storage of email documents and attachment files using a search program being stored on computer readable medium on at least one of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer;

storing attachment files in a database and email documents;

storing email data extracted by the search program from the email to a mail journal database;

generating a message identification (ID) for each email using the search program;

identifying the email document using the message identification;

associating an email document with corresponding email data using the ID, and associating the email document with an attachment file when an attachment file is sent using the ID;

replacing an attachment file with a file link and storing the attachment file in the database using a file loader being part of the search program; and

providing access to the attachment file in the database using the file link.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the message IDs in a first and second databases, and storing the email data in a third database.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

designating an email document and/or attachment file as confidential.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein email data includes email header information.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein email data further includes a time the email was sent and a time the email was received in the database.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program being executed by a processor for searching documents, the computer program performing the steps of:

sending emails using an email software program stored on computer readable medium on each of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer, the emails being sent using a computer network including a plurality of computers;

routing emails for delivery being sent over the computer network using the email software program;

initiating storage of email documents and attachment files using a search program being stored on computer readable medium on at least one of the computers and being executed by a processor in the computer;

storing attachment files in a database and email documents;

storing email data extracted by the search program from the email to a mail journal database;

generating a message identification (ID) for each email using the search program;

identifying the email document using the message identification;

associating an email document with corresponding email data using the ID, and associating the email document with an attachment file when an attachment file is sent using the ID;

replacing an attachment file with a file link and storing the attachment file in the database using a file loader being part of the search program; and

providing access to the attachment file in the database using the file link.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

storing the message IDs in a first and second databases, and storing the email data in a third database.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

designating an email document and/or attachment file as confidential.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein email data includes email header information.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein email data further includes a time the email was sent and a time the email was received in the database.