Method and system for publishing an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message

• US 6,651,087 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dennis, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/238,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/225, 709/229, 709/235, 709/207, 709/206, 709/209, 709/205
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Publishing content associated with an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message by executing instructions contained in the electronic mail attachment and accessing the content at a remote computer server identified by the attached file. The attached file includes computer-executable instructions, such as a computer program or script, which include an identifier for a remote server connected to a distributed computer network. This identified remote server typically hosts a web site containing content intended for viewing by the recipient of the electronic mail message. In response to launching the attached file of the electronic mail message with a viewer program, a browser program can be opened to enable the recipient to view the content of the identified remote server, typically a web site on an intranet or the global Internet. This supports the communication of electronic content by using an electronic mail message to transport an electronic file attachment having instructions that, when executed by the recipient'"'"'s computer, enable the recipient to view the electronic content by accessing a server computer connected to distributed computer network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating content intended for delivery to a recipient of an electronic mail message, comprising:

receiving the electronic mail message having an attached electronic file, the attached electronic file comprising instructions for displaying an instruction message and displaying the content;

responsive to a selection of the electronic mail message, presenting the electronic mail message and an attachment indicator to the recipient;

responsive to a selection of the attachment indicator, executing the instructions of the attached electronic file so that the instruction message is displayed and a launch control is displayed; and

responsive to a selection of the launch control, accessing a remote server that hosts the content and displaying the content to the recipient.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are written in JavaScript code and HyperText Markup Language code.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a browser program is launched in response to the selection of the launch control.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the attached electronic file includes an address to the content hosted by the remote server.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content is larger in size than the attached electronic file.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instruction message is a text-based instruction message.