Information processing apparatus, system and method

• US 6,920,482 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fujiyoshi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/516,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 709206-207, 709216-219, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

When a desired document file to be attached to electronic mail is designated, access information relating to the designated document file, e.g., access information relating to the location of the document and privilege to access the document, is acquired. The access information is set by a user through a prescribed user interface. An attachment file which includes this access information is generated and electronic mail to which the generated attachment file has been attached is transmitted. The receiving side acquires and views the corresponding document file in accordance with the attached access information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus with a function of receiving electronic mail, comprising:

extraction means, for extracting;

access information contained in electronic mail that has been received, said access information including enabling information indicating whether it is permissible to access all versions of an object;

access means for accessing all versions of the object if the access information extracted by said extraction means indicates that access to all versions of the objects is permissible; and

display means for presenting an at-a-glance display inclusive of all versions of the object based upon results of accessing performed by said access means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means presents either a thumbnail display or a list display regarding objects accessed by said access means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

selection means for selecting a desired object from the at-a-glance display; and

content display means for displaying a content of the object that has been selected by said selection means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means extracts the access information from a file that has been attached to electronic mail.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means extracts the access information from a main body of electronic mail.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the access information includes position information for specifying a storage location at which the object is present; and

using the access information such that said access means accesses the object at the storage location specified by the position information.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the access information includes information for logging in to the storage location.

8. An information processing system in which electronic mail is sent and received between information processing apparatuses, comprising:

generating means for generating electronic mail information, which includes access information including enabling information indicating whether it is permissible to access all versions of an object, stored in storage means, to be accessed by a receiver of the electronic mail;

communication means for sending and receiving the electronic mail information generated by said generating means;

extraction means for extracting the access information contained in electronic mail that has been received via said communication means;

access means for accessing all versions of the object if the access information contained in the electronic mail information indicates that access to all versions of the objects is permitted; and

display means for presenting an at-a-glance display inclusive of all versions of the object based upon results of accessing performed by said access means.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said generating means includes:

designating means for designating a desired object to be attached to electronic mail;

acquisition means for acquiring access information relating to the object designated by said designating means; and

mail information generating means for generating electronic mail information in which the access information acquired by said acquisition means constitutes part of the electronic mail.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said mail information generating means generates an attachment file, which includes the access information acquired by said acquisition means, and attaches the generated attachment file to electronic mail that is to be transmitted.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said mail information generating means affixes the access information, which has been acquired by said acquisition means, to a main body of electronic mail that is to be transmitted.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the access information includes information indicating a storage location of the object, which has been designated by said designating means, in said system.

13. The system according to claim 9,

wherein said designating means has display means for presenting an at-a-glance display, in a thumbnail or list format, of documents that are present in a specific storage area, and for displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic mail application that is for generating and transmitting electronic mail;

and

wherein, when a desired document among the documents in the at-a-glance display is dropped onto the icon, the desired document is designated.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said acquisition means includes setting means for allowing a user to set access information via a prescribed user interface.

15. The system according to claim 9, further comprising setting means for setting whether or not to provide the access information to an unregistered user, who has not registered as a user, as a part of the access information.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising means for giving a password to the unregistered user when said setting means has set that the unregistered user may be provided with the access information.

17. The system according to claim 15, further comprising means for prohibiting the unregistered user from accessing the object when said setting means has set that the unregistered user is not to be provided with the access information.

18. The system according to claim 8, wherein said communication means transmits the electronic mail information, which has been generated by said generating means, to an information processing apparatus that has been designated.

19. The system according to claim 8, wherein said display means presents either a thumbnail display or a list display regarding objects accessed by said access means.

20. The system according to claim 8, further comprising:

selection means for selecting a desired object from the at-a-glance display; and

content display means for displaying a content of the object that has been selected by said selection means.

21. The system according to claim 8, wherein said extraction means extracts the access information from a file that has been attached to electronic mail.

22. The system according to claim 8, wherein said extraction means extracts the access information from a main body of electronic mail.

23. The system according to claim 8, wherein:

the access information includes position information for specifying a storage location at which the object is present; and

the access information is used such that said object access means accesses the object at the storage location specified by the position information.

24. The system according to claim 8, wherein the access information includes information for logging in to the storage location.

25. An information processing method in an apparatus with a function of receiving electronic mail, said method comprising:

an extraction step, of extracting access information contained in electronic mail that has been received, said access information including enabling information indicating whether it is permissible to access all versions of an object;

an access step, of accessing all versions of the object if the access information extracted in said extraction step indicates that access to all versions of the object is permissible; and

a display step, of presenting an at-a-glance display inclusive of all versions of the object based upon result of accessing performed in said access step.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said display step presents either a thumbnail display or a list display regarding objects accessed at said access step.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

a selection step of selecting a desired object from the at-a-glance display; and

a content display step of displaying a content of the object that has been selected at said selection step.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein said extraction step extracts the access information from a file that has been attached to electronic mail.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein said extraction step extracts the access information from a main body of electronic mail.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein:

the access information includes position information for specifying a storage location at which the object is present; and

the access information is used such that said access step accesses the object at the storage location specified by the position information.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the access information includes information for logging in to the storage location.

32. A method of controlling an information processing system in which electronic mail is sent and received between information processing apparatuses, said method comprising:

a generating step of generating electronic mail information, which includes access information indicating enabling information indicating whether it is permissible to access all versions of an object, stored in a storage unit, to be accessed by a receiving information processing apparatus of the electronic mail;

a communication step of sending and receiving the electronic mail information generated at said generating step;

an extraction step of extracting the access information contained in electronic mail that has been received in said communication step;

an access step of accessing all versions of the object based if the access information contained in the electronic mail information indicates that access to all versions of the object is permitted; and

a display step of presenting an at-a-glance display inclusive of all versions of the object based upon result of accessing performed at said access step.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said generating step includes:

a designating step of designating a desired object to be attached to electronic mail;

an acquisition step of acquiring access information relating to the object designated at said designating step; and

mail information generating step of generating electronic mail information in which the access information acquired at said acquisition step constitutes part of the electronic mail.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a setting step of setting whether or not to provide the access information to an unregistered user, who has not registered as a user, as a part of the access information.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising a step of giving a password to the unregistered user when said setting step has set that the unregistered user may be provided with the access information.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising a step of prohibiting the unregistered user from accessing the object when said setting step has set that the unregistered user is not to be provided with the access information.

37. The method according to claim 33, wherein said mail information generating step generates an attachment file, which includes the access information acquired at said acquisition step, and attaches the generated attachment file to electronic mail that is to be transmitted.

38. The method according to claim 33, wherein said mail information generating step affixes the access information, which has been acquired at said acquisition step, to a main body of electronic mail that is to be transmitted.

39. The method according to claim 33, wherein the access information includes information indicating a storage location of the object, which has been designated at said designating step, in the system.

40. The method according to claim 33, wherein:

said designating step includes a display step of presenting an at-a-glance display, in a thumbnail or list format, of documents that are present in a specific storage area, and of displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic mail application that is for generating and transmitting electronic mail; and

wherein, when a desired document among the documents in the at-a-glance display is dropped onto the icon, the desired document is designated.

41. The method according to claim 33, wherein said acquisition step includes a setting step of allowing a user to set access information via a prescribed user interface.

42. The method according to claim 32, wherein said communication step transmits the electronic mail information, which has been generated at said generating step, to an information processing apparatus that has been designated.

43. The method according to claim 32, wherein said display step presents either a thumbnail display or a list display regarding objects accessed at said access step.

44. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

a selection step of selecting a desired object from the at-a-glance display; and

a content display step of displaying a content of the object that has been selected at said selection step.

45. The method according to claim 32, wherein said extraction step extracts the access information from a file that has been attached to electronic mail.

46. The method according to claim 32, wherein said extraction step extracts the access information from a main body of electronic mail.

47. The method according to claim 32, wherein:

the access information includes position information for specifying a storage location at which the object is present; and

the access information is used such that said object access step accesses the object at the storage location specified by the position information.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the access information includes information for logging in to the storage location.

49. A computer-readable memory storing a control program for causing a computer to process received mail, the control program comprising:

code of an extraction step, of extracting access information contained in electronic mail that has been received, said access information including enabling information indicating whether it is permissible to access all versions of an object;

code of an access step, of accessing all versions of the object under the version limitation specified-by if the access information extracted by said extraction means indicates that access to all versions of the objects is permissible; and

code of a display step, of presenting an at-a-glance display inclusive of all version of the object based upon results of accessing performed in said access step.