Methods and systems for receiving and viewing content-rich communications
First Claim
1. A method for receiving content of an email communication within a network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving information associated with the email communication, the information referencing content stored on one of a plurality of content servers on the network;
determining the one of the content servers by choosing the one of the content servers closest to an anticipated access point for the email communication, where the closest content server is determined based on a recipient'"'"'s message accessing profile and the recipient'"'"'s domain name;
accessing the referenced content from the one of the content servers; and
displaying the email communication using the received information and the accessed content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide the ability to receive a communication (such as an electronic mail message) using a particular content server within a network. A minimal amount of information is received, such as an instruction set and a basic amount of content information. The instruction set is analyzed to determine references to content stored on a particular one of the content servers, namely the content server that is closest to an anticipated access point for the communication. While executing the instruction set and displaying the basic content information, a request for the communication'"'"'s content is generated and sent to the content server. The content is received from the content server closest to the anticipated access point (typically the one closest to the requesting node), usually in a streaming format. The content is then displayed for the intended recipient.
139 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for receiving content of an email communication within a network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving information associated with the email communication, the information referencing content stored on one of a plurality of content servers on the network; determining the one of the content servers by choosing the one of the content servers closest to an anticipated access point for the email communication, where the closest content server is determined based on a recipient'"'"'s message accessing profile and the recipient'"'"'s domain name; accessing the referenced content from the one of the content servers; and displaying the email communication using the received information and the accessed content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system in a network for receiving an email communication, comprising:
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a processor; a display device coupled to the processor; a communications interface coupling the processor to the network; and the processor being operative to receive information associated with the email communication, the information referencing content stored on one of a plurality of content servers determine the one of the content servers by choosing the one of the content servers closest to an anticipated access point for the email communication, where the closest content server is determined based on a recipient'"'"'s message accessing profile and the recipient'"'"'s domain name; access the referenced content on the one of the content servers through the communications interface, and cause the email communication to be displayed on the display device using the received information and the accessed content. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for receiving an email communication using a plurality of content servers within the network, which when executed, the instructions comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one reference to content associated with the email communication storing the content on one of the content servers closest to an anticipated access point for the email communication, where the closest content server is determined based on a recipient'"'"'s message accessing profile and the recipient'"'"'s domain name; receiving a basic amount of information associated with the email communication; displaying a first part of the email communication using the basic amount of information; accessing the content on the one of the content servers; and displaying a second part of the email communication using the accessed content. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification