Attaching multiple files to an electronic document

• US 7,086,003 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Szabo, Robert M., Demsky, Scott H., Ferguson, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUTTON JR, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US10/460,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 715/530, 715/531, 709/206, 709/201, 707/101
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method of associating multiple files with an electronic document can include receiving a request to attach at least two files to an electronic document and attaching the at least two files to the electronic document. A visual identifier can be included within the electronic document indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

Claims

1. A method of associating multiple files with an electronic document comprising:

setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

receiving a request to attach at least two files to The electronic document;

attaching the at least two files to the electronic document;

if the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold, discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last; and

including within the electronic document a visual identifier indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual identifier includes a list having a reference to each file which has been attached to the electronic document.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each reference of the list is selectable.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual identifier further specifies attribute information for each file attached to the electronic document.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a list of files when files are attached to or removed from the electronic document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step discarding one or more files which already have been attached is selected from the group consisting of overwriting one or more of the files which already have been attached, removing at least one of the files which already has been attached, and removing a reference to at least one of the files which already has been attached.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discarding at least one of the attached files from the electronic document; and

updating the visual identifier according to said discarding step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two files are versions of one another.

9. A method of associating multiple files with an electronic document comprising:

setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

attaching a file to the electronic document;

including within the electronic document a graphic representation of the file;

attaching at least a second file to the electronic document;

if the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold, discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last; and

modifying the graphical representation of the file to specify that more than one file is included in the electronic document.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphical representation includes a list having a reference to each file which has been attached to the electronic document.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each reference of the list is selectable.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

attaching additional files to the electronic document; and

for each additional file attached, including a reference to the additional file in the list of files that are attached to the electronic document.

13. The method of claim 9, said graphic representation further specifying attribute information for each file attached to the electronic document.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

updating a list of files when files are attached to or removed from the electronic document.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of discarding one or more files which already have been attached is selected from the group consisting of overwriting one or more of the files which already have been attached, removing at least one of the files which already has been attached, and removing a reference to at least one of the files which already has been attached.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

discarding at least one attached file from the electronic document; and

updating the graphic representation according to said discarding step.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the attached files are versions of one another.

18. A system of computer hardware and software for associating multiple files with an electronic document comprising:

means for setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

means for receiving a request to attach at least two files to the electronic document;

means for attaching the at least two files to the electronic document;

means for discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last when the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold; and

means for including within the electronic document a visual identifier indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least two files are versions of one another.

20. A system of computer hardware and software for associating multiple files with an electronic document comprising:

means for setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

means for attaching a file to the electronic document;

means for including within the electronic document a graphic representation of the file;

means for attaching at least a second version of the file to the electronic document;

means for discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last when the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold; and

means for modifying the graphic representation of the file to specify that more than one version of the file is attached to the electronic document.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the attached files are versions of one another.

22. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

receiving a request to attach at least two files to the electronic document;

adding the at least two files to the electronic document;

if the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold, discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last; and

including within the electronic document a visual identifier indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein the visual identifier includes a list having a reference to each file which has been attached to the electronic document.

24. The machine readable storage of claim 23, wherein each reference of the list is selectable.

25. The machine readable storage of claim 23, wherein the visual identifier further specifies attribute information for each of the files attached to the electronic document.

26. The machine readable storage of claim 22, further comprising:

updating a list of files when files are attached to or removed from the electronic document.

27. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said step of discarding one or more files which already have been attached is selected from the group consisting of overwriting one or more of the files which already have been attached, removing at least one of the files which already has been attached, and removing a reference to at least one of the files which already has been attached.

28. The machine readable storage of claim 22, further comprising:

discarding at least one of the attached files from the electronic document; and

updating the visual identifier according to said discarding step.

29. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein the at least two files are versions of one another.

30. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

setting a threshold for a maximum number of files which can be attached to the electronic document;

attaching a file to the electronic document;

including within the electronic document a graphic representation of the file;

attaching at least a second file to the electronic document;

if the number of files attached to the electronic document exceeds the threshold, discarding one of the previously attached files and including the file that was attached last; and

modifying the graphic representation of the file to specify that more than one version of the file is attached to the electronic document.

31. The machine readable storage of claim 30, wherein the graphic representation includes a list having a reference to each file which has been attached to the electronic document.

32. The machine readable storage of claim 31, wherein each reference of the list is selectable.

33. The machine readable storage of claim 30, further comprising:

attaching additional files to the electronic document; and

for each additional file attached, including a reference to the additional file in the list of files that are attached to the electronic document.

34. The machine readable storage of claim 30, said graphic representation further specifying attribute information for each file attached to the electronic document.

35. The machine readable storage of claim 30, further comprising:

updating a list of versions of the file when versions are attached to or removed from the electronic document.

36. The machine readable storage of claim 30, wherein said step of discarding one or more files which already have been attached is selected from the group consisting of overwriting one or more of the files which already have been attached, removing at least one of the files which already has been attached, and removing a reference to at least one of the files which already has been attached.

37. The machine readable storage of claim 30, further comprising:

discarding at least one of the attached files from the electronic document; and

updating the graphic representation according to said discarding step.

38. The machine readable storage of claim 30, wherein the attached files are versions of one another.