Method to import/export or detach/attach a file to/from a remote mail server

• US 7,133,897 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HCL Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tran, Trung Minh
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Khanh Quang
• Application Number:
  US09/442,693
• Time in Patent Office: 2,546 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/218, 709/222, 709/224, 709/232, 709/227, 709/228, 709/220, 709/219, 710/10, 713/169, 713/170
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for importing/attaching or exporting/detaching a file during a given e-mail operation. From a user'"'"'s perspective, the method begins when the user elects to perform the import/attach or export/detach function with respect to a given file. If the file resides locally, the operation proceeds as usual by carrying out the function as if the file is on the local system and resides in a known place. If, however, the file does not reside locally, a panel or other user interface is displayed. Using this panel, the user may then attempt to log into a remote system on which the file is supported. Thus, for example, the user interface may require the user to enter a userid, password, hostname, or some combination thereof. If the user login is successful, the routine gets or puts the file (e.g., using an FTP operation) as required, preferably as a background process. Upon completion of the file transfer, the routine then automatically completes the import/attach or export/detach function as if the file is on the local system and resides in the known location.

Claims

1. A method operative on a local machine, comprising the steps of:

in response to a request to perform an e-mail operation, determining whether the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server or with respect to the local machine, wherein the e-mail operation is initiated by a user of the local machine, and wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation or an export/detach operation;

in response to a determination that the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server;

displaying a dialog to enable a user to perform a login to the remote server;

after authentication of the user, performing a file transfer operation between the remote server and the local machine with respect to a user-specified file; and

after authentication of the user, executing the e-mail operation with respect to the user-specified file.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the request is for an import/attach operation.

3. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the file transfer operation retrieves the user-specified file from the remote server.

4. The method as described in claim 3 further including the step of saving the user-specified file to a local directory prior to executing the import/attach operation.

5. The method as described in claim 4 further including the step of verifying the file transfer operation prior to executing the import/attach operation.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the request is for an export/detach operation.

7. The method as described in claim 6 wherein the file transfer operation transfers the user-specified file to the remote server.

8. The method as described in claim 7 further including the step of verifying the file transfer operation prior to executing the export/detach operation.

9. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the authentication step takes place on the remote server.

10. A method operative on a local machine having an e-mail client, comprising the steps of:

in response to a request to perform an e-mail operation, determining whether the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server or with respect to the local machine, wherein the e-mail operation is initiated by a user of the local machine, and wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation or an export/detach operation;

in response to a determination that the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server;

displaying a dialog to enable a user to perform a login to the remote server;

after authentication of the user, displaying a dialog to identify a user-specified file;

after identifying the user-specified file, performing a file transfer operation between the remote server and the local machine with respect to the user-specified file; and

after identifying the user-specified file, executing the e-mail operation with respect to the user-specified file.

11. The method as described in claim 10 wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation, and wherein the file transfer operation retrieves the user-specified file from the remote server prior to executing the e-mail operation.

12. The method as described in claim 10 wherein the e-mail operation is an export/detach operation, and wherein the file transfer operation transfers the user-specified file to the remote server after executing the e-mail operation.

13. The method as described in claim 10 wherein the file transfer operation is performed via a given protocol.

14. The method as described in claim 13 wherein the given protocol is FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

15. The method as described in claim 10 further including a step of saving the user-specified file to a local directory prior to executing the e-mail import/attach or export/detach operation.

16. A computer program product in a computer useable medium for use in a client, comprising:

means responsive to a request to perform an e-mail operation for determining whether the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server or with respect to the local machine, wherein the e-mail operation is initiated by a user of the local machine, and wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation or an export/detach operation;

means responsive to a determination that the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server for displaying a dialog to enable a user to perform a login to the remote server;

means for performing a file transfer operation between the remote server and the local machine with respect to a user-specified file after authentication of the user; and

means for executing the e-mail operation with respect to the user-specified file after authentication of the user.

17. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation, and wherein the means for performing the file transfer operation retrieves the user-specified file from the remote server prior to executing the e-mail operation.

18. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the e-mail operation is an export/detach operation, and wherein the means for performing the file transfer operation transfers the user-specified file to the remote server after executing the e-mail operation.

19. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the file transfer operation is performed using a file transfer protocol.

20. The computer program product as described in claim 19 wherein the file transfer protocol is FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

21. The computer program product as described in claim 16 further including means for verifying the file transfer operation.

22. The computer program product as described in claim 16 further comprising means for receiving a userid, a password, and a hostname in the displayed dialog.

23. The computer program product as described in claim 16 further comprising means for displaying a dialog to identify a user-specified file.

24. A computer program product in a computer useable medium for use in a computer, comprising:

means responsive to a request to perform an e-mail operation for determining whether the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server or with respect to the local machine, wherein the e-mail operation is initiated by a user of the local machine, and wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation or an export/detach operation;

means responsive to a determination that the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server for displaying a dialog to enable a user to perform a login to the remote server;

means for displaying a dialog to identify a user-specified file after authentication of the user;

means for performing a file transfer operation between the remote server and the local machine with respect to the user-specified file after identifying the user-specified file; and

means for executing the e-mail operation with respect to the user-specified file after identifying the user-specified file.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

an e-mail client;

means responsive to a request to perform an e-mail operation for determining whether the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server or with respect to the local machine, wherein the e-mail operation is initiated by a user of the local machine, and wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation or an export/detach operation;

means responsive to a determination that the e-mail operation is to be performed with respect to a remote server for displaying a dialog to enable a user to perform a login to the remote server;

means for performing a file transfer operation between the remote server and the local machine with respect to a user-specified file after authentication of the user; and

means for executing the e-mail operation with respect to the user-specified file after authentication of the user.

26. The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the e-mail operation is an import/attach operation, and wherein the means for performing the file transfer operation retrieves the user-specified file from the remote server prior to executing the e-mail operation.

27. The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the e-mail operation is an export/detach operation, and wherein the means for performing the file transfer operation transfers the user-specified file to the remote server after executing the e-mail operation.