Electronic mail file access system
First Claim
1. A method for managing file access via an electronic message, the method comprising:
- (a) displaying an electronic message window that includes a plurality of fields including a first field, a second field, and a third field;
(b) creating an electronic message containing indicia of addresses and a reference to an electronic file, and generating file access authorization data, by;
(1) accepting, in the first field, indicia identifying one or more addresses to which the electronic message is to be transmitted; and
(2) either or both;
(i) accepting, in the second field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of viewers authorized to view the file and generating associated file authorization data;
or(ii) accepting, in the third field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of editors authorized to modify the file and generating associated file authorization data;
(c) transmitting the electronic message to the addresses identified by the indicia in the first field; and
(d) in response to a request for access to the file referenced in the electronic message by a viewer identified in the file access authorization data as authorized to view or modify the file, transmitting data of the file, separately from the electronic message, to the address associated with the requesting viewer.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail file access system (100) and associated methods permit a person (102) who originates or maintains a file to allow a person (198) authorized to view or edit a file to access the file by transmitting an electronic message to the file accessor. The file manager can conveniently select whether the file accessor will be able to modify the file or just view it. A file manager can grant one or more accessors viewing or editing access to a file (or multiple files) through transmission of a common electronic message, or through transmission of a separate message for each file or accessor. Variations and methods with different advantageous features are also described.
95 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for managing file access via an electronic message, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying an electronic message window that includes a plurality of fields including a first field, a second field, and a third field; (b) creating an electronic message containing indicia of addresses and a reference to an electronic file, and generating file access authorization data, by; (1) accepting, in the first field, indicia identifying one or more addresses to which the electronic message is to be transmitted; and (2) either or both; (i) accepting, in the second field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of viewers authorized to view the file and generating associated file authorization data;
or(ii) accepting, in the third field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of editors authorized to modify the file and generating associated file authorization data; (c) transmitting the electronic message to the addresses identified by the indicia in the first field; and (d) in response to a request for access to the file referenced in the electronic message by a viewer identified in the file access authorization data as authorized to view or modify the file, transmitting data of the file, separately from the electronic message, to the address associated with the requesting viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data storage medium comprising instructions for a processor to perform a method for managing access to a file, via an electronic message, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying an electronic message window that includes a plurality of fields including a first field, a second field, and a third field; (b) creating an electronic message containing indicia of addresses and a reference to an electronic file, and generating file access authorizing data, by; (1) accepting, in the first field, indicia identifying one or more addresses to which the electronic message is to be transmitted; and (2) either or both; (i) accepting, in the second field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of viewers authorized to view the file and generating associated file access authorization data;
or(ii) accepting, in the third field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of editors authorized to modify the file and generating associated file access authorization data; (c) transmitting indicia of the electronic message to the addresses identifying by the indicia in the first field; and (d) in response to a request for access to the file referenced in the electronic message by a viewer identified in the file access authorization data as authorized to view or modify the file, transmitting data of the file, separately from the electronic message, to the address associated with the requesting viewer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for managing access, via an electronic message, to a file maintained within a first domain, the system comprising:
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(a) means for accepting, into a first field of the message, indicia identifying addresses of one or more recipients of the message and, accepting into a second and third field, indicia designating each recipient as having viewing or editing privileges of the file respectively; and (b) means for transmitting the electronic message to the recipients within one or more domains distinct from the first domain such that, without transferring the file out of the first domain with the electronic message; (1) any recipients designated as file viewers and recipients designated as file editors can access the file; and (2) any recipients designated as file editors can modify the file.
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21. A method for modifying operation of an electronic message program that, during normal operation, (1) displays a message window including a message recipient field and a file identification field and (2) generates an electronic message for transmission to one or more persons, the method comprising:
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(a) causing the electronic message program to display a message window that, further to the message recipient field of part (1), also includes a file viewer field and a file editor field; (b) causing the electronic message program to accept user input, into an electronic message formed using the message window, of indicia of addresses, and (i) for any addresses inputted into the file viewer field, generating authorization data signifying viewing privileges for a file identified in the file identification field, and (ii) for any addresses inputted into the file editor field editing privileges for the file. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A data storage medium comprising of instructions for a processor to perform a method for modifying operation of an electronic message program that, during normal operation, (1) displays a message window including a message recipient field and a file identification field and (2) generates an electronic message for transmission to one or more persons, the method comprising:
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(a) causing the electronic message program to display a message window that, further to the message recipient field part (1) also includes a file viewer field and a file editor field; and (b) causing the electronic message program to accept user input, into an electronic message formed using the message window, of indicia of addresses, and (i) for any addresses inputted into the file viewer field, generating authorization data signifying viewing privileges for a file identified in the file identification field, and (ii) for any addresses inputted into the file editor field, generating authorization data signifying editing privileges for the file. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An electronic message system comprising a computer programmed with an electronic message program that,
(a) displays a message window including a message recipient field and a file identification field; -
(b) generates an electronic message for transmission to one or more addresses entered into the message recipient field; (c) includes, in a location in the electronic message separate from the message recipient field, indicia designating whether addresses entered into the message recipient field are associated with message recipients having viewing privileges of a file entered into the file identification field and whether such addresses are associated with the message recipients having editing privileges; and (d) stores authorization data, in a format and location suitable for controlling access to the file, corresponding to the indicia and signifying the identity of message recipients having viewing privileges for the file and the identity of message recipients having editing privileges for the file.
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31. A method for managing file access via an electronic message, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying a message window that includes a message recipient field and a file identification field; (b) generating an electronic message for transmission to one or more addresses entered into the message recipient field; (c) accepting, in at least one location in the message window separate from the message recipient field, indicia designating whether addresses entered into the message recipient field are associated with message recipients having viewing privileges for a file entered into the file identification field and whether such addresses are associated with the message recipients having editing privileges for the file; and (d) generating and storing authorization data, in a format and location suitable for controlling access to the file, corresponding to the indicia and signifying the identity of message recipients having viewing privileges for the file and the identity of message recipients having editing privileges for the file. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification