Remotely initiated document transmission

• US 7,428,578 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Poppink, Derek E, Hull, Jonathan J
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mesfin; Yemane
• Application Number:
  US10/188,912
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/218, 709/201, 709/213, 709/214, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A method, system, computer program product, and user interface for securely and remotely selecting and initiating transmission of stored electronic documents from one device to another. The user may perform such operations with respect to documents on a source PC from any network-connected location, regardless of whether a firewall is present. A directory representation of the source PC'"'"'s hard drive is transmitted to the user at his or her remote location. The user can navigate within the directory representation to select a document for transmission to a specified destination. An e-mail message is transmitted from the user'"'"'s remote location to the source PC that causes the selected document to be packaged as an attachment and transmitted to the specified destination.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, comprising:

receiving at a source device from a remote device a first electronic mail message comprising a first request command for a graphical representation of a directory of documents stored on the source device;

responsive to the received first message

traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory; and

transmitting from the source device to the remote device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the directory, the graphical representation navigable on a user interface of the remote device;

receiving at the source device from the remote device a third electronic mail message comprising a second request command to transmit at least one of the documents stored on the source device to an intermediate server; and

responsive to the received third message, transmitting from the intermediate server source device to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message comprising the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a printer;

a fax machine; and

a multifunction device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the first and third electronic mail messages comprise receiving the messages across a firewall; and

transmitting the second and fourth electronic mail messages comprise transmitting the messages across a firewall.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stored documents comprises documents stored on a hard drive, the method further comprising:

prior to transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, retrieving the requested at least one stored document from the hard drive.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the second electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the directory request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the document request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one stored document is stored in a first format, the method further comprising:

prior to transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, converting the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device to a second format.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein converting the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device to the second format comprises:

rendering the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device in a print-ready format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises:

encrypting the directory; and

transmitting an electronic mail message containing the encrypted directory.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the fourth electronic mail message comprises:

encrypting the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device; and

transmitting an electronic mail message containing the encrypted at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic mail message further contains meta-information describing the at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

12. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, comprising:

receiving at a source device from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a first request command for a directory describing a plurality of stored documents on the source device;

responsive to the received first message;

traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory;

determining at the source device a portion of the requested directory describing the plurality of stored documents that has been designated by a user of the source computer for remote access; and

transmitting from the source device to the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the graphical representation of the directory and information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access;

receiving at the source device from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a second request command to transmit at least one of the stored documents to an intermediate server; and

responsive to the received third message, and responsive to the requested at least one stored document being designated for remote access, transmitting from the source device intermediate server to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document to the remote device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the source device comprises a personal computer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

transmitting the first and third electronic mail messages comprise transmitting the messages across a firewall; and

receiving the second electronic mail messages comprises receiving the message across a firewall.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, authentication information; and

authenticating the user based on the received authentication information.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, authentication information; and

transmitting, to the source device, the received authentication information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the fourth electronic mail message contains an indication of a requested format.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the second electronic mail message contains the requested directory in an encrypted form, the method further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted directory.

43. The method of claim 12, wherein the information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access is configured to display only the designated portion of the directory in the graphical representation in the second electronic email message.

44. The method of claim 12, wherein the information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access is visually distinguishable in the graphical representation from the remainder of the directory.

19. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, at a source device from a remote device, a first electronic mail message comprising a first request command for a directory describing a plurality of documents stored on the source device;

responsive to the received first message;

traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory comprising abridged representations of contents of each of the documents stored on the source device; and

transmitting from the source device to the remote device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the directory, wherein the abridged representations allow the contents of the each of the documents to be easily discerned by a user of the remote device;

receiving at the source device from the remote device a third electronic mail message comprising a second request command to transmit at least one of the documents stored on the source device to an intermediate server; and

responsive to the received third message, transmitting from the intermediate server source device to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message comprising the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the remote device comprises a personal digital assistant.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the remote device comprises a handheld computer.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein:

receiving the first request command for the directory comprises receiving the first request command via wireless communication;

transmitting the received directory to the remote device comprises transmitting the received directory via wireless communication; and

receiving the second request command comprises receiving the second request command via wireless communication.

55. The method of claim 19, wherein the abridged representations comprise at least one from the group consisting of document thumbnails and document summaries.

56. The method of claim 19, wherein the abridged representations are searchable by the user.

23. A system for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, comprising:

a storage device of a source device, for storing a plurality of documents organized in a directory of documents stored on the source device;

an inbound electronic mail processing module of the source device, for receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message comprising a first request command for a graphical representation of the directory of documents stored on the source device;

a directory generation module, for traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory;

an electronic mail transmission module of the source device, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and to the storage device, for, responsive to the received first message, transmitting to the remote device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the directory, wherein a user interface on the remote device permits navigation throughout the graphical representation;

wherein the inbound electronic mail processing module further receives from the remote device a third electronic mail message comprising a second request command to transmit at least one of the documents stored on the source device to an intermediate server; and

wherein responsive to the received third message, the electronic mail transmission module transmits from the intermediate server to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message comprising the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the remote device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a printer;

a fax machine; and

a multifunction device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the first and third electronic mail messages across a firewall; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second and fourth electronic mail messages across a firewall.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the second electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the directory request.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the document request.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one stored document is stored in a first format, the system further comprising:

a document conversion module, coupled to electronic mail transmission module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, converting the requested at least one stored document to a second format.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the document conversion module renders the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the directory; and

the second electronic mail message comprises the encrypted directory.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the requested at least one stored document; and

the fourth electronic mail message comprises the encrypted at least one stored document.

33. A system for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, including a remote access device comprising:

an input device, for receiving, from a user, a first request command for a graphical representation of a directory describing a plurality of documents stored on the source device;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device, for transmitting to a source device a first electronic mail message comprising the received first request command;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving from the source device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the requested directory generated at the source device by traversing the directory stored on the source device; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying the graphical representation of the received directory, the display comprising a user interface that permits navigation throughout the graphical representation;

wherein;

the input device further receives, from the user, a third electronic message comprising a selection of at least one document from the graphical representation of the directory to be sent to an intermediate server, at least one destination identifier, and

a second request command for the selected at least one document to be sent from the intermediate server to the identified at least one destination.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the source device comprises a personal computer.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the first and third electronic mail messages across a firewall; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the second electronic mail message across a firewall.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the input device receives, from the user, authentication information; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits, to the source device, the received authentication information.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the third electronic mail message contains an indication of a requested format.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the second electronic mail message contains the requested directory in an encrypted form, the system further comprising:

a decryption module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for decrypting the encrypted directory.

39. A system for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, including a source device comprising:

a storage device of the source device, for storing a plurality of documents organized in a directory of documents stored on the source device;

an inbound electronic mail processing module of the source device, for receiving, from a remote device, a first electronic mail message comprising a first request command for a graphical representation of the directory;

a directory generation module of the source device, for traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory;

a portion designation module, for determining at the source device a portion of the requested directory describing the plurality of stored documents that has been designated by a user of the source computer for remote access;

an electronic mail transmission module of the source device, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and storage device, for, responsive to the received first message, transmitting to the remote device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the directory and information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access;

wherein the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the remote device, a third electronic message comprising a second request command to transmit at least one of the documents stored on the source device to an intermediate server and at least one destination identifier; and

wherein responsive to the received third message, the electronic mail transmission module transmits from the intermediate server to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message comprising the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the remote device comprises a personal digital assistant.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the remote device comprises a handheld computer.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the request for the directory and the selection of at least one document from the directory via wireless communications; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the received directory via wireless communication.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein the information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access is configured to display only the designated portion of the directory in the graphical representation in the second electronic email message.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein the information indicating the portion of the requested directory designated for remote access is visually distinguishable in the graphical representation from the remainder of the directory.

47. A system for remotely selecting and initiating transmission of an electronic document, comprising:

a storage device of a source device, for storing a plurality of documents organized in a directory of documents stored on the source device;

an inbound electronic mail processing module of the source device, for receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message comprising a first request command for a graphical representation of the directory comprising abridged representations of contents of each of the documents stored on the source device;

a directory generation module, for traversing the directory of the source device to generate a graphical representation of the directory;

an electronic mail transmission module of the source device, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and to the storage device, for, responsive to the received first message, transmitting to the remote device a second electronic mail message comprising the graphical representation of the directory, wherein the abridged representations allow the contents of the each of the documents to be easily discerned by a user of the remote device;

wherein the inbound electronic mail processing module further receives from the remote device a third electronic mail message comprising a second request command to transmit from an intermediate server at least one of the documents stored on the source device; and

wherein responsive to the received third message, the electronic mail transmission module transmits from the intermediate server to at least one destination device a fourth electronic mail message comprising the requested at least one of the documents stored on the source device.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the first and third electronic mail messages across a firewall; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second and fourth electronic mail messages across a firewall.

49. The system of claim 47, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the second electronic mail message, authenticating the user initiating the directory request.

50. The system of claim 47, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, authenticating the user initiating the document request.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the at least one stored document is stored in a first format, the system further comprising:

a document conversion module, coupled to electronic mail transmission module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, converting the requested at least one stored document to a second format.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the document conversion module renders the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the directory; and

the second electronic mail message comprises the encrypted directory.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the requested at least one stored document; and

the fourth electronic mail message comprises the encrypted at least one stored document.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein the abridged representations comprise at least one from the group consisting of document thumbnails and document summaries.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the abridged representations are searchable by the user.