Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for performing format conversion of files attached to electronic messages

• US 7,624,152 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel, Liu, Jerry, Eason, Wendy
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Edward J
• Application Number:
  US11/298,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/246, 709/247
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message. A message entered by a user is accepted. The user'"'"'s selection of a file is also accepted, and the file is copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment. The file attachment is in a first file format of a file category. The file attachment is converted from the first file format to a second file format of the file category. The message entered by the user is transmitted, and the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.

Claims

1. A method for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message, the method comprising:

accepting a message entered by a user at a sending device;

accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment at the sending device, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received from the user indicating that the file attachment should be converted;

converting the file attachment from the first file format to a second file format of the file category;

quarantining the file attachment in the first file format;

transmitting the message entered by the user to a message recipient, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category, the converted file attachment in the second file format being associated with a flag indicating that the converted file attachment has been converted from a different format;

receiving a request from the message recipient for the quarantined file attachment in the first file format; and

transmitting the file attachment in the first file format to the message recipient in response to the request;

wherein the second file format is selected based upon at least one of a mailbox size limitation or an attached file size limitation applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages, the sending device sending a pre-message inquiry to the receiving device over the communication network to determine whether the electronic mailbox of the message recipient has a message size limitation and/or a mailbox size limit.

2. An apparatus for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing at least one file in a first file format of a file category;

an input mechanism capable of accepting a message entered by a user, and capable of accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied from memory for accompanying the message as a file attachment, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

an output mechanism capable of prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received at the input mechanism indicating that the file attachment should be converted,

a processing mechanism for converting the file attachment from the first file format to a second file format of the file category;

the processing mechanism quarantining the file attachment in the first file format; and

a communication mechanism for transmitting the message entered by the user to a message recipient over a communication network, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category, the converted file attachment in the second file format being associated with a flag indicating that the converted file attachment has been converted from a different format;

the processing mechanism receiving a request from the message recipient for the quarantined file attachment in the first file format; and

the communication mechanism transmitting the file attachment in the first file format to the message recipient in response to the request;

wherein the communication mechanism is capable of communicating with a receiving device over a communication network, and the processing mechanism is capable of selecting the second file format based upon at least one of;

(i) a mailbox size limitation, or (ii) an attached file size limitation, applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages as determined by the communication mechanism engaging in a pre-message communication with the receiving device, the sending device sending a pre-message inquiry to the receiving device over the communication network to determine whether the electronic mailbox of the message recipient has a message size limitation and/or a mailbox size limit.

3. A computer program product for establishing a trusted network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

accepting a message entered by a user;

accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received from the user indicating that the file attachment should be converted;

generating a menu of file formats from which a second file format is selected by determining at least one of a mailbox size limitation or an attached file size limitation applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages, a sending device sending a pre-message inquiry to a receiving device over the communication network to determine whether the electronic mailbox of the message recipient has a message size limitation and/or a mailbox size limit;

converting the file attachment from the first file format to the second file format of the file category;

quarantining the file attachment in the first file format;

transmitting the message entered by the user to a message recipient, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category, the converted file attachment in the second file format being associated with a flag indicating that the converted file attachment has been converted from a different format;

receiving a request from the message recipient for the quarantined file attachment in the first file format; and

transmitting the file attachment in the first file format to the message recipient in response to the request.