Systems and methods for viewing email attachments as thumbnails

• US 8,185,591 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US11/241,710
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-229, 709201-206, 715/764, 707/104.1, 707/3, 455/466, 700/97, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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

Abstract

A method of displaying attachments associated with an electronic message includes, in response to a single user selection of a link to an electronic message, fetching from a document storage system an electronic message and attachment information associated with the electronic message. The attachment information includes one or more images, each image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of a respective attachment associated with the electronic message. The electronic message and the attachment information are displayed in an instance of a client application (e.g., a web browser window). From the images associated with the attachments, a user can have a quick preview of the contents of the attachments without having to download anyone of them.

Claims

1. A method of displaying attachments associated with an electronic message, comprising:

at a client computer having one or more processors and memory;

in response to a single user selection of a link to an electronic message;

fetching from a document storage system an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including a plurality of images and a plurality of links; and

simultaneously displaying, in an instance of a client application;

the electronic message and the attachment information, wherein;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is displayed as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row that are simultaneously displayed in response to the single user selection of the link to the electronic message, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment;

wherein;

when a respective view link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, a representation of the respective attachment is displayed at the client computer,

when a respective download link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, the respective attachment is downloaded to a location on the client computer,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the attachment information includes a set of at least two images generated based on a respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment and having different resolution and size.

3. The method of claim 1, including:

initially displaying the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, displaying a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment information includes, for a respective attachment of the at least two attachments, a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the second download link and the second view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in the first row the first image is displayed to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is displayed to the left of the second download link and the second view link.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

in the first row the first download link is vertically adjacent to the first view link; and

in the second row the second download link is vertically adjacent to the second view link.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

in the first row the first download link is horizontally adjacent to the first view link; and

in the second row the second download link is horizontally adjacent to the second view link.

4. A method of supplying attachments associated with an electronic message, comprising:

at a server system having one or more processors and memory;

sending to a client computer an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including a plurality of images and a plurality of links, wherein;

the electronic message and the attachment information are for simultaneous display in a single instance of a client application on the client computer;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is for display as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment; and

receiving a request corresponding to a user selection of one of the links, and in response to the request;

when the selected link is a respective view link associated with a respective attachment, identifying a representation of the respective attachment and transferring to the client computer the representation of the respective attachment for display at the client computer, and

when the selected link is a respective download link associated with a respective attachment, identifying the respective attachment corresponding to the download link, and transferring the respective attachment to a location on the client computer,

wherein

the first row and second row are for simultaneous display on the client computer in response to a single user request for the electronic message,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the attachment information for a respective attachment includes a set of at least two images generated based on the respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment, and having different resolution and size.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the attachment information includes, for a respective attachment of the at least two attachments, a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

18. The method of claim 4, including:

sending instructions to the client enabling the client to initially display the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, display a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein, within the multi-row table:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the first view link and the second view link are aligned vertically in the multi-row table.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein:

in the first row the first image is for display to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is for display to the left of the second download link and the second view link.

6. A system for serving an electronic message and its associated attachment information in response to client requests, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

at least one program, stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, the at least one program including instructions for;

sending a response to a client computer, the response including an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including a plurality of images and a plurality of links, wherein;

the electronic message and the attachment information are for simultaneous display in a single instance of a client application on the client computer;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is for display as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment; and

receiving a request from the client computer, the request corresponding to a user selection of one of the links, and in response to the request;

when the selected link is a respective view link associated with a respective attachment, identifying a representation of the respective attachment and transferring to the client computer the representation of the respective attachment for display at the client computer, and

when the selected link is a respective download link associated with a respective attachment, identifying the respective attachment corresponding to the download link, and transferring the respective attachment to a location on the client computer;

wherein

the first row and second row are for simultaneous display on the client computer in response to a single user request for the electronic message,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment information for a respective attachment includes a set of at least two images generated based on the respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment, and having different resolution and size.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment information includes, for a respective attachment of the at least two attachments, a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

21. The system of claim 6, the at least one program including instructions for:

sending instructions to the client enabling the client to initially display the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, display a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

22. The system of claim 6, wherein, within the multi-row table:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the first view link and the second view link are aligned vertically in the multi-row table.

23. The system of claim 6, wherein:

in the first row the first image is for display to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is for display to the left of the second download link and the second view link.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by a server system having one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for sending a response to a client computer, the response including an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including one or more images and a plurality of links;

wherein;

the electronic message and the attachment information are for simultaneous display in a single instance of a client application on the client computer;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is for display as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment; and

instructions for receiving a request from the client computer, the request corresponding to a single predefined user selection of one of the links;

instructions for responding to the request when the selected link is a respective view link associated with a respective attachment, by identifying a representation of the respective attachment and transferring to the client computer the representation of the respective attachment for display at the client computer, and

instructions for responding to the request when the selected link is a respective download link associated with a respective attachment, by identifying the respective attachment corresponding to the download link, and transferring the respective attachment to a location on the client computer;

wherein

the first row and second row are for simultaneous display on the client computer in response to a single user request for the electronic message,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the attachment information for a respective attachment includes a set of at least two images generated based on the respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment, and having different resolution and size.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more images associated with a respective attachment of the at least two attachments is a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, including instructions which cause the server system to:

send instructions to the client enabling the client to initially display the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, display a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein, within the multi-row table:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the first view link and the second view link are aligned vertically in the multi-row table.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

in the first row the first image is for display to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is for display to the left of the second download link and the second view link.

27. A system for displaying attachments associated with an electronic message, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

at least one program, stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, the at least one program including instructions for;

in response to a single user selection of a link to an electronic message;

fetching from a document storage system an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including a plurality of images and a plurality of links; and

simultaneously displaying, in an instance of a client application;

the electronic message and the attachment information, wherein;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is displayed as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment;

wherein;

when a respective view link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, a representation of the respective attachment is displayed at the client computer,

when a respective download link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, the respective attachment is downloaded to a location on the client computer,

the first row and second row are for simultaneous display by the system in response to the single user selection of the link to the electronic message,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein:

the attachment information fetched from the document database in response to the single user selection of a link includes a set of at least two images generated based on a respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment and having different resolution and size.

29. The system of claim 27, the at least one program including instructions for:

initially displaying the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, displaying a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein each of the one or more images associated with a respective attachment of the at least two attachments is a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein, within the multi-row table:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the first view link and the second view link are aligned vertically in the multi-row table.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein, within the multi-row table:

in the first row the first image is displayed to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is displayed to the left of the second download link and the second view link.

33. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a client computer with one or more processors, cause the client computer to:

in response to a single user selection of a link to an electronic message;

fetch from a document storage system an electronic message and attachment information associated with at least two attachments of the electronic message, the attachment information including a plurality of images and a plurality of links; and

simultaneously display, in an instance of a client application;

the electronic message and the attachment information, wherein;

the at least two attachments include a first attachment and a second attachment; and

the attachment information is displayed as a multi-row table including a first row and a second row, wherein;

the first row includes a first image representing the first attachment, a first download link for the first attachment and a first view link for the first attachment; and

the second row includes a second image representing the second attachment, a second download link for the second attachment and a second view link for the second attachment;

wherein;

when a respective view link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, a representation of the respective attachment is displayed at the client computer,

when a respective download link associated with a respective attachment is selected by the user, the respective attachment is downloaded to a location on the client computer,

the first row and second row are for simultaneous display on the client computer in response to the single user selection of the link to an electronic message,

the first image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the first attachment, and

the second image is a thumbnail image corresponding to at least a predefined portion of the second attachment.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein:

the attachment information fetched from the document database in response to the single user selection of a link, includes a set of at least two images generated based on a respective attachment, each respective image in the set of images corresponding to at least a same predefined portion of the respective attachment and having different resolution and size.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, including instructions which cause the client computer to:

initially display the electronic message and the first image, and subsequently, in response to a predefined user action, display a representation of the first attachment having a higher resolution than the first image, wherein the predefined user action comprises selecting the first image.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein each of the one or more images associated with a respective attachment of the at least two attachments is a thumbnail image of content of at least a predefined portion of the respective attachment, and the respective attachment is selected from the group consisting of a word-processor document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein:

the first download link and the first view link are aligned horizontally in the multi-row table; and

the first view link and the second view link are aligned vertically in the multi-row table.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein:

in the first row the first image is displayed to the left of the first download link and the first view link; and

in the second row the second image is displayed to the left of the second download link and the second view link.