Automatic download of web content in response to an embedded link in an electronic mail message

• US 8,195,745 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh, Nizamudeen, Ishmael Jr., Jameossanaie, Javid
• Primary Examiner(s): Swearingen, Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US09/876,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,016 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A distributed computer system including a server and a client, the server including a message store, a method for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages is provided. At least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink is received at the server. Web content associated with the hyperlink is downloaded into the message content store at the server. The mail message and the corresponding Web content are then transmitted for display at the client.

Claims

1. In a distributed computer system including a server and a client, the server including a message store, a method for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages comprising:

receiving at a server, at least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink;

downloading Web content associated with the hyperlink into the message store as the server;

transmitting the mail message and the corresponding Web content for display at the client;

detecting, at the server, a plurality of incoming mail messages containing a common hyperlink;

tagging each incoming mail message containing the common hyperlink;

storing one copy of the Web content associated with the common hyperlink in the message store at the server; and

parsing the hyperlink when a tagged message is sent to the client.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the Web content exceeds a predetermined size; and

in response to determining that the Web content exceeds a predetermined size, compressing the Web content that exceeds the predetermined size, at the server.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the client has a preset time for downloading messages containing Web content; and

in response to determining that a preset time for downloading Web content exists, caching the message and Web content at the server until the preset time is reached.

4. A distributed computer system including a server and a client, the server including a message store, for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages comprising:

means for receiving at a server, at least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink;

means for downloading Web content associated with the hyperlink into the message store at the server;

means for transmitting the mail message and the corresponding Web content for display at the client;

means for detecting, at the server, a plurality of incoming mail messages containing a common hyperlink;

means for tagging each incoming mail message containing the common hyperlink;

means for storing one copy of the Web content associated with the common hyperlink in the message store at the server; and

means for parsing the hyperlink when a tagged message is sent to the client.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

means for determining whether the web content exceeds a predetermined size; and

in response to determining that the Web content exceeds a predetermined size, means for comprising the Web content that exceeds the predetermined size, at the server.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

means for determining whether the client has a preset time for downloading messages containing Web content; and

in response to determining that a preset time for downloading Web content exists, means for caching the message and Web content at the server until the preset time is reached.

7. A computer program product having computer code on a non-transitory computer readable medium for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages comprising:

instructions for receiving at a server, at least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink;

instructions for downloading Web content associated with the hyperlink into the message store at the server;

instructions for transmitting the mail message and the corresponding Web content for display at the client;

instructions for detecting, at the server, a plurality of incoming mail messages containing a common hyperlink;

instructions for tagging each incoming mail message containing the common hyperlink;

instructions for storing one copy of the Web content associated with the common hyperlink in the message store at the server; and

instructions for parsing the hyperlink when a tagged message is sent to the client.

8. The product of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions for determining whether the web content exceeds a predetermined size; and

in response to determining that the Web content exceeds a predetermined size, instructions for compressing the Web content that exceeds the predetermined size, at the server.

9. The product of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions for determining whether the client has a preset time for downloading messages containing Web content; and

in response to determining that a preset time for downloading Web content exists, instructions for caching the message and Web content at the server until the preset time is reached.