Electronic file transfer for a communications device

• US 8,204,483 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bumiller, George Baldwin
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/162,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121-4122, 4554141-4143, 455/466, 709203-206
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for identifying an electronic file that is accessible by a communications node to be transmitted to a recipient. A communications device sends an identification of the electronic file. The communications node receives the identification of the electronic file, identifies the electronic file based on the identification, and accesses the electronic file for transmission to the recipient. The electronic file is not transmitted from the communications device to the communications node.

Claims

1. A method for execution by a wireless device configured to communicate with a communications node via a wireless network, the method comprising:

accepting user input for selecting at least one electronic file accessible by the communications node to be attached to a new electronic message being composed; and

sending the new electronic message and an identification of the at least one electronic file, the identification enabling the communications node to identify and attach the at least one electronic file to the new electronic message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic file comprises a user-selected electronic message of a plurality of electronic messages, the method further comprising:

generating a message identifier based on attributes of the user-selected electronic message; and

using the message identifier in the identification of the at least one electronic file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic file comprises a user-selected attachment of a plurality of attachments in respect of a plurality of electronic messages, the method further comprising:

generating an identifier based on attributes of the user-selected attachment; and

using the identifier in the identification of the at least one electronic file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic file comprises at least one of:

at least a portion of a memo file;

an electronic file of an Internet;

an electronic file stored in a repository that is accessible by the communications node; and

an electronic file accessible from an enterprise network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the new electronic message is any one of:

an email message, an attachment-enabled PIN message, and a multimedia messaging system (MMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a table of electronic files, the table of electronic files identifying a plurality of electronic files that are accessible by the communications node for attachment to the new electronic message being composed.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving electronic files;

automatically adding an identification of the electronic files into the table of electronic files.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

automatically removing entries from the table of electronic files after a defined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the identification as part of the new electronic message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a copy of the at least one electronic file on the communications device; and

synchronising the copy of the at least one electronic file with the at least one electronic file accessible by the communications node.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor of a wireless device so as to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless access radio configured to communicate with a communications node via a wireless network;

a user interface configured to accept user input for selecting at least one electronic file accessible by the communications node to be attached to a new electronic message being composed; and

an electronic file identification function configured to send the new electronic message and an identification of the at least one electronic file, the identification enabling the communications node to identify and attach the at least one electronic file to the new electronic message.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the electronic file identification function is further configured to:

receive at least a portion of each of a plurality of electronic messages, each portion comprising an identifier; and

generate the identification of the at least one electronic file based on the identifier of at least one of the plurality of electronic messages.

14. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the at least one electronic file comprises at least one of:

a user-selected electronic message of a plurality of electronic messages; and

a user-selected attachment of a plurality of attachments in respect of a plurality of electronic messages.

15. A user interface of a communications device configured to communicate with a communications node via a network, the user interface comprising:

a display configured to display an identification of at least one electronic file accessible by the communications node;

an input configured to accept a user selection of the at least one electronic file to be attached to a new electronic message being composed, and to accept a command to send the new electronic message and an identification of the user selection so that the communications node can identify and attach the at least one electronic file to the new electronic message.

16. The user interface of claim 15 wherein the display is further adapted to present a table of electronic files that are immediately available for use as attachments for the new electronic message.

17. The user interface of claim 16 wherein the table of electronic files comprises at least one of:

a file name attribute indicating file names of the electronic files;

a file type attribute indicating file extensions of the electronic files;

a file source attribute indicating each of the electronic files as being enterprise-related or internet-related;

a file public indication attribute indicating which of the electronic files are public;

a file date attribute indicating for each of the electronic files at least one of;

date of the electronic file, date of being acquired, and date category, the date category being at least one of today, past week, past month, and past quarter; and

a file note attribute indicating sensitivity of enterprise-related electronic files.

18. A method for execution by a communications node configured to communicate with a wireless device via a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a new electronic message and an identification of at least one electronic file to be attached to the new electronic message;

identifying the at least one electronic file using the identification;

attaching the at least one electronic file to the new electronic message; and

transmitting the new electronic message to at least one recipient.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor of a communications node so as to implement the method of claim 18.

20. A communications node configured to communicate with a wireless device via a wireless network, the communications node comprising:

a processor; and

an electronic file attachment function configured to;

receive a new electronic message and an identification of at least one electronic file to be attached to the new electronic message;

identify the at least one electronic file using the identification;

attach the at least one electronic file to the new electronic message; and

transmit the new electronic message to at least one recipient.