Methods and systems for managing email configuration

• US 8,244,814 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Timothy G., Hernacki, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIAH, RAZU A
• Application Number:
  US12/059,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/200, 709230-246, 379/93.15, 379/39.24, 379/100.13, 370/389, 370/242, 370/392, 705/14
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for managing email configuration may include receiving a first email message from a first device, identifying device-type information in the first email message, identifying a second email message addressed to the first email address, and using the device-type information to select email-configuration information for the second email. The method may further include reformatting a body of the second email based on the email-configuration information, removing an attachment to the second email in response to the email-configuration information, providing a user with the email-configuration information for the second email message, and associating the device-type information with the first email address. A computer-implemented method for including email-configuration information in an email may involve identifying a first email message from a first user, including email-configuration information in the first email message, and sending the first email message to a first recipient. Corresponding systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing email configuration, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving a first email message from a first device, the first email message being;

received on a second device;

sent from a first email address;

identifying, on the second device, device-type information in the first email message, the device-type information indicating a device type of the first device;

associating the device-type information with the first email address;

identifying, on the second device, a second email message addressed to a destination email address;

detecting that the destination email address is associated with the device-type information, the destination email address being the same as the first email address;

using the device-type information on the second device to select email-configuration information for the second email, a configuration-information database comprising the email-configuration information;

reformatting, on the second device, a body of the second email based on the email-configuration information, the email-configuration information comprising formatting information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein reformatting the body of the second email comprises at least one of:

moving quoted text from a first location in the second email to a second location of the second email;

removing quoted text from the email;

changing a color of text in the second email;

changing a font size of text in the second email;

changing a font type of text in the second email;

changing a background of the second email.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising removing an attachment to the second email in response to the email-configuration information.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein removing an attachment to the second email comprises storing the attachment in an internet server.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user of the second device with the email-configuration information for the second email message.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein providing the user of the second device with the email-configuration information for the second email message comprises at least one of:

prompting the user to reformat the second email message;

prompting the user to remove an attachment from the second email message;

offering to store the attachment at a storage location;

querying the user about reformatting the second email message;

alerting the user that the second email message is too long.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising associating the device-type information with the first email address and saving the association on the second device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying a second email message addressed to the first email address comprises identifying a reply to the first email address on the second device, the second email message comprising the reply.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device-type information comprises at least one of:

a model of the first device;

a class of the first device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the email-configuration information comprises accessing the email-configuration information by at least one of:

an email gateway;

an email client.

11. A computer-implemented method for managing email configuration, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

identifying, on a first device, a first email message to be sent from a first user of the first device to a second user of a second device;

including, on the first device, email-configuration information in the first email message, the email-configuration information being formatted to provide an email-configuration module with at least one email configuration preference of the first user;

receiving, on the second device, the first email message from a first email address associated with the first user of the first device;

reading, on the second device, the email-configuration information included in the first email message, the email-configuration information being read by the email-configuration module, wherein reading the email-configuration information comprises associating the email-configuration information with the first email address and storing the association on the second device;

identifying, on the second device, the second email message addressed to a destination email address;

determining, by the second device and based on the destination email address being the same as the first email address, that the second email message is directed to the first user;

sending the first email message from the first device to the second device, the first email message being addressed to a second user of the second device from the first user of the first device;

receiving, at the first device, a second email message from the second device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising reconfiguring the second email message by performing at least one of:

reformatting, on the second device, a body of the second email message based on the email-configuration information, the email-configuration information comprising formatting information;

removing, on the second device, an attachment to the second email message in response to the email-configuration information;

providing the second user of the second device with reconfiguration information for the second email message, the email-configuration information comprising the reconfiguration information.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the email configuration preference of the first user is selected by the first user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the email configuration information is included in a header of the first email message.

15. A system for managing email configuration, the system comprising:

a hardware server that includes an interface, a storage module, an input device, an email-configuration module, and a processor, wherein;

the interface is configured to receive an indication of an email-configuration preference of an email user, the email-configuration preference being associated with a device type of a device used by the email user;

the storage module is programmed to

associate the email-configuration preference of the email user with an email destination identified by a destination email address;

store the association of the email-configuration preference, the device-type, and the email destination;

the input device is configured to receive email messages;

the email-configuration module is programmed to;

identify email messages addressed to email addresses;

detect that the destination email address is associated with the email-configuration preference of the email user, the email addresses being the same as the destination email address;

reconfigure email messages directed to the email destination and destined for a system of the device type according to the email-configuration preference of the email user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the email-configuration preference comprises an email-formatting preference that identifies a reformatting function to be performed on bodies of email messages directed to the email destination.