Method and computer device for inserting attachments into electronic message

• US 9,032,034 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pan, Bor-Ping, Tsai, Jenny, Yen, Jacqueline Li-Ling, Liao, Shen-Jai S J
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US13/597,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments

Abstract

A method for inserting attachments into an electronic message is provided. The method may include searching a keyword database to determine if a content of the electronic message includes a keyword, a key phrase, or a key sentence defined in the keyword database. The method may also include applying a condition to a file database, if the determination is affirmative, so as to search for at least a candidate item. The candidate item may be presented in a menu to the user. The method may further include enabling, in response to the user'"'"'s confirmation of the candidate item, the confirmed candidate item to be inserted into the electronic message automatically to become an attachment thereto.

Claims

1. A method for inserting attachments into an electronic message, the method being performed on a computer device by a computer program, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) searching, via the computer device, a keyword database to determine if a content of the electronic message includes a keyword, a key phrase, or a key sentence defined in the keyword database, the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence being indicative of a user intent to provide an attachment to the electronic message;

(b) applying, via the computer device, a condition to a file database, if the determination is affirmative, so as to search for at least a candidate item and present the candidate item in a menu to the user, the condition applied to the file database based upon a file related attribute that is independent of the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence, wherein a defined punctuation mark included with at least one of the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence indicates not to apply the condition to the file database and search for the candidate item while the user composes the electronic message; and

(c) enabling, via the computer device, in response to a confirmation from the user of the candidate item, the confirmed candidate item to be inserted into the electronic message automatically to become an attachment thereto.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the searching and the applying are executed in real time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is one of a latest accessed file, a latest revised file, a latest created file, a latest file inserted as an attachment, and a latest sent file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying further comprises:

providing a search field to enable the user to enter at least a search condition for searching the file database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling the confirmed candidate item to be inserted into the electronic message further comprises:

putting a filename of the confirmed candidate item behind the keyword or key sentence in the content automatically.

6. A computer device, comprising:

a processor, executing an electronic message program, configured for;

(a) searching a keyword database to determine if a content of the electronic message includes a keyword, a key phrase, or a key sentence defined in the keyword database, the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence being indicative of a user intent to provide an attachment to the electronic message;

(b) applying a condition to a file database, if the determination is affirmative, so as to search for at least a candidate item and present the candidate item in a menu to the user, the condition applied to the file database based upon a file related attribute that is independent of the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence, wherein a defined punctuation mark included with at least one of the keyword, the key phrase, or the key sentence indicates not to apply the condition to the file database and search for the candidate item while the user composes the electronic message; and

(c) enabling in response to a confirmation from the user of the candidate item, the confirmed candidate item to be inserted into the electronic message automatically to become an attachment thereto.

7. The computer device of claim 6, wherein the searching and the applying are executed in real time.

8. The computer device of claim 6, wherein the condition is one of a latest accessed file, a latest revised file, a latest created file, a latest file inserted as an attachment, and a latest sent file.

9. The computer device of claim 6, wherein the applying further comprises:

providing a search field to enable the user to enter at least a search condition for searching the file database.

10. The computer device of claim 6, wherein enabling the confirmed candidate item to be inserted into the electronic message further comprises:

putting a filename of the confirmed candidate item behind the keyword or key sentence in the content automatically.

11. The computer device of claim 6, further comprising:

a storage device for storing the keyword database.

12. The computer device of claim 6, further comprising:

a storage device for storing the file database.

13. The computer device of claim 6, further comprising:

a communication module connected to a server for storing the keyword database;

wherein the electronic message program accesses the server via the communication module to search the keyword database.

14. The computer device of claim 6, further comprising:

a communication module connected to a server for storing the file database;

wherein the electronic message program accesses the server via the communication module to search the file database.