Method and system for publishing an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message

• US 20040098461A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary J. Dennis
• Original Assignee: Gary J. Dennis
• Inventors: Dennis, Gary J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Publishing content associated with an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message by executing instructions contained in the electronic mail attachment and accessing the content at a remote computer server identified by the attached file. The attached file includes computer-executable instructions, such as a computer program or script, which include an identifier for a remote server connected to a distributed computer network. This identified remote server typically hosts a web site containing content intended for viewing by the recipient of the electronic mail message. In response to launching the attached file of the electronic mail message with a viewer program, a browser program can be opened to enable the recipient to view the content of the identified remote server, typically a web site on an intranet or the global Internet. This supports the communication of electronic content by using an electronic mail message to transport an electronic file attachment having instructions that, when executed by the recipient'"'"'s computer, enable the recipient to view the electronic content by accessing a server computer connected to distributed computer network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating content intended for delivery to a recipient of an electronic mail message having an attached electronic file, comprising the steps of:

responsive to an input signal, accessing the attached electronic file;

obtaining the identity of a remote server computer hosting the content in response to accessing the attached electronic file;

displaying the content intended for delivery to the recipient of the electronic mail message by using the identity to establish a connection with the remote server computer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the content intended for delivery to the recipient of the electronic mail message comprises the steps of:

launching a browser program;

providing the browser program with the identity of the remote server computer hosting the content;

establishing a connection by the browser program with the remote server computer;

displaying the content within a viewing window of the browser program.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote server hosts a web site containing the content intended for delivery to the recipient of the electronic mail message and the attached electronic file only contains instructions for accessing the content at the web site.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a message contained in the attached electronic file in response to receiving the input signal.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying a message contained in the attached electronic file comprises the steps of:

launching a document viewing program;

displaying the message within a viewing window of the document viewing program

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the message of the electronic file attachment comprises a text-based instruction message comprising instructions to aid the recipient'"'"'s access to the content maintained by the remote server computer.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising the step of opening a browser program by launching the file attachment from a viewer program to access the content at the remote server computer in response to JavaScript commands contained in the electronic file attachment.