Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for performing format conversion of files attached to electronic messages

• US 20070136427A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel, Liu, Jerry, Eason, Wendy
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message. A message entered by a user is accepted. The user'"'"'s selection of a file is also accepted, and the file is copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment. The file attachment is in a first file format of a file category. The file attachment is converted from the first file format to a second file format of the file category. The message entered by the user is transmitted, and the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.

Claims

1. A method for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message, the method comprising:

accepting a message entered by a user;

accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

converting the file attachment from the first file format to a second file format of the file category; and

transmitting the message entered by the user, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.

2. The method of claim 1 further including prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received from the user indicating that the file attachment should be converted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second file format is selected by the user from a menu of file formats in the file category.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second file format is selected based upon one or more software programs that are installed in a receiving device for receiving the transmitted message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second file format is selected based upon at least one of a mailbox size limitation or an attached file size limitation applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format and an unconverted file attachment in the first file format.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the transmitted message, a second message is transmitted including an unconverted file attachment in the first file format.

8. An apparatus for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing at least one file in a first file format of a file category;

an input mechanism capable of accepting a message entered by a user, and capable of accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied from memory for accompanying the message as a file attachment, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

a processing mechanism for converting the file attachment from the first file format to a second file format of the file category; and

a communication mechanism for transmitting the message entered by the user over a communication network, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an output mechanism capable of prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received at the input mechanism indicating that the file attachment should be converted.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the output mechanism is capable of displaying a menu of file formats in the file category, and the input mechanism is capable of accepting a user'"'"'s selection of a format from the menu of file formats, wherein the selected format is adopted as the second file format.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the communication mechanism is capable of communicating with a receiving device over a communication network, and the processing mechanism is capable of selecting the second file format based upon one or more software programs that are installed in a receiving device as determined by the communication mechanism engaging in a pre-message communication with the receiving device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the communication mechanism is capable of communicating with a receiving device over a communication network, and the processing mechanism is capable of selecting the second file format based upon at least one of:

(i) a mailbox size limitation, or (ii) an attached file size limitation;

applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages as determined by the communication mechanism engaging in a pre-message communication with the receiving device.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format and an unconverted file attachment in the first file format.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, in addition to the transmitted message, a second message is transmitted including an unconverted file attachment in the first file format.

15. A computer program product for establishing a trusted network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating

a method comprising;

accepting a message entered by a user;

accepting the user'"'"'s selection of a file to be copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment, wherein the file attachment is in a first file format of a file category;

converting the file attachment from the first file format to a second file format of the file category; and

transmitting the message entered by the user, wherein the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 15 further including instructions for prompting the user as to whether or not the file attachment should be converted from the first file format to a second file format in the file category, wherein converting the file attachment is not performed unless an input is received from the user indicating that the file attachment should be converted.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 15 further including instructions for generating a menu of file formats in the file category, thus permitting the second file format to be selected by the user from the menu of file formats.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 15 further including instructions for generating a menu of file formats from which the second file format is selected by determining one or more software applications that are installed in a receiving device for receiving the transmitted message.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 15 further including instructions for generating a menu of file formats from which the second file format is selected by determining at least one of a mailbox size limitation or an attached file size limitation applicable to a message recipient'"'"'s incoming electronic messages.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 further including instructions for performing at least one of:

(a) transmitting a message that is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format and an unconverted file attachment in the first file format;

or (b) in addition to transmitting the message that is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format, transmitting a second message including an unconverted file attachment in the first file format.