RICH EMAIL ATTACHMENT PRESENTATION

• US 20120124143A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chung, Wook Jin, Patwa, Pritesh
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,836 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing a rich email experience for an email with an attachment. Intention metadata that is associated with an attachment to an email is identified, where the intention metadata indicates a sender intention for the attachment. The intention metadata may be identified prior to sending the email and included with the email, or identified after receipt of the email. Further, the intention metadata is applied to the attachment so that the attachment is presented in a rich format to the recipient that reflects the sender intention for the attachment, such as highlighting portions, and/or presenting images, for example, in a desired sequence.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for providing a rich email experience for an email with an attachment, comprising:

identifying intention metadata associated with an attachment to an email where the intention metadata indicates a sender intention for the attachment; and

applying the intention metadata to the attachment, using a computer-based processor, such that a recipient can identify the sender intention for the attachment.

2. The method of claim 1, identifying the intention metadata comprising reading a metadata file attached to the email that comprises the intention metadata.

3. The method of claim 1, identifying the intention metadata comprising examining at least a portion of the email for the intention metadata, where the portion of the email comprises one or more of:

a header portion; and

a body portion.

4. The method of claim 1, identifying the intention metadata comprising examining a body of the email for an indicator of the sender intention for the attachment.

5. The method of claim 4, examining a body of the email for an indicator of the sender intention for the attachment comprising identifying a natural language indicator of the sender intention for the attachment.

6. The method of claim 1, the intention metadata comprising metadata that indicates one or more of:

at least a portion of the attachment that the sender intends for the recipient to view;

an action on at least a portion of the attachment that the sender intends to occur; and

a caption associated with at least a portion of the attachment that the sender intends to be viewed in association with the portion of the attachment.

7. The method of claim 1, the intention metadata comprising markup language code.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising applying the intention metadata to the attachment such that the sender intention is applied when the attachment is activated.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising applying the intention metadata to the attachment such that the sender intention for the attachment is displayed in a body portion of the email.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising generating intention metadata for the attachment.

11. The method of claim 10, generating intention metadata for the attachment comprising generating intention metadata from an intention indicator in a body portion of the email.

12. The method of claim 10, generating intention metadata for the attachment comprising an email generator collecting intention metadata from the sender.

13. The method of claim 10, generating intention metadata for the attachment comprising using sender generated intention metadata.

14. The method of claim 10, generating intention metadata for the attachment comprising using intention metadata generated by an application that supports the attachment.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising combining the intention metadata with the email comprising at least one of:

attaching a metadata file, comprising the intention metadata, to the email; and

incorporating the intention metadata into at least a portion of the email, the portion comprising at least one of;

an email header; and

an email body.

16. A system for providing a rich email experience for an email with an attachment, comprising:

a processor configured to process data for the system;

a metadata identification component operably coupled with the processor, and configured to identify intention metadata that indicates a sender intention for the attachment to the email; and

a metadata application component operably coupled with the metadata identification component, and configured to apply the intention metadata to the attachment such that a recipient can identify the sender intention for the attachment.

17. The system of claim 16, the intention metadata comprising markup code that performs one or more or:

brings a portion of the attachment to the recipient'"'"'s attention;

applies an action on one or more portions of the attachment; and

provides a caption for an associated portion of the attachment.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising an intention metadata generation component configured to generate intention metadata for the attachment by performing one or more of:

identifying an intention indicator in a body portion of the email;

collecting intention metadata from the sender;

using sender generated intention metadata; and

using intention metadata generated by an application that supports the attachment.

19. The system of claim 16, comprising an intention metadata combining component configured to combine the intention metadata with the email by performing one or more of:

attaching a metadata file, comprising the intention metadata, to the email; and

incorporating the intention metadata into at least a portion of the email, the portion comprising one or more of;

an email header; and

an email body.

20. A computer-based method for providing a rich email experience for an email with an attachment, comprising:

identifying intention metadata associated with an attachment to an email where the intention metadata comprises markup language code that indicates a sender intention for the attachment, comprising at least one of;

reading a metadata file attached to the email that comprises the intention metadata;

examining at least a portion of the email for the intention metadata; and

examining a body of the email for an indicator of the sender intention for the attachment, where the indicator comprises a natural language indicator of the sender intention for the attachment; and

applying the intention metadata to the attachment, using a computer-based processor, such that a recipient can identify the sender intention for the attachment, comprising at least one of;

applying the intention metadata to the attachment such that the sender intention is applied when the attachment is activated; and

applying the intention metadata to the attachment such that the sender intention for the attachment is displayed in a body portion of the email.