Method and system for improving email traffic using a digital imaging device

• US 6,959,328 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: IPAC Acquisition Subsidiary I LLC
• Inventors: Petersen, Lynn Erich, Gillaspy, Richard Adams
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/527,077
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/227, 709/230, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and system for improving email traffic which can involve portable digital imaging devices is disclosed. In first and second aspects, the method and system allow a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message. A first type of attachment is allowed by the portable digital imaging device. The attachment is described a second type. In the first aspect, the method and system include determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device and providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device only if the first type is the same as the second type. In the second aspect, the method and system include utilizing the portable digital imaging device to determine whether the first type is the same as the second type while receiving the email message, accepting the attachment if the first type is the same as the second type and terminating receipt of the attachment if the first type does not is the same as the second type. In a third aspect, the method allows an image that can be from a portable digital imaging device to be viewed by a recipient. In this aspect, the method and system include receiving the image and an identity of the recipient, storing the image in a location having an address and sending a message to the recipient using the identity of the recipient. The message includes the address and excludes the image.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described as a second type, the method comprising:

(a) receiving the attachment and the email message from a sender;

(b) receiving the first type from the digital imaging device;

(c) determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device;

(d) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type; and

(e) refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type; and

(f) establishing communication to the portable imaging device prior to the determining step (c).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the email message further includes a header indicating the second type of the attachment and wherein the determining step (c) further includes:

(c) reading the header to determine the second type.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the header includes a name and the second type designation and wherein the reading step (c1) further includes:

(c1i) reading the header to determine the name, the second type designation, or both the name and the second type designation.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the determining step (c) further includes:

(c2) utilizing the name, the second type designation, or both the name and the second type designation to determine whether the first type is the same as the second type.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable digital imaging device further includes a digital camera.

6. A method for allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device;

(b) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type;

wherein the first type further includes a first preference and wherein the attachment providing step (b) further includes;

(b1) determining whether a second preference of the attachment is the same as the first preference if the first type is the same as the second type;

(b2) modifying the attachment to provide a modified attachment having a third preference if the first type is the same as the second type and if the first preference is different from the second preference, the third preference being provided from the first preference and being the same as the second preference;

(b3) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is the same as the second preference; and

(b4) providing the modified attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is not the same as the second preference;

(c) refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type; and

(d) establishing communication to the portable imaging device prior to the determining step (a).

7. A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

at least a first server module for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message; and

a screening unit, communicatively coupled with the at least the first server process, for managing the email message, the screening unit for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;

wherein the screening unit determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device and the server receives the first type from the portable digital imaging device.

8. The server of claim 7 wherein the email message further includes a header indicating the second type of the attachment and wherein the screening unit determines whether the first type is the same as the second type by reading the header to determine the second type.

9. The server of claim 8 wherein the header includes a name and the second type designation and wherein the screening unit reads the header to determine the name, the second type designation, or both the name and the second type designation.

10. The server of claim 9 wherein the screening unit utilizes the name, the second type designation, or both the name and the second type designation to determine whether the first type is the same as the second type.

11. The server of claim 7 wherein the portable digital imaging device further includes a digital camera.

12. A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

at least a first server process for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message; and

a screening unit, communicatively coupled with the at least the first server process, for managing the email message, the screening unit for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;

wherein the screening unit determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device;

wherein the first type further includes a first preference and wherein the screening unit further determines whether a second preference of the attachment is the same as the first preference if the first type is the same as second type, modifies the attachment to provide a modified attachment having a third preference if the first type is the same as the second type and if the first preference is different from the second preference, the third preference being provided from the first preference and being the same as the second preference, provides the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is the same as the second preference and provides the modified attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is not the same as the second preference.

13. A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message; and

means for managing the email message, the managing means further including means for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, means for providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and means for refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type

wherein the managing means determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device and the server receives the first type from the portable digital imaging device.

14. A computer-readable medium including a program for allowing a portable digital imaging to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the program including instructions for:

(a) receiving the attachment and the email message from a sender;

(b) receiving the first type from the digital imaging device;

(c) determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device;

(d) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type; and

(e) refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;

(f) establishing communication to the portable imaging device prior to the determining instructions (c) being performed.