Remote retrieval of documents

• US 7,328,245 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Poppink, Derek E, Hull, Jonathan J
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky; Moustafa
• Application Number:
  US10/163,542
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/204, 709200-203, 709217-227
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method, system, computer program product, and user interface for enabling secure, remote selection and retrieval of stored electronic documents from a user'"'"'s PC or other device. The user may obtain such access to his or her documents from any network-connected location, regardless of whether a firewall is present. A directory representation of the user'"'"'s PC hard drive is transmitted to the user at his or her remote location. The user can navigate within the directory representation to select a document for retrieval. An e-mail message is transmitted from the user'"'"'s remote location to the PC that causes the selected document to be packaged as an attachment and transmitted to the remote location. In one application of the invention, a user can print a document from his or her PC, while he or she is standing at a printer (or multifunction device) that is not in the same physical location as the PC. The PC responds to a user request received from the printer by e-mailing the document as a print-ready attachment. Upon receipt of the e-mail, the printer prints the document.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

at a first device, receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a request for a directory;

responsive to the received first message, transmitting, from the first device to the remote device, a second electronic mail message containing a directory describing a plurality of stored documents and their relationship to each other;

at the first device, receiving from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for at least one of the stored documents;

at the first device, rendering the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

after the at least one stored document has been rendered in a print-ready format, and responsive to the received third message, transmitting, from the first device to the remote device, a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a printer;

a fax machine; and

a multifunction device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the first and third electronic mail messages comprise receiving the messages across a firewall; and

transmitting the second and fourth electronic mail messages comprise transmitting the messages across a firewall.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stored documents comprises documents stored on a hard drive accessible to the first device, the method further comprising:

prior to transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, retrieving the requested at least one stored document from the hard drive.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the second electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the directory request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the document request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises:

encrypting the directory; and

transmitting an electronic mail message containing the encrypted directory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the fourth electronic mail message comprises:

encrypting the requested at least one stored document; and

transmitting an electronic mail message containing the encrypted at least one stored document.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic mail message further contains meta-information describing at least one of the stored documents.

10. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

at a first device, receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a search request;

responsive to the received first message;

at the first device, performing the requested search on a set of stored documents to obtain a list of at least one search result;

transmitting, from the first device to the remote device, a second electronic mail message containing the obtained list;

at the first device, receiving from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for at least one of the stored documents;

at the first device, rendering the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

after the at least one stored document has been rendered in a print-ready format, and responsive to the received third message, transmitting, from the first device to the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

11. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

at a first device, receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a request for a directory;

responsive to the received first message;

at the first device, determining whether at least a portion of the requested directory has been designated for remote access; and

responsive to at least a portion of the requested directory being designated for remote access, transmitting, from the first device to the remote device, a second electronic mail message containing the at least a portion of the requested directory, describing a plurality of stored documents;

at the first device, receiving from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for at least one of the stored documents;

at the first device, rendering the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

after the at least one stored document has been rendered in a print-ready format, and responsive to the received third message, and responsive to the requested at least one stored document being designated for remote access, transmitting, from the first device to the remote device, a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

12. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, from a user, a request for a directory;

transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents and their relationship to each other;

displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

receiving from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote device comprises a personal computer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

transmitting the first and third electronic mail messages comprise transmitting the messages across a firewall; and

receiving the second and fourth electronic mail messages comprise receiving the messages across a firewall.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, authentication information; and

authenticating the user based on the received authentication information.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, authentication information; and

transmitting, to the remote device, the received authentication information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the second electronic mail message contains the requested directory in an encrypted form, the method further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted directory.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the fourth electronic mail message contains the at least one stored document in an encrypted form, the method further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted at least one stored document.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the second electronic mail message further contains meta-information describing at least one of the stored documents, and wherein:

displaying at least a portion of the received directory comprises displaying at least a portion of the meta-information.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising, after displaying at least a portion of the received directory:

receiving, from a user, a navigation command;

responsive to the navigation command, displaying at least a second portion of the received directory.

21. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, from a user, a search request;

transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received search request;

receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing a list of at least one search result;

displaying at least a portion of the received list;

receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one document from the list, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

receiving from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

22. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, from a user, a request for a directory;

determining whether data describing the requested directory is available in a cache;

responsive to data describing the requested directory being available in a cache, retrieving from the cache the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents;

responsive to data describing the requested directory not being available in a cache;

transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received request; and

receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents;

displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

receiving from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

23. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, from a first device, a request for a directory;

transmitting to a second device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

receiving from the second device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents;

transmitting the received directory to the first device;

receiving, from the first device, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document;

receiving from the second device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

transmitting, to the first device, the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first device comprises a personal digital assistant.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first device comprises a handheld computer.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

receiving the request for a directory comprises receiving the request via wireless communication;

transmitting the received directory to the first device comprises transmitting the received directory via wireless communication;

receiving the selection of at least one document from the directory comprises receiving the selection via wireless communication; and

transmitting, to the first device, the requested at least one stored document comprises transmitting the requested at least one stored document via wireless communication.

27. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

at a first device, receiving from a user a request for a directory;

transmitting to a second device a first electronic mail message containing the directory request;

transmitting to the first device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of documents stored at the second device;

displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

at the first device, receiving from the user a selection of at least one of the stored documents;

transmitting to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

at the second device, rendering the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

after the at least one stored document has been rendered in a print-ready format, transmitting to the first device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

routing the directory request to a server having a cache; and

retrieving the directory from the cache;

and wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises;

transmitting the second electronic mail message from the server to the first device.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

routing the directory request to a server having a cache;

determining whether the cache contains the directory; and

responsive to the cache containing the directory, retrieving the directory from the cache;

and wherein transmitting the second electronic mail message comprises;

responsive to the cache containing the directory, transmitting the second electronic mail message from the server to the first device; and

responsive to the cache not containing the directory, transmitting the second electronic mail message from the second device to the first device.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

after rendering the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format, transmitting the rendered at least one document to an intermediate server;

wherein transmitting the fourth electronic mail message comprises transmitting the fourth electronic mail message from the intermediate server to the first device.

31. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

at a first device having a cache, receiving from a user a request for a directory;

determining whether the cache contains the requested directory;

responsive to the cache not containing the requested directory;

transmitting to a second device a first electronic mail message containing the directory request; and

transmitting to the first device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of documents stored at the second device;

displaying at least a portion of the requested directory;

at the first device, receiving from the user a selection of at least one of the stored documents, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

transmitting to the first device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

32. A computer-implemented method for remotely selecting and printing an electronic document, comprising:

receiving, from a user, a request for a directory;

transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents and their relationship to each other;

displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

transmitting to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document;

receiving from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

printing the requested at least one stored document in a second format.

33. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

a storage device, for storing a plurality of documents organized in at least one directory;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, coupled to a first device, for receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a request for a directory of the storage device including documents and their relationship to each other;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and to the storage device, for, responsive to the received first message, transmitting to the remote device a second electronic mail message containing a directory listing at least a subset of the documents stored in the storage device; and

a document rendering module, coupled to the electronic mail transmission module; and

wherein;

the inbound electronic mail processing module further receives from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for at least one of the stored documents; and

responsive to the received third message, the rendering module renders the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format, and the electronic mail transmission module subsequently transmits to the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the remote device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a printer;

a fax machine; and

a multifunction device.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the first and third electronic mail messages across a firewall; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the second and fourth electronic mail messages across a firewall.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

37. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the second electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the directory request.

38. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, prior to the electronic mail transmission module transmitting the fourth electronic mail message, authenticating a user initiating the document request.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the directory; and

the second electronic mail message comprises the encrypted directory.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module comprises an encryption module, for encrypting the requested at least one stored document; and

the fourth electronic mail message comprises the encrypted at least one stored document.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the second electronic mail message further contains meta-information describing at least one of the stored documents.

42. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

a storage device, for storing a plurality of documents organized in at least one directory;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, coupled to a first device, for receiving from a remote device a first electronic mail message containing a search request;

a search module, coupled to the storage device and to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for, responsive to the received first message, performing the requested search on a set of stored documents to obtain a list of at least one search result;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the search module, for transmitting to the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the obtained list; and

a document rendering module, coupled to the electronic mail transmission module; and

wherein;

the inbound electronic mail processing module further receives from the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for at least one of the stored documents; and

responsive to the received third message, the rendering module renders the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format, and the electronic mail transmission module subsequently transmits to the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

43. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

an input device, for receiving, from a user, a request for a directory;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device, for transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents and their relationship to each other; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

wherein;

the input device further receives, from the user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the remote device comprises a personal computer.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein:

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the first and third electronic mail messages across a firewall; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the second and fourth electronic mail messages across a firewall.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the input device receives, from the user, authentication information, the system further comprising:

an authentication module, coupled to the input device, for authenticating the user based on the received authentication information.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein:

the input device receives, from the user, authentication information; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits, to the remote device, the received authentication information.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the second electronic mail message contains the requested directory in an encrypted form, the system further comprising:

a decryption module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for decrypting the encrypted directory.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the fourth electronic mail message contains the at least one document in an encrypted form, the system further comprising:

a decryption module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for decrypting the encrypted at least one document.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the second electronic mail message further contains meta-information describing at least one of the stored documents, and wherein:

the display displays at least a portion of the meta-information.

51. The system of claim 43, wherein:

the input device further receives, from the user, a navigation command further comprising, after displaying at least a portion of the received directory; and

responsive to the navigation command, the display displays at least a second portion of the received directory.

52. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

an input device, for receiving, from a user, a search request;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device, for transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received search request;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing a list of at least one search result; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the received list;

wherein;

the input device receives, from the user, a selection of at least one document from the list, the document being stored in a first format;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

53. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

an input device, for receiving, from a user, a request for a directory;

a cache, for, storing at least one directory, and for, responsive to data describing the requested directory being available in the cache, providing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the cache, for responsive to data describing the requested directory not being available in a cache, transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for, responsive to data describing the requested directory not being available in a cache, receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents; and

a display, coupled to the cache and to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the directory;

wherein;

the input device receives, from the user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

54. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving, from a first device, a request for a directory; and

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for transmitting to a second device a first electronic mail message containing the received request;

wherein;

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the second device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the received directory to the first device;

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives, from the first device, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document;

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives, from the second device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits, to the first device, the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein:

the first device comprises a personal digital assistant.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein:

the first device comprises a handheld computer.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein:

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives the request for a directory and the selection of at least one document from the directory via wireless communications; and

the electronic mail transmission module transmits the received directory and the requested at least one stored document via wireless communication.

58. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

a first device, comprising;

an input device, for receiving from a user a request for a directory; and

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device, for transmitting a first electronic mail message containing the directory request; and

a second device, comprising;

a storage device, for storing a plurality of documents;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving, from the first device, the first electronic mail message;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and to the storage device, for transmitting to the first device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of documents stored at the second device; and

a document rendering module, coupled to the electronic mail transmission module;

wherein the first device further comprises;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving, from the second device, the second electronic mail message; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

and wherein;

the input device further receives from the user a selection of at least one of the stored documents;

the electronic mail transmission module of the first device transmits to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document;

the document rendering module renders the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format; and

after the at least one stored document has been rendered in a print-ready format, the electronic mail transmission module of the second device transmits a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in the print-ready format.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

a server having a cache for storing a directory;

wherein the second device requests the directory from the server, and wherein the server responds to the request by transmitting the directory.

60. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

a server having a cache for storing a directory;

wherein the second device requests the directory from the server,

wherein the server determines whether the cache contains the directory, and, responsive to the cache containing the directory, retrieves the directory from the cache and transmits the directory;

and wherein, responsive to the cache not containing the directory, the second device transmits the second electronic mail message to the first device.

61. A system for remotely selecting and retrieving an electronic document, comprising:

a first device, comprising;

an input device, for receiving from a user a request for a directory;

a cache, for selectively storing directories;

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device and to the cache, for, responsive to the cache not containing the requested directory, transmitting a first electronic mail message containing the directory request; and

a second device, comprising;

a storage device, for storing a plurality of documents;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving, from the first device, the first electronic mail message; and

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module and to the storage device, for transmitting to the first device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of documents stored at the second device;

wherein the first device further comprises;

an inbound electronic mail processing module, for receiving, from the second device, the second electronic mail message; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

and wherein;

the input device further receives from the user a selection of at least one of the stored documents;

the electronic mail transmission module of the first device transmits to the second device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document, the document being stored in a first format; and

the electronic mail transmission module of the second device transmits a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format.

62. A system for remotely selecting and printing an electronic document, comprising:

an input device, for receiving from a user a request for a directory; and

an electronic mail transmission module, coupled to the input device, for transmitting to a remote device a first electronic mail message containing the directory request; and

an inbound electronic mail processing module, coupled to the electronic mail transmission module, for receiving from the remote device a second electronic mail message containing the requested directory describing a plurality of stored documents and their relationship to each other; and

a display, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for displaying at least a portion of the received directory;

wherein;

the input device receives, from the user, a selection of at least one document from the directory, the document being stored in a first format;

the electronic mail transmission module transmits to the remote device a third electronic mail message containing a request for the selected at least one document; and

the inbound electronic mail processing module receives from the remote device a fourth electronic mail message containing the requested at least one stored document in a print-ready format;

and wherein the system further comprises a printer, coupled to the inbound electronic mail processing module, for printing the requested at least one stored document.