Data compression in electronic communications

• US 7,444,381 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US10/959,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/217, 709/238, 709/246, 709/247, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems for compressing data communicated in an electronic message. Files attached to an electronic communication are compressed based on an examination of the file type; and an identification of an alternative compressed file type. Accordingly, the first (original) file type is compressed into a second preferred, compressed file type for the purpose of streamlining the package to be delivered in the communication.

Claims

1. A method for compressing data in a communication transmitted in an electronic messaging system, comprising:

examining the content of an electronic messaging communication received from a composer of the electronic messaging communication, wherein the composer has requested that the electronic messaging communication be transmitted to an intended recipient;

as part of a process of carrying out the request to transmit the electronic messaging communication, providing a prompt offering to compress the content, if the content of the electronic messaging communication is determined to be suitable for compressing, the determination being based on the type of content and whether a size of the content is larger than a threshold value, wherein the prompt provides additional information to assist the composer in deciding whether to accept or decline the compression offer and is offered only when the size of the content is larger than the threshold value;

compressing the content if the composer accepts the compression offer; and

transmitting the electronic messaging communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein examining the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises examining file types of attachments within the electronic messaging communication.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein examining the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises comparing file types of attachments within the electronic messaging communication with a listing of compressible file types.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein compressing the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises compressing an original attachment file from a first file type into a compressed attachment file of a second file type.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating a communication that replaces the original attachment file with the compressed attachment file for transmission to a recipient.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic messaging communication is an e-mail.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic messaging communication is an instant message.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a transmitted electronic messaging communication contains an indication to a recipient that the attachment files are compressed from their original content.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a compressible file type table for maintaining a listing of compressible file types and a listing of their respective compressed file types.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a comparison of characteristics of an original attachment file against a proposed compressed version of the attachment file.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated file size of the compressed version.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated time to download the electronic messaging communication by a recipient of the electronic messaging communication.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the characteristics comprise estimated degradation characteristics of the compressed version.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after transmission of the electronic messaging communication, receiving a notification that the electronic messaging communication was undeliverable due to the size of the electronic messaging communication, the notification containing an acceptable size limit for the electronic messaging communication; and

providing a prompt offering to compress the electronic messaging communication below the acceptable size limit and re-transmit the electronic messaging communication.

15. A machine-readable storage medium, having stored thereon data and instructions tangibly embodied in the storage medium so as to be executable by a processor and when executed, cause the processor to perform:

examining the content of a an electronic messaging communication received from a composer of the electronic messaging communication, wherein the composer has requested that the electronic messaging communication be transmitted to an intended recipient;

as part of a process of carrying out the request to transmit the electronic messaging communication, providing a prompt offering to compress the content, if the content of the electronic messaging communication is determined to be suitable for compressing, the determination being based on the type of content and whether a size of the content is larger than a threshold value, wherein the prompt provides additional information to assist the composer in deciding whether to accept or decline the compression offer and is offered only when the size of the content is larger than the threshold value;

compressing the content if the composer accepts the compression offer; and

transmitting the electronic messaging communication.

16. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein examining the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises examining file types of attachments within the electronic messaging communication.

17. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein examining the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises comparing file types of attachments within the electronic messaging communication with a listing of compressible file types.

18. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein compressing the content of the electronic messaging communication comprises compressing an original attachment file from a first file type into a compressed attachment file of a second file type.

19. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for creating a communication that replaces the original attachment file with the compressed attachment file for transmission to the recipient.

20. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the electronic messaging communication is an e-mail.

21. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the electronic messaging communication is an instant message.

22. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the additional information comprises a comparison of characteristics of an original attachment file against a proposed compressed version of the attachment file.

23. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated file size of the compressed version.

24. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated time to download the electronic messaging communication by a recipient of the electronic messaging communication.

25. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the characteristics comprise estimated degradation characteristics of the compressed version.

26. A device for compressing data in a communication transmitted in an electronic messaging system, comprising:

a module for examining the content of a received electronic messaging communication from a composer of the electronic messaging communication, wherein the composer has requested that the electronic messaging communication be transmitted to an intended recipient;

an attachment module for providing a prompt offering to compress the content as part of a process of carrying out the request to transmit the electronic messaging communication if the content of the electronic messaging communication is determined to be suitable for compressing, the determination being based on the type of content and whether a size of the content is larger than a threshold value, wherein the prompt provides additional information to assist the composer in deciding whether to accept or decline the compression offer and is offered only when the size of the content is larger than the threshold value; and

a compression module for compressing the content of the electronic messaging communication if the composer accepts the compression offer, wherein the compressed electronic messaging communication is transmitted to at least one recipient.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the compression module is included in a communication device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the communication device is a wireless device or a wireline device.

29. The device according to claim 26, wherein the additional information comprises a comparison of characteristics of an original attachment file against a proposed compressed version of the attachment file.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated file size of the compressed version.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the characteristics comprise an estimated time to download the electronic messaging communication by a recipient of the electronic messaging communication.

32. The device according to claim 29, wherein the characteristics comprise estimated degradation characteristics of the compressed version.