Viewing attachments to electronic communications via pushing the attachment to a networked viewing site

• US 7,451,187 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• 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: Koch, Robert A., Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US10/994,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A method and system for viewing an attachment to an electronic communication transmitted in an electronic messaging system is disclosed in which the system receives a communication; examines the content of the communication; sends an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site; and presents the content of the attachment contained in the communication at the alternate viewing site in a universally-viewable format. An alternative embodiment further includes prompting the receiver of the communication for verification of a previously assigned personal identification number.

Claims

1. A method for viewing an attachment to an electronic communication transmitted in an electronic messaging system, comprising:

receiving a communication with an attachment at a device of an addressee of the communication;

examining content of the communication;

sending the attachment from the device to an alternate viewing site external to the receiving device for presenting the attachment at the alternate viewing site, the sending resulting from a determination that the attachment is not viewable using software resident on the receiving device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein examining the content of the communication comprises examining a file type of an attachment within the communication to make a determination as to whether the attachment is viewable using software resident on a device where the communication is received.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site is responsive to a prompt to a recipient of the communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site includes prompting the recipient of the communication to enter a security code.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site includes sending a security code entered by the recipient.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein viewing the content of the attachment contained in the communication at the alternate viewing site comprises viewing a secure website using the security code.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content of the attachment presented at the alternate viewing site is converted into a commonly-viewable format.

8. A machine-readable medium, having stored thereon data and instructions, which, when executed:

receive a communication with an attachment at a device of an addressee of the communication;

examine content of the communication; and

send the attachment from the device to an alternate viewing site external to the device the sending a result of a determination that the attachment is not viewable on the device.

9. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein examining content of the communication comprises examining a file type of an attachment within the communication to make a determination as to whether the attachment is viewable using software resident on a device where the communication is received.

10. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site is responsive to a prompt to a recipient of the communication.

11. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site includes prompting the recipient to enter a security code.

12. The machine-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein sending an attachment contained in the communication to an alternate viewing site includes sending the security code entered by the recipient.

13. The machine-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein viewing the content of the attachment contained in the communication at the alternate viewing site comprises viewing a secure website using the security code.

14. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the alternate viewing site converts the attachment into a commonly-viewable format.

15. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the communication is an email.

16. The machine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the communication is an instant message.

17. A system for viewing an attachment to an electronic communication transmitted in an electronic messaging system, comprising:

a communication device of an addressee of an electronic communication with an attachment, the device in communication with a communication network; and

an electronic messaging application for sending and receiving electronic communications over the communication network;

wherein the attachment is sent by the communication device to an alternate viewing site external to the communication devices for presentation at the alternate viewing site, wherein the attachment is sent as a result of a determination that the attachment is not viewable using software resident on the communication device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication device is a wireless device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication device is a wireline device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the alternate viewing site exists in a communication device.