Patent · US Expired

Electronic mail attachment verifier

US6073133A · kind A · utility

133Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1998
Grant dateJun 6, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q10/107
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for ensuring that attachments intended to be included with an electronic mail message are affixed to the message prior to release of the message from a sender's electronic mail program. This embodiment eliminates the need to initiate a follow-up transmission to forward the intended attachment. This saves the sender from potential embarrassment as well as eliminating unnecessary network traffic. In this embodiment, the method includes maintaining a modifiable list of keywords and phrases which, when found in an electronic mail message, indicate that the composer of the message intends to include an attachment with the message. Upon composition of a message, an attachment verifier scans the message for the keywords and phrases. In this embodiment, if a keyword or phrases is found in the message and no attachments have been specified, a user is alerted to the possibility that an attachment was overlooked. The user is returned to an electronic mail program so that an attachment may be specified.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.