Cloud Storage Email Attachment Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard mail servers have limited capacity, restricting the ability to send large files via email from mobile devices using standard SMTP protocols, as they cannot directly utilize cloud storage for file attachment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the mail server separates large attached files and stores them in cloud storage, replacing the file with a universal resource locator (URL) in the email, allowing the email to be sent with location information instead, and enabling resumed transmission if interrupted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard SMTP protocol is used for sending email with attachments from mobile devices, then email transmission is simple and compatible, but the attachment size is limited to relatively small amounts of data (e.g., 10 MB)
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the email transmission process into two independent parts: (1) sending the email content and metadata through standard SMTP, and (2) storing the large attachment separately in cloud storage. This segmentation allows the email system to handle large files without being constrained by traditional attachment size limits, while maintaining compatibility with standard protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cloud storage as an intermediary component between the mobile device and the email recipient. Instead of directly attaching large files to emails, the system uses cloud storage to host the files and provides access URLs in the email. This intermediary solution resolves the contradiction by enabling large file transmission through a mediating service that bridges the gap between SMTP limitations and large file requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If cloud storage is used to store large attached files, then email attachment size limit is exceeded, but mobile mail client cannot directly use cloud storage for file attachment in standard SMTP environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic file separation and cloud storage integration without requiring manual user intervention. When a user attempts to attach a large file, the mail client automatically detects the file size, separates it from the email body, uploads it to cloud storage, and replaces it with a URL reference. This self-service mechanism simplifies the operation for users while enabling large file attachments through cloud storage.
3Quantity of substance
If large files are attached to email, then data transmission capacity is increased, but transmission time and network bandwidth consumption are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the large attachment file from the email transmission process and stores it separately in cloud storage. Only the email metadata and a small URL reference are transmitted through the email system, while the actual large file is accessed directly from cloud storage by the recipient. This extraction principle dramatically reduces transmission time and network bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to send large files.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for transmitting an e-mail having an attached file are provided. The system includes a mail server configured to receive the e-mail including the attached file, store the attached file at a storage location in a cloud storage system, and replace the attached file with location information. The location information may indicate the storage location. The system includes the cloud storage system configured to store the attached file at the storage location. The mail server may be further configured to send the e-mail with the location information and without the attached file.