Email Attachment Handling via Secure Link Hosting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing email technologies face limitations in attachment size, type, and security, requiring users to resort to manual file sharing methods and compromising security due to default non-encryption.

Innovation Solution

An automated method where email servers remove attachments and host them on a secure website, replacing them with links in the email, allowing recipients to access attachments via a hyperlink, thereby overcoming size and type limitations and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If email attachments are sent using conventional email technology, then file sharing is enabled, but attachment size is limited and security is compromised due to non-encryption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment size capabilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the email message from the attachment by storing the attachment on a remote server and inserting only a hyperlink into the email. This segmentation allows the email to remain within size limits while the attachment can be of any size stored externally, resolving the contradiction between attachment size capability and email system limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A remote server acts as an intermediary between the sender and recipient for file transfers. The server stores attachments securely and provides controlled access through hyperlinks, enabling large file transfers without compromising email security or exceeding attachment size limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual file sharing methods are used to overcome attachment size limits, then large files can be transferred, but user complexity increases requiring multiple manual steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment size capabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs file upload, hyperlink generation, and email insertion without requiring user intervention. When a user attaches a file to an email, the system automatically uploads it to the remote server, generates a hyperlink, and inserts it into the email, eliminating the need for manual FTP uploads or compression steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures the file transfer process by automatically uploading attachments to the remote server before email delivery. This preliminary action ensures that when the email is sent, the attachment is already available at the designated server location, eliminating the need for recipients to manually retrieve files from FTP servers or other external locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If attachments are stored in email mailboxes, then file access is enabled, but bandwidth costs increase and security is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile access capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts attachments from the email transmission process and stores them separately on a remote server. Only lightweight hyperlinks (typically 20-50 bytes) are transmitted via email, while the actual attachment data remains on the server. This extraction dramatically reduces email bandwidth consumption while maintaining full file access capability for recipients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If email attachments are sent without encryption, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission simplicityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The remote server acts as a secure intermediary that handles encrypted file storage and controlled access. The server can implement authentication, authorization, and encryption for file access without requiring these complex security measures to be embedded in the email transmission process itself, maintaining simplicity while enhancing security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9519888B2End use transparent email attachment handling to overcome size and attachment policy barriers

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Email server side or client side components either remove email attachments from the relevant email, or identify the attachment while the email is being composed and makes the attachment available from a secure website or file hosting site. The recipient then receives instructions in the email and links to access the attachments rather than the attachments themselves. Email attachment size limitations are overcome for sender/recipient mail systems. Also, file type limitations related to email attachments are overcome, provides improved attachment security, and reduces email bandwidth costs.