Electronic Message Attachment Linking for Memory Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for processing electronic messages with file attachments result in increased memory requirements due to duplicate storage, leading to higher costs and loss of vital information when attachments are removed.

Innovation Solution

Replacing file attachments with memory location links in a user-selected memory location, allowing for single storage and creating backlinks to maintain information integrity, while enabling user-defined filing rules and structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If file attachments are stored in the central mailbox, local mailbox, and user file system, then information accessibility is improved, but memory capacity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates symbolic links (copies) of file attachments in the user file system that reference the original files stored centrally. Instead of duplicating the actual file content across multiple locations, the system creates lightweight reference copies that point to the master copy in the central mailbox, thereby maintaining accessibility while minimizing memory usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where the user file system contains symbolic links that point to files in the local mailbox, which in turn references files in the central mailbox. This nested reference structure allows users to access files through multiple levels without actually duplicating the file content at each level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If file attachments are removed from the electronic message, then memory capacity is reduced, but information integrity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory capacityVSAvoidinformation integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces symbolic links as intermediary elements between the electronic message and the actual file attachments. These symbolic links serve as mediators that maintain the connection and relationship between the message content and the attached files, preserving information integrity while allowing the actual file data to be stored separately in the user file system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If file attachments are stored multiple times across different locations, then information accessibility is improved, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidcosts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8775542B2Device and method for user-based processing of electronic message comprising file attachments

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 UNIFY BETEILIGUNGSVERWALTUNG GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A method for the user-based processing of electronic messages comprising file attachments is provided. According to the method, a file attachment of an electronic message is replaced by a memory location link to a selected memory location in a user file system and the file attachment of the electronic message is saved in the selected memory location of the user file system. This permits the memory capacity that is required for storing data attachments to be significantly reduced in a user-friendly system.