Enterprise File Attachment via Wireless Handheld
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional email systems on wireless hand-held devices require unnecessary data transfer over capacity-limited and expensive wireless networks when sending large emails with attachments, as attachments must be retrieved and retransmitted, lacking the ability to add arbitrary user-selected files not previously received as email attachments.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to browse and select files from an enterprise network for email attachments, using a file delivery server to retrieve and encode attachments, minimizing data transfer by only transmitting the necessary attachment content over the wireless network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If attachments are retrieved by the MUA for attachment to the e-mail message, then the attachment can be included in the e-mail, but the attachment must traverse the wireless network twice (retrieval and transmission), causing excessive data transfer costs and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the attachment handling process into two distinct paths: (1) attachments already present on the WHHD are transmitted directly with the e-mail message, and (2) attachments on the enterprise network are retrieved only when needed and transmitted efficiently. This segmentation avoids the double transfer problem by treating different attachment sources differently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the e-mail system with enhanced attachment capabilities) that coordinates between the WHHD, enterprise network, and file delivery server. This intermediary enables efficient attachment retrieval and transmission without requiring the attachment to traverse the wireless network twice, as the system manages the attachment lifecycle across different storage locations.
2Productivity
If the MUA retrieves the attachment from storage for attachment to the e-mail message, then the attachment is available for transmission, but large amounts of data must be transferred via the capacity-limited wireless network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary actions to be taken on the enterprise network side: attachments can be pre-retrieved from enterprise network storage and made available for efficient transmission. The system allows users to browse and select attachments from the enterprise network before final e-mail transmission, preparing the attachment data in advance without requiring large wireless data transfers during the actual e-mail sending process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional MUA is used on WHHD, then e-mail functionality is provided, but the system lacks the capability to add arbitrary attachments from enterprise network storage without receiving them as prior e-mail attachments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the MUA functionality to handle multiple attachment sources universally: attachments can come from local WHHD storage, from e-mails stored on the enterprise network, or from arbitrary files on the enterprise network file system. This multi-functional capability allows the same e-mail system to handle diverse attachment scenarios without requiring separate specialized systems for each attachment source.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless telecommunications system includes facilities in a wireless hand-held device (WHHD) that allows a user to browse files available to that user on storage devices in an enterprise network, and to identify one or more such files to be attached to an e-mail message to be composed on or transmitted from the handheld. The system includes facilities in an enterprise network, such as a file delivery server, that cooperates with the WHHD to provide the file browsing service. A mail agent cooperates with the WHHD, responsive to instruction from the handheld to send an e-mail message that is to contain an attachment, to request the file delivery server to retrieve the identified files and assemble an e-mail containing those files as attachments. The WHHD may receive from the user appropriate credentials needed to access files available to that user on storage devices in the enterprise network, and may forward the credential to the file delivery server and the mail agent. These components may use the credentials to provide the file browsing service and to retrieve the identified files.