Systems and Methods for Processing Attachments Associated with Electronic Messages

Abstract

Attachments that are received through one or more message transport services are processed. An object identifier is received through an electronic message received through one of a plurality of message transport services. A thumbnail graphic of a portion of the contents of the object associated with the object identifier is generated and displayed in a display window.

1 . A method of processing attachments comprising:
 receiving an electronic message, the electronic message including an attachment;   automatically detaching and saving an object that constitutes the attachment after receipt of the electronic message;   generating a thumbnail graphic of a portion of the object after receipt of the electronic message; and   displaying in a display window of a graphical user interface the thumbnail graphic of the object, wherein the object is able to be accessed by acting upon the thumbnail graphic via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of an e-mail message, an electronic fax, and an instant message. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the object is at least one of a text file, an image file, a video file, and an audio file. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the thumbnail graphic shows at least one of a portion of the text file, a portion of the image file, a portion of the video file, an icon that is representative of the audio file. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a uniform resource locator (URL). 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the generating a thumbnail graphic comprises accessing a website of the URL and generating a thumbnail image of the website of the URL. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a really simple syndication (RSS) pointer. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the generating a thumbnail graphic comprises accessing a webpage identified by the RSS pointer and generating the thumbnail graphic comprises generating a thumbnail view of the webpage identified by the RSS pointer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accepting a command input from a user, wherein the command input is provided through a graphical user interface comprising the thumbnail graphic; and   transmitting the object to a remote recipient specified by the user as a part of the command input.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thumbnail graphic is able to be organized and displayed in accordance with a message transport serviced used to transport the object of the attachment. 
   
   
       11 . A computer readable storage medium having a computer program of processing attachments that when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform:
 receiving an electronic message, the electronic message including an attachment;   automatically detaching and saving an object that constitutes the attachment after receipt of the electronic message;   generating a thumbnail graphic of a portion of the object after receipt of the electronic message; and   displaying in a display window of a graphical user interface the thumbnail graphic of the object, wherein the object is able to be accessed by acting upon the thumbnail graphic via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       12 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of an e-mail message, an electronic fax, and an instant message. 
   
   
       13 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the object is at least one of a text file, an image file, a video file, and an audio file. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the thumbnail graphic shows at least one of a portion of the text file, a portion of the image file, a portion of the video file, an icon that is representative of the audio file. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the object comprises a uniform resource locator (URL). 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the generating a thumbnail graphic comprises accessing a website of the URL and generating a thumbnail image of the website of the URL. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the object comprises a really simple syndication (RSS) pointer. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the generating a thumbnail graphic comprises accessing a webpage identified by the RSS pointer and generating the thumbnail graphic comprises generating a thumbnail view of the webpage identified by the RSS pointer. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further performing:
 accepting a command input from a user, wherein the command input is provided through a graphical user interface comprising the thumbnail graphic; and   transmitting the object to a remote recipient specified by the user as a part of the command input.   
   
   
       20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the thumbnail graphic is able to be organized and displayed in accordance with a message transport serviced used to transport the object of the attachment.